Before I get to my list, let me just say that I am writing this as a completely biased Patriots fan.
We all have those players who we just plain don't like, whether it is because they've beaten our favorite teams on more than one occasion, or because we believe that they're overrated, or maybe because there's just something about them that we can't stand or that we find annoying.
Whatever the case may be, we all have our favorite teams and players, and our least favorite teams and players.
I'm sure that some or many of you will not like this list and that's completely fine. If you find one of your favorites on my list, and you will, then by all means tell me that you don't agree.
To state the obvious, my favorite player is Tom Brady, and believe me, there's nothing bad you could say about him that I haven't already heard.
One man's hero is another man's villain.
With that, I give you my 10 NFL players that I love to hate.
1. Peyton Manning
Did you honestly expect anyone else in this spot? Over the years, Peyton has proven to be the only real quarterback to challenge the Patriots' dynasty on more than one occasion.
Sure, the Brady and Belichick's Pats have only been beaten three times in the playoffs, but the one that stands out even more than last year’s Super Bowl loss is their loss to Peyton in the 2007 AFC Championship.
Obviously, that game had far less riding on it than the Super Bowl, but because we lost to Peyton, and because we lost to him in what amounted to the real Super Bowl that year (the Bears game two weeks later didn't count), makes that game that much more painful.
There were always three things in life that I knew were a sure thing: people would die, people would have to pay their taxes, and Peyton would choke in the playoffs. After that game, I could no longer say that.
Now, that being said, he did choke big time against the Chargers last year at home, and I was very happy about that, but still, everything about him, from the commercials, to the silly audibles, even to his facemask, makes Peyton Manning my most hated player.
2. Eric Mangini
"The Mangenius"? I don't think so. I prefer "Coach Tattle-Tale".
Now, while I'm only half kidding here, I do think that maybe the Jets should have been a little more worried about their own problems rather than what the Patriots were doing. But in all honesty, I can't say that if you reversed roles I wouldn't have done the same thing.
Now, on to the reason for his No. 2 ranking: Here was a guy in Mangini who was a young, smart, hard-working guy who was quickly becoming one of the best defensive minds in football behind his mentor. Then, after only one year, he bails on the Pats for their long-time division foe, the New York Jets.
Now, I can't fault the guy for wanting more money and a chance to run his own organization. That's what you strive for. But when a guy like that leaves your team for a division rival, you're going to harbor some anger towards him.
In hindsight, I think he would have been much better served following the Romeo Crennel route: staying for an extended period of time, hopefully getting a chance to win a few championships, and then moving on when there was nothing left for you to accomplish.
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Coach Crennel paid his dues, worked hard, won three Super Bowls, and is now finding success with the Browns, and I wish him the best. If the Jets don't play well this year with all the money they spent, then Mangini could be out of a job come February.
All of that, plus a less than friendly handshake or two, and the whole Spygate fiasco, and coach Eric Mangini comes in at No. 2 on my list.
3. Tony Romo
This one here has less to do with my allegiance to the Patriots, and more to do with the fact that Romo is about the most overrated player in the NFL.
Now, I'm not about to sit here and tell you that Romo is a bad quarterback or that he puts up bad statistics, or even that he can't win games.
What I am going to say however, is that as a 28-year-old guy who is heralded as the next Brett Favre, and a guy who is getting paid more that $67 million, he has won just as many playoff games as you and I put together.
This could all change next year, and he could play extremely well. He could win a Super Bowl and shut me up. But until then, why don't we hold off on his anointment until he's won at least one playoff game.
4. Philip Rivers
Here is a guy who really gets under my skin. He's loved by Charger fans, and rightfully so, but hated by almost anyone else. With all the bad blood between the Patriots and the Chargers as of late, Rivers is an easy target for many fans across the country, especially since he isn't the quietest quarterback in the league.
That being said, I would much rather have the 26-year-old Rivers, who has taken his team to an AFC Championship, then the 28-year-old Romo.
5. Dwight Freeney
Our second Colt on the list is Dwight Freeney. Freeney has been harassing Tom Brady ever since the two first played each other way back in 2002. He may not be the most talked-about defensive end in the NFL, but I would rather have Matt Light go up against everyone else before I would let Freeney near him.
In the '07 AFC Championship game that I talked about earlier, Freeney was a huge part in the Colts' comeback, and his sacks on Brady in that game still make me think about what could have been.
6. Terrell Owens
T.O. would probably be on anyone's list of most hated NFL players (except for Cowboy fans of course). His on-field ability is only matched by his ability to destroy teams off of it.
He was the reason that Jeff Garcia was driven out of San Francisco, and they've never recovered, and he was also the reason that the Eagles went from the Super Bowl to the worst team in their division, and they haven't recovered either.
Maybe Owens, the ultimate team killer, has finally found his home in Dallas. While no one can question his work ethic and skill set, I know I wouldn't want him anywhere near my team.
