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The List: Best nicknames
in football history
Page 2 staff

June is Nickname Month on Page 2 as we continue our search for the best monikers in all of sports.


	"Broadway Joe" was the perfect quarterback for New York City.

Today, we're out to find the best nickname in the history of football. Check out the top 10 as voted by Page 2's editorial staff, and then examine our readers' list of the 10 best and vote for your favorite.

Here are Page 2's 10 favorites:

1. Elroy "Crazy Legs" Hirsch
Perfect nickname for a Hall of Fame receiver whose left leg never knew what his right leg might do, and vice versa.

2. "Broadway Joe" Namath
The quarterback who never slept, on the street that never sleeps, in the city that never sleeps.

3. Lester "The Molester" Hayes
Run free? Not if you were on Lester's side of the field.

4. "Mean Joe" Greene
Remember that great Coke commercial? If you do, then obviously you were never sacked by Mean Joe.


	"Sweetness" described Walter Payton both on and off the field.

5. "The Mad Stork" (Ted Hendricks)
Used his long arms the way "Crazy Legs" Hirsch used his legs.

6. "The Assassin" (Jack Tatum)
Some things require no further elaboration.

7. "Sweetness" (Walter Payton)
The rarest of combinations: great player, wonderful man.

8. Andre "Bad Moon" Rison
One of Berman's best efforts.

9. Lou "The Toe" Groza
What better nickname for a kicker?

10. Eugene "Mercury" Morris
As fast as the God of Speed, and hard to get a grip on.

Others receiving votes: "Papa Bear" (George Halas), "The Manster" (Randy White), "Prime Time" (Deion Sanders), Dick "Night Train" Lane, "The Juice" (O.J. Simpson) "He Hate Me" (Rod Smart), Sam "The Rifle" Etcheverry, "Joe Cool" (Joe Montana), Elbert "Ickey" Woods, Thomas "Hollywood" Henderson, Paul "Bear" Bryant, "Mr. Inside and Mr. Outside" (Felix "Doc" Blanchard and Glenn Davis), "Bronko" Nagurski, "LT" (Lawrence Taylor), "Slingin' Sammy" Baugh.

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	ALSO SEE: The List: Best nicknames in baseball history The List: Best nicknames in hockey history The List: Best nicknames in basketball history The List: Coolest athletes The List: Biggest upsets The List: Best coaches The List: Best feuds The List: Worst baseball stadiums The List: Best baseball stadiums The List: The groupiest Page 2 readers pick best baseball flicks

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