Football is one of the most famous sports in the world. The world's biggest football league is the National Football League, commonly known as NFL. This league has not only provided us with quality sports content but has also given us many star players to remember. Nonetheless, not everyone who plays in NFL ends up being a celebrated name. We have names of history's worst NFL players in this list.
Joe Danelo
Football is one of the most famous sports in the world. The world's biggest football league is the National Football League, commonly known as NFL. This league has not only provided us with quality sports content but has also given us many star players to remember. Nonetheless, not everyone who plays in NFL ends up being a celebrated name. We have names of history's worst NFL players in this list.
During his time in Miami, he struggled to goal even once, sill he was taken in by Green Bay Packers as a replacement kicker. If we look at the stats of his ten-year-long career in the NFL, we realize that they are not very promising. He could only get 58.3% of the career field goals, which is not a score that could be remembered.
Ryan Leaf
Ryan Leaf's name is bound to pop up virtually every time a discussion about the worst players in NFL history comes up. Indeed, he had a formidable college career, with 24 interceptions and 59 touchdowns, which convinced the San Diego Chargers to select him second overall in the 1998 NFL Draft. Nonetheless, he could not improve his play in the years that followed.
The three years Leaf played were split evenly between the Dallas Cowboys and the San Diego Chargers, where he appeared in 25 games, 21 of them as a starter, and finished with a 4-17 record as a starter. Unfortunately, Leaf could not reach the heights he had hoped for, and he managed a dismal 13 touchdown passes and 33 interceptions in his entire NFL career.
Neil O'Donoghue
It would not be wrong to say that the placekicker, Neil O'Donoghue, was a famous player of his time. However, the reason behind his fame was not exactly his performance but his tall height. In the 1977 NFL, he got drafted in the 5th round and joined Buffalo Bills' team.
His unsatisfactory performance made the officials decide to remove him from the team. He spent nine years in the National Football League playing for teams like the Buffalo Bills, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and St. Louis Cardinals. Yet, he could never score enough field goals to qualify him as a skilled NFL player. His career field goal percentage was a disappointing 59.1%, a number unsatisfactory to any NFL team.
Babe Laufenberg
Babe Laufenberg played as a quarterback in the NFL during the ‘80s. He had an eight-year-long career in the NFL but could never secure himself a permanent spot on a single team. So during his time in the league, he bounced from team to team and played for the Washington Redskins, Chargers, Saints, Chiefs, and Cowboys.
The Washington Redskins selected Babe in the sixth round of the 1983 NFL Draft. He was featured in around sixteen games during those eight years and posted just five touchdowns and 11 interceptions in his career. He completed his passes only 44% of the time and Laufenberg finished his career with a 2-5 record.
Art Schlichter
On the field, Art Schlichter was an excellent athlete. He was a successful quarterback at Ohio State and was always voted among the top six for the Heisman Trophy. He was the fourth overall pick by the Baltimore Colts in the 1982 NFL Draft but played only 13 games before moving on to the CFL.
Throughout his NFL days, Art finished with a 0-6 record, threw only three touchdowns, and made 11 interceptions. These poor records were, however, nothing compared to his gambling addiction. The issue got out of hand, resulting in his losing his career and even facing a jail term later. Even with his skills, he lasted four seasons in the NFL.
Lawrence Phillips
From winning two consecutive Bowls with Nebraska to being St. Louis Rams’ sixth overall pick in their 1996 NFL Draft, Lawrence Phillips likely had no idea that his NFL career would end so quickly when he began. Phillips struggled with legal issues as questions over his work ethic arose, and his inconsistent performances continued to make things harder for him.
The Rams let go of Phillips near the end of the 1997 season. He also played for the Miami Dolphins, 49ers, Montreal Alouettes and Calgary Stampeders. Still, he couldn’t stay long with any of the teams for the same awful reasons.
Cade McNown
Cade Brem McNown was with the Chicago Bears for part of his four-season Quarterback NFL career. He was one the team’s most promising players as they picked him 12th overall in their 1999 NFL Draft. Unfortunately, that didn’t exactly pan out; injuries and inconsistent play plagued Cade’s Bears tenure and crushed the Bears’ faith in him.