7. Reche Caldwell
While this one here may surprise you, Reche Caldwell was one of the very few Patriots who came in, played a full year for coach Belichick, and then choked when his team needed him.
His touchdown drops in the playoffs and his crazy eyes will always make Caldwell not only one of my most hated ex-Patriots of all-time, but also one of my most hated Star Wars characters of all-time: Jar Jar Binks.
8. "Big Ben" Roethlisberger
He plays for the Steelers, so that's strike one. He makes an ungodly amount of money for someone who really hasn't been able to take that next step since winning his first Super Bowl, so that's strike two.
While I'm not knocking him for being a winner, because he has shown that he knows how to win, I am knocking him for not living up to his talent. The Steelers should have beaten the Jaguars in the playoffs this year, and should have given my Pats a run for their money after that.
It seems to me that ever since his Super Bowl win, he really hasn't played his best football.
When you throw in the fact that he was the one who broke New England's NFL record-streak of 21 straight victories in 2004, "Big Ben" finds his way onto my list at No. 8.
9. Bob Sanders
Another Colt defender who has played very well against the Patriots in the past is Bob Sanders. He comes in at No. 9 because, like his teammate Freeney, he has been a major force in the Indy-New England rivalry, as well as in the infamous 2007 AFC Championship.
His ability to be a defensive game-changer makes him one of my most hated players and definitely one of the most feared players across the league.
10. Tony Dungy
I can just hear the angry comments now. How could anyone not like Tony Dungy?
Well, he's a stand-up guy, a great family man, and an NFL pioneer, but when he's facing your favorite team as the opposing coach, you tend to forget about all of that.
The mental chess-matches between Dungy and Belichick in the playoffs have been amazing to watch (at least recently anyway...Belichick had won every postseason meeting against him before '07), and he has proven to be as good a coach as he is a man.
I do have to confess, though, that I ranked him last for a reason. After filling this article with so much hate, I'd like to end it on a better note.
When Tony Dungy's son died a little less than three years ago, there was not anyone as sad for him as I was. On the field feelings aside, he's a good man, and no one should have to bury a child.
So when Dungy did beat my Patriots in 2007, and then go on to play the Bears in the Super Bowl, I was disappointed, but a part of me was happy for the man who's given so much to this great game.
Did I just say something nice about the Colts? It must be getting late...
Overall, I hope you guys enjoyed my list. While I'm sure I'll be getting many angry comments, keep in mind that I am being completely biased, obviously, and that if some of you were to make a similar list, Brady and Belichick would be just as high as Peyton and Dungy.
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about 1 month ago
The obvious bias aside, a fairly solid list. I have issues with about half of it, though. I would put Belichick at or near the top of my list, coming from a Vikings fan.
from about 1 month ago
Haha so would a lot of people
from about 1 month ago
You might have company you don't expect. I'm a Patriots fan and I think Belichick iss a great coach, but I'd rather have a beer with just about any one else.
from about 1 month ago
Hate Belichick? Wow, there's a novel concept. Never heard that one before.
about 1 month ago
Why would anyone dislike Peyton Manning? That doesn't square with someone who is a football fan.
from about 1 month ago
For the reasons I listed under his name... everyone's gonna have people who they like and dislike
from about 1 month ago
I don't dislike Peyton, but I do dislike hearing about him over and over again.
about 1 month ago
Enjoyed reading it but I do have something to say to the Roethlisberger comment.... I hate him more than you and it pisses me off that we share the same last name (except his has an e.) I live in the town where he played high school football too which makes me hate him even more because I can't show anyone my ID without someone asking "O MY GOD ARE YOU BENS BROTHER."
But put hating him aside... you mentioned that he hasn't made the next step since winning the Super Bowl. And you also said that since the Super Bowl year he hasn't played that great...
When Ben won the Super Bowl his stats were 62.7% completion rating with 2385 17Tds and 9 INT's.
The next year he had his stupid motorcycle accident and didn't play great but still threw for 3500 yards.
And last year he had his best statistical year. Completing 65% of his passes and having a QB rating of 104.1. Threw for 3154 yards 32Tds and only 11INT's.
I guess my point is that you didn't do your research before you said he hasn't done anything since he won his Super Bowl. The team hasn't done anything.. but Ben has easily made himself into the list of top 4 Qb's in the league.
from about 1 month ago
I should have been more clear... He definitely improved his stats and he has become a more complete QB but in terms of postseason success he just hasn't been able to get back to the SB... or even the Conference Championship... there's no question that he is a top 4 QB in the league, but a top 4 qb's should at least get past the first round
about 1 month ago
"Big Ben" Roethlisberger??? Not sure how you couldn't hate him, and he's incredibly good qb. Oh and since the super bowl he won, he almost died.
from about 1 month ago
For the reasons I listed under his name... and I do realize he had the motorcycle accident and I'm very glad that he was able to come back from that
about 1 month ago
I understand that you self-identify as a "completely biased Patriots fan," so I'm not offended or upset about your inclusion of Mangini.
