DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Tailgate Forum NFL Tough Guys

I like tough players. I used to pride myself on being tough, but that was at a far inferior level. Being a tough guy in the NFL is freaking unreal.

I'm hoping we can talk about some of the guys that we consider tough guys in the NFL.

My first entry might surprise some, but this dude is one of the toughest guys I have ever seen. I was just watching him on NFL Network on one of the "A Football Life" episodes.

The dude is Steve Smith, the bad ass WR for Carolina and Baltimore. The dude had perhaps the greatest stiff arm ever. Here is a couple of examples:







The guy had an incredible will to win and to dominate opponents. I know a lot of people who don't like Steve Smith, but I loved the dudes intensity, talent, and toughness.

He punked guys like Ricard Sherman, Pacman, Talib, etc.

I'm telling you what........there are not many dudes in the history of the NFL, regardless of size, that I would take over Steve Smith.

Who is your nominee?

Lorenzo Neal. As a fellow manlet, in my playing days, he was an inspiration on how to block.



2 things, 1) I now realize why you react like I just shot dog, when I compare Corey to Steve Smith. And 2) I feel like this thread will be highlights of some of the best players of all time, and also guides on how not to play football anymore

Lorenzo Neal was a hard ass who blocked his butt off.

As far as Corey and Steve goes............yeah, Corey is not the same as Steve. I'll leave it at that.

Alex Mack played after having an appendectomy .... and didn't even miss a single game.

'Nuff said.

Nice addition. He also played w/really bad calf and back injuries. He's a tough guy.

The appendectomy thing still blows my mind.

Yeah, I was flat out amazed when they said he was playing. IIRC, we might have had a bye in there, but still .... just incredible.

To be fair, these days appendectomy is done via laparoscopy and there aren't cut wounds. Just a few punctures. It's easy peasy.

It's the NFL, Eve. You got 330 lb monsters and 245 lb crazed linebackers slamming into your body.

Even more reason laparoscopy should be nothing to these people.

Okay Eve, I concede. However, I would rather this conversation focus on NFL Tough Guys if that is okay w/you?

We can start a thread about recovery times for various surgical procedures if it makes you feel better.

I don't care. I didn't bring it up.

And I'm hoping someone challenges me about how tough Steve Smith was/is. I expected someone to call him a loud-mouthed punk. I got some ammo ready for your asses.

Ronnie Lott lost part of a finger...

I think I recall Walter Johnson getting frostbite at a game in Minnesota.

Ronnie Lott is a great addition. You are right. He actually had part of his finger amputated so he wouldn't miss a game.

Here is how he hit:

it's hard to call a wide receiver tough, but if there is a tough WR, he would look like Steve Smith.

I was hoping someone would bring this dude up............but, I don't think you can get any tougher than this dude.

Having your finger amputated doesn't make you tough.

One of my game players had her finger cut off and it healed, except part of the bone was sticking out.

So yesterday she had to go for a procedure to have the bone shaved.

Teenage girl tougher than football player.

Eve, why are you trying to derail this thread?

Because I know people tougher than football players apparently.

If you want to judge by injuries.

Talk about manly things.

Injuries aren't manly.

Surely you have some other criteria for deciding who is "tough".

You are talking out of your ass.

I posted videos and talked about physical presence.

Watch this again and tell me if your teenage girl can do this?

I'm not talking out my ass. You all keep saying that injuries somehow make them tough.

There is nothing about injuries that make them tougher than anyone else. Because normal everyday people have injuries also.

Come up with some criteria that determines "toughness".
Because it's all subjective.

How about this guy?

Our own Jim Brown and Joe Thomas come to mind. Jim played 9 years and never missed a game at the maybe most physically punished position in football, at a time when every D-coord game-planned against him and every opposition defender targeted him. Joe never missed a snap for over 10 years - over 10,000 snaps - while performing at an All Pro level over that period. Its not just the longevity, its the excellence they brought to the game despite playing through pain and injury. Honorable mention has to go to my all-time fave Brown, Clay Matthews Jr, for playing at a high level for 16 years in a young man's game at a very demanding position, OLB.

I realize that I'm biased, but Jack Lambert was definitely an NFL tough guy

and spot on.

I remember Youngblood. Didn't know this story, however. Pretty crazy and yes, he may well win the prize.

I like that the dude doing the vid is wearing a Browns shirt too.

In the same vein as James Harrison, who was also pretty tough, and by "tough" I mean "dirty". I always felt like Lambert and Harrison wanted to hurt people, not just defeat them. No offense to you, just them.

I always thought Eric Turner was TOUGH.

Joe Thomas as well

Kosar playing on a broken ankle vs Miami

I give you my entry..... Ronnie Lott

Steve Atwater from Denver as well ... he laid the wood

Loved Steve Smith. One of my favorite players. As tough as they come.

Payton, Butkus, Ditka, Lambert, Lott, John Mackey.

I thought so too until I played hockey with him and a few 17/18 year old kids made him throw a temper tantrum lke a 5 year old and go stomping out of the arena

Brett Favre - The ironman. 321 consecutive starts (297 regular season, 24 playoffs). Played through countless injuries and until his body basically gave out. Getting in Sapp's face is a classic and shows his "don't back down" mindset.

Anquan Boldin - Always thought he was underrated and always liked his game. Tough, gritty receiver who did a lot of the dirty work over the middle while Fitz got most of the credit (a beast himself, btw.)

JT and Mack - already discussed above

Antoine Winfield - Really underrated corner. Good enough as a cover guy but where he really shined was destroying runs and short passes on his side of the field. Not afraid to mix it up, despite his size. Kind of reminds me of Steve Smith on the field actually but at corner.

that's sad - I didn't know about that.

what about tough coaches? you know, those guys who typically lead "tough" teams ...
Bill Parcells
Tom Coughlin
Bill Belichick

How about Chuck Noll, who is an alum of Benedictine?

he'd make the grade as well (unfortunately haha)

Joe freaking Thomas