10 Most Memorable Media Disses of Players in NFL History

There have been some memorable clashes between members of the media and NFL players over the years, some of the best being between former and current players. I'm going to take a look back in history to determine the top-ten all-time disses between the two professions.

It's safe to say that the media don't always get it right, though some of these disses are dead on.

These examples are the pinnacle of broadsides, and with the explosion of instant news and "analysis" through social media, it seems that the best ones are yet to come.

NFL Top 100 vs. Eli Manning

This one isn't simply a media diss.

The Top 100 list NFL Network put together before the 2011 season began was created using NFL players as the judge and jury.

Eli's own peers left him off the list. Quarterbacks who were chosen instead of Manning include: Donavan McNabb (seriously?), Josh Freeman (you're kidding, right?) and Tony Romo.

Maybe not in direct response, Manning then made the highly-debated claim that he was "in the same class as Tom Brady."

Nobody's debating his statement any longer, though.

Manning led the NFL in fourth-quarter comebacks in 2011, leading the New York Giants to last-minute victories in six games during the regular season.

Manning proved once and for all he's one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL with a Super Bowl victory against the New England Patriots—a game he won with yet another fourth-quarter comeback.

I'm guessing Manning might make it onto the next list.

Dhani Jones vs. Brian Urlacher

Dhani Jones is media for the sake of this post.

The now-retired middle linebacker has written commentaries for ESPN.com and served as a correspondent for the NFL Network to go along with his Travel Channel show Dhani Tackles the Globe (source: Wikipedia).

Jones visited NFL Network Studios on June 11, 2011, to plug his new book The Sportsman which he describes as part travelogue, part memoir, part workout guide.

At one point during his interview, Jones was asked to rank the top 10 middle linebackers in the NFL. He ranked himself No. 7, while leaving Brian Urlacher off the list completely.

When asked about Urlacher's omission from the list, Jones responded with this dig: "When's the last time Brian Urlacher got off a block?"

Urlacher didn't let Jones off the hook. When asked about the comments, Urlacher's response was classic:

"

I think we were drafted in the same class, and I haven't heard anything about him since then. I saw him on a TV show with a bow tie on, though. So I know him better for the way he dresses than what he does on the football field.

"

That's going to leave a mark.

Terry Bradshaw vs. Ben Roethlisberger

It's no secret that Terry Bradshaw doesn't like Ben Roethisberger.

The two of them have mended fences a bit over the course of the last year, but Bradshaw has never been shy about his feelings towards Big Ben.

Bradshaw first started making his case against Roethisberger way back in June of 2006 after the young star was critically injured in a motorcycle accident. He hadn't been wearing a helmet.

ESPN.com writer John Clayton: "has confirmed that Roethlisberger also suffered a nine-inch laceration to the back of his head, has lost or chipped a number of teeth and has minor injuries to his knees from hitting the pavement."

Bradshaw had previously told Roethisberger to "ride it when you retire, those things are dangerous," due to the fact that Kellen Winslow Jr. had been injured in an accident of his own, tearing knee ligaments and missing a season.

"

Our relationship is not any good. When I told him to park the motorcycle, he got pissed. Alright? Then he had the accident. And since then, there's, you know ... he doesn't like me, and I'm learning not to like him, Bradshaw said later.

"

Then, later in 2010, Bradshaw came out with his Pièce de résistance when he blasted Roethisberger on national television with this legendary rant (click on link to view) after Ben was hit with his second sexual assault charge in less than a year.

This is a diss that goes in the "right on" column. 

Mike Florio vs. Aaron Rodgers

According to Mike Florio, Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers "has a lot to learn about where his money comes from".

Florio painted the picture of a selfish man (Rodgers) who had clearly known he was ignoring a little old lady and cancer patient (Jan Cavanaugh) at the airport.

Cavanaugh actually came to Rodgers' rescue after Florio's hit piece was published, saying:

"

I am very unhappy with people making so much out of this, because this really isn't that big of a deal. It's up to the players to decide who they want to give an autograph to, and that's their prerogative.

Just a week earlier, Rodgers autographed Jan's pink jersey bearing the No. 12 as the team departed for Philadelphia. A few years ago the now-star quarterback signed a number of things for her, too.