However, whenver people talk about Mangini's supposed defection from New England and betrayal of Belichick, I find myself forced to remind everybody that years ago it was Belichick who spurned his mentor, Bill Parcells, by quitting his post as head coach of the Jets the day after Parcells retired and named him as his successor in order to become the coach of the Patriots.
Your description of Mangini basically fit what Belichick did to the letter, except what Belichick did was even worse because he actually would have been the Jets head coach, so it's not like he just wanted to be a head coach somewhere more than anything.
I don't fault you for being mad at Mangini, since I do completely understand how it feels to be betrayed by a coach. I just figured this was a good opportunity to remind people of how Belichick got to New England, since he likes to appear so righteous about Mangini's decision to coach the Jets.
And the less than firm handshakes? It's Belichick who couldn't handle losing to the Jets at home two years ago and acted like a baby about it.
Really entertaining article though, good stuff.
from about 1 month ago
Yeah I agree with you there... but Belichick did was with Parcells in New York from '83-'90 and won two Super Bowls there and then again from '96-'99 in NE and with the Jets... so while he did leave Parcells and and leave the Jets like Mangini did to the Pats, he had spent a lot more time as a D-Coordinator and principal part of the defense for Parcells then Mangini had spent for Belichick.
from about 1 month ago
You can't hold the Spygate thing against Mangini though, I mean everyone knows that the taping of signals is wrong, and they really deserved to get caught...I mean c'mon they did it to the Jets, maybe they were just practicing their tactics on a team that wasn't good so that way if they needed to resort to that they could be seasoned.
from about 1 month ago
Of course I can't hold that completely against him, like I said, I was only half-kidding about him being a tattle-tale. The taping of signals was wrong and they did deserve to get caught and were punished pretty severely.
from about 1 month ago
It isn't a matter of betrayal as I see it. It's all about revenge. People keep forgetting that Belichick had ratted out Mangini for doing EXACTLY THE SAME THING at the Razor the previous year. Mangini was quietly instructed to turn off the camera, and nothing was ever said about it outside NE. That is why he belongs on the list.
Glaring omission: LT. I am so tired of hearing from him what a classy guy he is. His behavior is anything but classy. The sulking on the bench, walking away from his QB, etc. has all been well-documented. One nugget that isn't so well remembered was LT's comments on ESPN a couple of days after the stupid camera crap, in which he laughed at the Patriots and suggested they couldn't win without cheating. Dumbass. This took place about four days before the chargers would be playing in Foxboro, and they got their asses kicked, no illicit camera in sight. I don't recall seeing LT on national television laughing about that. Yeah, he'd make about 3rd on my list.
from about 1 month ago
Yeah I definitely agree with you on LT... he's no where near the "classy" guy that everyone thinks he is
about 1 month ago
The patriots are the "tattle tales" ::cough:: Dieon Branch ::cough:: Don't be a hypocrite. And don't assume it was Magini that was the rat, there were plenty of staff from New England that moved over and the jets tried solving the incident inside until the patriots refused to comply.
from about 1 month ago
Are you young? The Patriots did steal Belichick from the Jets after learning how to steal a coach when the Jets stole Parcells. This goes back to the old AFL. It is called a "rivalry."
BTW, did you enjoy Curtis Martin?:)
about 1 month ago
Ryan, I'm a Colts fan and 90% of my Top 10 would probably have been Patsies. So you were a lot more objective than I would have been! And you've also managed to do something that has to be a first of sorts: including Tony Dungy in a Top-10 most hated list. And while I can certainly understand your distaste for Peyton, I can't believe that the guy who kinda sorta undermined your whole 16-0 season only landed at No. 2.
I certainly enjoyed your list.
from about 1 month ago
haha yeah I'm probably one of the few who'd have Dungy as a top-10 hated person, but I think I did an o.k. job of showing that's he's on their for his on the field stuff rather than the kind of person he is off of it.
about 1 month ago
This is a terribly useless article. Pats fan or not, you have to respect other players and coaches based on their play and character. Now I understand you may not like Mangini, but your own coach is the biggest ass in the NFL. You also have a QB that I USED to respect because he kept his mouth shut and played good ball. Last year he started running his mouth a little and guess what it got him, a superbowl loss. If the JETS have to lose, I would much rather lose to a class act like the Steelers or Colts as opposed to the classless PATS.
from about 1 month ago
don't worry, you don't have to choose, the jets lose to the pats, the steelers and the colts. you don'r
from about 1 month ago
Actually we beat the Steelers last year. We will also get at least one from the PATS this year. Hopefully in Foxboro.
from about 1 month ago
Not once in this list do I say that I don't respect any of these guys... it takes extreme talent and ability to make it in the NFL and all of these guys have that. I don't know about Brady running his mouth and we lost the Super Bowl because our O-line got demolished and we couldn't play defense at the end.
from about 1 month ago
Brady runs his mouth? I've never heard the guy say anything controversial.
from about 1 month ago
Really? I recall "Oh, so they think we're only going to score 17 points?" and "I don't respect those green guys." Screw Brady.
