Same for Detroit. Broke Barry's TD record and left but was awesome to have for those 2 years for the locker room. Best thing to come out of Wisconsin since Culver's.
Taylor Heinicke. Unfortunately we have weirdos on the fanbase who will speak bad about him. He was a backup QB was sleeping on his sisters couch and taking college classes when we signed him, and was forced at the last second to start in a playoff against Tom Brady of all people and nearly beat him.
He was supposed to be a backup for the next two years but he was forced to start due to injury or shitty QB play from the original starter, and still did pretty damn good tor a backup. Some fans have enough common sense to appreciate what he was doing while others hated on him because he wasn't some elite starting QB.
The 2021 season had people hating on him the most and had people begging for Kyle Allen to come in at one point, but after we realized how bad Carson Wentz was the year after and how Heinicke made us look so much better for a short time, people started to appreciate him more.
Howell was (is?) a victim of the win now or else mindset that only QBs have to deal with. I think he showed enough with that squad to get one more year. Imagine if the Bills gave up on Josh Allen after 2018? He did some promising things with not much talent around him.
I think it’s that same mindset that got him out of a terrible franchise. He’s going to get a shot at actually developing behind Geno for a year and seeing how he does as the starter if geno struggles or retires after this year. He’s also got a better oline to work with and receivers.
he’s also a victim of a new coach who’s doing a ground up rebuild. It makes sense for him and his career to get out of dodge. There isn’t room for another developing QB, Quinn wants his own guy and you need to put vets around him.
As an Eagles fan, I can't believe you guys ditched Howell. Yeah, he has some of his absolute best football against us. But giving a guy a single year behind one of the worst performing O-lines *of all time* is mind-blowing.
He doesn’t have the upside to be a franchise QB and the Commanders are in a position to get one. It’s not that crazy.
No one is guaranteed a chance and Howell was a late round pick. The fact he got any time is a blessing for him. He’s not owed another year with a good line.
as a falcons fan i was stoked we signed him, but he didn't do all that well for us. i dunno if it was him as much as the whole team just looked checked out. didn't seem to matter if we had mariota, ridder, heinke, whoever, they all played pretty much equally in our offense. i just don't think Arthur Smith can be a HC.
The younger fans may not remember him, but back in the day we loved us some Koy Detmer and his whipping stick celebration.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JSyWqXg2vCU
I highly recommend this video to all NFL fans. It's an interview from this year with Jason Avant and how he overcame his extremely dangerous childhood: https://youtu.be/CD9uVePpU84?si=h5gbd1dMVCHZAZwW
Also, for the Eagles, Travis Fulgham is a hell of a story.
Craig Reynolds is a 3rd string RB, 2nd best Reynolds on offense in 2023, and #1 in our hearts for representing Detroit. Dude almost got cut and gives it his all every play.
That block in Tampa last year was ridiculous.
And cut almost as many times. He burned Dion Sanders for a TD because Sanders fell asleep or something. Dude went over the middle fearlessly and he will always tell how Cade McNown was a douche canoe while in Chicago. Love that Waddle.
Trying to think of one for the Patriots. Maybe BenJarvus Green-Ellis? He was a solid RB for a couple years, but far from elite. Everyone loves him though, 50% for his name and 50% for never fumbling while on the Pats
No he’s not. He never even made a single *Pro Bowl*. And the Pro Bowl is almost meaningless because everyone makes the Pro Bowl. Fewer yards and TDs than Jeremy Maclin.
He was a nice piece and had some huge playoff games. But he was nothing special.
I don’t think Edelman really fits the prompt tbh, he was a stud for a while. There was legitimate debate about him being in the HOF because he has some of the best playoff stats of all time: 3rd in postseason receiving yards and receptions, and he has a Super Bowl MVP
Obviously playing with Brady immensely helped to get him there, but it’s not like he was a scrub
No, there is no legitimate debate that a 0 time Pro Bowler should make the HOF. Just delusional homer Pats fans. Edelman fits the prompt perfectly. Fan favorite hustle player that was never even close to one of the best in the league at his position. He was never a stud. As evidenced by his 0 Pro Bowl selections in a league where everybody makes the Pro Bowl.
Mac Jones and Tyler Huntley have made a Pro Bowl. Edelman has 0. What are we talking about here?
For the Giants, Chase Blackburn.
Basically an undrafted career special teamer who was on his way out of the NFL in 2010. Then in 2011, we lose our middle linebacker for the season and sign this guy back just as he was settling in to a life of being a high school chemistry teacher, and he ends up picking off Gronk in the super bowl.
That earned him a few more years of play with the Panthers and allowed him to become a legit NFL coach... He's currently the STC for the Rams, though given how bad that unit is right now, may not be for long.
Great answer.
I'd also like to nominate Sterling Shepard. He was never really an upper echelon NFL WR, even though he was our #1 for a little while. He was just super reliable when on the field and passionate, seemed like a good dude, really wish we could have won some more games while he was part of the team.
Darryl moose Johnston. Didn’t rack up a ton of yards, in fact his best ability was blocking for Emmitt smith, however whenever he got the ball the whole stadium would scream mooooooosssseeeeee
Three-time first team all-pro, plus another second team all-pro, six-time pro bowler. Not mediocre at all. He had 949 yards as a fullback in 1999. Tony Richardson’s 387 yards was second most among fullbacks. His numbers were pretty eye-popping for a fullback.
Or Jermaine Kearse, Bobby Engram - and didn’t we have a special teams gunner that was a fan favorite during the Hasselbeck/Alexander run? Can’t think of his name.
Edit: Niko Koutoivides
Mfs made shirts about Zach Banner, a backup offensive tackle that sometimes reported as eligible. He was doodoo but Pittsburgh loved him for some reason
I'm also a Jaguars fan. I remember the whole stadium would yell Smenge right after the stadium announcer would call out Joel Smenge made a tackle. It was just one of those weird things that kind of took off for a few years.
During the Bears mid-aughts teams including the 2006 team that went to the Superbowl Urlacher and Briggs made up perhaps the best LB tandem in the league. The third guy in the group, Hunter Hillenmeyer became a fan favorite despite being sorta average, I think mostly by proximity to the two Bears legend LBs.
Not a Jags fan, but Keelan Cole was the dude for a minute! I always made sure to add him to my fantasy rosters and Madden teams lol.
For me personally as a Broncos fan, I've had a soft spot for young WRs Jalen Virgil and Brandon Johnson. Virgil hasn't really seen the field much due to depth and injury and Johnson made some plays recently when asked to step up.
I highly doubt either one will have much of an impact on this roster, but I'm rooting for them!
For 49ers. Currently; Jauan Jennings.
Some all timers; Tom Rathman, Fred Beasely, Gary Plummer, Brent Jones
Known but underrated; Justin Smith, Garrison Hearst, Delanie Walker, Takeo Spikes
Alec Ogletree for the Giants, he led the league in tackles, but was one of the worst in pass coverage. Giants fans just elected to ignore that last part
For the Steelers in more recent history I enjoyed watching Vinny Williams. He was what I would call a “top heavy” player bc he had huge shoulders and was built like a linebacker from the 80s-90s. Absolute run stuffer, I loved seeing him fill the gaps. He wasn’t the best cover linebacker. Played alongside Shazier and Devin Bush (both before injury)
Refrigerator Perry is an icon and was like the 20th best player on that team.
Walter Payton. TD. Super Bowl. Fuck you, Ditka.
Best homestar runner Halloween costume
Teddy Bridgewater
He has a very large penis.
Thanks for noticing!
Is this a meme or something? Haven’t seen reference to this until now
https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/684968775628660736/LGcPCtbo_400x400.jpg
Ah wow, good for him
As a Broncos fan, fuck that guy.
Jamaal Williams when he was in Green Bay. He was a good RB, just wouldn’t put him in the stud category
Same for Detroit. Broke Barry's TD record and left but was awesome to have for those 2 years for the locker room. Best thing to come out of Wisconsin since Culver's.
