The NFL's 25 Biggest Whiners

When we fans watch the NFL, we rarely have a complaint about America's best and most competitive sports league.

However, there isn't a lack of pampered millionaire athletes that bring about their complaints. Some air out their grievances more loudly and more annoyingly than others.

Today's NFL has many whiners, most of which we'd like to see muzzled. Here is a list of 25.

Brandon Jacobs

The main theme amongst these whiners is, no surprise, money.

Brandon Jacobs is no different. However, his gripes go beyond his contract.

Most recently, the New York Giants' backup running back has yearned for more carries as he is relegated to second-fiddle behind Ahmad Bradshaw. He's actually getting his wish as Bradshaw is nursing a foot injury.

During a Week 2 game last season, a frustrated Jacobs threw his helmet into the stands in Indianapolis after being pulled from the contest. His toss was intended for the Giants bench.

Vincent Jackson

Any player that holds out in search of a better contract immediately gets tagged as a guy who appears to have his priorities more focused on himself rather than on the betterment of the team.

Jackson did just that last year in a long dispute with his club. When he became a restricted free agent, the Chargers placed a one-year, $3.2 million tender on him. Jackson held out in search of a long-term contract. Eventually, San Diego made him serve a three-game suspension once he signed.

Combine that with the three-game ban for drunken driving, and the wait was prolonged. On Oct. 29, 2010, Jackson ended his holdout.

Logan Mankins

Mankins is another who didn't endear himself to fans (and probably teammates) when he held out all the way into the 2010 regular season.

The Patriots offensive lineman refused to sign the $3.26 million tender he was offered that spring and didn't suit up until early November. The move wasn't financially savvy for Mankins, as he ended his holdout by inking a $1.54 million contract.

It was worth the wait for the Patriots, as Mankins reached the Pro Bowl for the second straight year.

Peyton Manning

It's not unnatural for a quarterback to consistently complain to referees that he and his offense are not getting the proper treatment.

The elder Manning brother is guilty of this, but it's not something that we should be annoyed with.

Chris Johnson

According to a report in The Tennessean, the three-time Pro Bowler, whose previous contract expired after the 2012 season, was asking for $30 million in guaranteed money during this past offseason and made it clear that he wanted to be the highest-paid back in the NFL.

He got his wish. After missing training camp and the entirety of the preseason, C.J. inked the most lucrative contract in history for a running back with a four-year, $53.5 million extension.

However, Johnson has yet to cash in. He has just 496 rushing yards and two touchdowns.

Albert Haynesworth

He left Tennessee as a Pro Bowl defensive lineman. He left Washington as an overweight malcontent.

In February 2009, Haynesworth signed a seven-year, $100 million contract with the Redskins and proved to be a total waste of money.

He complained about the team's defensive scheme and was in hot water with Mike Shanahan, all while lacking production on the field.

The Redskins gladly cut him prior to the start of the 2011 season. The New England Patriots did the same earlier this month.

Hines Ward

In an attempt to support his Steelers defensive teammates who were getting fined for illegal hits over the course of last season, the Pittsburgh wide receiver showed his displeasure, accusing the league's hypocritical nature.

Ward isn't the only member of the Steelers that has been critical of league management, as you'll see later.

Kellen Winslow Jr.

The son of the Hall of Fame tight end made a name for himself with an outburst while playing for the University of Miami, in which he rants, "I'm a soldier."

The only notable whining incident he's had while in the pros came in 2008, when Winslow was critical of Cleveland Browns General Manager Phil Savage and said he only came forward to reveal he had staph out of concern for his teammates' health.

Peyton Hillis

After a breakout 2010 season in which he showed talent and toughness, Hillis has transformed into a player more interested in money.

His sitting out with a strep throat caused a diversion amongst his own Browns teammates, some of which believed it was driven by unhappiness regarding his contract.

Combine that with a hamstring injury, and Hillis hasn't suited up since Week 6.

Vince Young

For his five years with Tennessee, Young provided a mixture of excitement and frustration.

There was his rookie season, in which he led the Titans to an 8-5 record as the starting QB and was named the AP Offensive Rookie of the Year.

There was 2007, when Young guided Tennessee to the playoffs. In 2009, he came off the bench to engineer five straight wins after the team started 0-6.

However, there was his MIA event in September 2008 and then a pad-throwing incident last season after he wasn't allowed to return to the field following an injury.

Despite having a 30-17 record as the Titans QB, management couldn't deal with his emotional instability and cut him loose. Now, the creator of the "Dream Team" moniker has been asked to revive the battered Eagles.

Tom Coughlin

Whenever you watch a game featuring the New York Giants, it's hard to miss a time in which their head coach has that perplexed look—either with his own players or with the officiating.

The high-strung Coughlin was even more disciplinary in the past. He's loosened up a bit, but he clearly appears like a man that you don't want to tick off. 

James Harrison

No one has been more outspoken in his criticism of the NFL's crackdown on defensive hitting than the Steelers star linebacker.

And he has good reason. In 2010, Harrison received $120,000 worth in fines.

This July, he called commissioner Roger Goodell a "crook and a puppet" and also stated, "I hate him and will never respect him."

Jay Cutler

Often times, a viewer can observe (or even hear) the Bears quarterback complaining.

In 2009, the arrogant signal-caller of the Denver Broncos (via Sporting News reports Cutler claimed to his arm was stronger than John Elway's) pouted about a potential trade. Eventually, he was dealt to Chicago.