from about 1 month ago
He was joking about the 17 points... Brady even said that he wanted Burress to say that the Giants would win 35-32 or something like that... and he said that all with a smile
from about 1 month ago
Before their run of 18-0, Brady never would have even responded to that comment. He would have said something like, "Coach doesn't allow us to think that far ahead." That's the old Brady. The new Brady was on his ass most of the Superbowl because he and several of his mates got cocky. Sorry guys, used to respect him, hell used to like and defend him. No more.
from about 1 month ago
Brady is probably one of the few athletes in sports who doesn't run his mouth and showboat... he always sticks up for his teammates, he doesn't make dumb guarantees like a lot of athletes and when he signed his contract extension three years ago he took less money than a lot of other NFL QB's so his team had more cap flexibility... so I can see a lot of reasons for people not to like Brady but not because he "runs his mouth"
from about 1 month ago
Wow, a Jets fan justifying their losing by pretending he has class.:)
about 1 month ago
I see the disclaimer but let me clear somethings up...
So TO is still a bad teammate but Randy Moss is not?? Same type of off field issues, same troubles with two prior teams, same dominance last year...only difference is TO has been dominating and a non-issue going into his 3rd year with the Cowboys and Moss is only going into season 2 with the Pats, so don't count your eggs just yet...
Yes, Romo is an easy target b/c of the public women and the star ego...but he has done nothing but
play well since getting the starting job 1 1/2 seasons ago. After fumbling the win in Seattle (should be
on Parcells, what other starting QB holds for FGs?) he rebounded by having an MVP-type season (yes,
we know Brady set the records..I happen to like Tom Brady) and leading his team to the best record
in the NFC. And the last time I looked the QB does not win or loose playoff games by himself (Else
Tom had the biggest choke in NFL history) Besides, the same defense that contained Romo in the
second half of the NFC Championship, locked up the #1 offense in NFL history two weeks later.
from about 1 month ago
I see your points... I would say though that while you can say that Moss and T.O. have had the same sort of career path... Moss as done less to hurt his former teams than T.O. has... I wouldn't say that Moss ruined the Vikings and the Raiders were certainly pretty bad way before Moss got there but you make some good points. Like I said, maybe Owens has finally found a place in Dallas where he'll be happy and maybe Moss has found that place in New England, but just personally, I wouldn't want T.O. on my team.
Also, about Romo, I don't know if I was clear but I'm definitely not questioning his ability to play QB in the league, he certainly had a great year last year. But this is now two years in a row that he hasn't got it done in the playoffs and he just got rewarded with a huuuge contract.
Like you said, QB's certainly don't win playoff games by themselves but they sure can lose them by themselves.
I'll be the first to say that Brady did not play well at all in the SB and Romo did not play well in his playoff game and they both got beat by a better team. But Brady has gotten it done many times before in the playoffs and Romo hasn't... that was the only real point I was trying to make.
Romo will have his chance again in the playoffs this year, I'm sure you can agree that he has to step up his game.
from about 1 month ago
True he does need to step up his playoff performance b/c we go as he goes, but just check out Bradys playoff numbers in 2001, besides a great game against Oakland, (tuck rule game) in the NFC Championship and Super Bowl he had only 28 completions for 260 yards and 1 td combined. Playoffs is more about managing the game then throwing the ball all over the field.
Anyway, I can respect a Pats fan who makes a 'Most Hated' list...
from about 1 month ago
I do agree with you that to win in the playoffs you do have to manage the game better and I think you'll agree that so does Romo and the rest of the Cowboys... but they'll be right there come next year
about 1 month ago
Did you know that Eric Mangini is a COACH and not a PLAYER you unprepentant buffoon?
from about 1 month ago
Yes I do!
about 1 month ago
Did you know that Eric Mangini is a COACH and not a PLAYER you unreprentant buffoon?
from about 1 month ago
Did you know you posted that twice, you unrepentant buffoon?
about 1 month ago
I agree 100% with Big Ben. I can't stand watching him -- he looks like such a goof running around... and then he somehow always completes ridiculous passes on the run.
about 1 month ago
Ya, bias is a little deep on this list.
If you went around the NFL, you could probably find 3 from the Patriot's camp, on the list of hates.
