5 Biggest Divas in the NFL Today

"Diva" is a term that is thrown around far too often these days. It just seems that some people don't have an understanding of what it actually means. Certain players are chastised for being a diva when, in reality, they are far from it. While other players are given a pass.

I define diva as a successful person that has allowed their fame to get to their head. They buy into their greatness too much, act the part of an egocentric individual and run with it.

Today's article is going to focus on five players that I perceive to be the most diva worthy in the NFL today.

Keep in mind that this is a subjective article and just the opinion of one writer. You may or may not disagree with the individuals on the list and might find others left off who might be worthy. Feel free to engage in the comment section.

Oh, Chad Ochocinco is nowhere near this list. Click here for the reasons why.

5. Jim Irsay, Owner, Indianapolis Colts

Jim Irsay is what I would call a product of the "social media revolution." Before he took to Twitter in order to undermine Peyton Manning and others within the Indianapolis Colts organization, there wouldn't have even been a mention of him on this list.

With that said, things have changed.

At some point, I was under the false notion that Irsay was "drunk tweeting" at night. However, he has remained consistent in information provided to the sports world.

In short, Manning can come back as long as he rips up a contract signed less than a year ago and agrees to take a massive pay cut. While we can pretty much all agree that the future Hall of Fame quarterback isn't "worth" the money that he is expected to make in 2012, this public display makes absolutely no sense.

It is pretty much the "look at me, I am relevant" aspect of being a successful and famous person. Talk to your star quarterback outside of the media market and get something worked out that way. Don't utilize Twitter as a vehicle to get a point across.

Kinda reminds me of Madonna during the Super Bowl halftime show. Using that venue as a vehicle to prove something to a skeptical audience. Irsay's audience is only smaller (Twitter), but the idea is the same.

4. Steve Johnson, WR, Buffalo Bills

Steve Johnson is a prime example of the "what have you done for me?" aspect of football. He acts the part on the football field, but the Buffalo Bills receiver really hasn't done much to warrant that ego.

Mocking the arrest of Plaxico Burress might have been funny, but its cowardice in the grand scheme of things. Make fun of the New York Jets receiver in front of him, man-to man, not while he is on the sidelines, in front of millions.

It also shows a tremendous lack of respect for your fellow players. 

Earlier in his career, he dropped a game-winning touchdown, after which the enigmatic receiver addressed his faith in God with the following:

"

I PRAISE YOU 24/7!!!!!! AND THIS HOW YOU DO ME!!!!! YOU EXPECT ME TO LEARN FROM THIS??? HOW???!!! ILL NEVER FORGET THIS!! EVER!!! THX THO...

— Stevie Johnson (@StevieJohnson13) November 28, 2010"

Johnson might want to think long and hard about the reputation that he is getting around league circles. He might also want become more humble moving forward. After all, the Bills receiver is set to be a free agent in March.

3. Michael Crabtree, WR, San Francisco 49ers

The first sign that Michael Crabtree was a diva was when he held out deep into his rookie season with the San Francisco 49ers demanding more money. You just don't see this in the NFL anymore. The former Texas Tech receiver believed that he was worth more than where the 49ers selected him.

The second sign that No. 15 had "diva" written all over him is when he missed his third full preseason in 2011. While some would conclude that Crabtree was injured this past preseason, I am not too entirely sure about the last two.

Hey Mike, you haven't earned the honor to sit on the sidelines during meaningless games. That is usually reserved for players that have actually proven themselves.

The final sign that Crabtree was a diva came following the 49ers disappointing NFC Championship Game loss to the New York Giants last month, a game in which he recorded just one reception. Instead of placing some of the blame on himself, Crabtree decided to blame the play calling for San Francisco's lack of success in the passing game.

Dude, if you would have gotten open, things might have been different.

At the same time this public display took place, a majority of his teammates were taking to the media in order to support Kyle Williams, who literally coughed the game up in overtime. Not one word of support from Crabtree.

2. Tom Brady, QB, New England Patriots

Whether it is his wife Gisele Bundchen blaming everyone on the New England Patriots for their Super Bowl defeat besides Tom Brady or him wearing a New York Yankees hat on the streets of Boston, this quarterback has best come to define the term "diva."

After all, he married one.

They now own a house worth in excess of $20 million that boasts eight bedrooms, a six-car garage, a butler unit and is over 22,000 square feet. This is a joke, right? At a time when some athletes have taken it upon themselves to show less extravagance, Brady goes in a completely different direction.

ESPN the Magazine ran a cover story in their Boston issue that indicated fans of that city aren't exactly enthralled by Tom Brady's lifestyle off the field. The article, titled "Bradywood" went on to conclude that Brady was no longer loved in the city.

"

These days, he's more paragon of perfection than human. Walled off by his high-flying lifestyle, he simply floats above the hoi polloi. And makes ads for Uggs. Strange as it is to say, while Brady is certainly appreciated here in Boston, he is no longer truly loved.

"

Do you blame the fans? This is an individual that has made himself larger than life, not just because of his accomplishments on the field, but because of how he is perceived off of it. At this point, I am not even sure it isn't a complement  to call Brady a diva.

He might even relish the title, who knows?

1. DeSean Jackson, WR, Philadelphia Eagles

Complaining about how you're used to the media, dropping passes then refusing to actually run routes on the next play, publicly campaigning for a richer contract, afraid of getting hit on the field...need I go on?

It's all about the "me, myself and I" in regards to DeSean Jackson and last season was a prime example of this. He consistently looked distant from the rest of his Philadelphia Eagles teammates, refused to run routes on occasion and was as egocentric as they came.

And you wonder why the Eagles struggled with continuity this past season.