Tom Van Riper, Forbes Staff I cover the business of sports for Forbes.
10/13/2011 @ 10:47AM The NFL's Most-Liked Players
Ndamukong Suh is six feet-four inches tall, and weighs over 300 pounds. He doesn’t dominate highlight reels by running, throwing or catching the football – he clogs holes and manhandles blockers on the defensive line.
Yet right now, there’s no one in the NFL the fans like more. When Suh was in college two years ago, NFL draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. called him “maybe the most dominating defensive tackle I’ve seen in 32 years.” After turning pro, Suh endowed his alma mater, the University of Nebraska, with a $2.6 million gift. Maybe that’s why, even without the glamour that comes with playing quarterback or running back, Suh has pocketed endorsement deals with Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images Chrysler, Subway and Nike, among others.
In Pictures: The NFL’s Most-Liked Players
We plucked the names of the NFL’s ten most likeable players from the latest research study done jointly by E-Poll Market Research and Nielsen. The firms ran polls on scores of NFL players asking fans whether liked or disliked the players. Those scoring the most responses as players that the fans “like” or “like a lot” rate as most likeable. Candidates were limited to those players scoring at least 10% recognition among the public.
Suh led the field with an appeal score of 71%, thanks mainly to his unique name, his status as a No. 2 overall draft pick in 2010 and the Lions’ reversal of fortune this year that has raised the profile of their star players. There’s also little question that Image by Getty Images North America via @daylife Suh’s status as a lineman, which renders him a bit less known to the broad public than top skill position players, works to his advantage.
“The relatively fewer people that know him tend to like him,” says Gerry Philpott, E-Poll’s CEO.
Right behind Suh: Packers’ quarterback Aaron Rodgers (67%), the man who has emerged from Brett Favre’s shadow to become one of the NFL’s top passers, the Steelers’ Troy Polamalu (64%), the long haired, hard hitting safety, and New Orleans quarterback Drew Brees (63%), who’s developed a reputation over a decade in the league for being intense on the field and down to earth off it. What Rodgers, Polamalu and Brees have in common: they all own Super Bowl rings.
In Pictures: The NFL’s Most-Liked Players
Not that recognition that comes from hoisting a Lombardi trophy is necessarily a recipe for being liked, (see Ben Roethlisberger). But a player who hasn’t done anything to hurt his image typically gets a big boost from a championship.
“All other things equal, a Super Bowl will improve the appeal of any player,” says Philpott.
Suh doesn’t have a ring yet. But if he and young Lions’ quarterback Matthew Stafford stay healthy, they might own a few before they’re done. In the meantime, he’s doing just fine with the fans. 1.
Ndamukong Suh
Detroit Lions Appeal: 71% A defensive lineman No. 1? Apparently a unique name and an ability to manhandle offensive lines, all for a team gaining national traction for its turnaround, go a long way.
2.
Aaron Rodgers
Green Bay Packers Appeal: 67% Fans like the way Rodgers smoothly stepped in and excelled after taking over for the polarizing Brett Favre in 2008. Leading the Pack to a Super Bowl title last year took things to a whole new level.
3.
Troy Polamalu
Pittsburgh Steelers Appeal: 64% High energy player on a popular team, and of course everyone loves the hair.
4.
Drew Brees
New Orleans Saints Appeal: 63% Leading New Orleans to a post- Katrina Super Bowl title two years ago was a great story. Fans also see Brees as professional and modest.
5.
Charles Woodson
Green Bay Packers Appeal: 62% Longtime star defensive back sees his fortunes rise along with the Pack’s.
6.
Adrian Peterson
Minnesota Vikings Appeal: 62% The man they call “All Day” for his tireless rushing and receiving workload every Sunday just re-upped with Minnesota for seven years and a possible $100 million. With over 6,000 yards in four-plus seasons, some think Peterson has the goods to challenge Emmitt Smith’s all time rushing mark of 18,355.
7.
.
Sam Bradford
St. Louis Rams Appeal: 62% The former Oklahoma Sooners QB, drafted first overall in 2010 (one spot ahead of Suh), helped improve the Rams to 7-9 from 1-15 the previous year. He and the club are off to a tougher start this year, though.
8.
Brian Urlacher
Chicago Bears Appeal: 57% Who doesn't love a tough linebacker playing for the Chicago Bears? Urlacher is practically the definition of football.
9.
LaDanian Tomlinson
New York Jets Appeal: 56% A longtime star in San Diego, Tomlinson has gained popularity in New York as a steadying part-time veteran on a generally younger, brash team.
10.
Peyton Manning
Indianapolis Colts Appeal: 54% Imagine how appealing Manning would be if he spent more of his time on the field playing football and less of it playing chess with opposing defenses. Though of course the 0-5 Colts miss him terribly this year.