Aaron Rodgers, Troy Polamalu, and the Most Popular Players by Team
America loves football. America also loves the Steelers and the Packers. So Super Bowl XLV could be one of the most watched games ever.
Every Packer fan adores Aaron Rodgers just like every Steelers fan wishes they could hit as hard as Troy Polamalu.
Every fan base has a favorite player. Some fans may choose a throwback and some go with the current guys. For this slideshow it's all about the current players.
Which player is the fan favorite?
Buffalo Bills: Steve Johnson
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The Bills have a pretty good tandem between Ryan Fitzpatrick and Steve Johnson.
Johnson led the Bills by catching 82 passes for over 1,000 yards and 10 touchdowns. He is a young talent that should be on the Bills for a long time.
Buffalo knows it has found its star receiver for the future.
Miami Dolphins: Ronnie Brown
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For six years Ronnie Brown has given his all for Miami. He is a free agent this year and a lot of Dolphins fans will be sad if he goes to another team.
Brown has carried this team for the last couple years, rushing for 4,815 yards in his career. He's suffered some injuries and wasn't able to play the whole season a couple of years.
But the fans love him. And so does the team. They knew he was valuable so they gave him the ball as much as they could. They gave Brown control of their wildcat offense. He's carried the ball over 200 times in each of the seasons he's played 10 or games.
New England Patriots: Tom Brady
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This one is a no-brainer. Patriot fans know the last decade would be nothing without Tom Brady.
Brady is a six-time pro bowler, three-time Super Bowl champ, and two-time Super Bowl MVP.
He's a member of the 2000's All-Decade team. When you think Patriots, you think Brady.
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New York Jets: Mark Sanchez
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They love him so much they dubbed him the Sanchize.
Mark Sanchez in his second year has led the Jets to back to back AFC Championship games. Granted he has lost both times, Sanchez knows what it takes to win.
He gives Jets fans drama. His arrant throws and questionable decision making leave Jets fans trembling at times. However, he wins and that is what matters. Especially in New York.
Dallas Cowboys: Miles Austin
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What? No Tony Romo? You would think it would be him, but according to NFL Jersey sales, Miles Austin is eighth overall.
And he should be the fan favorite. Austin burst onto the scene in 2009. He now has back to back years with over 1,000 receiving yards. He doesn't bring the attention to him like a lot of other big time receivers.
Some might say that Romo throws him the ball. Well, Austin still excelled this season without Romo. Whoever throws it his way, Austin is going to catch it.
New York Giants: Eli Manning
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Manning is their franchise quarterback. He led them to a Super Bowl victory and has what it takes to do it again.
2010 was a bad year for Manning. But he'll be back and ready to take back the NFC East.
Philadelphia Eagles: Michael Vick
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The comeback player of the year made Eagles fans forget that Andy Reid traded their Pro Bowl quarterback.
Michael Vick made Eagles fans say, "Donovan who?" That's how good he was this year. And the scary thing is, he could be just as good, possibly better in 2011.
Andy Reid should listen to the fans this time. Keep Michael Vick.
Washington Redskins: Donovan McNabb
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They really had no one to root for last year. Who stood out and who played well? Exactly.
They made the move for McNabb and fans were thrilled. The coaches may not have got along with him at times but the fans knew McNabb gave them the best shot at winning.
Baltimore Ravens: Ray Lewis
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Lewis has been a dominant force for the Ravens for 15 years now. The fans love him, his teammates love him, the coaches love him, and even old spice loves him.
When you think of the Ravens you think tough defense. And who leads that defense? Ray Lewis.
Cincinnati Bengals: Chad Ochocinco
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Ochocinco has worn the orange and black for ten years now. He has marketed and branded himself like no other.
He's joined the 10,000 yard club and scored 66 touchdowns.
If you forgot, he used to be Chad Johnson. Now he's brought shame to the Spanish language. He should be Chad Ochenta y Cinco.
But Bengals fans don't care, they still love him.
Cleveland Browns: Peyton Hillis
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Hillis became the first white running back to rush for over 1,000 yards since Craig James. But his race has nothing to do with why fans love him.
After LeBron left and ripped Cleveland's heart out, fans were looking for something to grasp on to. They know the Browns aren't a Super Bowl contender but they still cheer them on as if they were. You have to admire that fan base.
When it looked as though the Browns season would once again be terrible, Hillis came to the rescue. The quarterback play was bleak this year but Hillis brought excitement to all fans.
The Browns had a work horse who ran harder than any other player on the field. Hillis is a fighter, and in a city full of sports team that break their hearts, the fans need that.
Pittsburgh Steelers: Troy Polamalu
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Polamalu leads the Steelers in jersey sales. He also led the team with seven interceptions.
Steelers fans know the facts. Polamalu is a difference maker. During the past two seasons, the Steelers are 16-4 when Polamalu plays and 6-7 when he sits.
The fans love him because he is the reason the defense is so good.
Chicago Bears: Brian Urlacher
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Urlacher is the team leader. He has anchored the Bears' defense for the past 11 years.
He led the team in tackles with 125 this season. And when he is healthy, the defense is far better than when he's out.
He's who the team looks to when they need a big play.
Detroit Lions: Calvin Johnson
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It took them awhile but the Lions finally found their star receiver through the draft in 2007.
Calvin Johnson has scored 33 touchdowns in his four year career. He's also totaled over 4,000 yards.