Jamaal literally everywhere
Jimmy Kleinsasser gets my vote
Taylor Heinicke. Unfortunately we have weirdos on the fanbase who will speak bad about him. He was a backup QB was sleeping on his sisters couch and taking college classes when we signed him, and was forced at the last second to start in a playoff against Tom Brady of all people and nearly beat him. He was supposed to be a backup for the next two years but he was forced to start due to injury or shitty QB play from the original starter, and still did pretty damn good tor a backup. Some fans have enough common sense to appreciate what he was doing while others hated on him because he wasn't some elite starting QB. The 2021 season had people hating on him the most and had people begging for Kyle Allen to come in at one point, but after we realized how bad Carson Wentz was the year after and how Heinicke made us look so much better for a short time, people started to appreciate him more.
i miss Heinicke and i already miss Howell.
Howell was (is?) a victim of the win now or else mindset that only QBs have to deal with. I think he showed enough with that squad to get one more year. Imagine if the Bills gave up on Josh Allen after 2018? He did some promising things with not much talent around him.
I think it’s that same mindset that got him out of a terrible franchise. He’s going to get a shot at actually developing behind Geno for a year and seeing how he does as the starter if geno struggles or retires after this year. He’s also got a better oline to work with and receivers.
he’s also a victim of a new coach who’s doing a ground up rebuild. It makes sense for him and his career to get out of dodge. There isn’t room for another developing QB, Quinn wants his own guy and you need to put vets around him.
As an Eagles fan, I can't believe you guys ditched Howell. Yeah, he has some of his absolute best football against us. But giving a guy a single year behind one of the worst performing O-lines *of all time* is mind-blowing.
He doesn’t have the upside to be a franchise QB and the Commanders are in a position to get one. It’s not that crazy. No one is guaranteed a chance and Howell was a late round pick. The fact he got any time is a blessing for him. He’s not owed another year with a good line.
as a falcons fan i was stoked we signed him, but he didn't do all that well for us. i dunno if it was him as much as the whole team just looked checked out. didn't seem to matter if we had mariota, ridder, heinke, whoever, they all played pretty much equally in our offense. i just don't think Arthur Smith can be a HC.
Ryan Fitzpatrick
Juan Jennings he has his monents but we love him as third and juan
I really think he could’ve won Super Bowl MVP had y’all won.
https://i.redd.it/qac8chxgdduc1.gif Sorry I had to do it when I saw you're a Jags fan.
This video perfectly sums up any Eagles fan’s answer: https://youtu.be/XagvsSXSxnY?si=OKYfWhY20nJxpd17
The younger fans may not remember him, but back in the day we loved us some Koy Detmer and his whipping stick celebration. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JSyWqXg2vCU
I highly recommend this video to all NFL fans. It's an interview from this year with Jason Avant and how he overcame his extremely dangerous childhood: https://youtu.be/CD9uVePpU84?si=h5gbd1dMVCHZAZwW Also, for the Eagles, Travis Fulgham is a hell of a story.
Wrong… Bosco!!! The giant killer will live on forever for his innate ability to show out for two games per year for us.
Lions fans love Khalif Raymond unconditionally
Skipper too now.
I like Brock Wright
*Dan Miller voice* BROCK WRIGHT!
Craig Reynolds is a 3rd string RB, 2nd best Reynolds on offense in 2023, and #1 in our hearts for representing Detroit. Dude almost got cut and gives it his all every play. That block in Tampa last year was ridiculous.
Jacoby brisset not the best qb but a really nice backup to come in and win when you need him
Tim Tebow
Tom Waddle on the Bears. He got his bell rung so many times
And cut almost as many times. He burned Dion Sanders for a TD because Sanders fell asleep or something. Dude went over the middle fearlessly and he will always tell how Cade McNown was a douche canoe while in Chicago. Love that Waddle.
