With all the hoopla surrounding the NFL Draft, the Golf Guy got to thinking of a roster of players to fill out a starting line up on both sides of the ball. But with a twist ... with professional golfers – not NFL players. And like usual, let’s agree to disagree on my selections.
Offense
Quarterback – Phil Mickelson: Love the size and athletic ability (think Big Ben). Can go deep but also possesses an incredible knack for picking apart defenses with short routes and quick slants.
Running back – Lee Westwood: Bruising back that can carry the load and wear down defenses.
Wide receiver – Dustin Johnson: A match made in heaven for out patterns and red zone scoring.
Wide receiver – Rory McIlroy: Young, hungry, willing to work to be the best. Mature beyond his years.
Wide receiver – Sergio Garcia: Good all-around athlete, speed, nice big chip on his shoulder.
Tight end – Robert Karlsson: Huge target down field, great for clutch third-down pick ups.
Left tackle – Retief Goosen: Big, solid, no frills offensive lineman. A quarterback’s dream.
Left guard – Kevin Stadler: Quiet, unassuming player that stop defenses cold at the line of scrimmage.
Center – Tim Herron: Smart, seasoned veteran, trusted by QB to do the job.
Right guard – John Daly: Paired with Stadler and Herron, gives QB and running back support in the middle to make positive yardage on every play.
Right tackle – Ernie Els: Bookend South Africans that just go about their business and deflect fame unlike the skilled positions players crave.
Defense
Defensive End – Thomas Bjorn: The Dane has the size and strength plus a rock-solid jaw line that simply says ‘I’m all business.’
Defensive Tackle – Colt Knost: Run stopper that gives up no ground. Period.
Defensive Tackle – Chad Campbell: Texas tough, with ample amounts of size and strength.
Defensive End – Jhonattan Vegas: Brings youth and passion to defensive line. Star potential.
Outside Linebacker – Vijay Singh: An old-school, mean SOB. Size, strength. Think Mike Ditka.
Middle Linebacker – Tiger Woods: Sees the game better than anyone ever. Owns a nasty streak that clearly intimidates opposing offenses. Think Ray Lewis.
Outside Linebacker – Gary Woodland: Completes a devastating, dominating linebacker unit with youth and plenty of strength.
Cornerback – Ben Curtis: Tough, durable and never gives up. Just when you think he’s down and out, he surprises you.
Cornerback – Jerry Kelly: Gritty, grizzled veteran coupled with his speed and tenacity equals a long day for opposing wideouts.
Safety – Jeff Overton: When his head is in the ballgame – and not sticking out of the roof of a limo – he brings plenty of passion.
Safety – Camilo Villegas: Athletic specimen built to run down wideouts and deliver big hits.
Kicker – John Daly: Think Sebastian Janikowski … always a threat to score from long distances.
Punter – Luke Donald: Precise, cerebral player that can pin down opponents deep in their own territory.
Coach – Golf Guy: Players coach. Brings fun and enthusiasm to the squad. Players and fans love’em. Owners don’t.