His stint with the team lasted two seasons, during which he only started six games in his rookie year and played a total of 15 games. Cade was a backup for the San Francisco 49ers and Miami Dolphins for his final two seasons.
Alex Van Dyke
Many people think it’s all set for them when they enter something big like the National Football League. Unfortunately, the dream does not come to be true for each person. One such forgetful career was of the wide receiver Alex Van Dyke. Van Dyke was selected in the 1966 National Football League Draft, joining the New York Jets in the second round.
After three years with New York Jets, he joined Philadelphia Eagles. He had a career spanning five years in NFL in which his stats were as follows: 26 catches out of 61 passes to him and three touchdowns. It is safe to say that his career ended in an underwhelming way.
Craig Whelihan
Craig Whelihan played as a quarterback for the San Diego Chargers and the Oakland Raiders in the late 90s. In the 1995 NFL Draft, he was drafted by the Chargers. Since quarterback is such an important position, the Chargers never put him on the field during his rookie year.
Craig saw action in the NFL for the first time in 1997 after replacing Stan Humphries. He was benched again and returned on the field the following year when Ryan Leaf also needed a replacement. The quarterback posted a 2-12 record during his time with the Chargers. He moved to the Oakland Raiders by the end of the season and was released before the next season.
Michael Haddix
Michael Haddix was a professional footballer who had a successful college career. He was inducted into the Mississippi State Hall of Fame for his outstanding performance and appeared to have a bright professional future. Nonetheless, the young man didn't live up to that dream despite being the 8th overall pick by the Philadelphia Eagles in the 1983 NFL draft.
Initially, it might have seemed like the new player needed more time, but the more he played, the more disappointing his performance was. Michael played 120 games throughout his career but only recorded 1,635 yards and three touchdowns. He holds the record for the least number of yards by a running back with above 500 carries and finished his career with an average of three yards per carry.
Charles Rogers
Charles Rogers, one of the biggest flops in NFL history, was once regarded as one of the best receivers in the country. As a result, the Detroit Lions selected him second overall in the 2003 draft, given his potential. Nonetheless, Charles was never able to achieve the success he had hoped for and had a disappointing NFL career.
Rogers finished his career with four touchdowns and 36 receptions out of 84 passes for 440 yards in the 15 matches he was able to play. Unfortunately, nothing seemed to go right for Charles, as injuries, poor performances, and off-field problems plagued his career. As a result, he lasted for only three years in the NFL.
Akili Smith
After a phenomenal senior year with Oregon, Akili Smith was selected third overall in the 1999 NFL Draft by the Cincinnati Bengals, along with Donovan McNabb and Tim Couch. He was immediately seen as a future NFL star, only for the world to crash before his eyes in the following years.
In the 22 games he played for the Bengals, Smith started 17 of them and spent a total of four years with the club. Smith concluded his career with 13 interceptions, 2,212 yards, and five touchdowns. Even though his name popped up from time to time in the NFL for several years, he never played again.
Heath Shuler
Quarterback-turned-businessman Heath Shuler was not just the Washington Redskins third overall pick in the 1994 NFL Draft; they put their hope in him for their future QB game for so long after their Super Bowl XXVI run. Unfortunately, despite bagging a 7-year, 19.25 million contract with the Redskins, Shuler only managed to bring forth poor play.
To worsen things, he got caught up in a QB controversy with the team’s fellow draft pick Gus Frerotte. Shuler was dropped in favor of Frerotte largely due to his poor performance from a persistent injury that eventually ended his career. In 2007, the NFL Network ranked Shuler the ninth-biggest bust in the history of the NFL and finished his pro career with a quarterback rating of 54.3.
JaMarcus Russell
JaMarcus Russell had all the attributes and potential of a great NFL player and was primed for a formidable career, at least based on his size and ability to run with the ball. It is no wonder, therefore, that the Oakland Raiders selected him first overall in the 2007 NFL Draft. Unfortunately, he didn't last long on NFL rosters.
In his 3-year stint with the Raiders, Russell started 25 games out of 31, in which he only won 7 games. At the close of his career, he had 23 interceptions, 15 fumbles, and 18 touchdowns and averaged a measly completion percentage of 52.1%. As if his game stats aren't already a bad paint to his name, Russell was sacked a whopping 70 times in his playing career.
Mike Phipps
We have another story that resembles that of Kenny Jackson. This time it’s Mike Phipps, who was a star player in his college days but could never enjoy the same attention when he transitioned into bigger leagues. He was selected third overall in the 1970 NFL Draft by the team Cleveland Browns.
The team selected Phipps with the fact in mind that he would go on to do great for the team as a quarterback, but that could not come true. At the end of 7 years with the Browns, he had 40 touchdowns and 81 interceptions. He then joined Chicago Bears, and the performance was still not up to the mark, finishing his career with a dismal 55 touchdowns and almost double the interceptions at 108.
Renaldo Nehemiah
The team selected Phipps with the fact in mind that he would go on to do great for the team as a quarterback, but that could not come true. At the end of 7 years with the Browns, he had 40 touchdowns and 81 interceptions. He then joined Chicago Bears, and the performance was still not up to the mark, finishing his career with a dismal 55 touchdowns and almost double the interceptions at 108.
So the 49ers signed him ahead of the 1982 season. Unfortunately, Renaldo translated his abilities from track and field onto the football field but could not develop the catching skills he needed for a good running back. During his time with the 49ers, he posted only 43 receptions, 754 yards, and just four touchdowns. He was eventually released in 1985 and returned to his original sport.
Vernon Gholston
Vernon Gholston is known for being one of the most promising college athletes who could not perform well in the professional scene. He was an
agile athlete for his size who played as a defensive end for Ohio State University. As a collegiate, his stats were marvelous.
agile athlete for his size who played as a defensive end for Ohio State University. As a collegiate, his stats were marvelous.
Reasonably enough, he was drafted by the New York Jets in the 2008 NFL Draft as the sixth overall pick and played for the franchise for around three years. The defensive end could not post a single sack during those three years and recorded only 42 tackles. He bounced from the Jets to two other teams but could not secure himself a permanent spot.
Kim McQuilken
Kim McQuilken's NFL career is remembered today for its many poor records. Even though the Atlanta Falcons drafted him in the third round of the 1974 NFL draft, he has one of the worst quarterback ratings at 17.9. Kim played for two NFL teams — The Atlanta Falcons and the Washington Redskins — and one USFL team: Washington Federals.
Kim played 26 games but started only 7 with a 2-5 record. He also finished with only four touchdowns and a paltry 29 interceptions. In 1975, he set his worst-ever record, making five interceptions and only five completions in 26 attempts.
King Hill
Ask any American football fan if they think King Hill was a legend for the teams he played for during his NFL career, and you’ve likely unlocked a whole new debate level. Unfortunately, the star who played for the St. Louis Cardinals, Philadelphia Eagles, and the Minnesota Vikings never quite lived up to his Rice Institute hype.
Even though the Cards drafted him with the first overall pick in their 1958 NFL Draft and spent over a decade in the sport as a player, Hill’s legacy on the field only amounts to two seasons of just over 1,000 passing yards, 37 touchdowns, and 71 interceptions.
Bob Timberlake
When he played college football for the Michigan Wolverines, Bob Timberlake had a lot more good luck going for him in the football world than when he was with the New York Giants. His final year with the former especially came with a Big Ten Championships. He also got selected as a first-team All-American and secured a Rose Bowl victory, but Bob only had one lucky streak during his time with the Giants.
He managed to land placekicker with them despite hoping to be a starting QB. Before he finally got cut after a single season, Bob missed his next 14 attempts at scoring after hitting his first season goal.
Happy Feller
Kicker Happy Feller began his college career in 1967 when he played for the Texas Longhorns. He later joined the Philadelphia Eagles in 1971 before moving to the New Orleans Saints in 1972. Records show that Feller was much more successful as a student-athlete than as a professional player. Nonetheless, his failures were so glaring that he lasted for only three years in the NFL.
