Athletes That Could Have Been NFL Players

Updated 3 months, 1 week ago

October 30, 2009 – Dr. Pancake

Inspired by The Cage Doctor’s Athletes that Could’ve Been MMA Fighters, the Pigskin Doctor’s offer up an all-star cast of athletes that could’ve been NFL players. I developed an offensive and defensive lineup of players based on prior football experience, size, speed, and all-around athletic ability.

OFFENSE:

QB: Joe Mauer – Joe Mauer was the 2001 USA Today Player of the Year and turned down a scholarship to play quarterback at ...

60 comments on this story

PRO

50% positive

Showing 55 relevant reactions out of 60.

Photos Of Chad Ochocinco's Top 10 Bengals Moments | YepYep - Your Daily Waste Of Time 3 months, 1 week ago on Wordpress

[...] Athletes That Could Have Been NFL Players [...]

jae hood 3 months, 1 week ago on Wordpress

duh ur forgot allen iverson

Athletes That Could Have Been NFL Players « The Sports Report 3 months, 1 week ago on Wordpress

[...] Source:http://thepigskindoctors.com/2009/10/athletes-that-could-have-been-nfl-players/ [...]

iamdan1 3 months, 1 week ago on Digg

I strongly disagree with the offensive line choices. Prince Fielder would be horrible, too slow. MMA fighters don't know how to use their hands besides fighting, so they would be ineffective. And Glen Davis is way too small and too slow, he couldn't take on a safety.

Chukwuemeka I. Onyeagucha. 3 months, 1 week ago on Wordpress

Yes, and don’t forget Triumph C. Onyeagucha.

Guezz 3 months, 1 week ago on Wordpress

Usain Bolt?

Hilariously bad article 3 months, 1 week ago on Wordpress

This article isn’t deep…you just looked up stats and big names. But having intelligence in sports commentary is pretty rare. And please don’t touch hockey again… Joe Thorton is a better choice than Alex.

Matt B 3 months, 1 week ago on Wordpress

The only argument I have with this one is that Brock Lesnar did try out for the Minnesota Vikings a few years back and wasn’t good enough to make the cut. Otherwise, a pretty nice list.

vtbarrera 3 months, 1 week ago on Digg

Where's Allen Iverson? The YouTube vids of him playing QB for his high school are just silly. Highly recruited by many top college football programs, he opted for basketball instead.

jaykoo21 3 months, 1 week ago on Digg

Brock Lesnar tried to play in the NFL and failed miserably. He sucked and got cut before the season.

drewp24 3 months, 1 week ago on Digg

Exactly, he was good at starting fights, but didn't do much on the D-line.

Ryan Wakefield 3 months, 1 week ago on Twitter

Athletes that could have been NFL players http://bit.ly/2lbtxp maybe the Shark will still drop the mitt in favor of the helmet @UND_com

machocheese34 3 months, 1 week ago on Digg

usain bolt? surely the fastest man alive could do some serious damage

offsidz 3 months, 1 week ago on Twitter

Professional athletes that could've played in the NFL. http://bit.ly/2pxBzs

richirwin 3 months, 1 week ago on Digg

If you could identify who some of these guys are that would help. Not all of us are baseball players.

Matt Hymers 3 months, 1 week ago on Wordpress

If you jackasses could get your head around the fact that there are other sports and, believe it or not, amazing athletes outside of the U.S. none of the above mentioned people would make this list.

bjgodby090978 3 months, 1 week ago on Digg

Lyoto Machida would be a HORRIBLE linebacker. You typically do not want your linebacker to spend the whole game running backwards away from the opponent.

On a related note, Shogun got screwed out of a belt and probably about 100k or more.

clintonbaptiste 3 months, 1 week ago on Digg

No rugby players? Seems odd since the game is so similar to American football.

hammburglar 3 months, 1 week ago on Digg

Well that just wouldn't be fair. Theyre crazy enough without a helmet.

saucy05 3 months, 1 week ago on Digg

The list seems to concentrate on baseball a bit too much.

How about we broaden it to sports like rugby jonah lomu http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KYt1TOSni4E or sprinting usain bolt.

smacksaw 3 months, 1 week ago on Digg

The thing about football players is that they are a completely different breed. Durability, toughness and a certain body type are what you need. Quickness is more important than speed in many instances and you need to have certain instincts. For an example, Tony Gonzalez and Antonio Gates are two guys who have awesome fundamentals from playing basketball.

