Fittest Athlete In The World?

by Rexx on May 20, 2009 11:58 AM EDT Comment 94 comments

Baltimore Ravens first-round draft pick Michael Oher runs during NFL football minicamp, Friday, May 8, 2009 in Owings Mills, Md. (AP Photo/Gail Burton)

9 months ago: Baltimore Ravens first-round draft pick Michael Oher runs during NFL football minicamp, Friday, May 8, 2009 in Owings Mills, Md. (AP Photo/Gail Burton)

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While this may be a little off topic, football and Ravens-wise, it does bring to mind the question of whether a football athlete can be up there as one of, if not THE fittest athlete in the world.

At Raven Passing Camp this week, word is that while rookie first round pick Michael Oher is not as up to speed as the veterans on blocking assignments, he is one of the most physically fit players on the team, at 6'4" and 309 pounds. According to DE Trevor Pryce, he looks a little like the Carolina Panthers' Julius Peppers, who is a physical specimen for a big guy.

On ESPN's First Take yesterday, host Dana Jacobson (yowser!) was leading the discussion as to who might be the world's most fittest athlete. There were three other guys on the panel, two of whom said Lebron James as they said he sprints up and down the court as well as anyone in the NBA and doing that in a 6'8" solid body requires great physical tools. One of the guys said Terrell Owens, and cited his interview doing situps, showing his six-pack abs in his driveway while suspended a few years ago as an example. Tennis star Rafael Nadal was also brought up, as he looks to be almost completely devoid of any fat on his athletic frame.

Now I don't want to be accused of writing a post on other men's bodies, but the discussion is one for thought. A few years ago, you'd have to have included seven time (?) Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong in the discussion and maybe even last year had eight Olympic gold medalist swimmer and Baltimore's own Michael Phelps at or near the top of that list.

However, while there could be a hockey player up there, but we rarely see their true physiques, there is no mention of a baseball player on that list, as we've seen a bunch of what appear to be overweight and out of shape players, especially pitchers in MLB. Then what football players other than TO could be considered among the world's fittest athletes?

Let the debate begin!

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Comments

Shaun Rogers

End of discussion

by DT711 on May 20, 2009 12:09 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Oh no you didn't

You have to hate losing more than you love winning.

by Mr MaLoR on May 20, 2009 3:16 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Shaun Rogers is a monster. Bettter quit making fun of him or he’ll eat you.

by BradyQuinnisBeast on May 20, 2009 4:38 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Have to get through the best DT in the league

Haloti Ngata first.

You have to hate losing more than you love winning.

by Mr MaLoR on May 20, 2009 5:07 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

rogers had 30 more tackles and 3 more sacks

by BradyQuinnisBeast on May 20, 2009 5:23 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Ngata had 2 more ints

and 1 more forced fumble

You have to hate losing more than you love winning.

by Mr MaLoR on May 20, 2009 5:28 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Nice.

Water covers 2/3 of the Earth's surface. Ed Reed covers the rest.

by Ampallang on May 20, 2009 5:35 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I would still take rogers

by BradyQuinnisBeast on May 20, 2009 8:16 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

That would not be the wise choice… Ngata has MUCH more upside. Most objective Browns fans would agree.

by BAL_Hawk on May 20, 2009 8:41 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Did Ngata make the probowl last year? just asking

by BradyQuinnisBeast on May 20, 2009 9:44 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

No… He probably should have, but that’s irrelevant. I was talking about upside.

by BAL_Hawk on May 20, 2009 9:51 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Ngata made every “Pro Bowl Snub” list I read.

Water covers 2/3 of the Earth's surface. Ed Reed covers the rest.

by Ampallang on May 21, 2009 12:33 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Ngata is YEARS younger

much more fit, and EVERY GM in the league would take Ngata over Rogers now, and thatincludes Cleveland. Rogers made Pro Bowl on rep as much as stats. Besides, Ngata’s role is t hold up blockers so his LB’s can make the tackles and doesn’t even play a lot of passing downs, while Cleveland has no choice as the rest of their d-line and LB’s are pretty poor.