While playing for the Eagles, the athlete made only 6 of his 20 field goals and 10 of his 22 field goals when he was with the New Orleans Saints. Yet, despite all these, Feller made 27 of 28 extra-point attempts in his career — the only positive thing he's remembered for.
Rusty Lisch
Rusty Lisch began his career with the St. Louis Cardinals as the team's third-string quarterback, appearing in only two games in his rookie year. He spent four years with the St. Louis Cardinals, from 1980 to 1983, before signing with the Chicago Bears.
Lisch's career never really took off, and he is regarded as one of the least effective quarterbacks to ever play in the NFL. During the time he played, he managed only one pitiful touchdown and 11 interceptions and finished his career with a passer rating of 25.1. Due to his poor play in his final year, his spot was taken by Walter Payton.
Rocky Thompson
Rocky Thompson was popularly known as a successful track and field star. He won the AAA Championships, coming first in the 100-meter run. After that, he was drafted by the New York Giants in the first round of the 1971 NFL Draft. With these records, everyone expected great things from Rocky.
He recorded some success in the early years of his career but became less successful with time. Even though he appeared in 29 games, Rocky had only 217 yards and one touchdown in his 68 carries. Unfortunately, his NFL career ended after only he played got only three seasons.
Kenny Jackson
If there is one thing about success, then it’s that it never lasts forever. Such is the case of the wide receiver Kenny Jackson. During his college days, he made many records in football and was considered one of the best wide receivers in the history of Penn State. With 27 records to his name, it was easy for him to get selected by a team.
In 1984, he was selected by the 4th overall pick and joined Philadelphia Eagles. Unfortunately, things did not work out too well for him, and the hopes of many regarding his career soon faded away. During his 8-year career, his performance declined, and he only recorded 11 touchdowns and couldn't get over 40 receptions in a season throughout his entire career.
25+ NFL Players No One Would Want on Their Team
Football is a team sport that needs every player to work together towards their team's common goal. The gifted sportsmen on this list may be the finest footballers of their generation, but their NFL careers ended prematurely because they wouldn't play ball as a team. Their violent outbursts and unruly behavior on the field hurt their fellow players and disrupted the team's solidarity. Let's look at some of the worst NFL teammates the sport has ever seen.
Ndamukong Suh
With his stellar performance in college football to back him up, Ndamukong Suh got drafted in 2010 by Detroit Lions. He shone as the most dominating defensive tackle in NFL history. Within five years, the star player also became the sport's highest-paid in that position. Underneath all the glory he brought to his teams as a star footballer, he was a bad boy with a bad attitude.
At his worst, Suh has stomped on his teammates' legs and twisted their ankles in a rage, even getting into fights with his defensive coaches. In 2021, while playing for Tampa Bay Buccaneers, he admitted that his wrongdoings had caused division in the Miami Dolphins team, putting distance between him and his teammates.
Mike Vanderjagt
Mike Vanderjagt, the former footballer with Indianapolis Colts, might have been a solid player, but he quickly earned the reputation of running his mouth too much. He was unprofessional to the core, and it's hard to find a kicker as the worst teammate. So, he's the only kicker on this list.
His behavior had often aggravated his teammates, and Mike had once publicly questioned Peyton Manning's ability to lead their team. The young quarterback did not take kindly to the insult and called the former an "Idiot Kicker." In a nine-season career, he scored 86.5 percent of his field goals, making him one of the best NFL players when he retired in 2006.
Steve Smith
Breaking noses is not how you get along with your team; Steve Smith often took that route during his 16 seasons. In 2002, he broke the nose of his teammate, Anthony Bright, during a filming session. The fight was so deplorable that he was booked for the altercation, ending Bright's NFL career.
The same year, Smith had gotten into a major scuffle with his fellow wide receiver Guilian Gray. Six years later, he again broke a teammate's nose—this time, of cornerback Ken Lucas. His stellar run as Carolina Panthers' star wide receiver was dimmed by his mistreatment of his team players. When he retired in 2016, he left behind a less-than-desirable legacy.
