NFL Power Rankings: 10 Biggest Crybabies in League History
The 10 biggest crybabies in NFL history are all going to come from the modern era. Players back in the "golden days" of Vince Lombardi's Packers and Paul Brown's Browns would never be caught complaining on or off the field.
And although wide receivers are almost always claiming they were interfered with on a pass and defensive lineman are almost always complaining that they were held by an offensive lineman, that isn't the only way a player's reputation can become that of a "cry baby."
That term has two separate definitions. There's the literal one: shedding tears. And there's the figurative definition, complaining about everything. Just to be clear, we're talking about the complainers: they're much more offensive than the men who, "wear their heart on their sleeves." So no Dick Vermeil entry on this list?!
No. 10: LaDainian Tomlinson
1 of 10It was somewhat ironic last week when Patriots wide receiver Deion Branch dubbed several of the New York Jets "classless" after the Jets topped New England in the AFC Divisional round.
Four years ago, the Patriots were the ones declared classless.
Following a home loss to New England in the divisional round, LaDainian Tomlinson said it was the Patriots who were classless:
"I would never react in that way. I was very upset," Tomlinson said. "When you go to the middle of our field and start doing the dance Shawn Merriman is known for, that is disrespectful. They showed no class and maybe that comes from the head coach."
Now it is Tomlinson's Jets who are being called classless.
And although Branch probably was showcasing some sour grapes, Tomlinson should have been above that comment: he was the league's reigning MVP.
No. 9: Chad Pennington
2 of 10
Early in the last decade, Chad Pennington certainly endeared himself to the die—hard fans of the New York Jets.
He was an undersized, below-average-armed, small-college quarterback who took over in 2002 and led the Jets to two playoff berths in three seasons.
But nearing the end of his third year, Pennington didn't exactly endear himself to the members of the New York press, who have the, "opportunity to be around some of the greatest athletes in the world," Pennington said.
"It's not your right. It's a privilege. And it is your job," Pennington said after addressing the media in late December of 2004.
That rant seemed a bit heavy-handed and was not well received by anyone.
No. 8: Antonio Cromartie
3 of 10
Everyone knows what the Jets corner did a week ago. As funny as it was, Cromartie's rant about Tom Brady sounded like the whiney complaints about a quarterback who had embarrassed the Jets a few weeks earlier.
Cromartie and the Jets may have gotten the better of Brady last week in the AFC divisional playoff win. But he still has some cry baby to him.
Remember, this is a player who was fined by the NFL back in 2009 for delivering the following tweet about the San Diego Chargers training camp cuisine.
“Man we have 2 have the most nasty food of any team. Damn can we upgrade 4 str8 years
the same ish maybe that’s y we can’t win the SB we need.”
.jpg?w=256 "Colts Jaguars Football")
No. 7: Jeff Reed
4 of 10
Jeff Reed did a lot for the Steelers and the Pittsburgh fans. He made 204 field goals, kicked on two Super Bowl winning teams, and braved the tough kicking conditions at Heinz Field for nearly a decade.
But things didn't end well for "Quadzilla" as he was known.
After missing his sixth field goal of the season in a loss to the Patriots, Reed was booed by the home town crowd at Heinz Field. His response:
"It doesn't surprise me....If you're not perfect in this city, man, then you're going to hear about it. It's been like that for nine years, and why would they stop now?"
"I'm not going to make excuses. If you've played any kind of sports in your life, you realize that what we play on is not very good turf. It happens."
The Steelers cut him later that week.
No. 6: Keyshawn Johnson
5 of 10
When you write a book entitled "Just Give Me The Damn Ball" after your rookie season, that isn't exactly a humble, wait-your-turn approach.
He complained about his teammates in Tampa, and said that if Bill Parcells were to come in and replace Tony Dungy, he wouldn't stand for their laid back attitude.
He complained about Jon Gruden in Tampa and was soon shipped to Dallas to be back with Parcells.
Is it any coincidence that the "Come on, man!" segment on ESPN was developed with Key on the desk?
No. 5: James Harrison
6 of 10
As an undrafted player from Kent State who was twice cut by NFL teams in training camp, James Harrison became a great player in part because he always had a chip on his shoulder.
Despite winning two Super Bowls, a Defensive Player of the Year award, and four consecutive pro bowl spots, he still has that chip on his shoulder.
In Harrison's mind, every offensive tackle he's ever lined up against has held him on every play. (For the record, he is held quite a bit, but not EVERY play).
And then there's the complaints about the fines. After a few of them for questionably legal hits, he was excused from practice reportedly to contemplate retirement.
"We wouldn't joke about this," his agent said. "This is a very serious issue. James is very concerned about how to play football. If James is going to be fined $75,000 for making a legal tackle, then how do you go play football? It's quite frustrating to James, to coach [Mike] Tomlin, to me, to everybody."
No. 4: Tiki Barber
7 of 10
Even though he has been retired since 2006, Barber still makes news everytime he opens his mouth about the Giants. He's ripped Eli Manning and loves to rip into his former head coach Tom Coughlin.
But as a player he was worse.
Following a 23-0 home loss to the Panthers in the playoffs (in which the Giants netted 132 total yards of offense) he criticized the coaching staff saying
“That’s just a testament to our game plan not being the right one."
A year later, when he got only 10 carries in a mid—season loss to the Jaguars, he complained about his lack of touches.
And before his final game with the Giants in that year, he complained to ESPN about Coughlin, who "demeaned and talked down" to Barber.
No. 3: Ryan Leaf
8 of 10What else really needs to be said if you watch the video?
Leaf was playing badly and a reporter asked him about it and working on a legacy that was arguably the greatest bust in draft history.
This tirade followed.
No. 2: Randy Moss
9 of 10
Who complains about the dinner at a pregame meal then berates the caterer?
A player whose legacy is going down the tubes after a terrible end to his New England career and an even worse return to Minnesota.
The same player who told a reporter before the 2010 season that because the Patriots wouldn't give him an extension it made him "feel like you are not wanted."
The same player who, during a miserable 2006 season in Oakland said "Maybe because I'm unhappy and I'm not too much excited about what's going on....so, my concentration and focus level tend to go down sometimes when I'm in a bad mood."
And the same player, who after catching just six passes in eight games with the Titans, said
"As a player, it hurts me deep down inside that I want to be out there helping the team and listening to the fans. You know they're chanting my name. I want to make plays. I want to bring them out of their seats because that's what I'm used to doing."
No. 1: Terrell Owens
10 of 10
T.O. complains about virtually everything.
He always thinks he's behind held or interfered with.
But it's the complaints he's had about his own teammates and coaches that earn him the top spot on our list.
He complained about Jeff Garcia in San Francisco.
He complained about Donovan McNabb in Dallas.
And this year, he complained about everyone in Cincinnati during the Bengals 11-game losing streak.
"I think there's underachieving from the top down," he said. "You start with the owner, you start with the coaches. And obviously we as players, we are a product of what the coaches are coaching us throughout the course of the week.
"Of course, we have to go out there and play the game. But in order for us to do what we're allowed to do at the best of our abilities, the coaches have to put the players in the best position."
If he wasn't truly one of the greatest receivers of all time (and he is) teams would have never put up with his antics.
.jpg?w=480 "Colts Jaguars Football")
.png?w=480)
.jpg?w=600 "Post-June 1 Trade Candidates ☎️")
.JPG?w=600 "TO Talks Cowboys Relationship")
.jpg?w=600 "Taylor Heinicke Retiring")
.jpg?w=600 "49ers OC Hypes Mike Evans 🤩")