NFL Dodgeball
With the Super Bowl matchup set, the two-week long waiting game has begun. The NFL Pro Bowl will take place in Orlando on Sunday. The game itself has become mostly unwatchable. However, a dodgeball challenge between select players from the two conferences could be somewhat entertaining.
It also got me thinking which players from the NFL’s past would make up the ultimate dodgeball team. I am talking about these guys in their prime. I am by no means a dodgeball expert. This is meant to be a somewhat lighthearted and imaginative piece. Please take it as such.
Randall Cunningham– Natural athleticism is a plus for any sport. Why not lead off the ultimate NFL dodgeball team with one of the greatest pure athletes the NFL has ever seen? With a career completion percentage under 60, accuracy was always an issue for one of the original dual-threat quarterbacks. However, his career rushing yardage total is good enough for second all-time among quarterbacks. That kind of speed and elusiveness would be well-suited for dodgeball.
Bill Romanowski– This is all about intimidation. In the NFL, rules were merely guidelines for the four-time Super Bowl champion linebacker. The altercations involving Romanowski are countless. From spitting in opponents faces to openly admitting to trying to injure former teammates, controversy always followed Romanowski. A self-admitted product of “roid rage,” he was no doubt a scumbag during his career. I do not advocate cheating, but I do advocate trying in a hyper aggressive manner. The original “Romo” always walked that fine line. Romanowski is the kind of guy I want on my side in any competitive endeavor. Listen to the guy talk in a short clip below from CBS news. That kind of energy would dominate the dodgeball court if harnessed correctly.
Chuck Bednarik– Some of the same things I said about Romanowski are also true of Chuck Bednarik. Bednarik played in an era where players got away with a lot more. He played his entire career with the Eagles and is a member of the NFL’s 1950s all-decade team. He was the last player to play both offense and defense on a regular basis. He did so as a linebacker and a center. In the video below from the Graham Smeaton YouTube channel, Bednarik describes knocking Giants quarterback Frank Gifford out cold. Watch it and then imagine the kind of damage this guy could do if he was given a ball to throw at your head.
Barry Sanders– I am still mad this Lions’ legend retired so young. If there was ever a guy that could run between rain drops it was Barry Sanders. The NFL’s third all-time leading rusher would have had every record imaginable had he played a few more years. Defenders could never tackle him. Nabbing him with a ball would be a tall task. His historically low key personality would be an interesting counter to guys like Bednarik and Romanowski. Even though they rarely got it done, it is fun to watch defenders try to tackle Sanders. Enjoy ten of his finest masterpieces from the NFL’s YouTube channel.
Steve Largent– At under six feet tall, durability would be a concern for Seattle’s all-time leading receiver. However, there is a place on the dodgeball court for anyone who can make catches like the undersized Seahawk did. The video below from the NFL’s YouTube channel gives you a small taste of his greatness.
Bo Jackson– Simply put, Bo Jackson is one of the most athletically gifted people the world has ever seen. You can count on one hand the number of people that have played two sports at the highest possible professional level. Prior to getting derailed by injuries, Jackson always looked like the best player on the football field or baseball diamond. He is the kind of athlete that would have translated well to any sport, dodgeball included. The same can be said for Deion Sanders, but this team already has enough strong personalities.
Well, there you have it. The fiercest NFL dodgeball team my twisted mind can come up with. Who would make your ultimate NFL dodgeball team?
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