Bo Jackson? He was not a great RB ... See all content Hide content

sinurgy 3 months, 1 week ago on Digg

Ovechkin at linebacker is pretty much perfect!!! He has all the athleticism in the world combined with a seemingly endless supply of energy and a devil may care attitude. I haven't been a lifelong hockey fan but that dude is worth watching! For my fellow sports fans that are new to hockey, seriously watch that guy a few games, especially anytime they play a rival like the Penguins or Flyers. Dude is ... See all content Hide content

Pobedauraura 3 months, 1 week ago on Digg

http://veles.myip.hu/kodak-easyshare/uronss.html

http://linok.myip.hu/panasonic-sdr/ommellein.html

http://linok.myip.hu/olympus-fe/jeder.html

http://lashok.mydns.hu/sigma-105mm/detenikexas.htm ...

http://arnrise.myip.hu/canon-ef/orypesupowe.html

http://veles.myip.hu/kodak-easyshare/yomestyathe.h ...

http://lebez.mydns.hu/fujifilm-finepix/lyeitofr ... See all content Hide content

unkoboy 3 months, 1 week ago on Digg

bj penn probably wouldn't have the speed to cover receivers, lyoto is too leight to play pro LB, he would, at that size, be a CB or Safety

=== popurls.com === popular today 3 months, 1 week ago on Wordpress

=== popurls.com === popular today…

yeah! this story has entered the popular today section on popurls.com…

WeebleWobble 3 months, 1 week ago on Digg

Great list for offense. Horrible list for D

Joshislong 3 months, 1 week ago on Digg

I don't think the "he was good in high school so he would be good in the NFL" argument is valid. There are plenty of excellent college quarterbacks who don't succeed in the league.

vsujohn2 3 months, 1 week ago on Digg

And also plenty of QBs that rarely played a lick of college ball that end up playing great in the NFL.

Dr. Pancake sucks 3 months, 1 week ago on Wordpress

Dr. Pankcake is a big pussy, I posted comments on here earlier that had no swears in them but criticized this horrible list…and he pulled it!!! What big baby can’t handle it it. YOU SUCK AT WHAT YOU DO, FIND A NEW PROFESSION!!!!

Brant 3 months, 1 week ago on Wordpress

Seriously? B.J. Penn?? In what world could he cover any teams 3rd reciever, much less their number 1? He’s not a physical specimen. His cardio is renowned for being weak and you want him to play corner? Really? He lays on his back in the guard and taps people out. The only person with less cardio is Tank Abbott.

And Machida? Come on… he’s 205lbs, systematic, and plodding ... See all content Hide content

Hatesthislist 3 months, 1 week ago on Wordpress

There is so much wrong with this list it’s actually insane that someone linked this.

First off, there’s no f’n way Ovechkin could play in the NFL, especially as freakin MLB. Anyone that even tries to claim that obviously never played football past pop warner…if at all. He weighs 212lbs, that’s less than most running backs and receivers weigh and would be on his ... See all content Hide content

nouman1989 3 months, 1 week ago on Digg

There should be some soccer players that would have good enough athleticism to make it in the NFL

6minuteabs 3 months, 1 week ago on Digg

They'd all be punters and placekickers, and nobody wants to read about that.

smacksaw 3 months, 1 week ago on Digg

Again, great comment. These guys have the quickness and footwork. All you would need to do is teach them to work with their hands more. Plenty of that in futbol, but not the right kind.

ChunkerMunker 3 months, 1 week ago on Digg

Yeah.... as kickers.

vsujohn2 3 months, 1 week ago on Digg

I don't know. There was a kicker for Clemson a few years back, that also played soccer, and he was just awful. But I suppose it was because the soccer season and football season ran concurrently.

moo113 3 months, 1 week ago on Digg

I'd agree but I'd boost it from "some" to "many". Their level of physical fitness, speed, control and endurance is pretty fantastic.

therealrico 3 months, 1 week ago on Digg

I think a lot of soccer players would have been either good running backs, or corner backs. Soccer players need a lot of lower body strength, which translates well to a running back making it difficult to tackle them. And for physical strength some of these guys could be that strong, but it would hinder endurance to be that strong, and big so they keep bulk off.

crossmr 3 months, 1 week ago on Digg

for receivers..not so much. You just need a guy who can run fast and take a hit. they don't do a lot of muscling. Soccer players can have some heinous injuries and some of them are quite fast, so I'd say many of them could play receiver.

sencity 3 months, 1 week ago on Digg

@moo113

I'd have to disagree on your "many" argument. although that futbol has many athletes that have elite agility, endurance, speed, and coordination, NFL football also requires a certain level of physical strength that I doubt "many" futbol players possess. even the so called weakest class of NFL athlete (WR/DB) can bench press over 300LBs.

bluto36 3 months, 1 week ago on Digg

Charles Barkley TE. Shaq LT, Pete Rose FS, Jordon WR, John Daly Nose Tackle (if drunk enough), Hanley Ramirez KR.

