DeSean Jackson and the Boldest Personalities in the NFL

It goes without saying that the NFL is full of some interesting personalities, personalities that polarize fanbases.

A lot of people say that you can't become a professional athlete without having a confident, and at times arrogant, personality.  The players on this list definitely fit that mold, and that is why they are not only in the NFL but also on this list of NFL players with the boldest personalities.  

Whether it is a player threatening retirement if he's not traded, a player celebrating so much that he penalizes his team or a player who carries himself like he can walk on water, these personalities can all be defined by the word bold.

Here is the list of the boldest personalities in the NFL (without Terrell Owens, because he's still working out at his home in front of no one).

Read on, and let me know what you think in the comments section.   

Honorable Mention: Carson Palmer

He's on the list only because of the fortitude he displayed against bonehead owner Mike Brown this past offseason, ultimately getting his own way.

Until this past offseason, Carson Palmer's personality has been as bland as oatmeal.  

Then he decided to stand up to his evil owner Mike Brown and threaten retirement.  

It takes a bold personality to go that far to get your way, and Carson Palmer did just that.  

Well done Carson, well done.  

Honorable Mention: Jay Cutler

I don't think Jay Cutler really deserves to be on this list, so that is why he's in the honorable mention section.  

Cutler receives an honorable mention because his lame personality stands out in the NFL because he's a crybaby. 

He whined his way out of Denver, and he's done his fair share of whining while in Chicago as well.  

I'm glad I'm not a Bears fan, and that is only because I'm not a fan of anything about Jay Cutler.  Cutler isn't necessarily interesting, but he does draw attention because he has yet to take responsibility for being a bad quarterback at times.  

Oh, and he's also from Santa Claus, Indiana, which is pretty bold. 

Keep whining, Cutler, and you'll always be in the honorable mention section of this list. 

Stevie Johnson

Stevie Johnson doesn't make this list because of all his dropped touchdown passes.  

Stevie Johnson makes this list for two reasons.  

First, for his recent touchdown celebration that mocked Jets wide receivers Plaxico Burress and Santonio Holmes.  

What is even better about his bold celebration, mocking the fact that Burress shot himself, is that he got a penalty on it that resulted in the Jets moving the ball down the field and scoring a decisive touchdown.  

Aside from his bold celebration, Johnson also makes this list for his incredibly stupid comment after dropping a sure touchdown pass last year against the Steelers.  

Johnson tweeted this: "I PRAISE YOU 24/7!!!!!! AND THIS HOW YOU DO ME!!!!! YOU EXPECT ME TO LEARN FROM THIS??? HOW???!!! ILL NEVER FORGET THIS!! EVER!!! THX THO.."  

Anybody who blames God for dropping a touchdown past is bold enough to make this list.   

Tom Brady

Oh, Tom Brady, there are so many things that I don't like about you—the main thing being that you are so ridiculously good.  

Another thing I'm not a huge fan of is Brady's super ego.  

Much like Aaron Rodgers, Tom Brady knows he's a future Hall of Famer and the league's most dominant quarterback, and he carries himself that way.  

Tom Brady has no issue calling out his supporting cast when they don't show up in games, and that is pretty darn bold.

You've got to have a bold personality to have a rule in the NFL named after you, don't you?  

There's no debate needed on whether or not Tom Brady needs to be on this list, and there's no way he will ever get off this list, either.   

DeSean Jackson

There are so many reasons why DeSean Jackson is on this list of bold NFL personalities.  

He's talked about how he deserves to get payed more than he currently is, and he's let down his team with stupid touchdown celebrations over and over again.  

My favorite bold move of all, though, is when DeSean Jackson drops the ball before crossing the goal line because he's showing off just how great he is.

Jackson also threatened to not show up to the Eagles training camp this past offseason, risking $30,000 every day that he missed.  

The Eagles called his bluff, and DeSean Jackson didn't have the fortitude to sit out and lose all that money.  Why, though?  Because I'm pretty sure he couldn't keep living his bold lifestyle with $30,000 less a day.  

Anyway, there really isn't any room for debate on whether or not Jackson deserves to be on this list.  

At least, I don't think so—do you?  

Aaron Rodgers

I'm sure a lot of people will think that this is an odd addition to the "boldest" personalities list, but I think it's a no-brainer.  

Aaron Rodgers is without a doubt one of the best quarterbacks in the league, and he reached that level of success with his bold personality.  

Aaron Rodgers definitely knows how great he is, and the way he carries himself puts that on display.

The main reason Rodgers finds himself sneaking onto this list is because of his championship belt touchdown celebration that he has coined.  

