The All-Time Alabama Crimson Tide NFL Team

Even before the days of Bear Bryant, many former Crimson Tide appeared on NFL rosters. Since the start of the 2009 NFL season, 252 have played in the NFL. This number will certainly grow in the subsequent years that Nick Saban calls Tuscaloosa home.

Alabama has had three Super Bowl winning quarterbacks, an NFL rushing champion, and some of the best offensive lineman and linebackers in the history of pro football.

There's a lot of talented players to choose from, but some tough decisions to make like which Super Bowl champion should start at quarterback? As well as, some positions that really didn't have too many impressive players.

Offense

Quarterback : Bart Starr - The 1966 NFL MVP led the Packers to NFL glory five times and was the offensive leader for arguably the greatest dynasty in NFL history. His stats are a little misleading by today's standards because he played in an era that did not have high octane passing attacks.

Honorable Mentions : Joe Namath, Ken Stabler, Richard Todd, and Harry Gilmer

Running Backs : Shaun Alexander and Tony Nathan - Shaun Alexander was the 2005 NFL MVP and set a record at the time of 27 rushing touchdowns in a season. He ran for five consecutive 1,000-yard seasons from 2001-2005.

During his nine seasons with the Miami Dolphins, Nathan racked up over 7,000 offensive yards and played in two Super Bowls. I thought about Bobby Humphrey because he had two 1,000 yard rushing seasons, but his career lasted for only four seasons.

Honorable Mention : Wilbur Jackson, Bobby Humphrey, and Johnny Davis

?: Mark Ingram

Fullback: Le'Ron McClain - In 2008, his second pro season, McClain ran for over 900 rushing yards and scored 10 touchdowns for a Ravens team that reached the AFC title game. He has quickly established himself as one of the NFL's best young fullbacks.

Honorable Mention : Kevin Turner

Wide Receivers : Don Hutson and David Palmer - This position is embarrassingly weak for a program that has produced such great NFL talents aside from Don Hutson, Julio Jones will surely get a starting spot immediately when he is drafted in 2011 or so.

Don Hutson was the original Jerry Rice during the 1930's and 1940's with the Packers. He finished his career with 99 touchdown catches which is impressive for that time. David Palmer played in the NFL for seven seasons, but was never quite the player he was in his college days. I almost want to put Julio Jones here right now.

Coming Soon : Julio Jones

Tight End : Ozzie Newsome - "The Wizard Of Oz" played in the NFL for 12 seasons with the original Cleveland Browns and is one of the greatest tight ends in league history. He has 7,980 career receiving yards and 49 offensive touchdowns.

Honorable Mention : Howard Cross

Offensive Tackles : Chris Samuels and Charley Hannah -Chris Samuels is currently in his 10th season with the Redskins and is one of the best lineman in today's NFL. The third overall pick in the 2000 draft has been to the Pro Bowl six times.

Charley was not a Hall of Fame lineman like his brother John, but he did have a long 12 year NFL career with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Los Angeles Raiders. He earned a Super Bowl ring during the 1983 season, something his brother never got.

Honorable Mention : Bob Cryder

Offensive Guards : John Hannah and Art "Tarzan" White - John Hannah was an All-Pro 10 times in his career and was dubbed "The Greatest Offensive Lineman of All Time" in 1981 by Sports Illustrated. "Tarzan" was one of the best offensive guards around during the late 1930s and early 1940s. He was a member of the 1938 New York Giants championship team.

Honorable Mentions : Bill Buckler, Billy Neighbors and Jim Bowdoin

Center : Dwight Stephenson - Stephenson is considered by many to be the greatest center in NFL history. The 1980 2nd round draft pick was a Pro Bowler during his last five NFL seasons. A left knee injury limited his career to only eight seasons, but he was still elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1998.

Defense

Defensive Ends : Anthony Smith and Marty Lyons - Smith posted double digit sacks in his first three NFL seasons and finished his seven year career with 57.5 sacks. Lyons was part of the famed "New York Sack Exchange" and recorded 45 sacks during his career. He began his career at defensive tackle, but finished his playing days at defensive end.

Honorable Mention : Jon Hand, John Copeland, Mark Anderson, Larry Roberts, Jarrte Johnson, and Antwan Odom

*Anthony Smith later transferred to Arizona

Defensive Tackles : Bob Baumhower and Cornelius Griffin -  Before injuries shortened Baumhower's career he was one of the NFL's top defensive lineman. The five time Pro Bowler helped Miami have the leagues top rated defense in 1982 and reach two Super Bowls.

Griffin has never been mistaken for Warren Sapp or Albert Haynesworth, but he has been a solid defensive tackle during his first 10 NFL seasons with the Redskins and Giants.

Honorable Mention : Mike Pitts, Terry Jones, Jess Richardson, Michael Myers, Kenny Smith, and Sid Youngleman

?: Terrence Cody

Outside Linebackers : Derrick Thomas and Cornelius Bennet - Just as LT terrorized quarterbacks in the 1980s in the Meadowlands, DT did the same to quarterbacks in the 1990s at Arrowhead Stadium. Thomas once recorded an NFL record seven sacks in a game.

Cornelius Bennett. Bennett was one of the best linebackers of the late 1980s and early 1990s during his days in Buffalo. He played in five Super Bowls (four with the Bills and one with the Falcons).

Honorable Mentions : E.J. Junior, Barry Krauss, Woodrow Lowe, and Dwyane Rudd

Middle Linebacker : Lee Roy Jordan - Jordan spent his entire 15 year career with the Dallas Cowboys and was a key figure of the "Doomsday Defense." He earned a Super Bowl ring during the 1971 season.

Honorable Mention : DeMeco Ryans

?: Rolando McClain

Cornerbacks : Mike Washington and Deshea Townsend - Washington was a third round pick in 1975 and played nine seasons with the Buccaneers and had 28 interceptions during his career.

Townsend is in his 12th season with the Pittsburgh Steelers and is currently their longest tenured player along with Hines Ward. He has won two Super Bowl rings with the Steelers.

Honorable Mentions : Don McNeal, Mark McMillian, Antonio Langham, Chris Goode, and Jeremiah Castille

?: Javier Arenas

Free Safety : George Teague - Teague was nine year veteran who played most of his career with the Green Bay Backers (before their Super Bowl days) and the Dallas Cowboys (after their Super Bowl days).

Honorable Mentions : John Mangum and Benny Perrin

Strong Safety : Russ Craft - Craft played with the Eagles from 1946-1953 and helped them win back to back titles in 1948 and 1949. He was also a two time Pro Bowler.

Honorable Mention : Sam Shade

Special Teams

Kicker : David Ray - he kicked for the Los Angeles Rams for six seasons from 1969-1974. Led the NFL in field goals for the 1973 season.

Punter : Chris Mohr - Mohr is best remembered for the being the Buffalo Bills punter from 1991-2000 and the Falcons punter from 2001-2004. He punted for 10 playoff teams during his career.

Returner : David Palmer - Palmer was an effective returner on both kickoffs and punts during his days on the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome with the Purple and Yellow.