Is there any doubt that the NFL has the Greatest Athletes ?

[DieHollywoodDie]

Originally Posted by Marcoccia

I will always say track and field athletes if you look at what some of these guy can do other than their events is pretty amazing. But the one thing that I see that sets them apart is that most of them during the day have a normal job like everyone else but they own a gold medal at home.

not even close. most of the guys in the nfl were former track stars in highschool. a lot of the reject nfl players go to do track.

[laxter]

It's hard to beat some of the elite NFL running backs for athletic superiority. These guys are lightning quick, faster than most on the field, strong enough to break tackles, and can leap over the line to make a yard or two. There's a reason their longevity stops at 30 for most. The elite NFL back can't do at 32 what he could do at 28 which is why the elite runners' careers are shorter than others on the team which don't require such a high level of athleticism.

[TheAntar]

Originally Posted by isosceles

ok here is how i am defining it: the top 20 football players (imo this is almost exclusively gona be WRs and cornerbacks) would place the highest on avg if you had the top 20 competitors in every single sport do a round robin competition in every single sport.

I doubt they can skate very well. So no.

There are some hockey players up there in terms of fitness. Some of those guys are absolutely crazy-fit. And a lot of them play other sports successfully too, until they sign contracts and can't anymore.

Just me 2 cents.

[bigbadberry]

As debatable as this topic is rugby + hockey (endurance and strength are crucial) guys are some of the most respectable athletes. Some football players are beasts, running backs, receivers, quick lb's, but then you have linemen that couldn't run 100 yards without having to grab o2 from the side. Every sport is going to have legitimate athletes and not so great athletes but their ATHLETICISM is what got them there.

[david1112]

I think boxers or MMA fighters. The stakes are alot higher in those sports. Theres no losing games or coming second in a race for them, its win or get knocked out!

[lilcolumbo]

not saying its the most athletic but i would consider NHL players way more athletic than we give them credit for..the hits and the amount of games they have are crazy and to recover and play the next day is awesome. they are a tough group of athletes i wouldnt be able to do that its crazy mad props.

i would pick mma fighters for sure so many areas to cover.. speed strength power flexibility endurance

[gabefedota]

Even being a football player I must say basketball players are the most athletic overall...a lot of football players favorite sport is basketball but they just never made it because they weren't good enough to be in the pros.

Julius Peppers, I remember him playing at UNC...Tony Gonzalez, Antonio Gates (never played football but did play basketball in college and has torn up the NFL).

If Lebron James actually was a WR in the NFL...he couldn't be stopped at WR. 6'9" 270lbs, runs around a legit 4.6.

I think overall, basketball players are wayyyyyy more athletic.

[Notnowchief]

What about world class rowers?
A mix of power, endurance(both aerobic and anaerobic), and balance.
Rowers are tall very muscular athletes with low body fat levels.
Looking at it from an athletic standpoint rowers are some of the most efficient athletes as you are tested on pulling your own bodyweight as fast as possible.

[IGF-WON]

Originally Posted by Notnowchief

What about world class rowers?
A mix of power, endurance(both aerobic and anaerobic), and balance.
Rowers are tall very muscular athletes with low body fat levels.
Looking at it from an athletic standpoint rowers are some of the most efficient athletes as you are tested on pulling your own bodyweight as fast as possible.

they would loose in every sport/ competition involving running

[Snowman723]

Depends on your definition of athletesim. I terms of power and speed I don't think there's any doubt.

But in my opinion hockey/futball/rugby require more all round ability to reach the top levels

No disrespect to nfl players but we all know that some people will be drafted/signed based on strength/speed scores alone (workout warriors) and never do anything in the sport

can the same be said for the other 3 sports I listed? I dont know

[Notnowchief]

Originally Posted by IGF-WON

they would loose in every sport/ competition involving running

Wrong, they would beat most nfl players in distance runs and most distance runners in sprints, not to mention there is no running event a hockey player or golf player would beat a world class rower in.

[Aussieguy101]

great replies guys thanks

[IGF-WON]

Originally Posted by Notnowchief

Wrong, they would beat most nfl players in distance runs and most distance runners in sprints, not to mention there is no running event a hockey player or golf player would beat a world class rower in.

thats debatable.

[SkinnyWR009]

who ever said nfl players > track & field your a fool. Nfl players are like hybirds, they are fast, strong, and big. They aren't the biggest, They aren't the fastest, and they aren't the strongest. Saying that nfl players have the greatest athletes is stupid.