The Lions have been down for years, but they're are on their way up in part because of Calvin Johnson.
Green Bay Packers: Aaron Rodgers
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He was drafted to be their future quarterback. And it hasn't been a bust.
Aaron Rodgers waited his turn and is now thriving in the starting role. He has the chance to give the Packers fans another Super Bowl Championship.
Rodgers' exceptional play has helped the fans forget the Brett Favre saga.
Minnesota Vikings: Adrian Peterson
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They love him so much they're willing to lose their job for him. Peterson has turned the Vikings franchise around. Now they just need to find a quarterback.
He's been in the league for four years now and every year he ends with over 1,000 rushing yards. Peterson is a future legend and will forever be a Viking.
Houston Texans: Andre Johnson
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Nine years and over 9,000 yards, Andre Johnson is beloved by every fan in Houston.
He has become the face of their franchise and the Pro Bowl wide out should remain a Texan for life. Once Andre got a legit quarterback to throw it to him the Texans continued to get better.
Andre puts fans in the seats. He's the reason the Texans excel. Although, new comer Arian Foster will soon be giving him a run for his money.
Indianapolis Colts: Peyton Manning
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Manning has led the Colts for 13 years now. He's thrown for over 54,000 yards and sits at 399 touchdowns.
When you think of the Colts, you think Peyton Manning. He was drafted to save their team, and he has done all that and more.
Jacksonville Jaguars: Maurice Jones-Drew
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For the second straight year, Jones-Drew has rushed for over 1,000 yards. He did however score a career low five touchdowns.
But it's okay because the few Jaguars fan out there know he will be their running back for a long time.
Tennessee Titans: Chris Johnson
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He's been in the league for three years now and he already has rushed for just under 4,600 yards. Johnson has also scored a total of 38 touchdowns.
He is the key for success in the Titans' offense. The reason fans fill the seats is in hopes of another 100-yard rush attack from Chris Johnson.
Atlanta Falcons: Matt Ryan
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Matt Ryan is the next great NFL quarterback. The Falcons knew this when they drafted him.
Some fans were skeptical at first, but they changed their minds when his first pass in the NFL went for a touchdown.
If that didn't do it, it surely was when Matt Ryan gave this franchise it's first ever back to back winning seasons.
Carolina Panthers: Steve Smith
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Smith has been in the league for 10 years now, all of it with the Panthers. There's no question fans love him the most. He's somehow stuck around for 10 years.
He's managed to catch over 600 passes for over 8,800 yards. A couple seasons he was injured but for the bulk of his career he's played a lot. And that is why the Panthers love him.
New Orleans Saints: Drew Brees
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Drew Brees saved this team. They were once known as the 'Aints.
He lead them to several winning seasons and even won the biggest of them all. Brees helped the Saints beat the Colts in the 2010 Super Bowl.
Brees truly is the fan favorite.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Ronde Barber
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Ronde Barber has been in the league for 14 years and has recorded over 1,000 tackles.
He helped the Bucs win a Super Bowl in 2002.
Denver Broncos: Tim Tebow
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He's only started in two NFL games. But Tebow led the league in NFL Jersey sales. You might say that those are just Tebow fans buying the jerseys, however Denver fans are jumping on board too.
Tebow was drafted to be their future quarterback. Some fans believe he will be. Does the new coaching staff?
Kansas City Chiefs: Dwayne Bowe
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Bowe has been the Chiefs' number one target ever since he was drafted.
The addition of Matt Cassel really elevated his game to new heights. And fans love it.
Oakland Raiders: Darren McFadden
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McFadden was drafted in 2008 to help turn around the Raiders franchise. And in time he has helped.
McFadden has yet to play a full season but 2010 was his year. He rushed for over 1,000 yards for the first time in his career. The previous two years he hadn't rushed for over 500 yards.
His speed and vision really set him apart from the rest. And Raider nation loves it.
San Diego Chargers: Phillip Rivers
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The Chargers franchise quarterback had an outstanding season. For the third consecutive year he threw for over 4,000 yards. This season was a career high 4,710.
Rivers is one game shy of passing for 20,000 yards. Chargers fans are pretty content with the guy leading their team.
Arizona Cardinals: Larry Fitzgerlad
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Fitzgerald has that never quit give it your all mentality. It's the reason fans can't get enough of him.
He just wants to win. Seven years in the league and hes caught over 600 passes for 8,000 yards. Fitzgerald is a phenomenal player.
San Francisco 49ers: Patrick Willis
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Willis cracked the top 20 for NFL jersey sales this season. He is a dominant player on defense.
He led the team with 128 tackles and was second in sacks with six. Willis is the best playmaker the 49ers have.
Willis is a tackling, run stopping machine. The 49ers should lock him up so he'll go down as one the greats to grace the field in San Fran.
Seattle Seahawks: Matt Hasselback
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The 12 year veteran has played with Seattle for ten years. He's been the face of the franchise helping them reach a Super Bowl in 2006.
Hasselback has thrown for just under 30,000 yards. He is Seattle football.
St. Louis Rams: Sam Bradford
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The NFL is a league of quarterbacks. And in his first year Sam Bradford has won the hearts of Rams fans. They've worshipped Stephen Jackson for a long time because he was all they had.
Now they have their quarterback. Bradford led the team to one victory shy of claiming the NFC West division. He gives Rams fans hope for a bright future.
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