Image via Complex Original
We watch the NFL for the same reasons people tune into NASCAR. Humans like to see danger live and in stereo. The NFL a.k.a. the No Fun League has gotten softer by the years, but that doesn't mean players still don't try to walk that fine line. Last week we dropped the 50 Most Brutal Hits in NFL History, so we decided to try and determine who are the hardest hitters in the game today. Old favorites made the cut like Ray Lewis and Adrian Wilson as well as new favorites like Clay Matthews and LaRon Landry. One thing is for sure, though. Nobody wants any parts of the hitters mentioned in this list. They send chills through opponents and leave fans praying to the football gods that their favorite player will get up from the ground and still be able to function in society. So, without further ado, check out The 10 Most Brutal Hitters in the NFL Today.
10. S Donte Whitner, San Francisco 49ers
2011 Stats: 52 Tackles, 1 FF, 2 INT
After knocking Pierre Thomas the fuck out in last year's playoffs, Donte doesn't have to hit anybody else for the rest of his career. That hit was straight-up nasty and one of the most brutal in history. He's one of three Niners on this list and for good reason. The veteran safety's all-around play has helped turn the franchise around. With Whitner and Dashon Goldson patrolling the secondary, the Niners were tied for second last year in interceptions with New England with 23. No one wants to go up for balls (ayo!) when those two are out there ball hawking.
9. LB Clay Matthews, Green Bay Packers
2011 Stats: 41 Tackles, 3 Sack(s), 3 FF, 3 INT
Clay Matthews is a beast. He's one of the most feared defensive players because of his size and speed. Just last week alone he recorded 3.5 sacks vs. the Bears. When the ball snaps he jumps the line like a bat out of hell. QBs across the league shake in their boots when they see No. 52 and his flailing hair coming at them full speed.
8. S Dashon Goldson, San Francisco 49ers
2011 Stats: 56 Tackles, 1 FF, 6 INT
Dashon Goldson made his first Pro Bowl last year because he's undeniably one of the hardest hitters patrolling the secondary. The 49ers have the most physical defense in the game and Goldson is a big part of that distinction. We're pretty sure his ability to knock cats off their feet contributed to his six interceptions last year. Alligator arms become prevalent when No. 38 is in the vicinity. We bet Mike Williams sure wishes he had shorter arms.
7. S LaRon Landry, New York Jets
2011 Stats: 35 Tackles, 1.5 sack(s), 1 FF
Now a New York Jet, Landry made his name with the Washington Redskins. The boy can flat out hit. At 6'1", 214 lbs. he packs a big punch in a small frame. His hits are so devastating opponents often writhe in pain afterwards. His style of play is a welcomed edition to Rex Ryan's defense. Check out what he did to poor Laurent Robinson in the clip above. They should Sports Science that shit.
6. DT Ndamukong Suh, Detroit Lions
2011 Stats: 26 Tackles, 4 Sack(s)
Suh is a big bully and we love it. Dude is a throwback to the days where penalties were few and far between. Yes he's a little dirty, but don't we all play a little dirty sometimes? With him on defense and Megatron on offense, the Detroit Lions have two gamechangers on both sides of the ball. When he goes in for the sack, he literally tries to take heads off. His antics hurt his team, but they also send a message to the rest of the league. In the clip above, he pushes Jay Cutler in the ground like he was a rag doll. When you see Suh, run the other way.
5. S Ryan Clark, Pittsburgh Steelers
2011 Stats: 71 Tackles, 1 Sack, 1 INT
Ryan Clark and Troy Polamalu make up one of the best safety tandems in the game. He he hits hard and plays the run well. Clark waits for just the right moment to shoot like a precision missile into his opponents. When he lands a direct blow it usually ends in either a turnover or a penalty. He and his teammate James Harrison are a big reason why the league has turned soft.
4. LB Ray Lewis, Baltimore Ravens
2011 Stats: 77 Tackles, 2 Sack(s), 2 FF, 1 INT
O.G. Ray Lewis has been doing this for years. He's been in the league for 17 years and cats still shit their pants when they see No. 52 lurking. The leader of the Ravens defense hasn't lost a step. He changes offensive game plans just by dressing up in a uniform. Lewis can only be compared to Lawrence Taylor. Both guys were freakishly athletic for their size and close out on a ball carrier quicker than anyone. At 37, he's still rocking cats to sleep. Don't forget about his famous speeches. His teammates would run through a brick wall if he told them to.
3. S Adrian Wilson, Arizona Cardinals
2011 Stats: 48 Tackles, 1 FF, 1 INT
Adrian Wilson is another guy that has been consistent for most of his 13-year career. He keeps himself in tip-top shape and is a natural-born leader. Adrian is a safety in a linebacker's body. It's not fair for a guy that size to have that much speed and skill. He's a big reason why the Cardinals are 2-0 so far this season. Watch as he basically buries Brian Westbrook six feet into the ground in the clip above.
2. LB Patrick Willis, San Francisco 49ers
2011 Stats: 82 Tackles, 2 Sack(s), 4 FF, 1 INT
Patrick Willis is one of the NFL's fastest rising stars and the leader of the scariest defense in the league. No one wants any parts of Patrick Willis and his boys. Seldom do receivers cross the middle when facing the Niners. Willis stops opponents in their tracks like he's a brick wall and they're crash test dummies.
1. LB James Harrison, Pittsburgh Steelers
2011 Stats: 50 Tackles, 9 Sack(s), 2 FF
Many of James Harrison's hits are highly questionable. To be fair, it's kind of tough to not hit violently when your 6'0", 242 lbs. of solid muscle. He stalks his prey and then unleashes a world of pain on them. Even his legal hits have caused concussions. Roger Goodell has tried to make an example of him and at one point Harrison contemplated retirement. A decade in the league and he's still a bad motherfucker.
