Players you hated, but now sorta like.

[A Defiant Goose]

Probably Suggs for me. He's basically the Rex Ryan of players

 

[A Defiant Goose]

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

Sherman is a good choice too. He's grown on me

 

[Wheelman]

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.

I think you need to read up on some of the immoral things HGH sexual predator and his family has done.

 

[Joey007]

Probably Suggs for me. He's basically the Rex Ryan of players

I still hate Suggs.

 

[BobDigital]

None. Any player i ever hated I hated on a personal level cause of who they were as a person.

 

[PatsDeb]

Dwayne allen
Brandin cooks
Stephen Gilmore
Kony ealy
Larry guy
David Harris

Hmmm. I see a pattern here...

 

[Joker]

I hat6e Conrad Dobler....

 

[Jackson 2]

I still hate Suggs.

But, I'll always love his gums and those shiny, white chiclets...

 

[patsinthesnow]

I guess it's more that he got so good that he earned respect but I'll say Von Miller.

Elite pass rusher, sets the edge & defends the run with the best, and can cover RBs downfield like a CB.

The guy is destined for the HOF and had the biggest impact a non-QB had on a SB run that I can remember. I'm sure BB would dream to have him on his D.

 

[Julius]

I guess it's more that he got so good that he earned respect but I'll say Von Miller.

Got a big contract and lived up to it. Plus he has chickens and names them after his teammates. I like the weird details.

 

[ErniesPinkStripes]

I still hate Suggs.

Suggs and Bart Scott are on my perpetual sh*t list. F those guys.

My choice for the OP is probably Rex, he can obviously be a very intelligent, well spoken football analyst when he gets out of his own way. Plus he was only really hateable as a jet.

 

[hornetfb85]

Rod Tidwell

Was kind of a jerk, and a loud mouth early in his career. Then post injury scare really turned his attitude around.

 

[PatsBoy12]

Antonio Cromartie, though I don't know if he's still in the league or not. T Sizzle a.k.a Terrell Suggs. Jarvis Landry - still a prick, but he brings it every game.

On the flip side, there should be a thread for players we used to like and now hate: Earl Thomas III, Le'veon Bell, Jamie Collins.

 

[goheels22002]

Devonta Freeman - a douche who missed the key block in SB 51:

Film Room: The play that killed the Falcons in Super Bowl LI

 

[Julius]

Devonta will always have a special place in my heart.

 

[Brandon_Cox]

Richie Incognito. At first I thought he was a complete thug and a racist. Now, not so much. All of his teammates - black and white - supported him. He's now an all pro guard and huge Tom Brady fan (maybe because they both got screwed over by Ted Wells and his "independent" investigations.) He was quoted in the NFL top 100 and has been outspoken about Tommy elsewhere, such as here:

Buffalo Bills' Richie Incognito doesn't see Tom Brady retiring anytime soon

 

[Brandon_Cox]

I hat6e Conrad Dobler....

Wow, that's a name out of the past. I was living in St. Louis during the Cardiac Cards. Conrad Dobler got all the ink for being the "dirtiest player in the NFL" but Dan Dierdorf and Tom Banks were equally nasty.

 

[stinkypete]

Wes Welker in his Dolphin years.

Remember that game against the Dolphins when Brady went about 9 - 40 for 70 yards? That Miami team had nothing going for it except their pass defense and Welker, who was punting, returning punts, kicking field goals. Later that year he had a late punt return that set up the Monday night Miami upset.

I hated Wes Welker. Until he came here.