Um, small item, you also need to fix the title. Dungy and Eric Mangini haven't played in the NFL for years.
from about 1 month ago
Oh I'm sure there would be at least 3 pats, probably more and yeah I know they haven't but "ten nfl players i love to hate" sounds better than "ten NFL people i love to hate"
about 1 month ago
Being a Colts fan, I expected nothing more from a Pats fan. And, of course, Tom Brady and Bellicheat would be 1 and 2 on my list. While, I couldn't deny their respective talent, I hate them for many of the same reasons you hate Peyton and my other Colts. At least you're honest - I do appreciate that. It's refreshing to hear you hate them because of their threat to your team...I can relate to that. thanks for not stooping to the levels I have come to expect from you Pats..
from about 1 month ago
haha yeah I can certainly see why Brady and Belichick would be on top of any Colts fans list and I'm glad you can appreciate why Peyton and other Colts are on mine.
from about 1 month ago
Yes, Colt fans are Friggen' paragons of virtue.:rolleyes:
about 1 month ago
Pretty solid list, although I don't think you are making Big Ben out to be as good as he is. After all, the Jaguars were the better team that year, and I felt all along that they were the team that should win the game. Other than that, no complaints, other than that the Patriots suck lol. LETS GO GIANTS!
about 1 month ago
how about 2 fan bases i love to hate, new york and boston and even worse people who have no ties to those areas that are fans of those city's teams.
from about 1 month ago
If your talking about me not having ties, half of my family is from Burlington, VT and the other half from Binghamton, NY so I do have more ties to New England than anywhere else... we moved down to florida in 1997 when I was 9. My first pro baseball game was at Fenway and my first pro football game was at old foxboro stadium.
about 1 month ago
if tony romo is so good why can't he win a playoff game?!?!?! OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! im just joking. Tony romo wants to be tom brady though. He has the less attractive and less successful model girlfriend, the less attractice and less successful team, and the less attractive and less successful playoff record!
from about 1 month ago
haha well I wasn't gonna be the one to say it, but...
from about 1 month ago
At least Romo was smart enough not to knock up the first two rollers that come along, plus your boy Tom
Brady is nothing but an errand boy for his B.M. And We will see who is the less attractive team this year,
with your defense collecting social security and Bill's film production shut down.
And Romo better want to be like Tom Brady (on the field) every other QB in the NFL should too--even if
he did have the answers before the test, he still had to study...
about 1 month ago
Only a patriots fan would list Eric Mangini (a coach) as one of the "players" he loves to hate. Are you guys just born stupid? Probably the only reason any of you graduated high school is because bill belicheat authorized secret videotaping of your SATs. BTW, as proven by the last SB, if the pats can't cheat, they'll never win a championship.
from about 1 month ago
Nice job Eric.
from about 1 month ago
I think I know that Mangini and Dungy aren't players but like I said what sounds better "NFL players I love to hate" or "nfl people i love to hate"... sorry it wasn't up to your standards... and that's an awful lot of anger there... jealous much?
from about 1 month ago
Yes, Ryan, I think that jealousy is at the crux of all this hatred. Not only because the once lowly Patriots finally shook the official doormat title they had held for decades. I have believed for some time that a lot of these dimwits are jealous because Brady's girlfriends are way better looking than theirs. Not that any of them would admit it... I find the whole thing really amusing.
about 1 month ago
boy Eric mangini and Tony Dungy are really good players aren't they.
from about 1 month ago
What would you have called the article then?
about 1 month ago
Great read, Ryan. Gave you 5-Stars and I would have found a way to include Chad Johnson.
from about 1 month ago
haha thanks, but I don't know... as much of a prima donna as Chad is I kinda like him
about 1 month ago
Nah, I'd only be jealous if the pats won three superbowls legitimately. Since every NFL fan who doesn't live in the new england area realizes that there is an asterisk in the record books next to three of the four superbowls the pats played in this decade, there isn't much need for jealousy.
"An awful lot of anger there"? Well, you're the one who wrote an article about hating pro football "players".
I think "People in Pro Football I love to hate" would have carried just as much weight and would have shown a little forethought. Those kinds of slips open yourself up to a lot of criticism, especially when you are writing about hating guys mostly just because they aren't on your team.
from about 1 month ago
yeah but there was hardly any real anger in my article... I tried to give logical reasons why I didn't like each person and I didn't resort to completely bashing them for no reason... like saying that they probably only graduated high school by having their SAT's videotaped for instance... which doesn't even really make sense because video taping yourself taking SAT would help very much... and don't tell me that any other owner, coach or NFL team wouldn't want to switch places with New England because they would do it in a second if they could.
about 1 month ago
Logical reason?? You referred to Mangini as "Coach Tattle-Tale," when in fact there had been reports dating back years from other coaches about the shadiness that was going on on the Pats' sidelines.
As for the Jets worrying about their own problems? When your opponent is cheating to steal signs, that is your biggest problem. You can't win if the other team knows what plays you are running.
Put yourself in Mangini's shoes. He started out as a ball boy. That's right, he started from the bottom, literally. He put in his time with Belli-cheat when he was with the Cleveland Browns. So your argument stating that Mangini didn't put in his time is flawed.
Leaving for a division rival...leaving for a division rival...sounds familiar for some reason. Oh, that's right. That's because the Jets and Pats have been doing the swap-meet act for years. It's not hard to notice that the two teams have a lot in common other than geographical location.
As for the Romeo Crennel comparison. He worked hard, waited for his chance, and took it. So you think Mangini didn't work hard with his time under Belli-cheat? The guy started out as a ball boy for Christ's sake. The guy worked his ass off for over 10 years so he could eventually be in the position he is in today. It's not fair, and to be honest disrespectful, to say the route he took to becoming one of the youngest head coaches in NFL history is somehow tainted because he didn't worship at the Belli-cheat altar of football.
