The 15 Scrappiest Players in the NFL Today

There are many measurable ways to describe a player:

"He's fast as lightning."

"He's strong as an ox."

"He's tough as nails." 

But there's one explication that is reserved for a specific set of players: scrappy.

Sure it's not really something that can be measured, but it's sort of like the way Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart famously described pornography: "I know it when I see it."

For the most part, a "Scrappy" player is easy to point out: They usually lack something like great speed, size or strength, but they manage to make plays that change ball games. 

And in today's NFL—that's all that matters. 

No. 15: Tim Tebow, QB, Denver Broncos

Now it's very hard, almost impossible, to think of a first round pick as "scrappy." But as we all know, Tim Tebow is perhaps the most unconventional first-round pick in NFL history.

Aside from his size, which is certainly ideal, Tebow doesn't really have any tools—other than the proverbial "winner" element—that make him stand out.

In fact, considering the questions about his arm strength, accuracy and delivery, he lacks almost all the tools a passer would need. Except, of course, his scrambling ability.

But has that stopped him from making plays and, as of late, winning games? No. 

Take today for example: He completed just two passes and the Broncos won. 

In his very short tenure, Tebow has repeatedly made plays with his feet that gave his team chances to score: When it comes to quarterback play, it doesn't get scrappier than that. 

No. 14: Stefan Logan, KR, Detroit Lions

Logan has basically been a special teams-only player during his entire career: He has just one catch on his record.

But a 5'6", 185-pound player in the National Football League almost automatically qualifies him. 

And sure, the main reason why he's been successful and able to make a nice career is his return ability: He owns the Lions franchise record with a 105-yard kickoff return. 

But the former CFLer (certainly another scrappy quality) is also very active covering kicks: Last year, in that near-win over the Packershe, he recovered two fumbles.

Being in the right place at the right time is a key part of scrappiness. 

No. 13: LaRod Stephens-Howling, RB, Arizona Cardinals

A major part of being considered scrappy is contributing in more than one way and that's always been something Stephens-Howling has done for the Cardinals.

He's been a running back, a receiver out of the backfield, a return man, and also covers kicks on special teams. 

The former seventh-round pick out of Pitt isn't terribly fast, and since he's only 5'7" and 185 pounds, he fits the scrappy prototype in terms of both size and resume. 

No. 12: Doug Baldwin, WR, Seattle Seahawks

Every undrafted player isn't necessarily scrappy: I don't think anyone would say Arian Foster or Tony Romo qualify.

But being overlooked 200-some times on draft day only to make an NFL roster and make a significant impact certainly makes the "scrappy" title more applicable. 

And that's one way to look at Baldwin. The 5'10'', 185-pound receiver doesn't have incredible speed: 4.48 at the combine hardly separates him from the pack.  

Still, he bolted out of the gate from day one, leading the Seahawks in receptions and yardage in his very first game and hasn't looked back, pacing the club in first down receptions with 21. 

No. 11: Nate Washington, WR, Tennessee Titans

Washington doesn't necessarily lack good size: He's 6'1", so fighting for position with corners and safeties is as difficult for him as someone like Jacoby Ford or Darren Sproles. 

But when you combine his average-to-below-average speed and the fact that he came into the NFL as a undrafted Division II player, Washington is textbook scrappy.

Like many players on this list he worked his way onto an NFL roster, first as a special teamer, then as a limited role player and now is one of his team's most vital cogs. That speaks to his great desire, persistence and work ethic. 

No. 10: Eric Weems, WR, Atlanta Falcons

In four seasons, Weems has never been terribly involved in the Falcons offense. And to be honest, there's a case to be made that his teammate, rookie Jacquizz Rodgers, is just as scrappy. 

But since Weems has a tiny frame, was undrafted out of Bethune Cookman, and excels in kick/punt coverage and kick/punt returns, he does whatever head coach Mike Smith asks of him.

And then there's the way he runs: His feet move so rapidly that it seems like he's running a lot faster than he really is. Remember, he only posted a 4.52 back at the 2008 combine. 

No. 9: Jim Leonhard, S, New York Jets

Although he may not like the idea, Leonhard does fit the mold. 

His tiny frame, 5'8", 188 pounds, is definitely a part of the reason why.

But a few more of the intangibles have him inside the Top 10 of this list.

For one, he's often regarded as the "quarterback" of the Jets defense, so that cerebral ability—occasionally out-thinking, rather than out-muscling the opponent—is a scrappy quality.

But Leonhard is "scrappy"—see the above picture—because he can be fiery and combative on the field. 

The aphorism "it's not the size of the dog in the fight, but the size of the fight in the dog" was meant for players like him. 

No. 8: Rock Cartwright, RB, Oakland Raiders

With a name like "Rock," don't you figure he'd be on this list?

Cartwright fits the mold. Although he certainly has great size, in terms of power, he's only 5'8", so that meshes with the standard.

And he's definitely a "Jack of All Trades," returning kicks, covering kicks, occasionally carrying the ball.

But maybe the best reason he belongs on this list is the fact that he's been in the league for 10 years. 

You don't make it that long without knowing how to claw and fight for every yard or every tackle....or every roster spot. 

No. 7: Brent Grimes, CB, Atlanta Falcons

Special teamers are certainly worthy of the title of scrappy. Not having Devin Hester or Patrick Peterson's speed and still being able to return punts or make tackles down field is impressive. 

But they only contribute on a dozen or so plays per game. An offensive or defensive player who doesn't have the prototypical frame or speed cannot hide on the football field...especially a cornerback in today's pass-happy NFL. 

So for Grimes, a 5'10" undrafted Division II player who spent his first season exclusively on his club's practice squad, to not only become a starter, but a pro bowler, is a major win for the little guy, literally. 

No. 6: London Fletcher, MLB, Washington Redskins

Like Rock Cartwright, London Fletcher's career is extremely impressive. 

The fact that he was undrafted out of a Division III school (John Carroll) is part of it; his relatively small size—especially compared to his fellow middle linebackers—is another. But had he been a special teams contributor and occasional playmaker that would have been scrappy.

But because he's been a two-time pro bowler, the starting linebacker on a Super Bowl winner, and recorded more tackles in the first previous decade than anyone (and that includes Ray Lewis) and is not terribly fast or strong at the age of 36, that's scrappiness incarnate. 

No. 5: Danny Woodhead, RB, New England Patriots

The "feel good story" is usually a major part of what earns a player the scrappy label. And last year, there wasn't a bigger feel good story in the NFL than Woodhead.

By the end of the regular season, everyone knew that—besides being tiny at 5'8", 195 pounds—he was signed off the street by the Pats, only to become a fairly integral part of their offense. 

But what clinched the scrappy label for Woodhead back then, and re-affirms it every time he handles the football, is the way he runs. He seems to fight so hard for every yard that he just oozes an effort that you can't help but admire. 

No. 4: Darren Sproles, RB, New Orleans Saints

Sproles certainly has fine speed and even more impressive quickness, so that doesn't really count towards his scrappy-o-meter. 

And as a fourth-round pick from a major college program like Kansas State, he didn't necessarily emerge from oblivion.

But to be 5'6"—that's even two inches shorter than Barry Sanders—and make it to the NFL as a ball carrier who entered Week 10 of the NFL season leading the NFC in receptions, is exceptional. 

And even though his feet and agility are the bread and butter of his game, he is always willing to take on tacklers, another scrappy-trademark.  

No. 3: Wes Welker, WR, New England Patriots

With these last three, medalist spots, I feel compelled to consider overall career achievements as the tie breakers. And even though that could change as early as the end of the 2011 season, Welker doesn't have quite as many notches on his belt as No. 1 or 2 on this list. 

Still, for Welker—a 5'9", 190-pound undrafted free agent who ran a molasses-like 4.6 at the combine—to become arguably the most productive wide receiver in the NFL today is incredible.

But even more than those raw numbers is his sheer will as a ball carrier. He is so slippery and so hard to bring down that scrappy is the only way to describe him. 

No. 2: Steve Smith, WR, Carolina Panthers

From the time he arrived in Panthers training camp through today, Smith has showcased great strength and incredible speed, both of which hurt his claim to this silver medal spot. 

But persistence is a huge factor in a player's scrappy-level. And in today's NFL there are few players who better exemplify that quality than the 5'9" Smith.

The future Hall of Famer already has one NFL Comeback Player of the Year award (2005) on his resume and has a great chance of earning another one at the end of this season. 

Regardless of his limited size or series of injuries, he's repeatedly fought for extra yards, fought his way back to the field, and fought his way onto a pro bowl roster. In the next few weeks, he should represent the NFC for the fifth time in his career. 

No. 1: Hines Ward, WR, Pittsburgh Steelers

It's terribly cliched, but you really cannot argue with the statement that "if you open the dictionary and turn to the entry for scrappy, you'll see Hines Ward's photograph."

He's never had great or even good speed—not having an ACL in his left knee since childhood has to be part of that—and he's only 6'0" tall. But Ward has turned himself into a repeat All Pro, Super Bowl MVP, the greatest receiver in Steelers history and a Hall of Famer. 

But even more so than his catches or touchdowns or broken tackles, it's his tenacity as a blocker, his durability, and his fearlessness that makes him the scrappiest player in today's NFL and one of the scrappiest ever to put on a pair of shoulder pads.