The Scariest Players in Sports 2013

The third installment of the scariest players in sports features plenty of new faces, with only one returner from last years list. There were a lot of contenders this year and any one of the honorable mentions could have cracked the Top 10.

Honorable Mention:

Tom Brady

The golden boy has been on the list before and his performances in the two-minute drill at the end of games is unmatched. Despite a weak supporting cast, he has still been able to pull off some spectacular finishes already this year.

Metta World Peace

During his prime he would have been at the top of this list. However he still manages to strike fear into opponents; just ask Tyler Hansbrough.

Richard Sherman

At 6 foot 3 inches and almost 200 pounds, Richard Sherman is a tough matchup for opposing wide receivers. With his above average speed and great ball skills, throwing towards Sherman is the wrong choice more times than not. The self proclaimed "best cornerback in the NFL" is not one to stay quiet and is one of the biggest trash talkers in sports, especially on social media.

Yasiel Puig

The young Cuban burst onto the scene this year and helped lead the Dodgers to the playoffs. With an absolute cannon for an arm and Bo Jackson like speed, Puig will surely make the top ten in the future.

Jadeveon Clowney

Since the list is all professionals, Clowney will have to wait a year before he can crack the list. There is little doubt that Clowney will quickly become one of the most feared defenders once he joins the National Football League.


10. Ndamakung Suh and Brandon Meriweather

Usually this list focuses on players that scare opposing teams because of their pure talent and big play ability. For these two players, opponents are just scared for their safety. Both have been involved in cheap shots that have resulted in heavy fines and suspensions. Meriweather's hits have caused injuries to opponents as well as to himself. After a game against the Bears, Chicago receiver Brandon Marshall questioned whether the Redskins safety should be "taken out of the NFL" for his actions.

9. Joe Flacco to Anquan Boldin

Last year during the playoffs there was no greater duo than Flacco and Boldin, posting 22 catches for 380 yards and 4 touchdowns, none bigger than the 13 yard strike in the Super Bowl. Flacco's struggles early in the 2013 season only prove how important the two are for each other. Flacco's incredible arm strength teamed with Boldin's ability to adjust to the ball proved unstoppable for the Colts, Broncos, Patriots and 49ers during the playoffs, and the two led Baltimore to their second Super Bowl.

8. Floyd Mayweather

Floyd "Money" Mayweather has been feared since he began his career. With an unblemished 45-0 record as a professional, Mayweather will go down as one of the greatest all-time. Like many great fighters before him, Mayweather has no lack of confidence in himself. Though he and Manny Pacquiao never were able to agree on terms for a fight, he must be mentioned when talking about scariest athletes, even if he does have J Biebs as a sidekick. He also likes money...

7. Kyrie Irving

In just his third year in the league, Kyrie is becoming one of the most exciting players in the league. Famous for his "Uncle Drew" commercials off the court, it is his on the court actions that have the league fearing the Cav's number 2. Irving wants the ball at the end of the game and more times than not comes through for his team. With the young talent Cleveland is teaming around Kyrie, this could only be the beginning for his rise in the NBA.

6. Alex Ovechkin

There is no denying that "The Great 8" is one of the best in the game at the moment. After a down year in 2012, Ovechkin dominated the NHL's shortened season en route to his 3rd Hart Trophy, representing the league's most valuable player. The Capitals star is as pure as scorer as there is in the league today and already has 10 goals just twelve games into the season.

5. Steph Curry

Made famous for his spectacular one man show at Davidson in college, Curry hasn't stopped once being drafted by the Warriors. As pure a shooter as the NBA has seen in years, Curry has become a dominating scorer in the league. What has made him even more unstoppable is his improved ball handling ability.When Curry heats up, watch out, because he can hit from anywhere over mid-court given even the smallest of windows to shoot. Curry and shooting guard Klay Thompson have formed a one-two punch as dominant as almost any in the league. After leading the Warriors to the playoffs last season, the young Steph Curry has fans in the Bay Area thinking Championship.

4. Patrick Peterson

Since his days in Baton Rouge, Peterson has been terrorizing opponents. Quarterbacks won't throw the ball his direction and punters don't want to kick towards him. Peterson burst onto the scene in 2011  taking four punts to the house in his first season. Peterson has the size of a safety (6' 1", 220 lbs), the speed of a sprinter (4.3 forty yard dash), ball skills good enough to have the Cardinals give him wide receiver repetitions, and the ability to come up and tackle some of the biggest backs in the league. This once in a generation talent truly is one of the leagues scariest players.... Just ask the Rams.