As for the handshake and lake of friendly demeanor, this is the NFL, not pop warner. You're not supposed to like everybody, just respect the people that do things the right way. It's apparent that Belli-cheat doesn't do that, so he shouldn't be given the respect that he very rarely shows to his colleagues.
from about 1 month ago
First of all, I was being sarcastic about the whole "Coach Tattle-Tale" comment, you obviously can't pin in all on him but he's at the fore front. Also, like I said in the article, if I was in his position and I knew that my ex-team was video-taping signals I probably would have done the same thing.
Second, I know how long Mangini had been with Belichick and how he came up threw the Pats system with him, but the comparison I was making was that Romeo Crennel won three Super Bowls for the Pats as the D-Coordinator and built a great defense for them.
Mangini was D-Coordinator for one year, had the chance to help build up the defense to tops in the league again but then left. Like I said, I can't fault him for wanting to be a Head Coach but that doesn't mean that I can't not like him. He was a great defensive mind and I was very upset that we lost him... especially to the Jets.
I never said that he "didn't work his ass off" or that he's "tainted because he didn't worship Belichick" as I said was that I was mad he left.
As for the handshake, I had no problem with either of them not being friendly towards each other and I don't expect them to but that justs adds fuel to the rivalry.
from about 1 month ago
I get the whole point of the article is to point out people you don't like. But you basically picked people that all rival your favorite team. Anyone outside of the new england area could care less. Other than two cowboys these are all players that are directly related to the Pats.
And honestly, who cares if he was a D-Coordinator for a single season? It wasn't his defense, he got a chance to go to a new team and rebuild it in the image he saw best fit.
From all the reasons you keep giving, it sounds like jealousy. Not that you lost Mangini specifically, but instead that you lost anyone to the Jets. If he went to Miami he wouldn't be on this list.
from about 1 month ago
That was the whole point of the article... why would I hate someone who plays for the Raiders or the Texans or the Rams... unless it's someone like T.O. I would have to no reason. Everyone dislikes their team's rivals so obviously most guys on the list would be related to the Pats.
If Mangini had gone to Miami like you said, I would have been just as equally upset that he left but I probably wouldn't have him on this list. If he had built the Dolphins into a contender like he did with the Jets and then beaten the Pats a couple of times and played us in the playoffs like he did with the Jets he would have been right were he is at number 2.
It's not so much that it was with the Jets (though that adds to it) but its that he turned the Jets around and built them into a good team again.
about 1 month ago
Yes, but you are somewhat indignant that Mangini left the pats and called him a tattle-tale. You didn't give any logical reasons for not liking Mangini. belicheat is known for leaving no stone unturned in his unquenchable desire to win (at any cost, even by cheating), yet you and all pats fans call Mangini a tattle tale. Utterly illogical and ridiculous. Adding a backhanded comment like "I can't say that if you reversed roles I wouldn't have done the same thing", doesn't take away the pettiness of not liking a guy because his team's security guard was the one who caught a pats employee doing something blatantly illegal. Complaining the Mangini left the pats is even more pathetic. As a another poster noted above, belicheat did the same thing to Parcells and saying that because belicheat was with Parcells longer it somehow makes it more palatable is a childish attempt at splitting hairs. What is good for the goose is good for the gander. In each case, they left a team for a better job, the only difference is that Mangini did it professionally while belicheat scribbled something like "I resign as HC of the NYJ" on a napkin. One is clearly a pro, the other a clown. I don't believe that anyone would switch places with the pats now that their recent record is forever tainted.
about 1 month ago
Uh, regardless of whether or not Mangini was working for Billy B. when these practices were occurring, once he is made a head coach elsewhere, he should simply allow it to happen?
It would seem as though Belly-chick should know that if his "system" works that his assistants who helped it succeed will one day end up coaching elsewhere. When said assistants move on with their careers to bigger and better things (which would include head coach at a division rival), the goose will be cooked.
So you are saying that if you were in Mangini's position as a coordinator (who would be FIRED if the defense had a down year), you (1) wouldn't take a head coaching job, the opportunity of a lifetime that might never present itself again, with a division rival; and (2) assuming you did take the job, you'd allow Belly-chick to cheat against your new team, simply because he was doing it while you worked for him?
You'd be a BAD NFL head coach!
BY THE WAY, YOU GOT PWN'ed BY THE JETS BLOG B/C I SEE YOU CHANGED THE TITLE OF YOUR PIECE!
LOL!
from about 1 month ago
hahaha I didn't even notice the change in title. Nice job noticing that one Josh. And yes, Jets Blog is the illest.
from about 1 month ago
You're completely wrong... if you go back and actually read what I wrote, I said that if I was in Mangini's position I absolutely would not have allowed him to try and video tape my signals and I also said that I can't possibly fault a guy for trying to move up and reach the top of his profession by becoming a head coach. There's nothing wrong with the what Mangini did in leaving his job, but I only wished for the Pats sake that he would have done it differently.