ChunkerMunker 3 months, 1 week ago on Digg

Its Jordan, not Jordon.... NEVER misspell the GOAT's name.

And I agree.... MJ would've been a great receiver.

Rick 3 months, 1 week ago on Wordpress

Brock Lesnar tried out for the NFL and got cut.

Daily Toke: Life is terminal | Hail Mary Jane 3 months, 1 week ago on Wordpress

[...] Athletes That Could Have Been NFL Players [...]

HeDiggMe 3 months, 1 week ago on Digg

Wesley "2 Scoops" should be on this list. He was probably the only contestant to kick all the American Gladiators' ass and then talk shit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xZlTyzrbbqw

anarcurt 3 months, 1 week ago on Digg

CC Sabathia was all conference at tight end in HS. He should be your tight end. Lebron would be better as a straight receiver.

You need some hockey D men on your Defense. Someone like Zdeno Chara as linebacker. 6'10 and powerful this guy would be blocking passes and destroying quarterbacks on a blitz. For football I would take him over Ovechkin any day.

digg-dugg 3 months, 1 week ago on Digg

Not a chance. Although Chara is a great pick, Ovechkin could sack a qb far easier than Chara anyday. He's more athletic than any top athlete, has shit-tons of energy, and is extremely unpredictable. Chara is a huge dude and solid, but he's not breaking through an offensive line any time soon. Too slow and lanky, he's just good with a stick, and hard-to-move.

anklesnap 3 months, 1 week ago on Digg

I see you got Shaq on D-Line....didn't you watch Shaq Vs. this summer....he should be QB....see right over the line....

nahsrocketeer75 3 months, 1 week ago on Digg

It's an amusing exercise and many of the examples sure do seem logical ... but there's so much more that goes into success at the highest level of any pro sport than just athleticism. MJ/baseball, for example. That said, Lebron may have been the greatest tight end of all-time.

therealrico 3 months, 1 week ago on Digg

Lebron was all state at wide receiver for his prep school, and could have gone to Ohio State on scholarship to play football. I think tight end would have been a good fit for him because he wouldn't have the speed to get down the field like a Randy Moss.

Also a good opposite example like Gonzales is Julius Peppers of Carolina, who play for North Carolina Tar heels.

smacksaw 3 months, 1 week ago on Digg

Well I am glad the first comment was this. It seems that basketball skills do translate over to the NFL. LeBron and Shaq would have made interesting TEs. I would not start them as guys that tall can't run block for shit, but they'd be good in passing downs. Look at Elvis Dumervil this year. He goes right under guys. There's too many giant OTs in the league. TE? Plays next to the OT and has to block ... See all content Hide content

jj2me 3 months, 1 week ago on Digg

There was a basketball player from the '60s from Newark, N.J. and Colorado State, Lonnie Wright, who played both pro basketball and pro football, although he hadn't played football since high school (where he was most famous as a legendary basketball player). At 6'2" and a great leaper despite having a football build, he was the first football player they ever positioned at the goalposts in order ... See all content Hide content

iamdan1 3 months, 1 week ago on Digg

Tony Gonzales played basketball through college, so I am sure Lebron would be able to be similar to him in skill. And if you think TEs can't get downfield, watch Tony Gonzales, or Ben Watson make a good play once a season. Ben Watson is one of the fastest tight ends in the league, and is as fast as Champ Bailey.

Athletes That Could Have Made It In The NFL | YepYep - Your Daily Waste Of Time 3 months, 1 week ago on Wordpress

[...] Doctors have compiled an entire roster of athletes that would make a legitimate NFL squad. Check it out. Like this post? Share [...]

matt 3 months, 1 week ago on Wordpress

had to include lou holtz’s favorite, suhmarjzuhh, didn’t you?!?!

Twitter Facebook

DASHBOARD

PRO
MY KEYWORDS

PRO
- ubervu
- Apple iPhone
- Nexus One
+ Add
ADD
CANCEL
TOOLS & WIDGETS