Larry Fitzgerald and 10 NFL Players We Just Feel Sorry for

Many stars in the National Football League, such as quarterback Tom Brady of the New England Patriots and Pittsburgh Steelers strong safety Troy Polamalu, have storied careers that are filled not just with individual stats and accolades but also a slew of playoff appearances and shiny Super Bowl rings.

For other players, however, life in the NFL isn't so rosy.

Although they play their butts off every week and are among the best at what they do, that effort often goes unrewarded, at least in the win column.

It's hard to lose too much sleep over guys getting paid millions of dollars to play a game, but it's also hard not have some sympathy for great players stuck in lousy situations. So, here's a look at 10 players who are more likely than not to watch the Super Bowl every year the same way we do...on TV.

Let's get this pity party started!

No. 1: Larry Fitzgerald, WR, Arizona Cardinals

Wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald of the Arizona Cardinals has established himself as one of the best pass-catchers in the NFL over his eight-year career.

It's a distinct possibility that he may one day don one of those hideous sport coats at his induction ceremony for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

However, outside of a loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers in Super Bowl XLIII, trips deep into the playoffs (or into the playoffs at all for that matter), have been few and far between. The more we see of Kevin Kolb as the quarterback for the Cardinals, the less it looks like Arizona will be headed back to the postseason any time soon.

No. 2: Adrian Peterson, RB, Minnesota Vikings

Adrian Peterson is one of, if not the best running back in the National Football League. He gained over 1,200 rushing yards and scored double digit touchdowns in each of his first four full seasons in the NFL.

The holder of the league record for rushing yards in a single game, Peterson was rewarded by the Vikings earlier this year for his stellar career with a seven-year, $100 million contract.

Peterson hasn't been rewarded with much postseason success, however. As Brett Favre guided Minnesota to within one game of the Super Bowl two years ago, there's little chance that the now 1-6 Vikings will get to within one game of anything in the foreseeable future.

No. 3: Jake Long, LT, Miami Dolphins

It hasn't taken offensive tackle Jake Long of the Miami Dolphins "long" to establish himself as one of the premier linemen in the NFL.

The fourth-year player from Michigan started at left tackle in Miami since his first game in the league and is widely considered the best player in the NFL at his position.

All that aside, Long's rock-solid play has gone for naught more often than not, playing for the woeful Dolphins. Right now the best thing Long has to look forward to is the possibility of pass-protecting quarterback Andrew Luck next year.

No. 4: Joe Thomas, LT, Cleveland Browns

If Jake Long isn't the best offensive tackle in the National Football League, then odds are Joe Thomas of the Cleveland Browns is. The fifth-year road grader is paid as such, receiving a seven-year, $84 million contract extension from the Browns over the summer.

Money's about the only reward Thomas is apt to be getting for all his efforts, however. Cleveland appears to be headed in the right direction with Mike Holmgren running the show.

But, the simple fact is they just don't have enough talent as a team to contend for a playoff berth, much less a championship.

No. 5: Steven Jackson, RB, St. Louis Rams

Running back Steven Jackson of the St. Louis Rams has been the definition of a workhorse.

Over his eight-year career, he's touched the ball nearly 2,300 times, gained nearly 11,000 total yards and scored 57 touchdowns while missing only 13 games and becoming the all-time rushing leader for the team.

Unfortunately for Jackson, all that production and durability has mostly been an exercise in futility. The Rams' record during that stretch is a pathetic 35-83—they haven't posted an above .500 record during Jackson's career. St. Louis hasn't made the playoffs since his rookie season.

No. 6: Pat Angerer, LB, Indianapolis Colts

Second-year pro Pat Angerer has established himself as one of the bright young stars in the National Football League at linebacker. He leads both the Indianapolis Colts and all of the league in total tackles (80), through seven weeks this season.

However, the former Iowa standout is one of the few bright spots on a Colts team that seems to get worse by the week. With Indy quite possibly on the brink of a full-blown rebuilding period, it may be several years before Angerer makes another visit to the postseason.

No. 7: Maurice Joines-Drew, RB, Jacksonville Jaguars

Running back Maurice Jones-Drew may be small in stature, but he's been big on production throughout his six-year career. He's averaged well over 1,400 yards from scrimmage in his first five full seasons and scored 63 career touchdowns.

Jones-Drew's individual success hasn't translated to his team though—the Jaguars have only one playoff appearance and the same number of winning seasons during Jones-Drew's career.

They appear to be headed nowhere fast as things stand today.

No. 8: Thomas Davis, LB, Carolina Panthers

When Carolina Panthers linebacker Thomas Davis has been on the field, he's been an excellent outside linebacker with great range and loads of potential. He's averaged over 100 tackles a season in 2007 and 2008, when he played 16 games.

The problem is, 2008 was the last season in which the 28-year-old played in 16 games.

After tearing his ACL for the third consecutive season earlier this year, not only is Davis' short-term outlook bleak, but his career may be in jeopardy as well.

He may be the player on this list most deserving of our sympathy.

No. 9: D.J. Williams, LB, Denver Broncos

Denver Broncos' linebacker D.J. Williams has done everything asked of him and then some, playing in the middle and outside of a 4-3 alignment and the inside of a 3-4 alignment. He's been productive all the while, averaging over 100 total tackles a year through his first seven full seasons in the NFL.

Williams may well be the best linebacker in the National Football League that no one has heard of. His relative anonymity, combined with the Broncos whopping zero playoff appearances since 2005, makes Williams a player that's somewhat worthy of a shoulder to cry on.

No. 10: Mike Goodson, RB, Carolina Panthers

Running back Mike Goodson of the Carolina Panthers is the least known player on this list, having carried the ball only 125 times for 501 yards over his three-year NFL career.

This lack is activity isn't necessarily Goodson's fault.

The former Texas A&M standout has produced when given the opportunity, averaging over 130 total yards a game during a three-game stretch as a starter in 2010.

The odds that Goodson will get another opportunity to showcase his talents again in the near future are slim to none. However, Goodson is mired on the bench behind DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart in Carolina, and under contract to the Panthers for a very reasonable amount through 2012.