With our faces of the NFL series in full swing, it’s time to look at the faces of the NFC West, one of the most competitive divisions in the league.
Seattle Seahawks: Russell Wilson
After delivering a championship to Seattle in only his second season in the NFL, Russell Wilson is still very young. He has proved himself time and time again throughout his collegiate and professional career, despite the large number of doubters. He is a true team player and he gets the job done. He is an excellent decision maker on the field and he proved that in the playoffs, as he didn’t throw a single interception. Many people discredit Wilson because of the phenomenal talent scattered throughout the Seahawks roster, but he shouldn’t be overlooked. Wilson is an admirable professional athlete, and with his tremendous work ethic, he should remain successful for many years to come. Richard Sherman is another possible option because of his flashiness and talent, but Russell Wilson never loses his composure.
San Francisco 49ers: Patrick Willis
Patrick Willis is arguably the best middle linebacker in the league. Not surprisingly, he’s also one of the scariest opponents on the field. He has been tackling everybody in sight since his rookie season, and he is in his eighth season of doing so. He has been a Pro Bowler in every season of his NFL career, and that’s not going to change this season either. He is the leader of the 49ers defense, and they annually have one of the best defenses in the league. His accolades go on forever and he has stayed healthy for most of his career. Another intriguing option is Colin Kaepernick, but the 49ers are more of a defensive team and Patrick Willis leads that department.
Arizona Cardinals: Larry Fitzgerald
Larry Fitzgerald has been a dominant receiver for the Cardinals for many years, despite playing most of his career without an elite quarterback. He is in the eleventh year of his illustrious career, and he was a Pro Bowler in eight out of his first ten seasons. He still has some of the best hands in the league, and he is an extremely humble man. He has an immaculate public image and he is a well-respected team player. He leads by example, and his dangerous playmaking abilities allow him to do that well. Patrick Peterson is another possible option, but nobody on the Cardinals is even close to Larry Fitzgerald under the leadership category.
St. Louis Rams: Robert Quinn
After recording 19 sacks last season, Robert Quinn established himself as one of the best pass rushers in the game. He made the Pro Bowl in only his third year, and he is poised to get there again this year. He led one of the best defensive lines in the league last year, and he was virtually impossible to block. When Sam Bradford got injured again, Quinn lost his opportunity to lead the Rams to the playoffs for the first time in his career. He will continue to terrorize opposing quarterbacks though, regardless of the Rams record. James Laurinaitis is another great option and he is definitely one of the leaders of the Rams, but I will give Robert Quinn’s insane talent the edge here.
Previous Articles in the Series
Being an NFL Face of a Franchise
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