"

In the end, Florio was forced to recant his ridiculously hasty pronouncements on Rodgers' character, saying:

"

Once my anger at being wrongfully accused of running a payola scheme subsided and my Italian nature to never give in wore off, I realized that I felt bad.  And I realized that I’d only feel better if I apologized.

"

How thoughtful of the dear man.

Nolan Nawrocki vs. Cam Newton

Cam Newton's ability to thrive in the NFL was questioned by many draft experts. ProFootballWeekly.com's Nolan Nawroscki took the criticism to a whole other level, though. 

The common knock on Newton coming out of Auburn last year was that he had been in a system that was too simple and would struggle to understand the complexities of the NFL game.

Nowriscki was saying things along those lines when he suddenly veered off course and started attacking Newton's character, saying:

"

Very disingenuous—has a fake smile, comes off as very scripted and has a selfish, me-first makeup. Always knows where the cameras are and plays to them. Has an enormous ego with a sense of entitlement that continually invites trouble and makes him believe he is above the law—does not command respect from teammates and always will struggle to win a locker room. Only a one-year producer. Lacks accountability, focus and trustworthiness—is not punctual, seeks shortcuts and sets a bad example. Immature and has had issues with authority. Not dependable.

"

Whoa there, cowboy! That's harsh. But wait, there's more...

"

However, he always will test the rules, be difficult to manage and lacks the intangibles to win the trust of a locker room...An over-hyped, high-risk, high-reward selection with a glaring bust factor, Newton is sure to be drafted more highly than he should and could foreclose a risk-taking GM's job and taint a locker room.

"

This scathing attack prompted Warren Moon, who is a mentor of Newton's, to come out in his defense saying:

"

A lot of the criticism he's receiving is unfortunate and racially based. I thought we were all past this. I don't see other quarterbacks in the draft being criticized by the media or fans about their smile or called a phony. 

He's being held to different standards from white quarterbacks. I thought we were past all this stuff about African-American quarterbacks, but I guess we're not.

"

The man himself? Newton took the high road during the process. He didn't say much until after the season when ESPN the Magazine featured him in January of 2012:

"

I blame JaMarcus Russell and to some degree Vince Young. If you have the opportunity to make that kind of money doing something you love to do, why would you screw it up?

I'm trying to be a trailblazer. If Baylor's Robert Griffin decides to come out, I want people to say 'He can be the next Cam Newton' instead of 'He's gonna be the next JaMarcus Russell.'

I had people taking shots at my character, classifying me as a thug, as a hoodlum. After Week 3 or 4, all these same people wanted an interview. I said, 'You were giving me all this crap and had so much to say about how I was gonna play, and now you wanna talk? No. Just sit back and watch the show, man.'

"

Merril Hoge vs. Tim Tebow

It all started on a warm, sunny day in Twitterverse.

Tim Tebow and Kyle Orton were embroiled in a fierce quarterback competition, which Orton eventually won...before he lost it again, but I digress.

Merril Hoge, or "Hoge-podge" as I like to call him, started spouting off on his Twitter account. He raised the question on everyone's mind, Orton or Tebow, albeit with a different twist:

"

Sitting watching tape off bronco offense from last year! Orton or Tebow? It's embarrassing to think the broncos could win with tebow!!...Orton or tebow? QB play is not just about who works hard gives rare rare college speeches or who is a good guy!! Because orton works hard...And is a good guy as well. It's about who can play!! I just watched Tebow throw 5 out routes to a wide open WR! He was 1 for 5! 2 went in...College credentials do not transfer to NFL raw raw speeches do not work! You must poses a skill set to play! Tebow struggle with accuracy!

"

College speeches? College credentials? Raw raw? Nah, it'll never work. As if Tebow was the first young quarterback to struggle with accuracy.

Tebow had a nice response, also on Twitter: "Hey Merril...'ppreciate that."

Hoge's attacks were just getting started, though. He went on to compare Tebow to Brian Bosworth, of all people, in an interview you can check out here.

In the end, I think Mike Ditka called it best when he went off on Hoge, yelling at him for his silly feud on ESPN's Sunday NFL Countdown, seen here. 

My favorite part, besides Hoge getting yelled at by Ditka, is the smug look of contempt on Hoge's face as he's getting torn to shreds.