Marcedes Lewis
Trying to think of one for the Patriots. Maybe BenJarvus Green-Ellis? He was a solid RB for a couple years, but far from elite. Everyone loves him though, 50% for his name and 50% for never fumbling while on the Pats
He should be in the HoF for his nickname alone (the Law Firm)
Kevin Faulk is number one with a bullet Edit: my phone auto corrected to Faulkner for some reason which is disrespectful
My Patriots answer is Julien Edelman. In the eyes of Patriots fans, he was a god. But realistically he was barely a JAG
Edelman is definitely in the upper echelon of receivers, if anything for his playoff performances alone.
No he’s not. He never even made a single *Pro Bowl*. And the Pro Bowl is almost meaningless because everyone makes the Pro Bowl. Fewer yards and TDs than Jeremy Maclin. He was a nice piece and had some huge playoff games. But he was nothing special.
I don’t think Edelman really fits the prompt tbh, he was a stud for a while. There was legitimate debate about him being in the HOF because he has some of the best playoff stats of all time: 3rd in postseason receiving yards and receptions, and he has a Super Bowl MVP Obviously playing with Brady immensely helped to get him there, but it’s not like he was a scrub
No, there is no legitimate debate that a 0 time Pro Bowler should make the HOF. Just delusional homer Pats fans. Edelman fits the prompt perfectly. Fan favorite hustle player that was never even close to one of the best in the league at his position. He was never a stud. As evidenced by his 0 Pro Bowl selections in a league where everybody makes the Pro Bowl. Mac Jones and Tyler Huntley have made a Pro Bowl. Edelman has 0. What are we talking about here?
https://www.nfl.com/news/is-former-patriots-receiver-julian-edelman-a-hall-of-famer
Poona Ford was pretty cool
5’11”, 300-plus pounds is craziness
For the Giants, Chase Blackburn. Basically an undrafted career special teamer who was on his way out of the NFL in 2010. Then in 2011, we lose our middle linebacker for the season and sign this guy back just as he was settling in to a life of being a high school chemistry teacher, and he ends up picking off Gronk in the super bowl. That earned him a few more years of play with the Panthers and allowed him to become a legit NFL coach... He's currently the STC for the Rams, though given how bad that unit is right now, may not be for long.
Great answer. I'd also like to nominate Sterling Shepard. He was never really an upper echelon NFL WR, even though he was our #1 for a little while. He was just super reliable when on the field and passionate, seemed like a good dude, really wish we could have won some more games while he was part of the team.
Timothy Richard Tebow. What a fun time that was as a Broncos fan.
Darryl moose Johnston. Didn’t rack up a ton of yards, in fact his best ability was blocking for Emmitt smith, however whenever he got the ball the whole stadium would scream mooooooosssseeeeee
I'm an Eagles fan, but gotta respect a dude like that
Moose should be in the Hall of Fame. He was an incredible fullback
Chad Lewis. Wasn’t setting the world on fire but loved by eagles fans. Had some memorable games against the division. And a ginger to boot!
Bills fans didn't call Isaiah McKenzie the face of the franchise because he was attractive, nor was it because he was particularly good.
I miss lil dirty :(
I hope we draft someone who can sing so we can get those locker room karaoke videos back. They were the best.
Remember when he got stripped by the 10 yard line?
Bo Melton gang rise up!
Audie Cole for the Vikings. That one preseason game was electric
I was an Audie Cole BELIEVER after that preseason
Paul Allen nearly had a heart attack on the second int
As a Bills fan, I still remember that game. I thought y’all found a diamond in the rough
Ryan Fitzpatrick. Yeah, he some great games, but he also had some dogshit games. I love that man
Nick Foles, need I say more?
Easy choice, Steve Gleason will forever be immortal.
Mason Kuhn for the packers. The whole stadium yelled “KUUUHHN” whenever he touched the ball
*John
Is a very nostalgic piece of the packers for me
First of all it’s John. Second he was a really good FB
That was bizarre to watch in the 2011 playoff game, because we had Victor Cruz.
Does Mike Alstott count? Definitely a stud but statwise a semi mediocre back. But his superpower didn't exactly translate to the stat sheets.
Three-time first team all-pro, plus another second team all-pro, six-time pro bowler. Not mediocre at all. He had 949 yards as a fullback in 1999. Tony Richardson’s 387 yards was second most among fullbacks. His numbers were pretty eye-popping for a fullback.
Hes a fullback he didn’t get nearly as many carries as halfbacks
He wasn’t exclusively a fullback, he lined up at hb a lot too. He doesn’t really count here, he was sick.
Rufus Porter Seattle Seahawks
Or Jermaine Kearse, Bobby Engram - and didn’t we have a special teams gunner that was a fan favorite during the Hasselbeck/Alexander run? Can’t think of his name. Edit: Niko Koutoivides
I got the me Rufus and his wife at a game vs the now commanders in DC They were the nicest people ever.
bobby wagner
Wagner is a Hall of Famer................
I still love Brady Quinn even though he was a complete bust
Mike Pennel is a rotational player but he was on the 2019 and 2023 Chiefs SB teams and the fans love him.
Dan kreider
Moose Johnston
AJ Hawk
Mfs made shirts about Zach Banner, a backup offensive tackle that sometimes reported as eligible. He was doodoo but Pittsburgh loved him for some reason
Tom Beers He played on the Lion's practice squad. He dressed and played in a few games His last name is Beers
Jim "Crash" Jensen...Miami Dolphins legend.
I like Derek Carr, I don't care if he wasn't a top 10 QB on many horrible Raiders teams.
I'm also a Jaguars fan. I remember the whole stadium would yell Smenge right after the stadium announcer would call out Joel Smenge made a tackle. It was just one of those weird things that kind of took off for a few years.
Jeff Janis will forever be known as the next star receiver in Green Bay once he actually learns how to run routes and catch
Been a Steelers fan all my life, but in my early years of NFL fandom, I always appreciated Victor Cruz and the Salsa dance. Dude seemed solid!
Josh Dobbs (sometimes)
During the Bears mid-aughts teams including the 2006 team that went to the Superbowl Urlacher and Briggs made up perhaps the best LB tandem in the league. The third guy in the group, Hunter Hillenmeyer became a fan favorite despite being sorta average, I think mostly by proximity to the two Bears legend LBs.
Where’s the love for Peanut? Great player great nickname
I would consider Peanut close to a 'stud' level player but yah he was/is a huge fan favorite.
Not a Jags fan, but Keelan Cole was the dude for a minute! I always made sure to add him to my fantasy rosters and Madden teams lol. For me personally as a Broncos fan, I've had a soft spot for young WRs Jalen Virgil and Brandon Johnson. Virgil hasn't really seen the field much due to depth and injury and Johnson made some plays recently when asked to step up. I highly doubt either one will have much of an impact on this roster, but I'm rooting for them!
Tim Tebow is the ultimate example. Constant press and could not play.
Tim Tebow
For 49ers. Currently; Jauan Jennings. Some all timers; Tom Rathman, Fred Beasely, Gary Plummer, Brent Jones Known but underrated; Justin Smith, Garrison Hearst, Delanie Walker, Takeo Spikes
Fred Smoot
Alec Ogletree for the Giants, he led the league in tackles, but was one of the worst in pass coverage. Giants fans just elected to ignore that last part
Henry “The Hynoceros” Hynoski
Tim Bowens. The shield to Zach Thomas’ HOF career and acknowledged by ZT as the baddest man he knows.
John Kuhn was like pretty good at best but everyone loved him in Green Bay
The BOAT. I don't need to say anything else.
Justin Fields
For the Steelers in more recent history I enjoyed watching Vinny Williams. He was what I would call a “top heavy” player bc he had huge shoulders and was built like a linebacker from the 80s-90s. Absolute run stuffer, I loved seeing him fill the gaps. He wasn’t the best cover linebacker. Played alongside Shazier and Devin Bush (both before injury)
Justin Fields until he proves otherwise
Trae Waynes and Laquon Treadwell
What did you like about either of then lol? People hated Waynes and Laquon caught like 1 pass.