Watching MNF and started thinking about the journeys of each player. Made me think…what if you had to build and NFL franchise of current & retired players but could only pick players that were born or grew up in your home state?
I’m from Texas (duh), so I limited the list to people that were born in and played their whole high school career in Texas. Strahan was technically a military brat born in Germany but his family is from TX and he played high school and college ball in Texas, so it made sense to include him. Center, guard and tight end didn’t feel the strongest. I focused on mostly on guys that were either HoF or close enough. Tried to mix old school and new school players but didn’t dig that deep. If we can find more o-line depth, I like our chances being able to run the ball A LOT and then set up play-action. The defense is going to be nasty…
QB - Patrick Mahomes, Drew Brees, Sammy Baugh
RB - Eric Dickerson, LaDainian Tomlinson, Earl Campbell, Adrian Peterson
FB - Larry Centers
WR - Tim Brown, Mike Evans, Cliff Branch, Raymond Berry, Don Maynard, Charley Taylor
TE - ??
T - Forrest Gregg, Richmond Webb, Jason Peters
C - Bulldog Turner
G - Gene Upshaw
DE - Michael Strahan, Harvey Martin, Von Miller
DT - Joe Greene, Bob Lily, John Randle, Sam Adams
LB - Mike Singletary, Tommy Nobis, Zach Thomas
CB - Dick “Night Train” Lane, Darrell Green, Mel Renfro, Mike Haynes, Emmitt Thomas
S - Earl Thomas III, Ken Houston
P - Shane Lechler
K - Matt Stover
Coaches - Tom Landry, Jimmy Johnson
Michigan
QB - Kirk Cousins, Drew Stanton
RB - Jerome Bettis, Mark Ingram
WR - Derrick Mason, Mushin Muhammed, Jimmy Smith, Greg Jennings, Andre Rison
TE - Antonio Gates, Adam Trautman
OL - TJ Lang, Jon Runyan, Joe Staley, Jack Conklin, Joe DeLamielleure
DL - Aidan Hutchinson, Kris Jenkins, William Gholston, Jonathan Hankins, Matt Judon
LB - Larry Foote, Bart Scott, Reggie Williams, Carl Banks, Anthony Pittman
DB - Sauce Gardner, Jourdan Lewis, Paul Krause, Brandon Carr
Coach—Tony Dungy
OC - Steve Mariucci
DC - Robert Saleh
This man’s putting Hutchinson in after a season and a half.
Delaware (fuck):
QB: n/a
RB: Wendell Smallwood, Mike Meade, Pete Larson, Anthony Anderson
FB: Tim Wilson
WR: Tom Hall, Rich Parson, Quadree Henderson, Andre Patton
TE: Lovett Purnell, Justin Perillo, Kyle Carter, David Grinnage
T: Luke Petitgout, Jeff Otah, Brian O’Neill
G: Eddie Michaels, Tex Warrington, Conway Hayman, Charles Hope, CJ Davis
C: John Tosi, Rick Donnalley
DE: Carl Elliott, Joe Campbell, Javor Mills
DT: Orien Harris, Bilal Nichols, Angelo Blackson
LB: Paul Worrilow, Leon Dombrowski, Kevin Reilly, Jamie Duncan, Troy Reeder
CB: Briean Boddy-Calhoun, Michael Reed, Brandon Rusnak
S: Duron Harmon
P: n/a
K: n/a
Yeah the roster is a little short because that’s everyone that was born in Delaware. I don’t think we’re gonna be doing too well in the league.
Kansas would probably have the best overall RB room with three top 20 RBs all time. Barry Sanders, Gale Sayers, and John Riggins. Unfortunately, they would probably have to just hope that Will Shields could open up a lane every single offensive play for the team to do anything other than get trounced.
Minnesota:
QB: Jack Traudeau (lol) or Steve Walsh (lol)
RB: Marion Barber III and Les Josephson
WR: Larry Fitzgerald, Adam Thielen, Eric Decker
TE: Dave Casper
OL: Matt Birk, Keith Fahnhorst, Jim Langer, Ben Hamilton, Corbin Lacina
DL: Larry Cole, Steve Martin, Barry Bennett
LB: Terrell Suggs (born in Minneapolis!), Steve Nelson, Jeff Siemon, James Laurenitis
DB: Jeff Wright, Russell Gary, Rod Smith, Marcus Sherels
K: Chip Lohmiller
P: Rohn Stark
In PA, we have too many QBs.
It’s pretty awkward for my home state, considering our most famous player wound up in jail for murder and a post-suicide outing.
I feel like Texas, Florida, Georgia, Cali would just absolutely dominate.
Hawaii says fuck all y’all!
Florida is crazy. I honestly was gonna do one, but the list of players was so long…
California:
QB: Brady, Rodgers, Elway
RB: Marcus Allen and OJ Simpson
FB: Lorenzo Neal
WR: Steve Smith Sr, James Lofton, Davonte Adams
TE: Tony Gonzalez
OT: Anthony Munoz, Gary Zimmerman/Tyron Smith
OG: Larry Allen, Ron Mix
C: Bruce Matthews
Edge: Jared Allen, Clay Matthews Jr and III
IDL: Jurell Casey, La’Roi Glover
Linebacker: Junior Seau, Bobby Wagner
Corners: Richard Sherman, Dave Grayson
S: Ronnie Lott, Troy Polamalu
K: Nick Folk
P: Jeff Feagles
ST: Matthew Slater
Returner: Desean Jackson
Coach: Andy Reid
For Maryland
Offense
QB: Doug Flutie
WR: Stefon Diggs, Antonio Freeman, Bryant Johnson, Jermaine Lewis
RB: Todd Gurley, Brian Westbrook
TE: Darren Waller, Freddie Jones
LT: Irv Pankey
LG: Keith Sims
C: Hank Fraley
RG: Ron Solt
RT: Rob Havenstein
Defense
DT: Darnell Dockett, Larry Webster
DE: Chase Young, Cameron Wake
LOLB: Shaquil Barrett
MLB: Navorro Bowman
ROLB: Julian Peterson
CB: Trevon Diggs, Joe Haden, Kyle Fuller, Ronald Darby
FS: Adrian Amos
SS: Robert Griffith
P: Sean Landeta
K: Brian Franco (The only kicker the state has ever produced)
HC: Bill Belichick wasn’t born in Maryland but he was raised in Annapolis so I’ll put him here.
Washington
QB - Drew Bledsoe
RB - Corey Dillon
RB - Jonathan Stewart
WR - Cooper Kupp
WR - Jermaine Kearse
TE - Don Warren
C - Don Mosebar
G - David DeCastro
G - Brian Habib
T - Ed Simmons
T - Ray Pinney
DE - Tyler Brayton
DE - Jason Buck
DT - Roy Miller
DT - Danny Shelton
LB - Anthony Davis
LB - Carl Ekern
LB - Peter Sirmon
CB - James Hasty
CB - Marcus Trufant
S - Buddy Baker
S - Kurt Schulz
K - Jason Hanson
P - Johnny Hekker
ST - Eric Metcalf
good ol buddy baker