Antonio Brown
You don't get dubbed a "selfish fraud" by your former teammate if you are a team player, which Antonio Brown wasn't. The former Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver had once live-streamed his coach Mike Tomlin's impassioned post-game speech from the team's locker room. He was a troublemaker who took it a little too far on and off the field.
Despite winning the Super Bowl in 2021 while playing for Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Brown messed up his career by having a much-publicized meltdown in the middle of a match against the New York Jets the same year. Even his talent couldn't save him forever from getting ousted from the NFL.
Andre Rison
In the NFL, wide receivers get the most accolades for their on-field performances, and unsurprisingly, they also earn the worst reputation for being arrogant and self-centered. Among the lot, Andre Rison has somehow managed to climb to the top of that list. He'd hog the ball to the extent of putting himself over and above the team's chances of winning.
Due to his ill-reputation both on and off the field, Andre has played for seven different teams during his 12-year career. The team and his teammates simply did not want the trouble the player brought with him wherever he went. Despite his bad image, he contributed several times to his team's success.
Randy Moss
When you are a team player, you play when the team plays; it's as simple as that. Yet, Randy Moss played by his own rules. The man had a massive rookie year; his overnight success probably went straight to his head. His coaches had a hard time getting him to get along with his teammates during his career spanning 14 years.
In 2010, Randy publicly slandered Brad Childress, the head coach of his Minnesota Vikings team, while heaping praise on his ex-coach Bill Belichick of the New England Patriots, which did not go down well with his current teammates. He also lacked discipline in his practice sessions, lending a bad reputation to his name.
Josh Norman
Josh Norman, the cornerback, was drafted as a fifth-round pick in the 2012 NFL Draft. He quickly established himself as one of the best cornerbacks in the NFL. In 2015, he became a First-Team All-Pro and finished up eleventh on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2016 list.
A short while later, he signed a five-year contract worth $75 million with the Washington Redskins. The Redskins had high expectations for the cornerback, but he never seemed to fit in. Having said that, one of his teammates even remarked publicly that Josh cared more about being a celebrity than playing good football.
Terrell Owens
As a player, Terrell Owens would always go down as one of the most prolific wide receivers to ever come to the NFL. He was incredibly talented and a treat to watch on the field. Yet, as a teammate, Terrell was not someone anyone wanted on their team.
Over a span of 15 years, Owens played for around six teams and ended up with controversy on every roster. In San Francisco, he made bad remarks about the quarterback in the press. When in Philadelphia, he criticized the team's quarterback after their loss in the Super Bowl. In a nutshell, he was a terrific player but came with a lot of flaws.
Johnny Manziel
Johnny Manziel came into the NFL as one of the best collegiate players in the country. Having played for Texas A&M University, he was drafted as the 22nd overall pick by the Cleveland Browns in the 2014 NFL Draft. Yet, the franchise soon distanced itself from the player, and he never got another offer in the league.
Johnny was apparently too fond of partying. Everyone tolerated this con during his college years because of what he brought to the table. Yet, he couldn’t replicate his performance in the league. Once, he went out to live it up in Las Vegas while on the injured list. The Browns found out and cut him off soon enough.
Brandon Marshall
The NFL wide receiver Brandon Marshall was a good player who had a 13-season-long career. He was a decorated receiver and played for some of the best teams in the league. Yet, Marshall bounced around a lot during his career, having played for over four teams, including Denver, Miami, Chicago, and New York.
Reportedly, he was famous for locker room rifts with teammates and made it a point to make their lives miserable. Once the New York Jets traded him off, one of his former teammates even stated that the locker room was much easier to get along with now.
Percy Harvin
Percy Harvin was a troublemaker. Even on the high school football team, he was famous for mishandling disagreements with teammates and game officials. He came into the NFL as a celebrated rookie with lots of accolades to his name. Soon, he became one of the most proficient wide receivers in the league.
Along with his skills, however, the problems associated with him also grew. When with the Seattle Seahawks, Percy voluntarily sat out a game because he didn’t like how they were using him. When the franchise made it to the Super Bowl, he punched a fellow teammate in the face right before the game.
Jeff George
Jeff George was a talented player and an incredible passer. He was once described as the most gifted prospect of his time and in the 1990 NFL draft, emerged as the #1 overall pick. Still, despite being a great athlete, George had one problem: he relied so much on his physique and refused to put in the required hard work and effort.
For this reason, he was criticized both by coaches and teammates and this often resulted in fights between them. Jeff couldn't remain in one club for long and in his 14-year career, he played for as many as 8 different clubs. One coach described him as one player that was never wanted around. To the coach, Jeff was the worst player he'd worked with in his entire career.
Albert Haynesworth
Albert Haynesworth was a promising player who allowed success to get into his head. After he signed one of the NFL's highest contracts, he began to show signs of irresponsibility. The player stopped paying attention in meetings and no longer gave his best during practices. His personal training also gave way so that on the first day of work, he was massively overweight and out of shape.
All these negatively affected his performance in the long run. Still, he wouldn't take corrections but instead complained about his coaches and teammates. Because of this, Albert couldn't go through with the contract he'd signed. He played with the Redskins for only two years instead of the originally agreed seven years.
Jay Cutler
Jay Cutler has gotten a bad rap on social media in recent times. While some people may think that the stories about him are blown out of proportion, it remains a fact that the athlete is a problem to his team. Jay doesn't seem to care about winning and his interest in the game is based on the paycheck he gets.
We may not know why Jay chose to waste his great talent instead of giving his best to football. One thing, however, is for sure: his poor performances are common knowledge both to mere observers and his teammates.
Chad “Ocho Cinco” Johnson
Besides doing things that distracted the team, Chad Ocho Cinco Johnson went all out to hurt his club through despicable antics. He once wrote a book where he openly criticized the management of the Bengals while still a player in the club.
As though the criticisms weren't enough, Johnson openly spoke of leaving his club for another team, the Patriots. This not only annoyed his teammates but made it all the more difficult to work with such a thoughtless fellow. Johnson's behavior was all the more unbearable because he was one of the team's highest-paid players. He wasn't supposed to go about complaining and whining about minor issues happening in the club.
Keyshawn Johnson
Keyshawn Johnson's problem with the New York Jets started quite early. After a season of playing with the club, he published a book in which he criticized his head coach, Rich Kotite, and ridiculed another teammate, Neil O'Donnell. Johnson also had some issues with his teammate, Wayne Chrebet, because the latter was receiving more love and attention than Keyshawn himself.
Eventually, the Jets had no choice but to trade him to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers where, again, he was a cog in the wheel. Johnson had an open scuffle with head coach Jon Gruden which resulted in yet another unceremonious trade. In all, he was traded twice in just five seasons.
JaMarcus Russell
Infamous as one of the NFL’s biggest draft busts, JaMarcus Russell was let go just after three seasons in the NFL. The former quarterback had a bright career ahead as the first overall by the Raiders in the 2007 draft. There were early contract disagreements, but Russell was signed for six years with a $68 million deal. By 2009, the player’s performance had decreased drastically, and he had gained 30 pounds more than his reported weight, leading to his premature release.
Russell, however, didn’t think he was responsible for his short career. He blamed his teammates instead and said he wasn’t enjoying the game.
Ryan Leaf
It’s hard to believe that Ryan Leaf was competing with Peyton Manning for the first overall pick in the 1998 NFL draft. While Leaf became the second overall, he was signed into a four-year contract with the San Diego Chargers for $31.25 million, which was the highest amount for a beginner then.
The biggest problem with the player was his arrogance and narcissistic tendencies which the Chargers overlooked in his draft profile. The three seasons he played there were marked by injuries and his hostile attitude toward his teammates, coaches, and media. After three more teams to prove himself, he quit football at 26 and has been indicted in at least five counts of burglary and possession since then.
Richie Incognito
Even before Richie Incognito's bullying against a teammate was exposed, he was known to have anger issues and was fined several times for engaging in unfair play. So when his bullying remarks against teammate and fellow lineman Jonathan Martin came to light in 2013, not many were surprised.