Cris Carter vs. Calvin Johnson

Chris Carter said something in August of 2011 that blew most people away when he had the audacity to make a list of the elite wide receivers in the NFL that didn't include Calvin Johnson. 

This was Carter's top six:

1. Andre Johnson

2. Larry Fitzgerald

3. Greg Jennings

4. Reggie Wayne

5. DeSean Jackson

6. Roddy White

When asked why Calvin Johnson didn't make the list, Carter said:

"

Calvin Johnson, he's very, very good at Madden and Tecmo Bowl or whatever they're playing now. But on film, when I watch film, and I break down the film, he's not to the point of these guys yet. That doesn't mean he can't play. He just not there yet.

"

It wasn't until October 3rd of the same year that Carter backed off his statements. By that time, Johnson had played in four games, during which he tied Carter's own NFL record for consecutive games with at least two touchdown receptions.

"Right now, Calvin Johnson—there’s a king in every crowd, and he’s the king of the National Football League as far as wide receivers," Carter said on ESPN Radio.

At least he got it right in the end.

Jason Whitlock vs. Jay Cutler

Jason Whitlock of Fox Sports took it upon himself to interject his own personal life experiences into the Jay Cutler knee-injury-in-the-playoffs-incident a few days after the Twitter storm had settled.

You know, the same storm that featured many NFL players openly accusing Cutler of quitting on his team?

Whitlock's take on the whole thing was a massive step in the wrong direction.

In a humiliating column, Whitlock accuses Cutler of "mentally checked out on the Bears in the NFC Championship Game." That isn't the kicker, though. 

This is: "Like Jay Cutler, my personality never really fit football, especially college football."

So, what? Whitlock must be a shrink or something, right?

Wrong. He's just a hatchet man with an axe to grind. He didn't cut it, so it's obvious to him that Cutler must be just like him, never mind that he's been among the best quarterbacks in the league for the better part of a decade.

He goes on to say:

"

Cutler always appears to be lost in thought. I don’t know if he’s a deep thinker, but his body language and approach make me think he’s too thoughtful for football...He doesn’t have the passion...He just has the wrong job for his personality.

"

Right. Maybe next time, Jason.

Drew Boylhart vs. Philip Rivers

This one here is the king of humdingers.

Drew Boylhart, who is a self-labeled "analyst" for thehuddlereport.com and doesn't want to be mistaken for an actual scout, may need to rethink the whole analyst title after we review his take on Philip Rivers before he entered the NFL back in 2004.

In his report, Boylhart charges that Rivers' arm will "never be strong enough to be an NFL STARTING QB. There I said it…go-ahead throw things at me. I can take it."

He goes on to say:

"

I know it is not what you Philip River fans wanted to hear, but it is the truth. He can be an excellent backup QB but not a starter. Please do not fall into the trap of thinking he can play in the West Coast Offense. To be successful, that offense has to have the threat of a strong arm. 

"

It keeps getting better, though. Here comes the real kicker:

"

I feel that Philip has the athletic talent to be an impact pass catching TE in the NFL. If he wants to be an impact player in the NFL, he will have to change positions. He should go in the third or fourth round at the earliest.

"

A tight end? And Boylhart still has a job? I guess there's hope for all of us.

Jim Rome vs. Jim (Don't Call Me Chris) Everett

Who can forget this classic?

Jim Rome started calling Jim Everett "Chris" after watching the former All-Pro quarterback sink further and further from dominance into mediocrity, inferring he played like a girl.

Everett finally got his chance to face his tormentor in 1994 when he appeared on Rome's show, Talk2. You can see the video of this hilarious exchange here.

Rome called Everett "Chris" a couple of times before being threatened to say it one more time to his face, which he then happily did. Everett then attacked Rome, flipping the table in front of him and throwing Rome to the floor before his crew could intervene.

Some have insinuated that the event was staged to stir up ratings for Rome, but neither Everett or Rome has ever confirmed the rumors.

Whether or not it was a publicity stunt matters not to me, though I tend to believe it was legit.

Everett still has no love for Rome:

"

I don't watch him anyway, so I don't care. He's got a certain style. It's not respectful to people who go out and try their best. Rome will criticize everyone, Everett says. He'll dog Gordie Howe if he has to.

"

Everett might be right, but then again, America seems to eat him up. What does that say about us?