Players I Love to Hate

How many times do you watch a player make a play against your favorite team and think to yourself, “Man I hate that guy.”?

In many cases, this “hatred” is actually a sign of respect. Generally, the player’s ability to torment your favorite team is the catalyst for your strong feelings toward him.

Here is a list of the players within the NFC East that I absolutely hate. I have chosen one representative from each of Dallas’ division rivals.

3. Santana Moss

Moss has been a thorn in the Cowboys’ side since arriving in Washington in 2005.

In only his second game after coming over from the Jets, Moss caught a 39 yard touchdown, followed by a 70 yard touchdown in the fourth quarter to give the Redskins a 14-13 win in a game Dallas controlled.

As a Redskin, Moss averages just under six catches for 101 yards and just under a touchdown against Dallas.

Moss has almost been a guarantee for at least one big play against the Cowboy defense, having caught at least one pass over 20 yards in every game but one.

Moss is the catalyst behind the release of Roy Williams and the reconstruction of the Dallas secondary.

2. Brandon Jacobs

Jacobs is a force of nature unlike anything the world has seen. A 265 lb man is not supposed to be able to move like he does.

His size makes it virtually impossible to stop him for less than a three yard gain. Not including his rookie season, Jacobs averages five yards per carry against the Cowboy defense, which has been good against the run since switching to the 3-4 under Parcels.

Jacobs has also taken his act off the field, having been in media battles with Patrick Crayton and Tony Romo in the past few seasons.

Jacobs simply pounds the will out of a team, and Dallas’ mental toughness has been questionable at best since the departure of Bill Parcels.

1. Donovan McNabb

The 14 second scramble. That’s all you need to say. McNabb’s highlight reel play from 2004 even made the Texas Stadium Tournament of Memories on the Dallas Cowboy website.

McNabb has also quarterbacked the Eagles to numerous 40+ point outbursts versus Dallas, including the 44-6 Week 17 drubbing last season that put Philadelphia in the playoffs over the Cowboys.

The stat that best tells the story of why McNabb makes this list is his career quarterback rating is highest, 127.4, when his team is trailing by one score.

McNabb has also been a leader during one of the most successful periods in Eagles history. Maybe the most frustrating thing about McNabb is that he simply won’t go away.

After injuries and Terrell Owens made it appear as if McNabb’s career was in its twilight stages, Donovan had a resurgent 2008 that included the previously mentioned playoff appearance.

McNabb has largely done his damage with receiving options like James Thrash, Freddie Mitchell, the dysfunctional Terrell Owens, and a rookie in DeSean Jackson serving as his top targets.

McNabb is one of the best in the league at spreading the ball around to all of his receiving options, and that gives the Dallas defense fits.

Honorable Mention

There are many other candidates for this list. New Redskin Albert Haynesworth is still remembered for stepping on the head of Cowboy center Andre Gurode.

Safety Brian Dawkins would be battling McNabb for the top spot on the list if he were still an Eagle. The same can be said for former Giants Michael Strahan and Tiki Barber.

A new generation is emerging with the likes of Osi Umenyiora, DeSean Jackson, and Laron Landry developing with each team.

As the 2009 season nears, it will be interesting to see how the changes the Cowboys have made will impact their history with these three players.

Will the new secondary slow down Moss? Can the addition of Keith Brooking help slow down the Jacobs freight train? Will Anthony Spencer provide enough pressure along with DeMarcus Ware to slow down McNabb? Or is history doomed to repeat itself?