Like I said in the article, when a bright young coach leaves your organization for a rival anyone would be upset.
And I only changed it so idiots would stop writing comments that said "Mangini and Dungy aren't players"
from about 1 month ago
Well the title should reflect that article, so players was inaccurate. Anyone who knows about writing would tell you that.
And there are so many low-life characters in this league, you couldn't have thrown a wife-beater or a drug abuser on here?
from about 1 month ago
I completely agree... of course I could have written about how much I hate guys like Tank Johnson or Pac-Man Jones but I dislike guys like that for their off the field character not on the field play.
I sorry if it wasn't totally clear, but all of the guys on my list, with the obvious exception of T.O., are on there because of stuff they've done on the field
about 1 month ago
good job on not taking a cheap shot at Rivers like most would do. an overall good read. great work
from about 1 month ago
Thanks I'm glad you enjoyed
about 1 month ago
Whatever dude, like i said I was trying to be funny by calling him coach tattle-tale. You can't get mad at me for making a joke about Mangini and then turn around and call belichick belicheat.
And it was in no way meant as a backhanded comment... in all honesty if I was Mangini and I had an idea that my ex-team was doing something illegal I probably would have done the same thing that he did.
I'm not gonna make excuses for the way Belichick left the Jets and I can't fault Mangini for leaving the Pats, but I can be upset that we lost a good, young, bright coach which is why I ranked him #2.
about 1 month ago
Mangini by all accounts is a decent human being.
Belly-chick by all accounts is a terrible human being.
I don't hate Tony Sparano, Dick Jauron, etc., simply b/c they coach in the division.
A better example would be if the Colts played in the JETS division. I wouldn't hate Tony Dungee (by all accounts, a GREAT human being) simply because he's been a nemesis to my team. I'd respect him, unless he was a crappppy person.
I don't hate Herm Edwards because he left the JETS, though it was hardly comparable to Belly-chick leaving the JETS after 1 day.
BOW TO YOUR MASTERS ON THE JETS BLOG!
from about 1 month ago
I never questioned Mangini's character or any of that... obviously you guys just see what you want to see... Mangini is #2 because he was a bright, young coach who I thought really had a chance to help us do great things... he left for the Jets, a team I obviously don't cheer for, and I was upset that he wasn't with the Pats anymore... then he builds up a team I don't like very quickly, beats the Pats and then plays us tough in the playoffs... so I think you can see why I would be a little mad about this... I don't hate Tony Sparano or Dick Jauron either because they haven't done anything that would cause me to hate them... Jauron has never beaten the Pats with the Bills and this is Sparano's first year...and I don't know if I agree with you that Belichick is a "terrible human being"... he's hardly perfect, obviously isn't the nicest guy in the world and he'll do whatever it takes to win even if that means breaking the rules, but as a human being I don't know if you can call him "terrible"
about 1 month ago
Im surprised this list does not feature even 1 player/coach from the NY Giants who robbed a historic season from you..
Strahan? The NYG defense coordinator? Eli Manning? David Tyree??
from about 1 month ago
I definitely had thought about having either the Giant's defensive line or Tyree on there but I wanted to stick to just the 10 guys so I didn't
about 1 month ago
Q: "What would you have called the article then?"
A: "The 10 NFL Personalities I Love To Hate".
You can't make this stuff up folks. Bear in mind, however, that this is a Pats fan we're talking about. Probably has been chanting "Jeter's ghey" for the past decade because he is a "pretty boy" yet worships at the altar of Tom Brady.
from about 1 month ago
All you Jets fans are the same... first you whined about the article's title not being right so I changed it and now you want to make fun of me for it... that makes a whole lot of sense... and by the way are you gonna tell me that you don't chant "Brady's gay" because he's a "pretty boy" and then worship at the alter of Jeter's feet... it works both ways
about 1 month ago
Ryan wrote: "And I only changed it so idiots would stop writing comments that said "Mangini and Dungy aren't players".
So let me get this straight - you write an article called "The 10 NFL players I love to hate", and we're the idiots for commenting that you included 2 coaches among your 10 "players"????
What's more, you write an article about the "players" you HATE, then reply to all comments as if we are being too hard on poor BB - the guy who had a mistress, was caught cheating, is too petty to shake an ex-employee and one-time friend's hand after a game, etc. So you like any scumbag as long as they play for/coach your team, and HATE (your word, not mine) guys who are reknowned for being good guys, simply because they don't play for your team. Nice job, Einstein.