Rexx

by Rexx on May 21, 2009 11:29 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Rogers doesn't even want to be there

by CardsDefense on May 21, 2009 3:27 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Do you have anything to backup that statement.

by BradyQuinnisBeast on May 21, 2009 4:45 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Wimbley would be a good OLB if he had a real DC. He had 10 sacks his rookie year so he does have talent.

D’Qwell Jackson is one of the best ILB’s in the league. He led the league in tackles(around 150 i think)

by BradyQuinnisBeast on May 21, 2009 4:48 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Again… tackles don’t mean alot, especially with a bad defense like the Browns. That many tackles mean that he was constantly on the field. If a team leads the league in tackles, they usually lead the league in yards and points allowed as well. There’s a correlation.

by BAL_Hawk on May 21, 2009 5:25 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

So are you trying to say tackles mean nothing?

by BradyQuinnisBeast on May 21, 2009 5:35 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

No… they’re a good gauge with a system. Tackles will tell you who’s the best player on your defense and if your defense is any good. If your safeties are making alot of tackles, that is usually a bad sign. Other than that, they are not a very good comparative statistic.

by BAL_Hawk on May 21, 2009 5:52 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I never said it was relevant. I was just asking

by BradyQuinnisBeast on May 21, 2009 4:48 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I would love to see Rogers try and drop back in coverage.

You have to hate losing more than you love winning.

by Mr MaLoR on May 20, 2009 5:29 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

This was pretty funny

by BradyQuinnisBeast on May 20, 2009 8:20 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I will give it to him

That was pretty incredible.

But what I am talking about comes from the Ravens vs Texans game last season.

I could not find a youtube video of it, but if you go back and watch those high lights of that game, look for when Houston drives down about 70 yards on our defense and gets to the 2 yard line.

As Rosenfels drops back to look for his Receiver, Ngata decides to drop back from the line, bends down and hides his 6’4" 345 pound frame, Rosenfels does not see him some how, throws to his wideout and Ngata leaps in mid air, snatching the ball for a TD saving int. It was incredible.

Then dropping back as a linebacker against Pitt in the first meeting, Ngata intercepts Rufflesburger.

You have to hate losing more than you love winning.

by Mr MaLoR on May 20, 2009 11:23 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

true indeed

that S*** was crazy…

by jackmca on May 21, 2009 10:36 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Actually,..

I think he tipped the ball into the air then dove and caught it!

Rexx

by Rexx on May 21, 2009 11:30 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yea he did

Meant to put that in there. Even greater that he dove for it.

You have to hate losing more than you love winning.

by Mr MaLoR on May 21, 2009 2:03 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

That’s because the Browns defense was always on the field.

by BAL_Hawk on May 20, 2009 8:04 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

EXACTLY!!!

thank you, finally someone who understands how useless a statistic “tackles” can be. I guarantee you the Browns defense has way more total tackles than the Ravens do just b/c they’re always on the field.

by jackmca on May 21, 2009 10:26 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Check out my article on the AFC North defenses

The Browns defense were on the field for almost 100 more plays than the Ravens, so their tackles and unfortunately yards allowed, points alowed, losses as well, were all more than them. Duh!

Rexx

by Rexx on May 21, 2009 11:31 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

But they gave up plenty of big plays too that ended drives early.

by BradyQuinnisBeast on May 21, 2009 4:50 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Are you arguing for or against the Browns?

Water covers 2/3 of the Earth's surface. Ed Reed covers the rest.

by Ampallang on May 21, 2009 5:20 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Where’s the love for athletes that do Decathalons?

Water covers 2/3 of the Earth's surface. Ed Reed covers the rest.

by Ampallang on May 20, 2009 12:37 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I would go along the same lines and say whoever the most successful Ironman athlete of all time is.

It's still a good season if we go 2-14 and beat the Steelers twice.

by Bengals FTW on May 20, 2009 1:17 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Isn’t Ironman just like the Decathalon, but with seven less events?

Water covers 2/3 of the Earth's surface. Ed Reed covers the rest.

by Ampallang on May 20, 2009 4:24 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Decathalon events-
100 meters
Long Jump
Shot Put
High Jump
400 meters
110 meter hurdles
Discus
Pole Vault
Javelin
1500 meters

Ironman-
2.4 miles (3.86 km) swim, a 112 mile (180.25 km) bike and a marathon (26 miles 385 yards, 42.195 km) run, raced in that order and withot a break.

