The 10 NFL Personalities I Love To Hate

Before I get to my list, let me just say that I am writing this as a completely biased Patriots fan.

We all have those players who we just plain don't like, whether it is because they've beaten our favorite teams on more than one occasion, or because we believe that they're overrated, or maybe because there's just something about them that we can't stand or that we find annoying.

Whatever the case may be, we all have our favorite teams and players, and our least favorite teams and players.

I'm sure that some or many of you will not like this list and that's completely fine. If you find one of your favorites on my list, and you will, then by all means tell me that you don't agree.

To state the obvious, my favorite player is Tom Brady, and believe me, there's nothing bad you could say about him that I haven't already heard.

One man's hero is another man's villain.

With that, I give you my 10 NFL players that I love to hate.

1. Peyton Manning

Did you honestly expect anyone else in this spot? Over the years, Peyton has proven to be the only real quarterback to challenge the Patriots' dynasty on more than one occasion.

Sure, the Brady and Belichick's Pats have only been beaten three times in the playoffs, but the one that stands out even more than last year’s Super Bowl loss is their loss to Peyton in the 2007 AFC Championship.

Obviously, that game had far less riding on it than the Super Bowl, but because we lost to Peyton, and because we lost to him in what amounted to the real Super Bowl that year (the Bears game two weeks later didn't count), makes that game that much more painful.

There were always three things in life that I knew were a sure thing: people would die, people would have to pay their taxes, and Peyton would choke in the playoffs. After that game, I could no longer say that.

Now, that being said, he did choke big time against the Chargers last year at home, and I was very happy about that, but still, everything about him, from the commercials, to the silly audibles, even to his facemask, makes Peyton Manning my most hated player.

2. Eric Mangini

"The Mangenius"? I don't think so. I prefer "Coach Tattle-Tale".

Now, while I'm only half kidding here, I do think that maybe the Jets should have been a little more worried about their own problems rather than what the Patriots were doing. But in all honesty, I can't say that if you reversed roles I wouldn't have done the same thing.

Now, on to the reason for his No. 2 ranking: Here was a guy in Mangini who was a young, smart, hard-working guy who was quickly becoming one of the best defensive minds in football behind his mentor. Then, after only one year, he bails on the Pats for their long-time division foe, the New York Jets.

Now, I can't fault the guy for wanting more money and a chance to run his own organization. That's what you strive for. But when a guy like that leaves your team for a division rival, you're going to harbor some anger towards him.

In hindsight, I think he would have been much better served following the Romeo Crennel route: staying for an extended period of time, hopefully getting a chance to win a few championships, and then moving on when there was nothing left for you to accomplish.

Coach Crennel paid his dues, worked hard, won three Super Bowls, and is now finding success with the Browns, and I wish him the best. If the Jets don't play well this year with all the money they spent, then Mangini could be out of a job come February.

All of that, plus a less than friendly handshake or two, and the whole Spygate fiasco, and coach Eric Mangini comes in at No. 2 on my list.

3. Tony Romo

This one here has less to do with my allegiance to the Patriots, and more to do with the fact that Romo is about the most overrated player in the NFL.

Now, I'm not about to sit here and tell you that Romo is a bad quarterback or that he puts up bad statistics, or even that he can't win games.

What I am going to say however, is that as a 28-year-old guy who is heralded as the next Brett Favre, and a guy who is getting paid more that $67 million, he has won just as many playoff games as you and I put together.

This could all change next year, and he could play extremely well. He could win a Super Bowl and shut me up. But until then, why don't we hold off on his anointment until he's won at least one playoff game.

4. Philip Rivers

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