[SirClintonPortis]

Originally Posted by skinsguy

Heart of a Champion: The 40 Toughest Players in NFL History | Bleacher Report

Don Meredith, Quarterback, Dallas Cowboys (1960-1968)



“Meredith was really tough. He got beat up so bad in his early years. His last game, up in Cleveland, he came out of the hospital to play with a broken rib, a punctured lung, and pneumonia. I saw Meredith's nose broken so bad that it spread all over his face. Looked like a raccoon.” —Bob Lilly

Jack Youngblood, Defensive End, Los Angeles Rams (1971-1984)



Youngblood played the final three games of the 1979 NFL playoffs, including the Super Bowl against the Pittsburgh Steelers, with a heavily-taped broken leg. He was called the “John Wayne of Football” by John Madden.

Walt Garrison, Running Back, Dallas Cowboys (1966-1974)



In a playoff game in 1970, Garrison broke three ribs in the first quarter and continued playing after he was carried off the field. He rushed for over 100 yards, caught several passes, and helped the Cowboys continue their path to the Super Bowl. Garrison has also played through a separated shoulder, a severely broken nose and a broken collarbone. Teammate Charlie Waters recalls the time that Garrison accidentally cut his thumb with a knife so that it was dangling from his hand. Garrison wrapped his thumb in tape and played the next day, rushing for over 100 yards.

Jim Marshall, Defensive End, Minnesota Vikings (1960-1979)



Could someone please explain to me why Jim Marshall is not in the Hall of Fame? As a 248-pound defensive end, he played in 282 consecutive games. Every game. For 19 straight seasons. He maintained his streak despite pneumonia, an ulcer, and a shotgun wound to the side. Marshall earned his fame as a member of the Purple People Eaters of the early 1970s.



I'm sure you get the point!

Fine then. Then even the tougher Phillip Rivers wasn't tough enough. He had to get surgery and didn't come back in the same game. I get your point.