Don't Hate What You Can't Duplicate: The NFL's 10 Most Hated Teams

After recently reading an article here on Bleacher about the best NFL fan bases, it was discussed in the comments who really was the most hated team in the NFL.

I know all teams are hated by their division rivals—that's normal.

But to make this list, the hate has to go beyond the division, and in some cases, even the conference.

These 10 teams are hated by most other teams in the NFL. To make this list, your team must have had some type of impact on the league that benefited your team, but hurt others.

I hope you enjoy the article, and feel free to leave the order of your teams in the comments.

10. Tennessee Titans

Andy Lyons/Getty Images

INDIANAPOLIS - JANUARY 02: Chris Johnson #28 of the Tennessee Titans is tackled by Eric Foster #68 of the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium on January 2, 2011 in Indianapolis, Indiana. the Colts won 23-20. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

My original reasoning for putting the Titans on this list was the way in which they left Houston for Tennessee. They did not keep the Oilers name (which makes sense), but they got to keep the Oilers' records and did not leave them for the Texans.

While I'm thinking about it, here are a few more reasons to hate this Tennessee team:

1. Adam "Pacman" Jones. The fact that the Titans catered to him for so long was a black eye on the NFL.
2. The Vince Young/Jeff Fisher fiasco, and Bud Adams not allowing Fisher to make decisions on how to run the team.
3. Chris Johnson saying he was going to break the league rushing record, only to come only 800 yards from reaching that goal.

Add to all that when the Titans eliminated the Steelers from winning AFC home-field advantage in 2008; Keith Bullock, Jevon Kearse and LenDale White stomped on the Terrible Towel.

9. Washington Redskins

Sam Greenwood/Getty Images

JACKSONVILLE, FL - DECEMBER 26: Don Carey #22 of the Jacksonville Jaguars attempts to tackle Chris Cooley #47 of the Washington Redskins during the game at EverBank Field on December 26, 2010 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Image

One of my best friends is a fan of the Washington Redskins, and we have had this conversation numerous times.

There is ONE reason the Redskins are on this list: Dan Snyder.

Snyder, who is a life-long fan of the Redskins, has turned Washington into the New York Yankees of the NFL.

Every year it seems the Redskins amazingly find a way to sign one of the best players within a few short hours of the start of the free agency period.

Then, they drive up the price tags for all the other free agents.

Then, other players who are not even talking to the Redskins, say that they are in negotiations with Snyder, and it drives the price up even more.

Washington also has a hard time winning football games. They are unable to make the playoffs and have become a constant frustration for their fan base.

8. Miami Dolphins

Jim McIsaac/Getty Images

PHOENIX - FEBRUARY 01: Former Miami Dolphin Garo Yepremian speaks during a press conference anouncing Reebok's new television campaign -dubbed 'Perfectville'- featuring members of the only undeated team in NFL history- the 1972 Miami Dolphins on February

That picture is the only reason I needed to put the Miami Dolphins on this list.

As the only team in history to go undefeated and win the Super Bowl, the Miami Dolphins are quick to say they are the best team ever—and they have a point.

Yes, the Dolphins had the best year ever in 1972; only twice has a team even come close to matching that feat.

Since the Dolphins have not really had any success in, I don't know, the last few decades, it may be hard for some people to think of the 'fins on this list, but I simply have to.

7. New York Jets

Nick Laham/Getty Images

PITTSBURGH, PA - JANUARY 23: Head coach Rex Ryan of the New York Jets reacts during their 2011 AFC Championship game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field on January 23, 2011 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images)

Though some people may find him funny, Rex Ryan—at least in my opinion—is becoming one of the biggest laughing stocks in the NFL.

Unable to shut his mouth for even a week, Ryan has spent the last two years as the head coach of the New York Jets and continually tells everyone who will listen that he is the best coach in the world, his team is the best team in the world and anyone who thinks differently is simply crazy.

Yes, the Jets did make it to the AFC Championship his first two years as the head coach, but they have not been able to overcome the Colts or Steelers to go to the Super Bowl.

Both times the Jets lost, Ryan was quick to say the Jets were still the better team, and had they been in the Super Bowl, the AFC would have won both of those games.