When I think of who I would pick for this, the word fittest makes me think of endurance more than anything.

It's still a good season if we go 2-14 and beat the Steelers twice.

by Bengals FTW on May 21, 2009 9:10 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Then do you put

Bruce Jenner of the ’70’s up there?

He looks horrible now, especially his nose, althhough he gets to hang w/ the Kardashian girls!

Rexx

by Rexx on May 21, 2009 11:32 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Bear Grylls

by DT711 on May 20, 2009 1:08 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

He is my 2nd

You have to hate losing more than you love winning.

by Mr MaLoR on May 20, 2009 3:16 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Les Stroud

…would eat Bear Grylls’ lunch…

and he is also smart enough not to eat poop. On all of his episodes of survivorman he has never resorted to eating feces to survive.

by jackmca on May 20, 2009 3:18 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

He also is a

FAKE!

Dont knock on BG Extraordinaire!

You have to hate losing more than you love winning.

by Mr MaLoR on May 20, 2009 3:19 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

ummm....

BG goes back and stayed at 5-star hotels with his camera crew after long days of eating poop and jumping into beehives. Stroud does all his own camera work, is his own executive producer, does a lot of his own editing and writing, as well as writing his own intro music. As a broadcast journalism minor, I can tell you that what he does is pretty incredible.

And I’m not sure why you think its fake. I mean, some of his “survival” trips are tamer than others (as of late), but in his orignal season the dude went hard as a beast. he said he needed to stop doing it because it was too hard on his body.

Anyway the point is that BG stays at a hotel and eats a meal, Stroud is out there cooking squirrels and riding out rainstorms.

by jackmca on May 21, 2009 10:34 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I know

But BGE is my hero. Anyone who gets a drink out of squeezing the juices from camel shit is the man. Then he drinks his on urine.

I mean, Les Stroud does not even come close to the one-liners that BGE does.

You have to hate losing more than you love winning.

by Mr MaLoR on May 21, 2009 2:06 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Tiger Woods

Thread closed

You have to hate losing more than you love winning.

by Mr MaLoR on May 20, 2009 3:16 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Mayweather

Boxers are clearly the fittest athletes. I’m not sure this debate is worth much though.

by jackmca on May 20, 2009 3:19 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Manny Pacqiao?

The dude’s just been dominating the boxing world so i’d take him over mayweather

Maybe Calvin Johnson?Adrian Peterson? Ed Reed? Devin Hester?

by ravsagain on May 20, 2009 4:22 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

soon enough we will see

Pacqiao vs. Mayweather and as much as I’d love to see pac pull the upset, I really don’t think he will. Mayweather is just as fast and better technically.

by jackmca on May 21, 2009 10:28 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

im waitin' for the day that fight goes down

by ravsagain on May 21, 2009 4:49 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

George Foreman was in shape?

Rexx

by Rexx on May 21, 2009 11:33 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Michael Oher and Alex Mack will both make the pro bowl 2 years from now.

by BradyQuinnisBeast on May 20, 2009 4:38 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Michael Oher ~~and Alex Mack~~ will ~~both~~ make the pro bowl 2 years from now.

You have to hate losing more than you love winning.

by Mr MaLoR on May 20, 2009 5:08 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I knew you would say that.

by BradyQuinnisBeast on May 20, 2009 5:23 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

hehe

; )

You have to hate losing more than you love winning.

by Mr MaLoR on May 20, 2009 5:29 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Oh yea

Whats your handicap? I see you are a golfer

You have to hate losing more than you love winning.

by Mr MaLoR on May 20, 2009 5:42 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

youve probably played much longer. right now i just play JV

by BradyQuinnisBeast on May 20, 2009 8:22 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Oh cool

Good luck. I am a 5 handicap. I miss the highschool matches.