3.  Calvin Johnson

Calvin Johnson is currently the most dominating force in the NFL. Each week his highlights seem to top the previous week's. Since he entered the league, Johnson has used freakish athleticism to make defenders look helpless. After setting a record with 1964 receiving yards last year, Johnson made a run at the yards in a single game record versus the Dallas Cowboys, finishing with 329 yards, the second most all-time. Megatron is hands down the best receiver in football and a nightmare matchup for any corner. He even scares the forth ranked player on this list, Patrick Peterson, as he ended up two touchdowns and 116 receiving yards against the Arizona corner.

2. Lebron James

Lebron is as unstoppable a player as there has been in the NBA. Not much needs to be said after winning his second championship. Each year he seems to keep getting better and better, rounding out his game, and becoming the league's hardest matchup. Size, speed, vision, power, and an improving post game is leaving opponents wondering what they can do to stop him. The answer? Nothing.

1b. Carlos Beltran

One of the top five greatest postseason players of all-time? This year's Cardinals postseason run has many more agreeing with that statement. This year he was 6 for 8 with runners in scoring position. He is hitting .333 in his career in the postseason and in 51 at bats has 16 home runs and 41 runs batted in. Whether with his bat or his arm, Carlos Beltran is clutch.

1a. David Ortiz

Ortiz's latest championship run may be his most impressive. Big Papi once again carried his team to a World Series with big hit after big hit. Ortiz hit an unheard of .688 in the World Series and in the final game of the series was walked four times, 3 of them intentional. His career batting average in the World Series is .455 with three homeruns and 14 RBI's in 14 games played. He has established himself as the best World Series performer of all-time and is the scariest player in all of sports.

Top 5 Scariest Places to Play

5. Beaver Stadium, Penn State

Invented the White-Out. Just ask Michigan about playing here.

4. Cameron Indoor Arena, Duke University

Say what you want about Duke, this is hard Arena to come out of with a win.

3. Super Dome, New Orleans

Second hardest NFL stadium to play at. Nearly impossible to win versus the Saints in the Dome.

2. Quest Field, Seattle

With their "12th Man" behind them, the stadium may have never been louder than after this run.

1. Estadio Azteca, Mexican National Team

Hands down the hardest place to play in sports.

Fill Gaps in Free Agency, Land a Star in the Draft

The early reports out of free agency are that the Philadelphia Eagles are making modest, smart moves. James Casey, tight end/fullback from the Texans, looks to be close to signing and he adds depth to a weak tight end position. Other players like Isaac Sopoaga, Ricky Jean Francois, and Connor Barwin are all solid role players that could help the defense as they make a switch to a 3-4 hybrid. Obviously the Eagles must also address the need in the secondary and offensive line. There are plenty of solid offensive lineman to take in the draft as well as in free agency so the team should be able to begin to solidify that area. The secondary is another issue.

Outside of trading for Darrelle Revis, which the Eagles don't seem posed to do, there are no superstars to be had in free agency. There are however some very solid options out there. A player to look out for is Dolphins CB Sean Smith. Smith is a young player(25) who has become one of the better corners in the league. Adding Smith, at the right price, could be a smart option in helping to rebuild the secondary. At safety, names like Dashon Goldson and Louis Delmas have been mentioned by insiders and would fill a need but the Eagles need to realize that this is not a one year fix. There will be other options in the draft and next years free agency and they must be cautious not to overpay for either of these safety's as they are just the best of a down year in free agency.

This coming draft is the most important they have had since the 1999 Draft in which they had the second overall pick. Though it doesn't seem there is a quarterback of the future in this years draft class there are several players that could immediately make and impact for the Eagles in key positions. The Eagles must add a star with the fourth overall selection. With a pick this high it would be wise for them to take the best available player when their selection arrives. Players like Von Miller, Pat Peterson, and Ndamukong Suh all have become huge stars and immediately changed their teams defenses. The Eagles need to draft an impact player that can immediately turn this defense around. The Eagles roster does not lack individual talent on offense or defense and by landing a star in the draft, this team could go a long way in solidifying their future. With that being said quarterback is a still a huge question mark on this team but with a top class of signal callers entering the draft next year, they could still land a quarterback to take this team forward. Looking past the first round, the Eagles must again look at the positions previously mentioned; offensive line, defensive back, along with another pass rusher. Possibly adding a bigger wide receiver in the 3rd to 5th round range to team with Jackson and Maclin would help them in the red zone. This is not a one year fix, however the Eagles cannot afford to miss on their top draft choice this year.

Flyers Have the Edge Where it Counts

The Penguins-Flyers rivalry has always been a fierce, competitive, and sometimes combatant one. However, over the past two seasons, the rivalry has reached a new high. With each team sending a strong young core to the ice, the rivalry has become the best in all of hockey. Their playoff series last spring only heightened the bad blood between these two in-state rivals. In this lockout-shortened season, the Flyers and Penguins have now faced twice and have split the two games. Last night's 6-5 thriller had a playoff feel to it, with both teams coming back from two goal deficits before Jakob Voracek sealed the win for the Flyers.

