I admit that this is a bit of a biased pick, but the nickname makes sense. All day long, Peterson is a threat to go the distance. He proved in 2012 that he’s the best running back in the NFL after falling eight yards short of the NFL single-season rushing yards record. As long as Peterson is in the lineup, the Minnesota Vikings have the opportunity to win.
While most known for promising a victory over the Indianapolis Colts in Super Bowl III and delivering, Joe Namath got his nickname from his dubious conquests around New York during his time with the Jets. He was Gang Green’s own superstar, and he carried himself like he belonged on Broadway.
No wide receiver in the NFL wants to go to Revis Island, and for good reason. One of the elite cover cornerbacks of the modern era, Revis has made a name for himself with his ability to shut down even the best wide receivers in the league. While it may sound like a vacation spot, the only thing opponents will find when visiting Revis Island is No. 24 blanketing them for 60 minutes.
This one is pretty self-explanatory; Kearse was a freak out on the football field. A defensive end who was one of the NFL’s premier pass-rushers of his time, Kearse wreaked havoc on opposing quarterbacks while racking up 74 career sacks in 11 seasons. While his production declined significantly during his last few years in the league, the impact that he made early on was more than enough to earn him freak status.
One of the biggest playmakers to ever grace the football field, Sanders shined whenever the stakes were highest and the lights were brightest. A ballhawk who did nothing but dazzle when the pigskin was in his hands, Sanders was an eccentric personality off of the field as well that made his swagger on it all the more memorable.
While he wasn’t so mean during his famous commercial cameo, “Mean Joe Greene” was one of the most ferocious linebackers in NFL history. When he hit players, he tried to take their heads off or put them in comas. The “Mean” originated from his college days playing for the North Texas Mean Green, but it was well-reflected in his playing style.
In one play, Lynch went from talented-yet-inconsistent starting running back to “Beast Mode.” During a playoff game against the New Orleans Saints in which many believed the Seattle Seahawks didn’t belong, Lynch broke off a run where he simply refused to go down. He shrugged off one defender after another before leaping into the endzone and helping the Seahawks pull off one of the biggest upsets in NFL postseason history. With that run, “Beast Mode” was born.
One of the greatest running backs in NFL history, Payton’s game was characterized by dance-like moves and a smooth running style that made him so hard to take down. “Sweetness” also fit his calm, gentle demeanor off of the field, but what was really sweet was the way he played with such grace when the ball was in his hands.
Throughout his career as the bruising back for the Pittsburgh Steelers, Bettis made a habit of taking defenders to school. On his way to over 13,000 career rushing yards, he often bulldozed and carried would-be tacklers who dared stand in his way. You never wanted to see Bettis running straight at you, because you knew you were going for a ride.
Measuring in at 6’2’’, 335 pounds, Perry looked like a refrigerator out on the field and was just as hard for offensive lineman to move. Whether he was stuffing the run on defense or bowling over defenders as a fullback, “The Fridge” was a load. He was arguably the biggest personally apart from Jim McMahon on the 1985 Chicago Bears team, and was one of the last defensive players to occasionally touch the football on offense.
Gil Alcaraz IV is a Content Planner/NFL Featured Columnist for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @GilAlcarazIV, like him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google.
Get our content customized for you directly to your inbox!