Add to that, the Jets are becoming similar to teams like the Redskins, Cowboys and Raiders; they overpay for free agents and drive the market value up on average players.

Though many people may see him as simply funny, I think he is hurting the NFL more than he is helping it.

6. Oakland Raiders

Justin Edmonds/Getty Images

DENVER - OCTOBER 24: Defensive end Richard Seymour #92 of the Oakland Raiders throws running back Knowshon Moreno #27 of the Denver Broncos to the ground in the fourth quarter at INVESCO Field at Mile High on October 24, 2010 in Denver, Colorado. The Rai

At one point, the Oakland Raiders were considered one of the finest franchises in the NFL. Their commitment to excellence has since turned into a commitment of insanity.

Al Davis has turned this once-proud franchise into a laughingstock in the NFL, as they have had only one winning season since the turn of the century.

They are known for overpaying players who are not worth near the money they spent on them, which drives the price of other free agents up even more for other teams.

They screw up the draft every year, taking players who make even die-hard Raiders fans say, "WHAT?!"

The Raiders NEED to become a successful team again because the NFL is better when the Raiders are successful. But until Davis decides to give the control of the team to someone who actually knows how to run a franchise, this team is never going to get better.

5. Indianapolis Colts

Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - JANUARY 08: Quarterback Peyton Manning #18 of the Indianapolis Colts looks to pass against the New York Jets during their 2011 AFC wild card playoff game at Lucas Oil Stadium on January 8, 2011 in Indianapolis, Indiana. The Jets won 17

They say that winning breeds contempt, and the Colts have been one of the most successful franchises in the NFL over the last decade.

Colts fans are quick to point out that they have done so because of the amazing Peyton Manning. Others will say it is because they were playing against expansion teams—the Houston Texans and Jacksonville Jaguars—and the salary-strapped Tennessee Titans.

I believe it goes even further than that.

When Manning was drafted with the first pick in the 1998 NFL Draft, the Indianapolis Colts chose him over Ryan Leaf. Afraid that the Chargers were going to pay Leaf more than the Colts were going to pay Manning, they gave him the largest-ever raise over the previous top picks.

By doing so, this is one of the main reasons rookie salaries have become so insane.

Plus, every Colts fan on the planet talks about Manning as the greatest player who has ever played the game, and anyone who thinks differently obviously does not understand football.

4. Baltimore Ravens

Jim McIsaac/Getty Images

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - SEPTEMBER 13: Ray Lewis #52 of the Baltimore Ravens reacts after a play against the New York Jets during the Jets home opener at the New Meadowlands Stadium on September 13, 2010 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Jim McIsaa

Some people may ask why the Baltimore Ravens are so high on this list. Some may even say because I am a Steelers fan, the Ravens are so high on this list.

To me, when then-owner Art Modell moved the Cleveland Browns to Baltimore to become the Ravens, he secured this position with the ability to still move up even further.

To make matters worse for Browns fans, when the Ravens won the Super Bowl just a few short years later—a goal the Browns never came close to—it only poured salt in that wound.

When it comes to players, Ray Lewis was at one point accused of murder.

The Ravens then signed Donte Stallworth, who had pleaded guilty to vehicular manslaughter only one season prior. The Ravens are one of the bad boys of the NFL and deserve to be considered one of the most hated.

3. Dallas Cowboys

Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images

SAN DIEGO - AUGUST 21: Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones during preseason game against the San Diego Chargers at Qualcomm Stadium on August 21, 2010 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)

Though they almost made the top of the list, the Dallas Cowboys are without question one of the most hated teams in the NFL.

Prior to Jerry Jones purchasing the Cowboys, there were not a lot of people outside Dallas who liked them. 

Once Jones took over, there was no one.

Jones started his tenure with the Cowboys roughly the same time free agency started and paid top dollar for any free agent who was considered talented. By doing so, he drove up the price of free agents for every other team in the NFL.

Also by doing so, his Cowboys won three Super Bowls in the early 1990's.

More recently, Jones decided to spend roughly $200 million dollars more than any other team had on their new stadium, just so he could say he had the nicest stadium. Not that the stadium isn't beautiful, but now every other team in the NFL is going to have to come close to it.

Perhaps the only redeeming quality of the Dallas Cowboys is their cheerleaders.

2. New England Patriots

Elsa/Getty Images

FOXBORO, MA - JANUARY 16: Head coach Bill Belichick of the New England Patriots stands on the field during their 2011 AFC divisional playoff game against the New York Jets at Gillette Stadium on January 16, 2011 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Photo by Elsa

10 years ago, the only teams in the NFL that hated the New England Patriots were the Bills, Dolphins and Jets.

Today, it is hard to find anyone outside New England who does not hate them.

For starters, the Patriots won three Super Bowls in the early part of the 2000's. They did so with a young stud named Tom Brady who was selected with the 199th pick in the draft. It was a great story during the early part of the decade, especially after the incidents of Sept. 11, 2001.

But the first incident of hatred was the infamous "Tuck Rule" call against the Oakland Raiders during the playoffs in 2002.

After a sack/fumble recovery, the Raiders took over possession of the ball and were to run the clock out to advance in the playoffs.

When Belichick challenged the play, even the announcers stated it was out of desperation because it was obvious Brady fumbled the ball.

As the play went, there was apparently a rule no one but that referee knew about. The Patriots took possession back, won the game and eventually the Super Bowl.

A few years later, as branches from the Belichick coaching tree started to leave New England, it was reported the Patriots had been stealing defensive signals since Belichick came to the Patriots.

When the NFL investigated and found that the Patriots did in fact cheat, they were punished worse than any other team in the history of the NFL; they were charged $750,000 in fines and the loss of a first-round draft pick.

All of the Patriots' Super Bowl victories are now tainted by the fact that "Spy Gate" COULD be a reason why the Patriots won those three Super Bowls in the beginning of the decade. The subsequent cover-up has only made that even worse.

1. Pittsburgh Steelers

Jamie Squire/Getty Images

ARLINGTON, TX - FEBRUARY 06: Ben Roethlisberger #7 of the Pittsburgh Steelers gestures before the snap during the first quarter of Super Bowl XLV at Cowboys Stadium on February 6, 2011 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

To have one of the most wonderful owners in the NFL, the Pittsburgh Steelers are the most hated team in the NFL. Even as a Steelers fan, I have to be honest when I say I understand why they would be here.

First off, they have won more Super Bowls than any other team in the NFL. That would be enough for most people to hate them.

If you ask Seattle Seahawks fans, the Steelers stole Super Bowl XL from them.

If you ask the Ravens, Browns and Bengals, the Steelers have simply been too good for too long and deserve to lose.

If you ask the Oakland Raiders, the "Immaculate Reception" was a load of crap.

If you ask the Rams, the Steelers should not have won Super Bowl XIV.

And that is just a small part of the equation.

Ben Roethlisberger has been accused of sexual misconduct on more than one occasion.

Rashard Mendenhall can't keep his fingers from typing words his mouth can't explain.

Hines Ward should be getting ready for football instead of Dancing with the Stars.

Joey Porter needed to shut his mouth.

And the list goes on and on.

When it comes to fan bases, Steelers fans are proud to boast we are SIX-TIME Super Bowl Champions. We are quick to say we are the best team in history. We are proud that our team is in competition almost every year for the playoffs.

To be honest, it does not bother me the Steelers are at the top of the list because if they were not my favorite team, I would probably hate them as well.

Conclusion

Chris Trotman/Getty Images

NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 28: NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell speaks at the podium during the 2011 NFL Draft at Radio City Music Hall on April 28, 2011 in New York City. (Photo by Chris Trotman/Getty Images)

I used Goodell in this picture based on the fact that he is one of the most hated men in the NFL right now!

One of the things I noticed is that some of the teams on this list are some of the most passionate in the NFL. 

Each teams fan base swears that they are the best in the NFL.  Each team has their share of band wagon hoppers. Each team, in their own right believe they are one of the best in the NFL, year in and year out.

There is no questioning that these teams are all hated for various reasons, and understandably so.

If you don't agree with my list, please explain in the comment, because I am open to changing the order in which the teams are ranked.

Thanks for taking the time to read.