Seems like a pretty good example of a typical pats fan to me.
from about 1 month ago
Bash Belichick all you want, but of course I'm gonna defend my coach... like I said I don't think he qualifies as a "terrible" person though he has done a lot of questionable things... and I'm pretty sure I was clear that I hated the guys above for on field stuff, besides T.O.... I mean guys like Peyton, Dungy and Mangini are great off the field guys and I never said anything to question that... it's you guys who have been bringing up what a bad person Belichick is... and you seem like a pretty good example of a jets fan... a whiny cry baby who bashes everyone else but when can't take it when someone does the same to their precious Jets.
about 1 month ago
I don't like Jeter, I'm a Mets fan. But thanks. It was just an observation of hypocritical and absurd behavior (as both Jeter and Brady, despite being verifiable pretty-boys, are top-notch, and very tough, athletes).
Are you to be taken as a serious sportswriters producing this rubbish? You are officially owned by the Jets Blog now. Good day sir!
from about 1 month ago
And while I don't cheer for him, I happen to think that Jeter is a top-notch and very tough athlete as well... and sure I got owned by the Jets Blog whatever you say...
about 1 month ago
You can bash the jets all you want, just do it with a little intelligence. No question the jets had a bad year last year, so you have plenty of ammo, but the things are wrote are just asinine. You really hate Mangini because they beat the pats at home and played them tough in the playoffs??? If that's really true, then you should have the entire Giants D-line on your list, because they used and abused brady like a ragdoll the whole game. I guess that wouldn't have happened if your God BB had known the Giants Defensive signals the way he did the other times they were in the SB.
about 1 month ago
I don't need to sit here and bash the Jets because they had a bad season that wouldn't really accomplish anything... like I've said many times before everyone has people they don't like... I'm not gonna run through the whole thing again but Mangini was a very good young coach who left and built a rival up into a contender... if they Jets and the Pats reversed roles I can't imagine that Jets fans would like a new, talented, ex-Jets coach running the Pats and competing with them for the division... no one who is a fan of any team in any sport likes it when you lose good coaches and they don't like it even more when those coaches that they lost turn around struggling rival franchises. That's not asinine at all.
And we lost the SB because we got outplayed not because we didn't have the Giants signals... I mean we won 17 games before that without any signals. Belichick could have had all the defensive signals that he wanted and we still couldn't have been able to stop the Giants D-Line
about 1 month ago
as a lifelong Jets fan... I'm cool with the New England rivalry. The Miami rivalry hasn't been the same since Marino (may he rot in hell) retired. Gotta hate somebody.
from about 1 month ago
Well said
about 1 month ago
Keep saying it, maybe one day you'll believe it. Bottom line, when the pats can't cheat, they don't win superbowls. Saying they wouldn't have won if they had the signals is the most asinine thing yet - all of the SBs we're talking about have been decided by 7 points or less (usually 3). The only reason they won the other 3 is BECAUSE they had the signals.
from about 1 month ago
Did the signals help Vinatieri make both field goals or make McNabb choke on the final drive? No... That's a totally different debate but I believe that games are won on the field... we beat the Ravens, Giants and Eagles in very close game during the regular season without signals and using your logic we've lost to the Denver Broncos and the Colts in the playoffs with their signals so you can't say that not having signals means you'll lose and having them means that you'll win... you still have to play well and in the SB the Pats did not
about 1 month ago
Whiny Jet fans? Did you ever meet a Red Sox fan before 2004? Talk about Whiny.
from about 1 month ago
Justin is a beautiful person.
from about 1 month ago
I don't know why I bother... I'm really sorry for hating Eric Mangini... God forbid somebody hate a Jet
about 1 month ago
Well if my team was 18-1 maybe I would be a little bitter too. So close to perfection and poof it's gone!! I know Belicheck hasn't had a good night sleep since. That makes up for Belicheck pulling a Mangini leaving the scene of the crime before it's time.
from about 1 month ago
Like I said... all you guys do is take cheap shots
about 1 month ago
Look Ryan, you wrote an article as a Patriots fan and now your getting the business for it. JETS fans are like that. We love our team because we love our team and not because they have had recent sucess like the PATS. The fact that the Patriots and their fans have no respect for the JETS is the reason for the rivalry and hatred of everything Patriots. Why do you think the Bills fans hate you just as much. It is the arrogance and stench of righteousness that you all carry. The JETS fans have been able to hold their heads high because we don't carry that arrogance that all Boston fans carry. I started liking the Yankees because of Don Mattingly, when they stunk. Nobody talked about the Yankees being an evil empire then. Years later, they win a few series' and all I hear from Boston fans is "well they have the highest payroll." When the JETS have success this year or next, it will be because "they bought it in free agency." All the while, the Red Sox have long held a top spot in payroll and the "they don't sign big contracts" Patriots had the second highest payroll in the NFL in 2007. I have moved the Boston fans above Cowboys fans as far as hatred with good reason.
from about 1 month ago
The first ever pro footbal game I went to was at Foxboro Stadium and the Pats lost to the Dolphins 20-3 and went on to finish last in the division. That was the day I became a Pats fan and I was 7 so I wouldn't say that I love my team because of recent success.
And speaking of "arrogant with a stench of righteousness" which group of people who've commented here have done nothing except take cheap shots at the