ALL TIME ATHLETIC FREAKS OF NATURE IN THE NFL

[oregonpackfan]

Linebacker Ted Hendricks was also a freakish athlete.

Called "The Stork" because he was a lean 6'7" , he hardly fit the physical profile of the linebacker.

The guy was tough, surpisingly quick and strong. He was one of those mobile linebackers who was all over the field.

OPF

[Badgerinmaine]

There are some great choices above.

How about Tony Gonzalez of the Chiefs? He's both one of the great pass-catching tight ends of all time and was a good enough athlete to play on a very good Cal basketball team in college.

[Dune]

Morris Stroud

I remember him from many years ago and I believe he was 7' 250 lbs.
I beleive he played with KC.

[Fritz]

Babe Didrickson.

[Fritz]

I also heard that Chris Hovan has a tail sticking out of the top of his butt. That's pretty freaky.

[K-town]

I also heard that Chris Hovan has a tail sticking out of the top of his butt. That's pretty freaky.

No, I believe that's his HEAD sticking out of the top of his butt. As in ASS-HAT.

[pbmax]

I once read that Mean Joe Green was 5' 11". Different era, but that was probably shorter than average in 1974 as well.

As for my list:

Fred Dean, Charles Haley and Sean Jones. All too tall and thin to last as long as they did at DE. Haley especially, was impossibly effective until injuries sidelined him.

Too Tall Jones might have been the third best lineman on that Dallas team, after Randy White and Harvey Martin.

[KYPack]

I once read that Mean Joe Green was 5' 11". Different era, but that was probably shorter than average in 1974 as well.

As for my list:

Fred Dean, Charles Haley and Sean Jones. All too tall and thin to last as long as they did at DE. Haley especially, was impossibly effective until injuries sidelined him.

Too Tall Jones might have been the third best lineman on that Dallas team, after Randy White and Harvey Martin.

I keep hearing this same thing from people about Joe Greene. For some freakin reason, people say he was a little guy.

Joe Greene was 6' 4" 275. That was in an era where a 275 pounder was a big guy. He was a "Reggie White type" guy, infinitely strong and cat quick for a big guy.

There was something else about Joe. He was a nice guy, but....

if you played it straight, he played it straight.

if you tried any crap, he would then KILL you.

13 years in the NFL at DT, HOF in '87.

Some other freaks..

Bob St Clair OT 6' 9" 275 A hall of famer and huge for his era. Ate raw steaks and acted crazy, mainly to get publicity. A great OT and super strong, also.

Someone mentioned Doug Atkins. Watch the old Packer films against the Bears. Watch the Bears RDE. He is a scary guy. Atkins once hurdled Bob Skoronski. He was 6'8". He was listed at 275, but most people feel he was about 300 - 310. All muscle, a totally crazy guy who was feared by all OT's. Atkins loved to call the other teams hotel, get hold of his opponent and tell him he (Atkins) was gonna kick his ass, then get on the field and do just that. Played 17 years in the league, many felt he was still the best DE in the league in his last season.

Bronko Nagurski. He was huge by the standards of his day 6' 2" 230, but that's average, today. But any mention of freaks has to include Bronko for his bone rattling hits and basic strength. He broke many bones and there are apochrophal stories of hideous shots he gave people. Many observers have labeled him the strongest player and hardest hitter of all time.

Bob Hayes I've never seen anybody as fast as Bob, until Deon came along. Bob was so fast, he changed the game. No team could cover this Olympic gold medal sprinter man to man (except the Pack, but that's another tale). Bob was a freak when it came to speed, but he was primarily a football player, so he knew how to turn it on and off.

[motife]

Ok, if you're going to add Bob St. Clair, I'm going to add Forrest Blue.

Forrest Blue was, again at the time, a giant playing center for the SF 49ers. 6'5". John Brodie looked like a vetrinarian standing behind a horse when he was under center.