You have to hate losing more than you love winning.

by Mr MaLoR on May 20, 2009 11:23 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I’m hoping to make varsity this year. I played a little last year but was #1 on JV most of the time. If I dont make it though I will still have a few more years to.

by BradyQuinnisBeast on May 21, 2009 4:54 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Mack will probably make the Pro Bowl before Oher. Mack has name recognition and he plays on the same offensive line as Joe Thomas, who is considered the best LT in football for some reason… It’s definitely not logical. The Pro Bowl is about name recognition.

by BAL_Hawk on May 20, 2009 8:08 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Joe Thomas is a beast. I dont know what you’re talking about.

by BradyQuinnisBeast on May 20, 2009 8:24 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I never criticized him. I only said that his Pro Bowl election was illogical and that he was selected due to name recognition.

by BAL_Hawk on May 20, 2009 8:44 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

He did not deserve it last year

The Pro bowl that is.

by DT711 on May 21, 2009 9:16 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

He’s an elite LT. Get over it.

by BradyQuinnisBeast on May 21, 2009 4:55 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

We don’t need to get over anything. This was suppose to be an intelligent discussion. Bring some facts or an opinion.

by BAL_Hawk on May 21, 2009 5:27 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

He’s a Browns fan; he’s not used to intelligent discussion or facts. Give him a little time to acclimate.

Water covers 2/3 of the Earth's surface. Ed Reed covers the rest.

by Ampallang on May 21, 2009 11:06 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

DBN is more of an intelligent discussion. We spend as much time insulting people and making dumb posts(Malor)

by BradyQuinnisBeast on May 22, 2009 9:04 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

You spend as much time insulting people and making dumb posts as what? And how does that count as intelligent discussion? Don’t be afraid to use your words.

Water covers 2/3 of the Earth's surface. Ed Reed covers the rest.

by Ampallang on May 23, 2009 12:20 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I ment to say dont spend as much time. Sorry must have been tired when I typed that or something

by BradyQuinnisBeast on May 23, 2009 10:23 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

When did I say that one?

I would never make a comment like that………

I mean, I think a very dumb post is the one about a Browns fan dying, and going to heaven saying that he saw Alex Mack as god and told him to come back to life because the Browns were going to win the Superbowl until 2028 with Mack.

Here is the post if you don’t believe me

You have to hate losing more than you love winning.

by Mr MaLoR on May 23, 2009 2:07 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Get over what?

That I think he made the Pro Bowl on name more then his play last year?

I will not.

by DT711 on May 22, 2009 8:51 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Former Oriole Glenn Davis. What a specimen. That guy never missed a game…

by Ngata 92 on May 20, 2009 6:29 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Takes a punch to the jaw poorly though.

Rexx

by Rexx on May 21, 2009 11:34 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

http://i29.tinypic.com/de6xb9.jpg

taylor mays and brian cushing

by BradyQuinnisBeast on May 20, 2009 8:25 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Jesus

That has to be photoshopped.

You have to hate losing more than you love winning.

by Mr MaLoR on May 20, 2009 11:25 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Dude in the middle

must have an inferiority complex!

Rexx

by Rexx on May 21, 2009 11:35 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think he is on roids.

by BradyQuinnisBeast on May 21, 2009 4:55 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I’m going to nominate Willis McGahee for this debate.

by BAL_Hawk on May 20, 2009 8:46 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

by BAL_Hawk on May 20, 2009 9:05 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

+100000000000000000000000000000000000000000

My favorite Raven!

You have to hate losing more than you love winning.

by Mr MaLoR on May 20, 2009 11:24 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

McGahee killed my fantasy team last year.

I’ll never forgive you Willis!!!!

by BradyQuinnisBeast on May 21, 2009 4:56 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

i will consider patrick willis, vernon davis, adrian peterson, and steve smith. i don’t even know how to grade them. it is an impossible and stupid question because no one will ever agree. i will quote #1 to be michael phelps.

by Ravens Boner on May 20, 2009 10:55 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Bong Hits and 12,000 calories a day

Diet of a champion

You have to hate losing more than you love winning.

by Mr MaLoR on May 20, 2009 11:27 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

by Cdsumm on May 21, 2009 12:15 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

by Mr MaLoR on May 21, 2009 3:40 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

by Rexx on May 21, 2009 8:42 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

what was Ogdens 40 time?

by raven on May 26, 2009 2:29 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Willis should get bigger pads to cover his entire mid section. they should also install a handle on the back of them so his teammates can get him up and over to the huddle quicker.

by raven on May 26, 2009 2:34 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs