Editor's Note: This list originally appeared in National Football Post's Sunday Blitz.
It has been awhile since the NFL has seen a set of triplets like the Dallas Cowboys' three Hall of Famers: Troy Aikman, Emmitt Smith and Michael Irvin. But there are some pretty good trios in the NFL today.
Here are my best triplet (quarterback-running back-wide receiver) combos:
1. Houston Texans: Each of the Texans triplets has led the league at one point ¨C Matt Schaub in passing yards; Arian Foster in rushing yards and Andre Johnson in receiving yards. Johnson and Foster are arguably among the top three in the NFL at their positions. And while Schaub is a few notches lower, he is an efficient quarterback who operates the system well and gets the ball in the hands of playmakers. That makes the Texans triplets very difficult to defend.
2. Carolina Panther: They actually are more like quads because they have the two-headed running back combination of DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart. Either probably could be among the league leaders in rushing if not for the presence of the other. Receiver Steve Smith was rejuvenated last season and remains a matchup problem at the age of 33. And quarterback Cam Newton makes all of them better with his multidimensional play.
3. Chicago Bears: Unlike the others on this list, the Bears triplets are a new combination. Quarterback Jay Cutler and running back Matt Forte have worked exceptionally well together, and now receiver Brandon Marshall should complete the trio. Of course, Cutler and Marshall were part of another trio in Denver but they didn't have the benefit of a running game like the one the Bears have now. This triplet group has the potential to be as good as any in the league.
4. Philadelphia Eagle: This is the fastest, most elusive trio and these triplets are particularly effective between the 20s. It starts with Michael Vick, who forces defenses to compromise by making sure he doesn't take off running. LeSean McCoy may be the best running back in space in the NFL. And DeSean Jackson has exceptional quickness and cutting ability.
5. Pittsburgh Steeler: With a little more consistency from running back Rashard Mendenhall, this triplet group could be as good as any. The Ben Roethlisberger-to-Mike Wallace combination is absolutely lethal. Mendenhall had only two 100-yard games last season, but he is a gifted back who is capable of being among the top runners in the league.
6. Atlanta Falcon: This is an underrated group of triplets. Quarterback Matt Ryan has improved in each of his four NFL seasons, and he's not done getting better. Wideout Roddy White and running back Michael Turner help him move the chains and get the ball into the end zone, and the triplets should get plenty of help from second-year receiver Julio Jones and tight end Tony Gonzalez.
7. Kansas City Chief: If running back Jamaal Charles and quarterback Matt Cassel can return to 2010 form, when Charles averaged 6.4 yards per carry and Cassel had a passer rating of 93, the Chiefs can have quite the set of triplets. Dwayne Bowe is a big play receiver who can capitalize on defenses stacking the box.
8. Baltimore Raven: The Ravens might not have as dynamic a passing game as some of the teams on this list, but quarterback Joe Flacco and wide receiver Anquan Boldin usually make the plays they need to make. And Ray Rice is a top notch all-around running back.
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Aaron Rodger knows what it's like to be humbled, and he knows what it's like to be great. He didn't receive a single Division I scholarship offer out of high school and had to go to Butte College in his hometown of Chico, Calif., before Cal picked him up a year later. After an impressive college career, he then had to sit behind Brett Favre in Green Bay for three interesting years after dropping to 24th overall in the 2005 draft. He learned patiently behind Favre, and he watched as Utah's Alex Smith, taken first overall by the San Francisco 49ers (the team Rodgers loved as a kid), struggled mightily.
We know the story from there. After Favre's first of many retirements in 2008, the Green Bay Packer became Rodgers' team, and he's put up the kind of numbers you see from people who are messing with cheat codes on Madden. One season after leading the Packers to their fourth Lombardi Trophy, he had one of the best years any quarterback has ever enjoyed -- 343 completions in 520 attempts (68.3 completion percentage) for 4,643 yards, 45 touchdowns and just six interceptions. He led the NFL in touchdown percentage (9.0) and yards per attempt (9.2).
It has been awhile since the NFL has seen a set of triplets like the Dallas Cowboys' three Hall of Famers: Troy Aikman, Emmitt Smith and Michael Irvin. But there are some pretty good trios in the NFL today.
Here are my best triplet (quarterback-running back-wide receiver) combos:
1. Houston Texans: Each of the Texans triplets has led the league at one point ¨C Matt Schaub in passing yards; Arian Foster in rushing yards and Andre Johnson in receiving yards. Johnson and Foster are arguably among the top three in the NFL at their positions. And while Schaub is a few notches lower, he is an efficient quarterback who operates the system well and gets the ball in the hands of playmakers. That makes the Texans triplets very difficult to defend.
2. Carolina Panther: They actually are more like quads because they have the two-headed running back combination of DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart. Either probably could be among the league leaders in rushing if not for the presence of the other. Receiver Steve Smith was rejuvenated last season and remains a matchup problem at the age of 33. And quarterback Cam Newton makes all of them better with his multidimensional play.
3. Chicago Bears: Unlike the others on this list, the Bears triplets are a new combination. Quarterback Jay Cutler and running back Matt Forte have worked exceptionally well together, and now receiver Brandon Marshall should complete the trio. Of course, Cutler and Marshall were part of another trio in Denver but they didn't have the benefit of a running game like the one the Bears have now. This triplet group has the potential to be as good as any in the league.
4. Philadelphia Eagle: This is the fastest, most elusive trio and these triplets are particularly effective between the 20s. It starts with Michael Vick, who forces defenses to compromise by making sure he doesn't take off running. LeSean McCoy may be the best running back in space in the NFL. And DeSean Jackson has exceptional quickness and cutting ability.
5. Pittsburgh Steeler: With a little more consistency from running back Rashard Mendenhall, this triplet group could be as good as any. The Ben Roethlisberger-to-Mike Wallace combination is absolutely lethal. Mendenhall had only two 100-yard games last season, but he is a gifted back who is capable of being among the top runners in the league.
6. Atlanta Falcon: This is an underrated group of triplets. Quarterback Matt Ryan has improved in each of his four NFL seasons, and he's not done getting better. Wideout Roddy White and running back Michael Turner help him move the chains and get the ball into the end zone, and the triplets should get plenty of help from second-year receiver Julio Jones and tight end Tony Gonzalez.
7. Kansas City Chief: If running back Jamaal Charles and quarterback Matt Cassel can return to 2010 form, when Charles averaged 6.4 yards per carry and Cassel had a passer rating of 93, the Chiefs can have quite the set of triplets. Dwayne Bowe is a big play receiver who can capitalize on defenses stacking the box.
8. Baltimore Raven: The Ravens might not have as dynamic a passing game as some of the teams on this list, but quarterback Joe Flacco and wide receiver Anquan Boldin usually make the plays they need to make. And Ray Rice is a top notch all-around running back.
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nfl nike jersey
Aaron Rodger knows what it's like to be humbled, and he knows what it's like to be great. He didn't receive a single Division I scholarship offer out of high school and had to go to Butte College in his hometown of Chico, Calif., before Cal picked him up a year later. After an impressive college career, he then had to sit behind Brett Favre in Green Bay for three interesting years after dropping to 24th overall in the 2005 draft. He learned patiently behind Favre, and he watched as Utah's Alex Smith, taken first overall by the San Francisco 49ers (the team Rodgers loved as a kid), struggled mightily.
We know the story from there. After Favre's first of many retirements in 2008, the Green Bay Packer became Rodgers' team, and he's put up the kind of numbers you see from people who are messing with cheat codes on Madden. One season after leading the Packers to their fourth Lombardi Trophy, he had one of the best years any quarterback has ever enjoyed -- 343 completions in 520 attempts (68.3 completion percentage) for 4,643 yards, 45 touchdowns and just six interceptions. He led the NFL in touchdown percentage (9.0) and yards per attempt (9.2).
