Players you hated, but now sorta like.

[DarrylS]

Gotta go with Richard Sherman, a guy who I once thought was a pompous butthole, has turned into not only a great CB but a very smart man.. his stint at Stanford helped him quite a bit.

How many players do we "hate", but if that player was on our team we would fall in love with them.. except Ray Lewis.

 

[livinginthe past]

Terrell Suggs - gives out a lot of s**t about Brady - but you can tell from their post game interactions that there is respect there.

Steve Smith - just like Edelman, the type of guy you love on your own team and hate when he plays for an opponent.

 

[RobertWeathers]

Laimbeer? You're a psychopath.

He's an evil human being.

Celts could use him this year.

I still hate Ulf Samuelson.

 

[Julius]

Peyton Manning

Legacy quarterback, First pick in the draft, Brady rival, and a guy that accumulated stats and fawning praise from media talking heads.... what's to like?

I took a long time to get over the rivalry and what seemed like disrespect for Tom's game when it came to comparisons between the two quarterbacks. It was also hard to like Peyton when he was dominating our defenses.

I've come around on this guy... sure he was the son of a Hall of Famer and the first pick in the draft, but how many can't miss, first pick QB's live up to the hype? Basically none. Peyton surpassed his draft position and did it with a flighty owner and mid grade defenses and coaching. I grew to enjoy the Brady-Manning rivalry, especially when I realized that we will likely not see this level of greatness among rivals again.

 

[Julius]

I still hate Ulf Samuelson.

Yep

 

[RobertWeathers]

Peyton Manning

Legacy quarterback, First pick in the draft, Brady rival, and a guy that accumulated stats and fawning praise from media talking heads.... what's to like?

I took a long time to get over the rivalry and what seemed like disrespect for Tom's game when it came to comparisons between the two quarterbacks. It was also hard to like Peyton when he was dominating our defenses.

I've come around on this guy... sure he was the son of a Hall of Famer and the first pick in the draft, but how many can't miss, first pick QB's live up to the hype? Basically none. Peyton surpassed his draft position and did it with a flighty owner and mid grade defenses and coaching. I grew to enjoy the Brady-Manning rivalry, especially when I realized that we will likely not see this level of greatness among rivals again.

As a player, maybe. As a person, hes a fraud.

At least guys like Laimbeer are genuine a-holes

 

[BlacknGold77]

Richard Sherman and Steve Smith for sure. Saw both initially as typical loudmouths but realized both are simply 2 of the most competitive people around. When you're that competitive and hate losing that much, your reactions and words sound more arrogant than they are because they cant picture failing.

Plus both back up any trash talking they do so its not like you can call them on it anyways.

big one for me is Chad Pennington...

Hated him every single time I saw him play. Hated watching him throw 5 yd ducks with his wet spaghetti impression of an arm all game and pull it off. Thought he was just lucky to not throw 5 picks a game.

Then realized how much heart and determination he played with. Realized the massive shoulder injuries he kept on going through. Now got nothing but respect for him and really appreciate the heart he showed out there

 

[Jackson 2]

As a player, maybe. As a person, hes a fraud.

At least guys like Laimbeer are genuine a-holes

LOL, agree. Laimbeer was an s$$hole and was proud of it. Dating myself, but he was in some ways an '80s version of Jim Loscutoff, who was beloved around here. If guys like that are on your team, you love 'em. If not, you hate 'em.

 

[RobertWeathers]

LOL, agree. Laimbeer was an s$$hole and was proud of it. Dating myself, but he was in some ways an '80s version of Jim Loscutoff, who was beloved around here. If guys like that are on your team, you love 'em. If not, you hate 'em.

Ha. I'm in my mid-40s and my dad spoke highly of "Jungle Jim"

As a basketball player, Laimbeer was an awful human being. He'd cut under players during jump shots and sprain ankles, elbows to the kidneys, etc. Chief blasting him during G5 in the 87 ECF was awesome. I hated him 30 years ago and I still do but now I have a different appreciation for his style of play. He was a big part of championship teams and I respect that.

However, I would absolutely take him on my team. He did the dirty work underneath and added a level of intimidation that is no longer part of the game- and it needs to be.

