The NFL's Most Versatile

The NFL Network’s Most Versatile Players – can you think of anyone else?

HONORABLE MENTION:

Marcus Allen: RB/WR

Gino Cappaletti: WR/PK

Randall Cunningham: P/QB

Marshall Faulk: RB/WR/KR

Doug Flutie: QB plus one dropkick PAT

Lou Groza: OL/PK (HOF)

Dan Klecko: DL/TE

Joe Klecko: NG/DT/DE

Walter Payton: RB/QB/P (HOF)

William “The Refridgerator” Perry: DT/RB

Warren Sapp: DL/RB (HOF)

Tom Tupa: P/QB

Danny White: P/QB

In one game LaDainian Tomlinson (RB/QB) ran, threw, and caught a TD pass – a feat almost as good as the overlooked Harmon Wages (see below).

NOT MENTIONED:

Bill Curry: C/LB

Frank Gifford: RB/WR (HOF)

Ray Guy: P/PK

Jerry Kramer: OG/PK

Bob Lee: QB/P (shares my birthday)

Billy Lothridge: P/DB/PK (& college QB)

Jim O’Brien: PK/WR

Joe Theismann: QB/PR (HOF)

Norm Van Brocklin: QB/P (HOF)

In one game Harmon Wages ran for a TD, passed for a TD, and caught a TD pass. Charmin' Harmon won number 5 in honor of his also versatile hero Paul Hornung.

Herschel Walker (RB/WR/KR/PR) retired with the third most combined yards in NFL history, and ranks among the most prolific pass-catching running backs and return men in NFL history. He is the only player in NFL history to score a touchdown longer than 80 yards rushing, receiving, on a punt return, and on a kickoff return. Herschel was also a leading tackler on the punt coverage team. His NFL stats are comparable or better than Marcus Allen, Marshall Faulk, Paul Hornung, Tom Matte, Brian Mitchell, Walter Payton, and LaDainian Tomlinson – all of whom were mentioned – yet Walker has received scant consideration for the Pro Football Hall of Fame, much less mention on this crappy list.

The NFL Network's Top Ten:

10. Tom Matte RB/QB

9. George Blanda QB/PK (HOF)

8. Brian Mitchell WR/RB/KR/QB

7. Mike Vrabel LB/TE

6. Kordell Stewart QB/RB/WR

5. Troy Brown WR/KR/QB

4. Chuck Bednarik LB/C (HOF)

3. Deion Sanders CB/WR/PR/KR (HOF)

2. Paul Hornung RB/WR/PK/QB (HOF)

1. Sammy Baugh QB/DB/P (HOF). One season Baugh (top) led the league in passing, interceptions, and punting. In 1940 he averaged 51 yards per punt. In one game he threw two TD passes and intercepted four. Baugh even played minor league baseball in the Cardinals organization.

A comparison of Baugh and Ray Guy shows how the game changed in 30 years. Playing 12 game seasons for 13 years Baugh only punted 338 times. Guy punted 1049 times in 14 years of 14 game seasons. Guy, the only punter voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, averaged 42.4 yards per punt. Baugh averaged 45.1 yards – a record not broken until the 2000 season.