Top Ten Toughest NFL Players

by blue gonz on Nov 28, 2011 3:23 PM EST

Joe Kapp KO'd old enemy Angelo Mosca during the the recent CFL awards cereemony. Joe didn't play long in the NFL, but he led the Vikings to their first divisional title and later to their first SB appearance. Joe wasn't the greatest thrower by a long shot, but I alwayw admired his spirit and competitiveness. I thought he was one of the toughest football players ever, certainly the toughest QB. (When Joe had to scramble, he attacked tacklers by trying to run over them.) Anyway, I made a list of the toughest players I could remember and came up with fifty names. I stopped there. I then winnowed it down to my top ten. Here they are (in no particular ordeer, although I believe the first two names listed deserve the 1 and 2 spots:) Jack Youngblood (played with a brooken leg); Momk Edwards (played with two broken knee caps--legend has it;) Joe Kapp; Conrad Dobler; Darrell Greene; Johm Henry Johnson; LT; Emmitt Smith; John Riggins; John Henry Johnson; Dick Butkus; Jerome Bettis and Jim Taylor Okay, top eleven, with a preponderance of RBs I'm sure that some of you agree with some picks, but no one will agree with all. What do you think?

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Whoops

Monk Edwards
John Henry listed twice
My apologiies

by blue gonz on Nov 28, 2011 3:26 PM EST reply actions

I would generally agree. Born in the late 80's, I didn't have a chance to really appreciate the toughness

that these players exhibited, but based on what I’ve read, don’t think I could really disagree.

If I may, I’d like to add a couple of really tough modern players:

Eli Manning: Separated shoulder, plantar fasciitis…ain’t nothin’ but a thang for Citizen Ecodrive.
Jay Cutler: Yeah, him. Plays with diabetes, has been the most sacked starting QB the past 4 or 5 years, played a half with a torn MCL.
Terrell Owens: A jerk, but played the superbowl with a broken leg

I support the Giants like bras support Kim Kardashian's boobs. It can be a struggle, we've had some jiggles, but we're still firm.

by BigBlueIntervention on Nov 28, 2011 3:39 PM EST reply actions

I didn't include still active players.

Should have mentioned that.
No doubt the players you mention are tough, TO particularly going across the window like he does (did.)

by blue gonz on Nov 28, 2011 5:42 PM EST up reply actions

Missed a big one in my opinion

Ronnie Lott. The dude was as athletic as he was tough. Legend has it he personally amputated part of his thumb to keep playing in a game. I have run into a few professional players, whether at events or when younger in football camps, and they all had two things in common, they were all hit by Lott and they all did not like to be hit by Lott. On a lesser known level, former Lions safety, Bennie Blades was supposedly a really hard dude too. So, there are 2 safeties you could add to the list.

by CCE718 on Nov 28, 2011 4:09 PM EST reply actions

Another one...

My dad used to tell me how tough Jack “Hacksaw” Reynolds played. Too young to have really took notice (32 y.o.), but I trust my dad on these things. So, I leave that one for the elders around here.

by CCE718 on Nov 28, 2011 4:14 PM EST up reply actions

Yeah, he was on my or5iginal list as well.

Now I’m wondering if it was Reynolds or Youngblood who played with the broken leg.

by blue gonz on Nov 28, 2011 5:50 PM EST up reply actions

it was Youngblood

TeamJPP

by andiamo708 on Nov 29, 2011 3:08 PM EST up reply actions

He made my list of fifty as did a few

Other DBs. I lot of the guys I picked were guys who took punishment, played injured, etc more than dished it out, like
Lott and a couple of others I thought of before I stopped listing.
In a way it’s stupid. Most NFL plasyers are tough, period, Not as much as fighters, though. Anyone who climbs inton the ring has a huge pair of cujones.

by blue gonz on Nov 28, 2011 5:47 PM EST up reply actions

I would put him top 10, not top 50

The dude amputated his thumb in order to keeping playing!!! In the middle of a game!

by CCE718 on Nov 29, 2011 8:19 AM EST up reply actions

Pretty good list

For some odd reason Kapp and Tebow seem similar.
There are probably some receivers missing on this list, especially from
the old days when they had to run the gauntlet before even thinking
about catching a ball.

by Jolly on Nov 28, 2011 4:44 PM EST reply actions

Tebow isn't and Kapp

wasn’t a great passer (although he was a lot better than Tebow is now.)

by blue gonz on Nov 28, 2011 5:52 PM EST up reply actions

Terrible list...

How is DeSean Jackson not in there?

Bleeding Green Nation - Eagles
Blogging the Beast - NFC East
Follow @Jimmy_Beast

by JimmyK on Nov 28, 2011 4:55 PM EST reply actions 1 recs

ha!

I support the Giants like bras support Kim Kardashian's boobs. It can be a struggle, we've had some jiggles, but we're still firm.

by BigBlueIntervention on Nov 28, 2011 5:08 PM EST up reply actions

Heh

Self-praise is for losers. Be a winner. Stand for something. Always have class, and be humble.
-John Madden
[Jake Ballard] has 4 speeds actually:
Stop→Slow→Truck (he shifts into that when its time to carry 4 defenders for another 4 yards)→LEAP!
-Raptor 22

by Willgfass on Nov 28, 2011 6:23 PM EST up reply actions

that guy lol

Die hard Giants fan since wide Right! I was 5...

I'm down wit JPP
Yea you know me

Win Ugly.
-Eli Manning for MVP

by wangstu13 on Nov 28, 2011 7:11 PM EST up reply actions

:oD

I may not be the most noble of men but in a town of lepers, im the one with the most fingers.

Giant LB'zz SUCK!! Mark Herzlich, Greg Jones,Jacquian Williams,Paysinger...Maybe not..

by Troy O on Nov 28, 2011 7:23 PM EST up reply actions

Blue...who was the Olineman back in the late 80's early 90's

that played w/ a broken leg and Parcells so famously said… “well, he’s got a leg”.

wasn’t that Jumbo? I’m surprised he didn’t make this list

TeamJPP

by andiamo708 on Nov 28, 2011 5:08 PM EST reply actions

I'm thinking it was

the guy who sells cars in NJ now. I remember Tuna kicking some lineman in his bad leg. Was it Jumbo? I don’t think so. Jumbo had a bad back. Whoever it was, I can’t remember if the leg was broken of if it was another kind of injury.

by blue gonz on Nov 28, 2011 5:57 PM EST reply actions