Comparing NFL Players to Fine Wine

The beauty of a fine wine is something that many cultured individuals around the world take seriously. Just as seriously as many others do when taking heed of the individual beauty that stems from the talent of some of our NFL players.

When comparing a fine wine, color, clarity, taste and smell are taken into consideration. In addition to this, so is the wine's origin and its mass appeal to the public. Let's take some of these traits and see how the NFL can be compared to one of the world's most fine hobbies.

Head South

Some of the best wines are known to come from a specific region. The Napa Valley in California, Bordeaux France, and Rhone Valley in Switzerland and France are prime examples of regions notorious for producing the best of the best. When it comes to the NFL, there are prime hunting grounds for future pro players as well.

According to a research article by recruiting pro Andy Staples, the best NFL linebackers come from what we refer to as "the South." Despite the fact that these lower states (Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee) only comprise 22 percent of the United States population, 43 percent of defensive linemen schooled in the "southern" United States.

So what's the best state of all for future defensive NFL players? Florida. With over 11 percent of defensive linemen coming from Florida alone, it has an edge other states can not seem to grasp when shaping players.

Florida, California, and Texas

When it comes to all-around NFL picks, defensive linebackers aren't all there is of course. When we take every position into consideration, such as factoring in regions wrought with both red and white wines, we see three states ahead of the curve.

California, Florida and Texas are the big exporters when it comes to NFL talent. Despite the large population of these states, it is the percentage of players to population sampled, not just the quantity.

According to a USA TODAY analysis of the 1988 through 2007 NFL draft, 35 percent of draft picks came from these three states alone.

You want fine wine in the United States, you pick from Napa Valley. You want fine football players, you comb the south.

Appeal

Appeal is something that wine must have if it is going to be accepted by the public. Similarly, a NFL athlete must be liked, or favorably disliked, in the eyes of the public.

It's reasons like this that charity drives, book signings, and volunteer community work is done by members of the NFL, to increase fan perception.

Jersey sales, the label of the individual players, is one way to base fan popularity, just as wine sales are able to gauge the popularity of a specific wine label.

As released by NFL sales records, the top five selling jersey's for the 2011 NFL season are (5th place:) Clay Matthews (GB), Troy Polamalu (PS), Michael Vick (PE), Tom Brady (NE), and Aaron Rodgers from the Green Bay Packers as the No. 1 selling label.

As the No. 1 selling wine in the Unites States, Rodgers would be the Chardonnay of the American People.

Growing Hobby

Just as wine collecting is increasing as a hobby across the United States, so is the adoration of NFL football.

Each season brings more and more individuals who are catching on and paying attention to the subtle changes that occur every year and the variations that are made in style and application.

Just as wine grows finer with age, the talent that players acquire grow over the years as they develop as athletes.