It's a fun celebration, but there's no way around the fact that if you are going to do that you've got to think pretty highly of yourself, and Rodgers does just that.

Aaron Rodgers knows he is one of the best and he carries himself that way, and that's why he finds himself on this list.   

Tim Tebow

Surprisingly enough, Tim Tebow finds his way onto this list because of his bold religious personality.

Some will argue that it's over the top, and some will argue that it is what the NFL needs.  

Whether you like it or not, there is no debating that it takes a bold personality to put faith so strongly on display week in and week out. 

Tim Tebow gives the glory to God every single moment of every day, and he makes that very clear in pre/postgame interviews, and even when he's mic'd up during games.  

Tebow's God-first personality is nothing short of bold, especially in a league where some players make the headlines by making it rain in strip clubs or getting DUIs.

I respect Tebow's personality, and the fact that it takes a lot of guts to do what he does.  

Keep it up, Tebow, and you'll always be on this list. 

Steve Smith

Steve Smith is one guy that I wouldn't ever want to mess with.  

Smith will fight with you at the drop of a hat, and New Orleans Saints cornerback Malcolm Jenkins found that out firsthand this year.  

Steve Smith is one tough (insert expletive here), and he is that way because of his absolutely bold personality. 

The most impressive thing about Steve Smith is that he's never left Carolina, despite being on quite a few terrible teams.  

A lot of other professional athletes can learn a lesson from that bold move.  

Steve Smith definitely has the "little man" mentality, overcompensating for his lack of size, relative to most other NFL athletes, by being overly physical and tough.  

Smith's bold personality has helped him reach the level of success he has in his career, and I'm sure that will continue until the day he leaves the NFL.  

Keep up the boldness, Smith.      

Ray Lewis

Ray Lewis is the definition of bold.  

From the way he carries himself off the field to the way he plays the game, he is absolutely one of the boldest personalities in the NFL.  

If you want to hear someone who is confident, outgoing and eccentric, just listen to a Ray Lewis pregame speech or a postgame interview.  

Ray Lewis will tell you that all the glory goes to God, then he will taunt and test opposing players for the next 60 minutes.

Ray Lewis has a wild personality, as evidenced by his signature dance moves when he is announced during pregame festivities.  

Ray Lewis, at the age of 36, is still one of the most dominant and physical linebackers in the game, and you don't get to that point unless you have a bold personality.     

Chad OchoCinco

Where do I start?  

Chad Ochocinco had the audacity to change his name from Chad Johnson to Chad Ochocinco.  

He's been in races against horses.  

He's been fined time and time again for bold and outrageous touchdown celebrations, and he doesn't seem to understand how to stay off of Twitter during football games.

Ochocinco's bold personality is the reason why so many people love him, but it's also the reason why so many people dislike him.  

At times, his teammates can't even handle his bold personality (i.e. Carson Palmer situation).

There is nothing in Chad Ochocinco's life that isn't bold, and that is why he makes the list with flying colors.   

Ndamukong Suh

Ndamukong Suh could make this list based on his name alone, but he makes this list because he is an absolutely crazy and at times dirty player.  

Suh has made a name for himself in the NFL by playing with unrivaled intensity.

Unfortunately for Suh, that intensity appears to be something he has a hard time controlling, resulting in numerous personal fouls and a recent two-game suspension.

Anybody that smashes another football player's head into the ground, then proceeds to stomp on him and ultimately denies it all definitely deserves to be on this list.  

What is so bold about Suh is not that he does all of this outlandish stuff, but more importantly that he tries to deny it.  Until Suh comes clean and admits that he's a ridiculously dirty player, he will always have a spot reserved for him on this list.       

Cortland Finnegan

There really aren't any redeeming qualities about the way that Cortland Finnegan plays the game.  

He is known as one of the dirtiest players in the entire NFL, constantly getting into fights that result in either personal fouls or ejections from the game.  

Finnegan has been known to punch players, spit at them and run his mouth at them until he gets them to start a fight with him.  

The most famous of Finnegan's fights took place last year against Pro Bowl wide receiver Andre Johnson, who is well respected for his humble personality around the league.

What makes the fight so bad is that Finnegan planned it.  He was quoted saying to the Texans, "watch this," moments before he ran over and swung at Johnson.  

What's even more bold is that he never apologized for it all.  He made excuse after excuse, ultimately showing self-gratitude for what he did.

Cortland Finnegan is a dope who just so happens to be a good cornerback, and his bold personality will keep him on this list until he exits the NFL.