 

[Simpelton]

Peyton Manning

Legacy quarterback, First pick in the draft, Brady rival, and a guy that accumulated stats and fawning praise from media talking heads.... what's to like?

I took a long time to get over the rivalry and what seemed like disrespect for Tom's game when it came to comparisons between the two quarterbacks. It was also hard to like Peyton when he was dominating our defenses.

I've come around on this guy... sure he was the son of a Hall of Famer and the first pick in the draft, but how many can't miss, first pick QB's live up to the hype? Basically none. Peyton surpassed his draft position and did it with a flighty owner and mid grade defenses and coaching. I grew to enjoy the Brady-Manning rivalry, especially when I realized that we will likely not see this level of greatness among rivals again.

That's weird, because I saw this thread and my first thought was about Eli Manning. There's something to be said for the only guy ever to beat TB12 on the biggest stage. Some chickens are coming home to roost for Eli right now but that's still something you gotta respect.

 

[Froob]

James Harrison

He's a women beating POS.

 

[tasmlab]

Richard Sherman and Steve Smith for sure. Saw both initially as typical loudmouths but realized both are simply 2 of the most competitive people around. When you're that competitive and hate losing that much, your reactions and words sound more arrogant than they are because they cant picture failing.

Plus both back up any trash talking they do so its not like you can call them on it anyways.

big one for me is Chad Pennington...

Hated him every single time I saw him play. Hated watching him throw 5 yd ducks with his wet spaghetti impression of an arm all game and pull it off. Thought he was just lucky to not throw 5 picks a game.

Then realized how much heart and determination he played with. Realized the massive shoulder injuries he kept on going through. Now got nothing but respect for him and really appreciate the heart he showed out there

IIRC, Pennington was all class when he was released by the Jets when Favre was signed. He then humbly went to Miami and pulled the team together into a winner. (for a season, at least).

 

[Jackson 2]

uh...well...ya gotta admit..O.J. was a slashing runner...

He could cut on a dime...or a...

 

[Jackson 2]

Did they stick up for Brady during Defamegate in one way or the other? Then they're on my good guy list.

That's fair.

 

[Kontradiction]

Richard Sherman and Steve Smith for sure. Saw both initially as typical loudmouths but realized both are simply 2 of the most competitive people around. When you're that competitive and hate losing that much, your reactions and words sound more arrogant than they are because they cant picture failing.

Plus both back up any trash talking they do so its not like you can call them on it anyways.

big one for me is Chad Pennington...

Hated him every single time I saw him play. Hated watching him throw 5 yd ducks with his wet spaghetti impression of an arm all game and pull it off. Thought he was just lucky to not throw 5 picks a game.

Then realized how much heart and determination he played with. Realized the massive shoulder injuries he kept on going through. Now got nothing but respect for him and really appreciate the heart he showed out there

As a Colts fan (my bad for initially thinking you were a Steelers fan), are there any ex-Patriots that you once hated and now like?

 

[BlacknGold77]

As a Colts fan (my bad for initially thinking you were a Steelers fan), are there any ex-Patriots that you once hated and now like?

Im a Patriots fan...those are fighting words.

ex-Colts that I hated and now like instead? biggest one is Freeney. Always thought he was overhyped but realized he's actually that good

 

[Kontradiction]

Im a Patriots fan...those are fighting words.

ex-Colts that I hated and now like instead? biggest one is Freeney. Always thought he was overhyped but realized he's actually that good

Fair enough. I saw you on the Colts message board but when I looked back in your history, I just saw that you were debating the Colts fans on Seattle giving the Pats a "gift" in Super Bowl 49. I retract my statement.

 

[BlacknGold77]

Fair enough. I saw you on the Colts message board but when I looked back in your history, I just saw that you were debating the Colts fans on Seattle giving the Pats a "gift" in Super Bowl 49. I retract my statement.

ha, no worries. I just like to cruise their OT section every so often, can get some decent convos there sometimes

 

[fnordcircle]

If someone called me a Colts fan I wouldn't be 'ha, no worries' two posts later.

In fact, that sort of behavior seems awfully like something Phins fan would do....

 

[SlowGettingUp]

Steve Smith

Speaking of Steve Smith, here is a very insightful interview about why he thinks Brady is the GOAT:

Steve Smith: What Tom Brady has orchestrated over his career is why he is No. 1