Which NFL Hard Hitter would you least like to get hit by?

[Champ]

If you got a lofty pass in the middle of the field giving your opponent plenty of time to square up and get a solid hit on you, who would you least like that opponent to be?

Brain Dawkins - FS - Eagles - Brian Dawkins is built like a boxer, has the same quickness and packs a similar punch. Dawkins trains during the offseason with "No Holds Barred" ultimate fighting champion Tim Catalfo. That training has enhanced Dawkins' fierce competitiveness and added to his speed and strength, allowing him to be the hardest hitter in the league.

"Pound for pound, he might be the most violent guy in the league," says Redskins pro scout Mike Kelly. "He can generate such great speed in a confined space. He closes so rapidly and is just so physically strong. His compact size plays right into playing with leverage. He knows how to come up and through a person, bringing his hips."


Dawkins (5-11, 205) covers like a cornerback and hits like a linebacker. One of the most vicious of Dawkins' many highlight-reel hits was delivered on Michael Vick in the playoffs two years ago. Vick spun like a top.

Roy Williams - FS - Cowboys - He is at his best near the line, where he serves as an extra linebacker. He also lurks in the middle, waiting for an unsuspecting receiver. He changes games with big hits. "Sometimes he throws his body in there like he's playing with somebody else's body," Kelly says.

Rodney Harrison - SS - Patriots - His quickness allows him to patrol the secondary and punish receivers who don't keep their heads on a swivel. Harrison hits so hard the NFL has made him the most fined player in history. He has had to work on staying within the confines of the evolving NFL rulebook.

John Lynch - FS - Broncos - He might have lost a step, but he still hits a ton and has not let offseason neck surgery affect him. His ability to read plays allows him to go after home run hits. In Week 13, he came flying up and drilled the Chargers' Jesse Chatman, who lost the ball, his helmet and his wits. (Including stoping Alstot dead tracks in the back field on a pivotal 4th and 1 attempt)

Ray Lewis - ILB - Ravens - If Lewis gets a run at you, you better duck. Some of his best shots are delivered on the perimeter. Running backs, searching for holes on "stretch" plays, often get blindsided by Lewis at full speed. His ability has slipped a little in the last year, but he still hits with ferocity.

Takeo Spikes - OLB - Bills - Spikes would like nothing better than to knock the taste out of your mouth. He has marvelous balance and technique and always attacks at full speed. Spikes welcomed Jaguars rookie wideout Reggie Williams to the NFL with a helmet-dislodging shot in the opener.

Donovan Darius - SS - Jaguars - Because the Jaguars put him so close to the line for run support, Darius plays like an extra linebacker and fearlessly gives up his body. The problem comes in coverage; Darius sometimes gets caught out of position in his eagerness to make the big hit.

Keith Brooking - OLB - Falcons - He has exceptional timing and what coordinator Ed Donatell calls strong "hit-through" skills. Brooking's explosive hips drive his tackles and allow him to inflict maximum punishment. His best asset is a relentless attitude about nailing the ballcarrier on every play.

Adrian Wilson(Best SS in the league imo, would shine on a better team) - SS - Cardinals - Wilson has excellent size (6-3, 223) for a safety and takes equal pride in crushing receivers and ballcarriers. After being punished by a Wilson shot last season, then-49ers tight end Jed Weaver landed on his head, and his helmet went rolling off.

Chris Hope - FS - Steelers - Scene 1: Hope (214 pounds) flattens Jerome Bettis (252) in a goal-line drill at camp. Bettis doesn't practice for a week because of a sore shoulder. Scene 2: Hope puts a big hit on Miami's Lamar Gordon, who is lost for the season with a shoulder injury.

http://msn.foxsports.com/story/3244150

[mark414]

1. dawkins will fuck anyone up

yikes

[Mojambo]

2. He's not well known yet

But the Seahawks, Ken Hamlin reminds me of a more athletic Steve Atwater. He'll be all-pro before too long.

I like Roy Williams in this poll.

[RPM]

3. Troy Polamalu

ouch

[Lefty48197]

4. Ronnie Lott sitting in the stands in street clothes

still scares me more than those others.

[Osamasux]

6. Only time I ever changed a pick for one player

other than a QB or RB was a game Lott missed with the Niners years ago.

Had to go with Roy Williams here. Hits you, no celebration, just hopes you get up so he can do it again later.

[RPM]

8. changing to Roy

THanks for taking out T.O.

[Osamasux]

9. We still owe them for ending Michael Irvin

[hijinx87]

14. yeah, but now we have to listen to him on TV . . . .

instead of just watching him.

[trotsky]

5. Other: Tony Parrish

He's languishing now on the abysmal 49ers but when he played for the Bears he just laid people out. He's been fined numerous times for head-to-head hits, but he doesn't care.

[aldian159]

16. Yep

Parrish is a true head-hunter

So is Mike Brown, of the Bears, but he doesn't blitz enough, just drops back into coverage, but smacks around anyone. I saw him lay the wood on Packers TE Bubba Franks, who's about 250 before he eats. Franks caught a bad pass from Favre, one of those where he was forced to extend to catch the ball. As he was extended, Brown, who was blitzing, saw the pass, changed his path, and hit Franks so hard he not only lost the ball, but was called for a false start penalty the next play as Brown was creeping toward the line.

Plus, this Seminole loves it when 'Canes get hit, and this Bear loves it when Packers get hit. Win-win.

[frylock]

7. rodney harrison without question..

he's one badass mofo. He's really had to tone it down over the last few seasons too, thanks to the ever evolving rulebook, as you pointed out.

By no stretch should he be considered a cheap shot artist either. He just plays hard, and hits even harder.

[Tafiti]

10. My vote to Roy Williams.

It seems like every game he lays the smack-down on somebody. He also has a knack for injuring people.

[MrSlayer]

11. B-Dawk kills!

Best safety in the league without question. Dawkins will kill you.

[Champ]

12. Yup, he eventually got my vote after days of consideration

Any reciever in the league wants TO be on his team just so they don't have to play against him.

on edit: Notice the use of the TO? ;)

[mark414]

13. christ he is just massive

you never really realize just how big all those guys are, unless you see them standing next to a ref or something

monsters, unbelievably huge

definitely not someone to have on your bad side

[ThorsHammer]

15. Anyone else see Darius' hit this week?

He clotheslined Ferguson and KHTFO. I haven't seen a hit like that in a while. From the above list, I'd go with Dawkins, then Harrison or Williams. Parrish from SF is pretty solid too, but gets no attention on his awful team.