After being down 2-0, the Flyers looked to be defeated. The Penguins offensive skill was helping them control the game and the Flyers seemed to be a team that just did not have enough skill to keep up and on paper, the Penguins probably are the better team. Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and James Neal  are on a tear and nearly impossible to beat, yet somehow, the Flyers keep finding ways to do so. The Flyers are simply outworking the Penguins physically and it has become a mental issue for the Penguins. In last year's playoff games, the Penguins opened Games 1 and 2 with commanding leads, but both times the Flyers fought back. Again last night, the Penguins were dominating the game, but the Flyers scrappy play got them back into the game. The Flyers have now established a huge psychological edge, and both teams now understand that any Pittsburgh lead is not safe. Flyers Coach Peter Laviollete has established a "never give up" attitude in his men that has the Penguins wondering what more they have to do to come out on top.

Anytime the Flyers go down early, all the pressure shifts towards the Penguins. Each time they begin to lose a lead, the games begin to turn sloppy, which works right into how the Flyers like to play. The Flyers are a team that dominates once they gain a bit of momentum, which is why Laviollete stresses the importance of just getting the first goal. The Penguins offensive skill is as good as it gets in the National Hockey League, but without this mental edge, they will have a tough time in any game versus the Flyers.

An New Era May Be Upon Us

Colin Kaepernick. Robert Griffin. Russell Wilson. Who will be next? A new style of quarterback could be taking over this league. Strength and speed is now teamed up with incredible intelligence and decision-making ability. This past season RGIII, Russell Wilson, and Colin Kaepernick have taken the league by storm with their incredible talents to run and pass effectively. When looking at this years most memorable moments all three(RGIII, Kaepernick, and Wilson) have each stamped their seal in our memory banks.

Since Johnny Unitas and the Baltimore Colts took down the New York Giants in the 1958 NFL Championship game, pocket passers have defined this league. Even this year, three of the four quarterbacks left in the playoffs are prototypical pocket passers. Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, Drew Brees and Aaron Rodgers aren’t going anywhere and are still the best the game has to offer. However, in this past season these three quarterbacks burst into the league and are changing the way professional football is played.

When Michael Vick was drafted in 2001, he was said to be the “Next Big Thing.” He was hyped to the level of Lebron James, Bryce Harper, or Kobe Bryant. He was a duel threat star that could run a 4.4 second 40 yard dash and pass the ball 60 yards with the flick of his wrist. Everyone wanted him. Though they didn’t know it at the time, Atlanta traded two draft picks that turned into future Hall of Famers (LaDainian Tomlinson and Drew Brees) for the rights to the first overall pick. Though he turned into one of the most exciting players in the league for a few years, Vick did not pan out as the quarterback who would change the NFL forever. The whole world knows what happened to Vick off the field but his on the field talent never equaled what most predicted of him. Vick could never put all of his skills together. There were glimpses throughout his years in Atlanta and later Philadelphia, (insert clips) but a bad attitude for much of his career and inconsistency derailed his game in big moments. What is happening now in the league is far different from what Vick did for the NFL however.

The difference between Vick and the new crop of dual-threat quarterbacks are that along with the arm strength and speed similar to what Vick possessed, they have the accuracy, the decision making and the ability to win that Vick never seemed to have in his career.  They also all have great humility with which keeps them grounded and is the backbone of their dedication to their craft. They also have coaches that are changing the way offense is run in order to cater to their star athletes.

More and more offenses are running from out of the shotgun or pistol formation. Before this would never have worked as defenses could pin back their ears and come for the quarterback. Defenses are having trouble defending the read options that these quarterbacks and offenses are running. With their ability to make quick decisions on whether to hand the ball off, run themselves, or pull the ball back and throw, quarterbacks are becoming a nightmare to game plan against. What quarterbacks like Kapernick, RGIII, and Russell Wilson have proven is that their elite decision making skills, along with their athleticism, are making them nearly unstoppable.

After decades of the best athletes being moved from the quarterback position once they enter college or the NFL, the truly elite ones are becoming successful. It will be interesting to see what the games most valuable position looks like in five, ten, or twenty years. Coaches will be more and more willing to take chances on duel-threat quarterbacks and defenses will have to adjust accordingly. There are other athletic quarterbacks in the league that can rise to the heights these youngsters have as well however. Someone like Cam Newton, who showed an ability to succeed in the NFL, can join this group of elite dual-threats but he will need to become a better leader and learn how to really win in the NFL.  By no means will this be the end of elite pocket passers, but as the game continues to evolve, wave of incredible athletes that will take snaps under center in the National Football League could be just beginning.

