There have been countless great players to suit up in the NFL but not all of them got to savor a Super Bowl victory. When you think of all-time greats who never won a ring the names Dan Marino, Tony Gonzalez, and Barry Sanders come to mind. A lot goes into building a team that can win a championship with luck, getting on a hot streak (hello 2007 and 2011 NY Giants), and health also playing key factors. But there are players in the NFL who wow us on seemingly a weekly basis who haven't gotten that ring yet - some have gotten close and some play on perennially bad teams. Below is a list of current NFL stars, in no particular order, that I hope get to lift the Lombardi Trophy before they call it a career - whether it's with their current team or they have to go elsewhere. I'll only be discussing players who have been in the league a while so you won't see players like Andrew Luck or AJ Green - guys who are still young and should get at least one shot at a title. Maybe I'll revisit this list in a couple of years...
Joe Thomas - OT, Cleveland Browns
Thomas is widely considered the best offensive tackle in the game today and, in my book, has a claim to be the best of all time. He is the anchor of the Browns o-line and manhandles opposing defensive players every week. He's had the misfortune of having to protect a different (though still mediocre at best) QB every season and has seen little to no talent at the skill positions around him. He's already a slam dunk hall of famer, but the man deserves a ring. I hope (and this coming from a Steelers fan) he gets that chance in Cleveland but those chances seem slim to nil until they figure out the rest of the offense - though Mike Pettine is doing a decent job of coaching up his team so far. Plus, how could you not root for a guy who was out on a lake fishing when he was selected 3rd overall in the NFL Draft? Great player, humble man, and deserves a ring.
Steve Smith, Sr - WR, Baltimore Ravens
Smith is playing in his final season having declared he will retire after this campaign and he's had a very decorated career. He holds eleven franchise records for the Carolina Panthers including most receiving yards, most all purpose yards, and most touchdowns. His best shot at a ring was in 2003 but that went out the window when the Panthers kicked the ball out of bounds on a kickoff, allowing Tom Brady to drive 20 yards to win the game on an Adam Vinatieri field goal. Carolina thought he was washed up leading to him signing with the Ravens. Sadly for Smith, the Ravens have a higher probability of getting the #1 pick in the 2016 draft than they do of making the playoffs this year. It's a horrible way to go out, but maybe the Ravens will convince him to suit up for one more year. Smith is also the last person in the NFL you want to piss off - being just as likely to punch an opposing player in the face as he is to score a touchdown. His intensity after winning a ring would also quadruple that of Richard Sherman when the Seahawks beat the 49ers in the NFC Championship game a few years ago - who wouldn't want to see that?
Jason Witten - TE, Dallas Cowboys
When you think of great tight ends you think Sterling and Shannon Sharpe, Tony Gonzalez, and Rob Gronkowski. If you don't already, you should also think of Witten. He's closing in on 1,000 receptions, has over 10,000 receiving yards, should catch his 60th TD any week now, and has only lost fumbles over the course of his entire career. Witten's played on some great offenses but the Cowboys have been held back by some unlucky bounces (think Tony Romo's botched hold on a field goal attempt in the playoffs a few years back) and by horrible defenses. Well, the defense is playing better this year but the rest of the offense needs to help keep this team afloat. He's suffering through Brandon Weeden/Matt Cassell at QB right now and hasn't had running mate Dez Bryant for a few weeks, but the NFC East is wide open so there's some hope.
Andre Johnson - WR, Indianapolis Colts
Four or five years ago Johnson was considered one of the best, if not the best, wide receivers in the game along with Larry Fitzgerald and Calvin Johnson. Despite his domination, he suffered through poor quarterback play, little to no help from other offensive players, and a lackluster defense. Now in Indianapolis he has a QB, but the Colts are a complete mess all around. The Colts were preseason favorites to go deep into the playoffs, but those chances look derailed due to poor team building. Johnson may never get a chance at a Super Bowl as his skills have eroded considerably.
Carson Palmer - QB, Arizona Cardinals & Larry Fitzgerald - WR, Arizona Cardinals
Palmer is a former #1 overall draft pick who got to play with some talent in Cincinnati, but a devastating knee injury in the playoffs led the Bengals to seek a replacement and his being traded to the Raiders. After landing in Arizona with Bruce Arians, Palmer revived hope in the desert until another knee injury ended his season. Now back fully healthy, this feels like a team that has a great shot at winning a title. Fitzgerald has been through ups and downs in Arizona and now has, in Palmer, the best QB he's played with since Kurt Warner. And I think Palmer is better than Warner. Both of these players seem rejuvenated this season, possibly knowing that their window to win is rapidly closing as they are both coming closer to the end of their careers.
Calvin Johnson - WR, Detroit Lions
Megatron was unstoppable until last year when nagging injuries and years of facing double/triple teams began taking a toll on him. He has some good help around him on offense now (Golden Tate, Eric Ebron, an actual QB in Matthew Stafford, and a running back if Ameer Abdullah can solve his fumbling issues). But Detroit doesn't know how to build a defense or a coaching staff. Let's hope that the Lions bring in an actual head coach (who can build an actual staff) so Johnson and Co. have a shot at a title while he's still in the prime of his career. Winning a Super Bowl would also be a huge boon to the city of Detroit, much like it was for New Orleans when the Saints won shortly after Hurricane Katrina.
Phillip Rivers - QB, San Diego Chargers & Antonio Gates - TE, San Diego Chargers
Rivers is a member of the famous 2004 draft class also involving Ben Roethlisberger and Eli Manning. And if Manning can have two rings, why can't Rivers get at least one? He's a much better QB than Eli. Rivers has put together a spectacular career, leading the Chargers to the #1 ranked offense a few times. The team has had some bad luck in the playoffs, but Mike McCoy is a good coach who's overseeing a good team. Rivers needs a game changing wide receiver, especially with Antonio Gates nearing the end of his career. Gates himself should also be mentioned amongst the best TEs in the game and is also a certain hall of famer, but he can't play forever. I think Peyton Manning will soon become a liability for the Broncos, and although this year is a long shot, the Chargers should be in a great position to win it all next year.
Adrian Peterson - RB, Minnesota Vikings
Your personal feelings and his somewhat recent legal issues aside, Peterson is the best running back of this generation. He has single handedly carried the Vikings for years and isn't showing any signs of slowing down. He has the best QB he's played with in Teddy Bridgewater, though he's still growing into the position, and Mike Zimmer can coach. With Detroit and Chicago bumbling around, the Packers are their only obstacle in the NFC North - but with Aaron Rodgers that's a mountain of an obstacle. Peterson has a great chance to jump from 22nd on the all-time NFL rushing list into the top 5 before his career is over, but at 30 (a dangerous age for running backs) who knows how many great, dominant seasons he has left? I wouldn't count him out, and if the Vikings keep building up their team like they have been the last couple of years, Peterson should get another shot at a playoff run.
This list seems pretty obvious and is very offense heavy. I had a hard time thinking of great defensive players I would want to see win a ring who haven't recently won one (Darrelle Revis for instance) or that have played more than just a few years (think JJ Watt). Barely missing the cut based on my criteria were Frank Gore, Alex Smith (would love to see him win a ring to stick it to the 49ers and Jim Harbaugh), Matt Forte, Nick Mangold (one of, if not the, best centers in the league), and Sebastian Janikowski. Could you imagine how hard Janikowski would party if he won a Super Bowl? It would be amazing! Please let me know in the comments below who you would want to see win a Super Bowl who doesn't already have one. Thanks for reading!
