Biggest badass from each NFL team: Colts

I am a big fan of the NFL. Some people are more into the college game, but I grew up following the pros and that is where my heart still resides.

I can recall when getting a team jersey was an expensive and glamorous purchase. (We're talking a couple hundred bucks, easy.) Now, you can get replicas for fairly cheap (less than $100) and can get knockoffs for even less money (you can probably find jerseys for $30 on the Internet).

As a former defensive lineman in high school and offensive lineman with the local semi-pro team (I am now the offensive and defensive line coach for the local high school freshman team) I can't wear just anyone's name and number. You will not see me sporting a DeSean Jackson or Chris Johnson or Tom Brady jersey. It has nothing to do with my opinion of how they play. In fact, I think those three players are excellent. I just can't wear a flashy player.

I need a badass player.

I could sit and preach about the most badass players from my favorite team, but that is a very restricted net indeed. I could also attempt to list the most badass players currently in the NFL. The net gets a little wider, but still not the scope I'm looking for. How about the most badass players in the history of the league? Almost there, but still not what I'm aiming for. The most badass players from each team, current and historical. Ding ding ding! We have a winner.

I will attempt to go through every team in the National Football League and name the most badass player currently on the roster (as of the end of the 2011 season) and the most badass player in franchise history. You can expect to see a lot of linemen in the upcoming posts, but there will be some linebackers, running backs and, yes, even some quarterbacks who were badass.

The definition of a badass player is not set in stone. Some are badass because of how long they played. Some are badass because of how they played. Some are badass because, well, just because. Kind of like Potter Stewart, I know a badass player when I see one. But one critical component to being a badass player is my dad NOT making fun of me if I wear that player's jersey.

So first up is Indianapolis Colts.


If you look up in the stands at Lucas Oil Stadium, you would think the team is called the 18s considering the abundance of Peyton Manning jerseys. Colt fans have every right to put 18 on his or her back. Manning turned that franchise around.

Whenever you have a pass-happy offense, critics derail the play and players as "soft." There are plenty of players who I would not describe as soft: safety Antoine Bethea is pretty hard, and tight end Dallas Clark is in discussion as the best in the business. But if I was throwing down money on a current Colt jersey, I'm going with one their three top linemen.

Center Jeff Saturday (#63) was undrafted out of North Carolina, but is easily one of the top snappers in the NFL. Defensive ends Dwight Freeney (#93) and Robert Mathis (#98) make up one of the best bookend rushing tandems ever. The two have a combined 106 sacks (Freeney has 102.5; Mathis has 82.5).

Historically, there are really only two badasses I would consider supporting. The first is widely regarded as the best all-around tight end to ever play the game, John Mackey (#88). But if I was going to buy one and only one Colt jersey I would go with Gino Marchetti (#89). Marchetti's parents did not want him to play football because they were afraid he would get hurt. Instead of absorbing punishment, the 6-foot-4 defensive end decided to doll it out. He played in the 1950s, so a lot of current fans may not know him, but Hall of Famers consider him the best all-around defensive linemen to ever lace 'em up; stout against the run and terrifying when rushing the quarterback.

Next: St. Louis Rams