That all came back to bite him when he sat out a majority of the 2010 NFC Championship with an apparent knee injury, as many felt he quit on his team.

Brian Cushing

No matter has prompted more ridiculous excuses than steroids and human growth hormones.

Many of these "reasons" have come from baseball, but the most laughable explanation in football was from Brian Cushing.

In September 2009, the Houston Texans linebacker tested positive for human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG), a fertility drug that is on the NFL's banned substance list. The report of this test surfaced in May 2010 and resulted in him being suspended for the first four games of the following season.

Cushing challenged this suspension, stating he tested positive for HCG because he has a medical condition resulting from "overtrained athlete syndrome."

Amazingly, few outside of the Texans organization are sympathizing with his complaints.

T.J. Houshmandzadeh

When you're a member of the same receiving corps as the outlandish Chad Ochocinco, it's easy for Houshmandzadeh's selfish nature to get overlooked.

T.J. went from Cincinnati to Seattle, signing a five-year contract worth $40 million. He proved to be a headache, and the Seahawks cut him loose.

With Baltimore, Houshmandzadeh continued to complain about his lack of touches. Not surprisingly, he's no longer with the Ravens.

LenDale White

As of August 2011, White is currently unemployed. There is good reason for a pro team to avoid signing the me-first tailback from USC.

In 2008, after his Tennessee Titans suffered their first loss in 11 games, he showcased his selfishness: "I only played three plays, so I couldn’t really tell you what happened; I have no idea. I wasn’t paying attention, so I didn’t care...I ain’t got no conversation for nobody. I don’t care. If they have something to tell me, if they need to tell me I’m not going to play, then they should tell me.”

Philip Rivers

Rivers has reached the Pro Bowl three times. He won the passing title last year and he's thrown for 143 touchdowns in his seven-plus seasons in the NFL. He even played an AFC Championship Game with a torn ACL.

However, his attitude reeks of extreme bravado. Rivers boasts when he succeeds and pouts when he fails.

This year, it's been more of the latter...and that's made Charger fans whine to no end. 

Terrell Owens

T.O. hasn't made an appearance on an NFL field yet this season, but all intentions are for him to make a return. With that, he is a very worthy inclusion on this list.

His antics are well-known by now and don't need to be repeated. Owens has Hall of Fame-worthy numbers and will be regarded as one of the game's great wide receivers.

It's unfortunate that he's rarely let his play do the talking.

Steve Smith

A wide receiver that doesn't open his mouth and complain is not a true wide receiver. Terrell Owens, Chad Ochocinco and Steve Smith all fall into the category of diva pass catchers.

Thanks to a revival in 2011, the Carolina Panthers' Smith has remained silent.

That wasn't the case less than a year ago, when the Pro Bowl wideout spoke openly about not wanting to be a member of the Carolina rebuilding project. As recently as June 9, Smith expressed his desire to play somewhere else.

But after being a part of the development of rising star Cam Newton this season, he'd be idiotic to want to leave now.

Osi Umenyiora

The Giants' star pass rusher had a prolonged conflict with team management during this past offseason, showing a desire to get out of New York.

Although the squabbles with GM Jerry Reese have simmered somewhat, Umenyiora could continue his displeasure when the 2011 season concludes.

Michael Vick

Vick is one of few whiners on this list that actually has a legitimate gripe.

The fragile Philadelphia Eagles quarterback stated officials don't throw penalty flags for him like they do for other quarterbacks following a loss to the New York Giants on Sept. 25.

His point is that scrambling quarterbacks are subject to hard hits when they got of the pocket, while the more stagnant signal-callers are coddled by the men in stripes.

Jim Schwartz

One of the most unusual moments of the 2011 season came at the conclusion of a matchup between Schwartz's Detroit Lions and Jim Harbaugh's San Francisco 49ers.

Schwartz wasn't pleased with the hard postgame handshake (plus the slap on the back) from Harbaugh, prompting the Lions' leader to ignite a shouting match. Both teams got involved in breaking up the fracas. Schwartz continued to fume in the press conference. 

Whether you blame one coach or both together, it seems a bit hypocritical for the demonstrative Schwartz to be upset about another coach's exuberance.

Chad Ochocinco

No. 85's first year with the New England Patriots has made Ochocinco's career twilight very quiet. That's ironic, as the former Cincinnati Bengal wideout has proven to be quite the loud mouth over the course of his career.

Many of his statements have been humorous and colorful. Some have been Ochocinco casting aspersions on the progress of his team.

While he had a right to make these complains, he would have been better served by airing his grievances in-house. 

Brandon Marshall

Marshall defined the term "head case" during his time in Denver.

It all went downhill prior to the 2009 season under new head coach Josh McDaniels. Openly unhappy with his contract situation, Marshall was suspended for the final two games of the preseason for detrimental conduct.

He wound up having a very productive campaign in '09. However, it ended with McDaniels benching him in the season finale for failing to arrive at a physical therapy session on time.

Marshall was traded to Miami in April 2010.

Tom Brady

We often see the three-time Super Bowl champion pleading for a call to go his way. And for a guy that has lived a charmed life since being inserted as the New England Patriots starting quarterback early in the 2001 season, it's hard for fans and opposing players to have sympathy for him.

But, just like with Peyton Manning, it's commonplace to see a player complaining when a referee judgement didn't go in his favor. Therefore, many in the NFL can be classified as whiners.

It's just that the high-profile nature of a player such as Brady makes his griping seem more annoying.