The Top 10 NFL’s Dirtiest Players

The fact is football can be a dirty sport, with all the weather conditions from rain to snow it can get very dirty, in this article we don’t want to look at that type of dirty. There has been much talk especially this season about dirty play on the field, for many players in the NFL they work hard and play harder but many times there is activity after the whistle. Now there is something to be said for those players who have intensity on the field but there is also something to be said about those players that take the intensity to another level and take cheap shots. As we all know cheap shots have been a part of football probably since the inception of the game from the eye pokes in the pile, to the biting of hands, to the scratching and clawing that takes place many things we don’t often see on the inside. There are many players in the NFL today that take those things to a whole new level and even more. What makes a dirty player? Many things make up a dirty player and we want to take a look at the NFL’s top 10 dirtiest players in the game today:

10. Casey Wiegmann-C-Kansas City Chiefs

Placed on this list mainly for his play while with the Denver Broncos, he and the Patriots NT really engaged in a smack talk battle and other players have also stated that Wiegmann often takes part in many cheap shots.

9. Harvey Dahl-G-St. Louis Rams

Dahl has been known to go beyond the whistle on many plays; he is very aggressive and very intense with the way he plays the game.

8. Tyson Clabo-T-Atlanta Falcons

Sometimes offensive lineman get a bad rap for aggressive play, but as we all know there are many things that go on beneath the pile. From tripping defensive linemen, to blocking low and smack talking he seems to be the prototypical offensive lineman.

7. Brandon Meriweather-S-Chicago Bears

With many illegal hits it is seen that headhunting seems to be how Meriweather plays the game. Don’t get me wrong the Safety position requires a hard hitter with a nose for the football but there is no place for the headhunting style of play.

6. Richie Incognito-G-Miami Dolphins

Incognito seems to find himself into trouble when it comes to game time situations, in 2008 in one game he had three major penalties, he has also head butted two players in 2009 needless to say he goes above and beyond when it comes to dirty play.

5. David Stewart-T-Tennessee Titans

Fact is many offensive linemen know how to protect their fellow players and sometimes it can be looked at as dirty play but in the case of Stewart it would be classified as dirty. Stewart often hits after the whistle and he has many penalties and fines for those late hits.

4. Hines Ward-WR-Pittsburgh Steelers

It is all great that he can dance but the fact is he plays the game, quite possibly, harder than any receiver in the game. He is a great blocker for his fellow players but he can be brutal when it comes to finishing his plays.

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3. Courtland Finnegan-CB-Tennessee Titans

It is not often that a player looks to be named the NFL’s dirtiest player but in this case Finnegan enjoys it. The big one for Finnegan is he knows how to get into his opponents heads and he messes with the receivers (look at the fight between he and Andre Johnson) Johnson usually a mild mannered player had enough of the cornerbacks smack talk and cheap shots.

2. James Harrison-LB-Pittsburgh Steelers

Harrison is known for his wrestling moves and his helmet-to-helmet hits. He is physical and aggressive and many times that aggression is shown in the way he plays the game. He has incurred many fines for his over aggressive play, some call it just playing the game aggressive others call it dirty play. Once is forgivable but often is just dirty.

1. Ndamukong Suh-DT-Detroit Lions

The fact is Suh has been in the middle of controversy since the time he came into the league, from planting Jake Delhomme, to taunting Matt Ryan as he was injured, to stomping a Green Bay offensive lineman Suh is the authentic dirty player in the NFL. There is a place for aggression but not for dirty play, keep it clean and keep it inside the whistle.

By Sam Adams
Pro Football Fans Staff Writer