Sprinters > Nfl players


Basketball players in my opinion are the most athletic though. Being THAT coordinated at 6'6+ is ridiculous. (short people you wouldn't understand)

[jgood]

Originally Posted by Notnowchief

What about world class rowers?
A mix of power, endurance(both aerobic and anaerobic), and balance.
Rowers are tall very muscular athletes with low body fat levels.
Looking at it from an athletic standpoint rowers are some of the most efficient athletes as you are tested on pulling your own bodyweight as fast as possible.

Ok why in the hell do rowers come up in every conversation on this forum?

[skillz17]

Originally Posted by gabefedota

Even being a football player I must say basketball players are the most athletic overall...a lot of football players favorite sport is basketball but they just never made it because they weren't good enough to be in the pros.

Julius Peppers, I remember him playing at UNC...Tony Gonzalez, Antonio Gates (never played football but did play basketball in college and has torn up the NFL).

If Lebron James actually was a WR in the NFL...he couldn't be stopped at WR. 6'9" 270lbs, runs around a legit 4.6.

I think overall, basketball players are wayyyyyy more athletic.

In a way you're right, but it depends what are you looking for. Obviously you can't compare and offensive/defensive lineman to a center in basketball since football players are obviously much stronger.
But if you were to compare some basic traits such as running, jumping and things like that, taking running backs, wide receivers and guards/forwards that would be alright. Personally i like both sports the same, if i wasn't into bball i'd for sure be playing football.
My opinion is that as far as endurance and stamina goes nfl players are the better ones since their field is much larger and therefore playing offense and defense demands more from a player. Basketball maybe requires more jumping ability and finesse and that could be the difference. It's a difficult one to think about, it depends on what you think of as a good athlete overall in terms of running, jumping, endurance, strength, power, explosivness etc.
Oh, James is listed at 6'8" i think.
I had a friend in high school who was one of the best rowers in the country, very athletic in the upper part and stuff. But couldn't run or jump at all.

[IGF-WON]

Originally Posted by skillz17

My opinion is that as far as endurance and stamina goes nfl players are the better ones since their field is much larger and therefore playing offense and defense demands more from a player.

ummm basketball requires a lot more stamina than football.

[skillz17]

Originally Posted by IGF-WON

ummm basketball requires a lot more stamina than football.

I wouldn't agree.

[BreezerD]

Oly lifters definitely take the cake for me.

[exy]

Originally Posted by kevinm24

I would have to say NFL players at all skilled positions because they have the best overall athleticism. They are the strongest, fastest and most flexable being the leanest theyt can be. You have to remember though that a good amount of them are juicing. How many soccer players do u think juice? very few i would guess.

Those are pictures of skilled players. You are leaving out defensive ends, tackles, quarterbacks.

Every player on the football team is fitted for their position. They are not athletes, they are simply football players, in my opinion, a real athlete would be a gymnast or a triathalon runner. Football players are more of like... brawlers. I play football btw.

[oreoremix]

Out of professional atheletes it would be very close. MMA atheletes top everything. Yes a pro football player is a big mofo, fast, lean and strong, but a MMA player goes STRAIGHT 5 minute rounds. How much resting is in football? Also a basketball player is also one of the best athletes in the world. Finese, power, quickness, and lots more. Every sport to me honestly is the best athletes in the world.There is always gunna be someone better in one particular catagory then another athlete.

BTW lebron james is 6'8 and 260lbs and one of if not the fastest guy in the NBA.

[CaroKannDefence]

Originally Posted by bigbadberry

as debatable as this topic is rugby + hockey (endurance and strength are crucial) guys are some of the most respectable athletes..

qft

[sch17]

A sport that people overlook is motocross. If you have ever raced, you should know that the pro's are in amazing shape. Racing for 20 mins takes more out of you then you would think.


But NFL athletes are the greatest, no comparison.

Any NFL player is great at their sport, but also at many others. Many football players dominate at track even though they are mainly football players.

Other athletes may be better at one or two aspects but NFL players are the most well rounded athletes in the world. They have speed, explosiveness, jumping ability, balance, stamina

[AmericanPhysco]

Originally Posted by sch17

Any NFL player is great at their sport, but also at many others. Many football players dominate at track even though they are mainly football players.

In states for me in track, I was the only non-football player in the finals.(100 meter dash). I play soccer but I'd say football generally has the best athletes, imo and a close second is basketball.

