Editor's note: Every Friday during the offseason, ESPN.com will compile a list of the best or worst things about the NFL. This week, ESPN's Mike Golic lists the nastiest players in the NFL.

The ultimate nasty players are loved by their own teams and hated by the opposing teams. They are some of the best in the league at playing until the whistle blows, and often past the sound of the whistle.

You would rather tell a player to back off, not to give more, but the NFL's nastiest players never back off. They want to knock their opponent into the cheap seats. Sometimes, they go over the line and try to bury you physically. It's one thing to get beat by a pretty play like a long pass. It's another to get beat up physically. But that's good old-fashioned football.

The following players are my choices as the five nastiest in the NFL:

		Mike Golic's nastiest players in the NFL
	1	Warren Sapp, DT, Tampa Bay Bucs Golic's take: He reminds me of my buddy Jerome Brown. Sapp plays like a man possessed. It doesn't matter if there are one, two or three players trying to block him. He will kick to get past them or grab the facemask. He doesn't care. His job is to get to the ball carrier and the quarterback. I love the tenacity he shows on the field.
	2	Ray Lewis, LB, Baltimore Ravens Golic's take: Was fined for a hit on Steve McNair that defined the NFL rule saying you can't land on a player when you tackle him. Some linebackers are content with wrapping and putting a player on the ground. Lewis likes to build up speed, put his facemask through your chest and put you six feet under. It's like my dad tried to teach us; you tackle the guy like he's not even there.
	3	Larry Allen, OG, Dallas Cowboys Golic's take: Allen is a mean offensive lineman, one with a defensive mentality. He's on the attack. Even when he's pass blocking, which is a retreating movement, he is still trying to punch guys with his hands. He is not content with just keeping someone away from the quarterback. With his leverage moves and incredible strength, Allen tries to put bodies on the ground, burying the guy he's blocking.
	4	Kyle Turley, OT, New Orleans Saints Golic's take: He is a new kid on the block with a nice reputation as a bad dude on the field. I remember a quote from him that he will punch, scratch, bite or do anything to keep defenders away from the quarterback. That's what you want from an offensive lineman. That's why defenders hate him and teammates love him. He'll do anything to stop his man, and he does it with an attitude. He may not be making many friends, but he's not out there to make friends.
	5	Steve Wisniewski, OG, Oakland Raiders Golic's take: He is an old-time favorite. Going all the way back to Penn State, I played a lot against Steve. Does the guy have a hearing problem? Can't he hear the whistle blowing? For another second after the whistle, he is always trying to drive his man even more. He is nasty because of the style he plays. He's doing what he has to do to protect his players. He has played this way since day one, and I respect him for that. Wisniewski is not happy unless he puts his man either out of bounds or on the ground.