Friday Five: Favorite NFL Players from SEC Rivals
By Tony Breland
You hated him his entire career as an SEC rival. The way he led the band in the fight song after beating Alabama in their own stadium. How he managed to make it all about him even in a loss, by crying on national TV. Or maybe it was the way he cashed his check, won a BCS title, and laughed all the way to the NFL draft.
Now, things have changed. He plays on Sundays, and will never stand across the sidelines from Alabama again. Without that rivalry hatred to could your judgement you admit, yeah, he is pretty good. I hope his team goes deep into the playoffs.
Here’s a list of our five favorite all-time NFL players from rival SEC schools. Let us know yours in the comments.
5 Cam Newton
The word ‘favorite’ may be a bit strong here, but it’s impossible to deny the man’s talent. Say what you will about his amateur status at Auburn; the guy was the single reason Auburn beat Alabama on its way to their first championship in fifty years. He’s in the Pro Bowl as a rookie, and has a Heisman sitting on a busted laptop in his closet. And he’s just getting started.
4 Herschel Walker
If you’re too young to have seen him play for the Bulldogs, picture Trent Richardson’s power and quickness in a body twice his size. Now imagine that guy never picked up a weight in his life. Another former Heisman winner, Herschel was a sensation coming out of college, but wasted years in the USFL before making his mark in the NFL. He was one of a kind.
3 Peyton Manning
He never won a Heisman, due mainly to Steve Spurrier’s fun-and-gun offense. And he never won a national championship. But he went on to become arguably the greatest NFL quarterback of all time. Peyton has been a likeable, marketable commodity for the league and on the way has shattered NFL records left and right. He may never play another down, but he’s already punched his own ticket into the Hall of Fame.
2 Tim Tebow
Hated the guy at Florida. Hated him. But without having to deal with him wearing a Gators jersey, we have to admit he’s actually a pretty nice guy. He’s not the image of a modern NFL quarterback; he’s some type of Bronco Nagurski/Jim Plunkett hybrid. We’re not sure how he does it, but he keeps on winning; at least until the Patriots come to town. He may not have a long career as a quarterback, but we have to admit; we’re kinda pulling for him.
1 Bo Jackson
Yeah, he played for Auburn. Yes his career was cut short by injury. But Bo Jackson was simply one of the greatest athletes that ever lived. On both the football field and the baseball field, Bo did things that no man did before or since. Had he continued to play both sports until retirement, there likely wouldn’t be a record in either league without his name on it. And we would have cheered him on the entire time.