[Verloren]

Originally Posted by jgood

Ok why in the hell do rowers come up in every conversation on this forum?

Possibly due to the fact that rowers cross train to a ridiculous degree.

[jtray68]

Originally Posted by LovetheTide

Athletic wise football players are the best, skill wise they are not IMO. Hitting a baseball has to be the hardest thing to do in sports and that's why guys can make tons and tons of money for only hitting a ball every 3 times out of 10 attempts, it's that hard.

i disagree. though baseball i believe is extremely tough. try golfing, haha. they have to be a close comparison in skill wise

[distant]

Professional rugby players would have to be the most athletic to my mind, the intensity of an 80min match at a high level (watch out for the forthcoming Lions v South Africa series for an example)

And people like this guy:

"Spies, who stands 6ft 4ins (1.94m) tall and weighs 16st 12lbs (107kg) is a physical freak who pushes himself to the limit and has an utterly professional lifestyle. He bench presses 165kg, power cleans 135kg, dead lifts 240kg, and does pull-ups with a 50kg weight around his waist. He can launch his gym-honed body 1.4m onto a raised platform, can sprint for 835m before slowing on a repeated sprint-ability test, and has a body-fat reading of 6.5 per cent. "

That's a 55inch box jump weighing in at nearly 17 stone

The full article (as I can't post links) is available by searching for "times online pierre spies" in google and it'll come up as being from the Times newspaper

Then there's the differences between the two sports (not slating the NFL) but rugby requires a wider range of skills and probably greater fitness levels for a more sustained, intense period of time

[MiKeOnE29]

Originally Posted by distant

Professional rugby players would have to be the most athletic to my mind, the intensity of an 80min match at a high level (watch out for the forthcoming Lions v South Africa series for an example)

And people like this guy:

"Spies, who stands 6ft 4ins (1.94m) tall and weighs 16st 12lbs (107kg) is a physical freak who pushes himself to the limit and has an utterly professional lifestyle. He bench presses 165kg, power cleans 135kg, dead lifts 240kg, and does pull-ups with a 50kg weight around his waist. He can launch his gym-honed body 1.4m onto a raised platform, can sprint for 835m before slowing on a repeated sprint-ability test, and has a body-fat reading of 6.5 per cent. "

That's a 55inch box jump weighing in at nearly 17 stone

The full article (as I can't post links) is available by searching for "times online pierre spies" in google and it'll come up as being from the Times newspaper

Then there's the differences between the two sports (not slating the NFL) but rugby requires a wider range of skills and probably greater fitness levels for a more sustained, intense period of time

repped

[dblb48]

Originally Posted by TheBurgh

I cant believe noone has mentioned NBA players? Those players have a whole combination of strength, power, stamina, speed. 6'8 230lb shooting gaurds with 40+ vertical leap. Has anyone seen Lebron James...

lol, lebron is probably one of the top 5 athletes in the entire world, but he is such an outlier. Basketball players as a whole are not the best athletes...again the skill vs. athleticism comes into play here

[dblb48]

Originally Posted by distant

Professional rugby players would have to be the most athletic to my mind, the intensity of an 80min match at a high level (watch out for the forthcoming Lions v South Africa series for an example)

And people like this guy:

"Spies, who stands 6ft 4ins (1.94m) tall and weighs 16st 12lbs (107kg) is a physical freak who pushes himself to the limit and has an utterly professional lifestyle. He bench presses 165kg, power cleans 135kg, dead lifts 240kg, and does pull-ups with a 50kg weight around his waist. He can launch his gym-honed body 1.4m onto a raised platform, can sprint for 835m before slowing on a repeated sprint-ability test, and has a body-fat reading of 6.5 per cent. "

That's a 55inch box jump weighing in at nearly 17 stone

The full article (as I can't post links) is available by searching for "times online pierre spies" in google and it'll come up as being from the Times newspaper

Then there's the differences between the two sports (not slating the NFL) but rugby requires a wider range of skills and probably greater fitness levels for a more sustained, intense period of time

Are you paraphrasing this article as if though those numbers are impressive?!? I have about a dozen friends on my D3 football team who are freshman that can match or beat all those numbers. So you acting impressed by them just strengthens the argument about how much more impressive NFL players are athletically. try again when you find someone w/ 450+ bench, clean 400+, squat 700+, who runs like a track star. epic fail on your part.