Top Ten Most Exciting NFL Players

I just recently thought about blogging about this and ironically enough, I viewed ESPN.com a bit ago and they had a poll out on who the most exciting NFL player was. So, I figured I might as well stop slacking and get right to it.

10. Dante Hall-WR-Kansas City: Dante may not be the best receiver in the league, as I could probably beat him on a fade route. But, that's not what he's known for. While Dante can catch a few balls here and there, he's most well known for his return skills. Whenever a team punts the ball to Dante, the opposing coaches have to hold their breath if he doesn't wave his hand up in the air for a fair catch. The guy may go against every rule in the book. He may go backwards, lose a few yards and make his own coaches have a heart attack in the process, but usually, he does this for a reason. Once he dances around the defenders, the guy is off and running, making jaws drop in the process. He can also be brought on as a utility player for the offense, especially when a trick play is called. Whenever the ball is in Dante's hands, prepare to be wowed.

9. Warrick Dunn-RB-Atlanta: Perhaps I'm a bit biased with this selection, being an Atlanta Falcons fan and all, but there's something about watching the little guy run. Warrick can't be any more than 5'8'', 180 and the best part about him? The guy runs in between the tackles. Rarely will you see Warrick run to the outside. He is one of the most underrated backs in the league and seems to only be getting better with age, as he ran for over 1,400 yards a year ago, a career high. With two hundred yard efforts in as many games this season, the guy is not showing any signs of slowing down.

8. Brett Favre-QB-Green Bay: Yeah, I know, I'm crazy, right? A guy quarterbacking the Green Bay Packers, who were 4-12 a year ago and have started this season 0-2? Maybe I am a bit on the loony side with this pick, but regardless of the team's record and how little talent the Packers have, Favre usually makes a game of it and the guy gives it his all every time out there. This can get him into trouble sometimes, but that's one reason he's so fun to watch. The guy is unpredictable. While he may go against every rule in the book, throwing the ball into quadruple coverage, he has the cannon to sling the ball in there. There's also no other quarterback in the league (outside of Tom Brady) who is more clutch than Favre. The guy almost showed that again a week ago, being down 34-20 to New Orleans and bringing his team back to 34-27 with a chance to tie it at the end.

7. Peyton Manning-QB-Indianapolis: Yeah, most wouldn't consider Peyton to be "exciting," but he is in my book. Never have I seen a quarterback audible as much as he does at the line of scrimmage. It's like watching a play at the theatre. The guy knows the offense better than anyone in the league, can read defenses better than a scholar, and knows how to play with their minds better than Cleo.

6. Antwaan Randle El-WR-Washington: Randle El is similar to Dante Hall, but is utilized a bit more as a wideout. The guy was a quarterback in college at Indiana, so, as was seen in the Super Bowl a season ago, coaches aren't afraid to use him on trick plays where he throws the football. On returns, he dances around and can even make a 2-yard return exciting, because he makes so many guys miss. While I think his value was hyped up a bit too much in Washington, when the ball is in his hands, he's one of the most exciting players to watch in football.

5. Terrell Owens-WR-Dallas: Love or hate the guy, one has to admit that the guy has talent and is not afraid of any team, coach, or player. He's not afraid to get under someone's skin with his words or actions. The guy even mocked the Ray Lewis dance when he scored a touchdown last year against Baltimore. I was looking for Ray to knock him upside the head. It's always a soap opera with T.O. and even though that may drive his teammates, coaches, and fans crazy, it makes for some fairly entertaining and exciting play.

4. Chad Johnson-WR-Cincinnati: Chad Johnson is the more playful of the two if one is comparing he to T.O. I've always said there are different forms of smart alecks: the mean and the goofy. T.O. would be more under the mean category and Chad Johnson would be under the goofy. Heck, the guy just did the Chicken Dance after a score on Sunday. He's usually very creative when entering the end zone. He's done different kinds of dances, putted the football with the pylon, amongst other amusing shtuff. He may talk some trash, but more in the sense of him challenging himself week in and week out. Unlike T.O., I haven't heard Johnson claim that his team would be better off with Brett Favre as their quarterback over Carson Palmer.

3. Reggie Bush-RB-New Orleans: I may be jumping the gun a bit with this guy, but the fact is that he's utilized in so many different ways by the Saints. While he has not run the ball too much, he usually gets at least five carries a game. He also catches five balls a game. Not only that, but the guy returns punts. A 5-yard punt return of his was selected as one of the top ten plays of the week, sneaking in at #10. The guy is quick, elusive, and defenses must always keep their eyes on him, because he can create tremendous mismatches if he sneaks out as a receiver and is covered man-on-man by a linebacker.

2. LaDanian Tomlinson-RB-San Diego: Bush may one day be more exciting than LT, but let's give LT some props. The guy is currently the best all-around back in the league. In my mind, no one even comes close to the guy. Not only can he rush for 1,500 yards, the guy can garner another 1,000 yards receiving. He's the perfect hybrid back of power and speed. He can run in between the tackles, kick it up a notch to go the distance on a long run, and is very valuable in the passing game.

1. Michael Vick-QB-Atlanta: Vick beats all of these other guys out for the simple fact that he touches the ball on every snap on the offensive side of the ball. Unlike the other two quarterbacks I mentioned in this list, Brett Favre and Peyton Manning, Vick is the most dangerous dual-threat quarterback in the league now and perhaps in NFL history. When he drops back to pass, one can never know if he's going to throw or run with it. Atlanta even prepares approximately 5 set run plays for Vick in every game. Vick will pass the 10,000 yard mark passing this season and should pass the 3,000 yard mark rushing during Monday Night's Game against New Orleans. He holds many all-time records already when it comes to quarterbacks and rushing. He broke his own record this past week by attaining his 6th career 100-yard rushing game. He also threw for the most yards in a game which he ran for 100. He did this against Denver two years ago, when he ran for 100 yards and threw for over 250 in the same contest. The guy has a rocket arm, is one of the fastest players in the league, and creates a nightmare for all opposing defenses.