10 Reasons to Look Forward to 2013 for Philadelphia Fans

Anyone who followed sports this year (and probably most who didn't) knew Philadelphia had a rough 2012 on the sports front. I am going to be honest it took me longer than I would have liked to come up with 10 things for fans of the city of brotherly love to look forward to. However, with a new year beginning, it's time to turn the page on last year and look towards a future that may not be as bleak as some would think.

10.) Bryce Brown and LeSean McCoy

Though the Eagles have a lot of positions to rebuild this offseason, running back is certainly not one of them. LeSean McCoy has proven himself over the last three seasons and is one of the top running backs in the league. When Shady went down with a concussion halfway through the season, rookie Bryce Brown stepped up and dominated with both power and speed. Whoever the Eagles eventually hire will be able to build a running attack that is as good as any in the league.

9.) Jrue Holiday

This season Holiday has burst out of the gates. Averaging 19 points and 9 assists, Holliday is playing at an All-Star level. After being highly touted coming out of high school, Holliday had not lived up to his early fame until now. Along side shooting guard Evan Turner, the 76ers have a young backcourt that they fans can be excited about for years to come.

8.) New Phillies

The Phillies didn't make the major moves that some had expected (Josh Hamilton) but they did make some great additions that will help the team this season. Ben Revere is a young speedster that will fill the vacancy left in centerfield and can consistently get on base. Former Ranger Michael Young is a proven hitter that is a career .301 hitter. At 36, he is aging, but will be a great addition to the clubhouse. Finally, a more under the radar pickup, Mike Adams is a true 8th inning setup man that this team lacked last season and will help to bridge the gap to Jonathan Papelbon in the 9th inning.

7.) A New Regime for the Eagles

Since 1999, Andy Reid has patrolled the Eagles sidelines. He was a great coach for the first ten years of his career but in the last four years, he began to hurt the team. The team should respond well to fresh face and the new strategy that he brings with him. Much of the fan-base was angered that the past two seasons roster on paper, had immense amount of player talent that was been wasted. It will be interesting to see what changes will be made to better utilize the talent on the roster and what adjustments in personnel the new head coach will make.

6.) Andrew Bynum's Debut

Let me first say that even if he never plays for the Sixers it was still worth to take a shot on him (that is, unless Nik Vucavic continues dominating in Orlando and becomes a star). With that being said, reports surfaced today saying that Bynum could be back as early the All-Star break. As long as the Sixers don't plummet too far down the standings (no promises there) Bynum's return could have a huge impact on the Eastern Conference playoffs. There are still a lot of question marks surrounding Bynum and his knees but as this is a post about optimism, I will refrain from mentioning that he could easily re-injury himself bending down to tie his shoes (Oops). Fans are almost equally as excited to see how dumb his hairstyle can get. 

5.) The Eagles Draft

The Eagles haven't had a selection this high since 1999 when they picked Donavan McNabb with the second overall draft pick. With the fourth choice they will be able to choose an impact player that will start right away. Look for the Eagles to take an offensive tackle like Texas A&M's Luke Joeckel or a cornerback like Dee Milliner out of Alabama. It would also not be surprising if they looked to trade out of the fourth pick to try to grab another first or second rounder and rebuild this team. Also, the management hopefully will have hired a coach by that time (no guarantees). 

4.) Claude Giroux

Giroux proved last year that he is one of the most exciting players in the NHL. With 93 points he was third in the league in points and second in assists(68). This year he will look to continue to grow as he is expected to be named the Philadelphia captain. With most of the young core back around him, he again should be one of the best, most exciting players in the league.

3.) A Healthy Phillies Team

The 2012 season for the Phillies is one that most fans will want to forget. With Ryan Howard, Chase Utley, and Roy Halladay all out for significant time, the team was never able to recover from early season struggles. With all three healthy coming into the year, look for the Phillies to be back at the top of the NL East once again. 

2.) Flyers vs. Penguins

Last year's opening round playoff matchup between these two cross-state rivals was one of the most intense and exciting rounds of hockey in recent memory. The series featured plenty of goals and even more fighting and big hits. Both these teams hate each other, from the fans to the players to the coaches. Even the star players like Giroux and Sidney Crosby got into it. This is now the NHL's best rivalry and with the teams squaring off this Saturday on Opening Day, fans should expect more of the same. We can only hope for another playoff matchup this coming year and after missing nearly half the season already, these match ups should be as intense as ever.

1.) 2012 is over

The number one reason Philadelphia fans should be excited for the 2013 season is that the 2012 season is done. The Phillies and the Eagles, the two most popular teams in this city, performed dreadfully during last year leaving many of the fans feeling hopeless. However, a new year should bring optimism to all and hopefully all four of the major teams in this town can return to their winning ways.