Whisper it quietly, but I have a bit of a problem. And no, before you offer me medical advice, it is not one that requires the attention of a doctor. It is far more serious than that.
As a recent convert to the exciting world of the NFL, I spent the 2007 season (my "rookie" year) completely engrossed in the action. In these summer months, I still need to get my fix—NFL.com is my homepage and Bleacher Report gets frequent attention.
Honestly, I think I may be more tired of seeing Brett Favre than Aaron Rodgers is now. But here comes the problem—when someone asks me which team I support, my answer just doesn’t really work. Looking at the floor and shuffling my feet awkwardly, I can only mumble “erm...Adrian Peterson?”
You can, of course, all see the problem here. Who supports a player not a team?! Also, to be honest, who is not a fan of Adrian Peterson? But does anyone cheer a four-yard carry from him like they would a solid tackle from their own team? Thought not.
It is quite frankly a ludicrous situation. I need to find a team to support, but as an Englishman living in (surprisingly) England, I have no obvious ties to any team. That is where I hope you, the reader, can help out. Maybe you can help me find my NFL team.
- B/R Ticket Guide
Before you rush to offer your suggestions, may I just admit to a few passing flings I have had with a couple of teams. Call them my pre-draft workouts.
Firstly, considering my love for Adrian Peterson, I have given the Minnesota Vikings a good look. But the problem for me is this: With the additions of Jared Allen and Bernard Berrian in the offseason, the team looks Super Bowl ready now (that is, if Tarvaris Jackson can perform—or they get a famous QB who wears No. 4).
You may say that is not a problem—it is always great to support a successful team—but to me it feels a bit like cheating. I am a rather masochistic fan—I like to feel the pain of defeat before the triumph of victory. I don’t want to celebrate that imaginary ring too early in my career.
Which makes my other pre-draft workout all the more surprising—the New York Giants.
Like all good affairs, this was born from money. In the middle of last season, studying the form, I really fancied the G-Men for the Super Bowl. I had a £20 free bet, and Ladbrokes offered 14/1.
From there began a tail of anguish, heartbreak, and conflicting emotions for different players (McQuarters' late interception against the Cowboys—hero; Tynes against the Packers—villain) before that final game-winning kick at Lambeau Field. £280 in my pocket, but it made me feel dirty to think that my support could be bought so cheaply.
Winning the Super Bowl was another kick in the nuts—I could have won near £1,000 if I had bet that they would take it to the house. I will admit I cheered like a banshee (do banshees cheer, or just scream?) when Tyree made that catch, but is that enough? Everyone in this country seems to be a Giants or Dolphins fan—I need to be different.
So there you go.
My history with support in the NFL is complete. I will be at the Chargers/Saints game at Wembley this year. I know the difference between Jake Long and Chris Long, and my Madden 08 superstar is in the Hall of Fame—my Combine workout is not that bad. I must be worth a late-round pick by someone, right?
Your votes can decide which team I support—I am at your mercy. But if this article only gets about three comments well, Adrian Peterson can always do with another fan—right?
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4 months ago
You could hop on the Jaguars bandwagon while they're still flying under the radar. They won't be for long...
4 months ago
Haha this is an interesting article... Well, as a Steelers fan, I am biased. They are a great team that has won 5 super bowls and has an amazing history. The fan base is among the best in the league.
Having said that, it really kills me to say what I am about to say. You may want to be a Cowboys fan because of all the coverage they get. I'd imagine, in England, you see little coverage on the NFL. They are also a fun offensive team to watch (although they have yet to prove it in the playoffs).
Chris also makes a good point. The Jags are currently an under-the-radar team that isn't going away any time soon.
4 months ago
Patriots, they're the best.
4 months ago
great article, alex. i really loved it
4 months ago
If you really want to feel the pain of defeat, become a Bears fan. There is little hope for a successful season this year as we have one of the most dreadful offenses in the league. Unfortunately, they will probably make you hate american football all together. So I'd stay away if I were you.
4 months ago
Good choice with the Vikings. I am a KC fan myself, but choosing a team that isn't the Cowboys, Giants, Dolphins, or Patriots signals that you understand the subtleties of fandom. Besides their strategic assets, good defense and running game, the team has a great fan base in the northern US. Know that choosing an NFL team means following them through the good and the bad. This is the same team had some rough years after they gave up an entire team for Herschel Walker almost 20 years ago.
This team has a great tradition and a commitment to winning. They also play in the conference with the best rivalries (maybe a tie with the AFC west). Good luck, but don't be disappointed when opposing defenses gang up to stop All Day Adrian Peterson and Jackson can't do anything to make them pay.
4 months ago
As a lifelong Pats fan, I'd strongly suggest considering the Patriots as "your" team. Year in and year out, whether or not they're playing well, the team is one of the finest run organizations in sports. Their mastery of the salary cap and their insistence on building a team rather than collecting talent is a thing of beauty. Of course, they blatantly fail your "Super Bowl ready" team qualification.
So, I have another suggestion (and most Pats fans will kill me for this): The Jets. They've been on the brink of being a great team for the past few years, but haven't been able to make that final push. This offseason, they decided to go out and rebuild their team through the draft, some trades, and free agency. Honestly, it must be a great time to be a Jets fan. Lots of high-priced players, some hot draft picks, and a young/prospective roster make them a fun team to watch. Not to mention their coach is a disciple of one of the greatest coaches in NFL history. As much as I despise that organization, I have to admit that I'm intrigued by them (and they've only won 1 Super Bowl in history, so it's not necessarily an "easy" pick).
One final note, don't be afraid of liking the Vikings because they're built for a SB run. They still have a bunch of question marks (*cough* Tarvaris Jackson *cough*), and have a bunch of dynamic players. Nobody will give you a hard time if you choose them as your squad (well, except for Seahawks fans). You'll learn that in the NFL, being great on paper doesn't always translate to performance on the field.
Good luck on your quest.
4 months ago
I have to admit, Adrian Peterson is an amazing running back. On that note I also want to tell you that since you will be at the Chargers/Saints game in Wembley, you should look at the performance of the Chargers running back (who I consider better than adrian), L.T. also known as LaDainian Tomlinson. He is faster and can jump higher. The Saints also have an excellent running back in Reggie Bush. Look out for him too. Also look out for Phillip Rivers who is the Chargers quarterback. I'm just like you: I started watching NFL this past season. When I had to choose a team I ultimately chose the Philadelphia Eagles because even though I live near Atlanta I was originally born near Philadelphia. Philadelphia has a great fan base and they almost won a superbowl couple years ago. They have a veteran quarterback in Donovan McNabb. On a last note, I want to say I will stick with the Eagles as a loyal fan through thick and thin. And whatever team you choose, you should also be a loyal fan.
4 months ago
I share in your difficulty. I grew up in Oregon, with no definite rooting interest in either the Seahawks or the 49ers. They were the closest teams to me geographically, but no one in my area took any interest in them and they were too far away to grab my interest. I've been a fan of Oregon's football team from an early age, but as I've gotten older, I've found that most people are into the NFL and that I like watching the games as well. But I don't have a team to be a fan for, so it's been hard for me to talk to other people interested in football. "Who's your team?" usually gets the same response from me that it does from you. I name players that I like and follow, like Haloti Ngata or Kellen Clemens (most of them came from Oregon).
I've tried to make the transition from liking certain players to liking certain styles of play that one expects from teams (for instance, the Steelers are supposed to be a "blue collar" team that runs the ball a lot and has a tough defense), but so far I haven't found one team that grabs my interest in the NFL the way that college teams do.
4 months ago
I agree with Chris. The Jaguars are going to be great, and are flying under the radar.
But I would recommend the Vikings. I wouldn't consider you a cheater. :)
4 months ago
Ever heard of the Canadian Football League? Maybe if the smell of money isn't important you'd like it. For the record my favorite NFL teams are the AFC's Browns and the NFC's Vikings.
4 months ago
These are all good comments, with some interesting teams. I will have to give it some consideration - once I 'pick' I intend to be in for life. Look forward to seeing LT and Reggie Bush at Wembley - not to forget the big hits from Shawne Merriman!
I like the Jags - I have a soft spot for Jones-Drew as he is a similar height to me yet manages to get rough and tough with the best of them. The Vikings seem to be slightly ahead at the moment but I was wondering a bit about the Cleveland Browns - what do people think? They seem to be out of the spotlight at the minute (you rarely read about them) but I have heard some amazing stories about the extent of their support in the past? Would they be a fun team to follow or are they destined for 4-12 seasons for years to come?
Cheers for the continuing advice!
4 months ago
I just found out that Giants defensive end, Osi Umenyiora, and Giants kicker, Lawrence Tynes, are both from the United Kingdom repectively. Theses two are two of the three British players to win a SuperBowl. So you might want to choose the Giants because they have players from your country respectively.
4 months ago
These are all good comments, with some interesting teams. I will have to give it some consideration - once I 'pick' I intend to be in for life. Look forward to seeing LT and Reggie Bush at Wembley - not to forget the big hits from Shawne Merriman!
I like the Jags - I have a soft spot for Jones-Drew as he is a similar height to me yet manages to get rough and tough with the best of them. The Vikings seem to be slightly ahead at the moment but I was wondering a bit about the Cleveland Browns - what do people think? They seem to be out of the spotlight at the minute (you rarely read about them) but I have heard some amazing stories about the extent of their support in the past? Would they be a fun team to follow or are they destined for 4-12 seasons for years to come?
Cheers for the continuing advice!
4 months ago
Allow me to put in a hearty recommendation for the Dallas Cowboys. You'll be in luck this season when they (knock on wood) field a pretty good team (knock on wood again). You get a prestigious history, 5 Super Bowl titles, some fly jerseys, and the necessity to constantly defend your team from those who hate Dallas for the reasons described above. And if the past decade or so is any guide, you'll be in luck for your bizarre heart-break jones: don't discount our ability to choke with the best of them.
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