The footballer maintained there was no truth to the accusations, but disturbing texts and voicemails with him calling racial slurs and threatening violence against Martin's family members surfaced. Incognito was reported to have harassed Miami Dolphins' staff members as well. Given the unchallenged evidence against his misconduct, the Dolphins suspended the lineman. Later in 2018, he also faced two charges of violent misconduct on separate occasions.
Vontaze Burfict
Playing with Vontaze Burfict is no less than a gamble with life for the opposite team. Arguably the dirtiest player in the league, Burfict often disregarded safety rules in the game, which resulted in significant injuries for others. These have littered his career with numerous suspensions and fines of over $5.3 million.
During a match against Indianapolis Colts in 2019, Burfict launched a helmet-to-helmet hit against Jack Doyle, which led to his dismissal from the field. Tired of his repeated misconducts despite numerous warnings, a 10-game suspension was slapped on him- the longest on-field suspension in NFL history.
Deion Sanders
It's such a pain when you have a skilled player with a nasty attitude and no team spirit in your team. Sanders was an eight-time Pro Bowl selection, a six-time All-Pro selection in his career, and had two Super Bowl appearances. Off-field, however, the player hardly concentrated in defensive meetings, saying he already had a set game plan for himself and the rest of the defense strategy wasn't his headache.
For former teammate Kevin Smith, Sanders was also a terrible influence on his teammates, as in his presence, many members paid attention to things other than the sport. Today, the footballer enjoys a reputation as one of the top players in the '90s, while the behind-the-scenes stories paint a different picture.
Michael Irvin
The legendary NFL player Michael Irvin is one of the best wider receivers in the league’s history. Also, the player was among one of the three Cowboys offensive players and a man with multiple charges of being under the influence of illegal substance usage and possession. He was one time reported to have assaulted a Dallas Cheerleader with a weapon.
Another time, he allegedly used scissors to cut a two-inch incision in Everett McIver’s neck in the middle of a heated argument. He tried to cover up the incident, but it was later exposed. Michael remains one of the loudest and most brash athletes ever to play football.
Greg Hardy
Here is another player who was always on the wrong side of the law. Grey Hardy's name is popular for different reasons, especially his involvement in domestic violence. He once assaulted his girlfriend and threatened her life, which made him to be suspended from 10 games.
Days after his suspension, Hardy was involved in a verbal altercation with Davon Coleman and would show up to meetings whenever he wanted. After all his unpleasant outputs and breaking the code of conduct rules of the NFL, he eventually left football and took another career path.
Aaron Hernandez
It is a general belief that former New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez was a sociopath, an individual capable of murdering at least one person and possibly responsible for killing the other two. He was known to be toxic and unstable around the training facilities. After the first murder case was publicized, people became fully aware of what Hernandez was during different stages of his career.
There was a time he threatened Wes Welker who was then a teammate; we wonder how other players coped with him. Eventually, the star's reputation crumbled, and his career had to end after he was convicted and sentenced for life.
Bill Romanowski
As talented as Bill Romanowski was during his career days, it would be right to say that the player would have been better off if he never played in the league. Romanowski has a record of several unflattering incidents like spitting in J.J. Stokes’ face and ripping off a teammate's helmet before punching him in the face. The punch shattered Marcus Williams' eye socket and ended the player's career.
Romanowski has been involved in several altercations with opponents and teammates, always aiming for an extra-sensitive area of their body. In addition, he was linked to a potential steroid which he later admitted and was speculated to be the cause of his insane practice habits. Luckily for Romanowski, he did not face serious time behind bars over his nasty behaviors.
Charles Haley
Charles Haley was the first five-time Super Bowl champion, and because of his exceptional talent, he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Nonetheless, a part of this star that is less known has to do with his manhood. He had the habit of pleasuring himself and not even keeping it private, plus other unpleasant acts during his playing days.
Charles was socially awkward and always picking on players he believed to be weaker than himself. He had been given some medication to treat manic depression but would not take the pills as prescribed. In addition, Charles was always the most intimidating player during his time on the field, and he seemed to take pride in it.