7 Biggest Problem Children in the NFL

In order to become a problem child, a player first needs to be able to draw attention to themselves with their talents. No player on this list is devoid of the requisite talent to accomplish that feat.

The inherent "problem" with problem children is that they are so talented they are often left to operate in any manner they see fit, causing problems with their team that could lead to problems on the field.

That doesn't mean that each of these players don't have their redeeming points as well, but their reputations usually precede them for good reason.

Randy Moss, San Francisco 49ers

Randy Moss is going to have an opportunity to alienate himself from another franchise, and if he is successful, it will be the second team in California that he has achieved that feat with.

Moss is incredibly talented, but he has a propensity for causing distractions off the field that have caused his ouster on more than one occasion.

Jim Harbaugh is hoping that the production on the field outweighs what may be likely to come off of it.

Cortland Finnegan, St. Louis Rams

Finnegan may only have a history of erupting with one player on the field, but there is a general feeling that Finnegan may walk close to the edge in terms of what he tries to get away with on the field.

In some cases his tactics are successful in distracting the opponent and knocking them off their game, but other times it takes him off his own game and creates needless penalties for his team.

DeSean Jackson, Philadelphia Eagles

The Eagles tried to placate the vocal wideout with a contract extension this offseason, and that might help to curtail some of his dramatic performances outside of football—but it might not.

Last seasons implosion by the Eagles was not solely caused by Jackson and his antics, even though they didn't help keep the team focused.

Eagles' fans must be hoping that Jackson just keeps to himself and lets the electrifying plays he is capable of creating do the talking.

Santonio Holmes, New York Jets

Holmes is the proud owner of an impressive career highlight reel and one of the most iconic catches in Super Bowl history, but his off-the-field leadership abilities are not what the New York Jets had hoped they were.

The star wide receiver's strong opinions and generosity in sharing them have not helped him win any popularity contests, and called into question the freedom with which Rex Ryan likes to allow his locker room to be run.

Ndamukong Suh, Detroit Lions

The whole nation saw the trouble that Suh's temper can get him into on Thanksgiving Day, and the Lions hope that is a final performance for the big man of that kind.

Suh has had an audience with the Commissioner to discuss his "troubles," but the real solution comes from Suh learning to harness his aggression and put it all toward the game changing talent that he possesses.

The day that Detroit is no longer waiting for the next blow up is a day when the rest of the league will serve notice that Suh may no longer be able to be stopped.

Brandon Marshall, Chicago Bears

Did the Chicago Bears know about the legal troubles of Brandon Marshall before the trade? Probably so, but they needed to take the risk to add a game breaker at wide receiver.

The Bears need to be careful, though, it was only just recently that their quarterback regained some of the public's sentiment that he lost after the NFC Championship game two years ago, and now adding a new potential distraction to the team could take the focus back off the field. 

Aqib Talib, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers were dangerously close to simply parting ways with Aqib Talib prior to last season, but decided not to after word came out regarding his scary run in with the law.

Suffice it to say that Talib is on a short leash in Tampa, made even shorter by a new regime and a coach with nothing invested in the player.