NFL’s Dirtiest Players

The Sports Illustrated dirtiest NFL player survey is out. There are some not so surprising names and one real shocker — Steelers safety Troy Polamalu. First of all, Troy is better than Jesus. Plus, I’ve watched every game of his NFL career and I don’t remember one time where he’s made a late hit or taken a cheap shot.

As to the rest of the list, it’s no shock that a lot of guys who play in the trenches appear — Kevin Mawae (C), Richie Incognito (G), Harvey Dahl (G) and Jared Allen (DE). Frankly, it’s surprising that there aren’t more players on the list from the offensive and defensive lines, given that it’s ugly hand-to-hand combat in close quarters in there. Other than punching a guy in the groin or deliberately gouging somebody’s eye, what really constitutes “dirty play” along the line?

Of course, Steelers future Hall of Fame wide out Hines Ward tops the list. No surprise there. Although Ward plays within the rules, he plays right up against them, right on the edge of legality. Plus he’s a receiver who hits like a safety, which makes him seem dirty to defensive players. And of course, there was the time he broke a guy’s jaw …

And it’s a list full of guys who have injured other players, Ray Ray Lewis, Joey Porter, Jared Allen, Shawne Merriman and Albert Haynesworth. Well, again, there was that time Haynesworth stomped on a guy’s forehead …

Sure, all these players are known hard hitters, they’ve all been poster-boys for football toughness at one time or another. Do they hit with too much force sometimes? I wonder.

Their play may be right on the bubble – between hard-hitting and cheap shotting – but there is no doubt the NFL makes bank on these guys. Those are the clips the NFL uses to promote the game, so I have to ask, is there such a thing as hitting too hard in the NFL?

And while were here, Favre should totally be on this list: