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[Richfield]

It's gotta be Australian Rules Football.

You've really got to excel at just about everything be it fitness, strength in all areas and a wide range of skills. You have to be mentally and physically strong.

It's extremely fast paced and involves wide, long running, short burst sprints, gritty and dirty close quarters tackling and handballing, kicking of the ball, timing etc, placement of yourself on the field and who to ship it off to etc.

Basically you have to be a perfect balance of athlete. Extremely strong to remain physically imposing, but also fit and fast enough to stay in the contests. You have to have the skills to kick it to another running player with pinpoint accuracy, or take a screaming mark, or weave in and out of incoming opposition, but also the smarts to know who to kick it to. Footy's the best (except the rules. The rulebook is a joke at this point).

Wake up Australia and support this.

 

[Jay Sosa]

Now put Richard Sherman on a soccer team. Is he losing because he sucks at soccer or because he's not athletic enough to play soccer? And remember, we're not stashing him at goalkeeper where he would likely excel.

yeah...no.

But I do agree with the rest.

 

[mr2xxx]

Wow..are you serious? These are HS football numbers. Hockey is a very skilled sport, but better athletes than football players? You guys have to be joking.

http://www.topendsports.com/sport/icehockey/nhl-combine-results-2013.htm

Yep, go ahead and laugh at these guys. It seems hockey players get drafted around the age of 18 which explains their horrible numbers. Even compared to the top HS football guys these hockey guys are pretty laughable.

 

[Big-E]

People are just picking their favorite sports and cherry picking physical freaks. The way I look at this is you have to imagine putting every top flight athletes and putting them in a decatholon as that would provide a good test for athletic ability. You would then take the average point total of each sport by averaging the points received by each player.

Given this criteria, I think hockey would win out because, on average, they could pretty much do it all.NFL players come in too many varities so their results will be skewed as well as the fact that they have so many more players on their teams.

If we are going with difficulty than baseball is the most. People like to show the fat DH as some knock on baseball but the fact is that hitting a ball consistently is so hard that the older fatter players get kept on because they cant be replaced.

 

[Diprosalic]

Pretty apparent that NHL guys are weaker and slower than their NFL counterparts.

lol at this comparison.

 

[genjiZERO]

Since Hockey does have a combine we can discuss the NFL vs NHL in similar combine events. I'm comparing 2013 NHL combine vs. 2014 NFL combine stats.

Strength: Best of the 13 NHL combine was Tyler Lewington who benched 150lbs for 16 reps. NFL was Russel Bodine who benched 225 lbs for 42 reps.

Explosiveness- Vertical: NHL best Remie Elie with 28.5", NFL best was Ryan Shazier with 42".

Long Jump- NHL best was Zach Nastasiuk with 117", NFL was Lache Seastrunk with 134"

Pretty apparent that NHL guys are weaker and slower than their NFL counterparts.

Doesn't necessarily mean that makes them better athletes though. Being an athlete isn't about raw power - it's about being able to perform a specific task over a period of time.

 

[entremet]

It strikes me as laughable to suggest soccer is more athletic than football because they run over longer periods of time. Soccer slows down and speeds up too - not nearly as much as football obviously, but the point remains these dudes aren't going at break neck speed all game long. You're not going to find many soccer players more athletic than Calvin Johnson or Ray Lewis.

I have played high school and AAU basketball but I'd say soccer is the hardest sport I've played; never played football.

Saying soccer is more athletic than football is nonsense. Their strength and athleticism combine numbers are comparable with HS football players.

Soccer is more about stamina. Having extra pounds, including extra muscle mass is not advantageous.

Soccer is hard as heck, though.

 

[mustafa]

Since Hockey does have a combine we can discuss the NFL vs NHL in similar combine events. I'm comparing 2013 NHL combine vs. 2014 NFL combine stats.

Strength: Best of the 13 NHL combine was Tyler Lewington who benched 150lbs for 16 reps. NFL was Russel Bodine who benched 225 lbs for 42 reps.

Explosiveness- Vertical: NHL best Remie Elie with 28.5", NFL best was Ryan Shazier with 42".

Long Jump- NHL best was Zach Nastasiuk with 117", NFL was Lache Seastrunk with 134"

Pretty apparent that NHL guys are weaker and slower than their NFL counterparts.

Whhhhaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat?

You could probably go to any gym in the US, pick a random dude, and there would be a good chance that they could rep 150 16 times.

 

[zychi]

Just for example though, Hockey has 20 players on a team and has 7 rounds in their draft. Basketball has 13 players on a team and only 2 rounds.

It's a very exclusive club for only the best in the world.

"exclusive"

when this shmo was drafter #1 overall.

 

[Diprosalic]

You could probably go to any gym in the US, pick a random dude, and there would be a good chance that they could rep 150 16 times.

why would they waste muscle mass which slows them down and fatigues them more quickly if it brings them no significant advantages. Random dude in gym doesn't have to worry about that.

 

[PhoenixDark]

yeah...no.

But I do agree with the rest.

He wouldn't excel but I definitely think a world class cornerback like him could block some shots, whereas the average athlete in other sports probably wouldn't be able to.

I look at it like this: If I put the most athletic NFL players on a soccer team they'll be fine, athletically. Skill wise they wouldn't do well, but athletically they'd excel. If I put a soccer player at nearly any position in the NFL they wouldn't be able to compete. If I make Ronaldo a WR he wouldn't be able to get open, if I made him a cornerback he wouldn't be able to catch up with a WR, etc. He'd be great on special teams as a kicker though.

Stamina is not the only factor of athleticism.

 

[Vire]

"exclusive"

when this shmo was drafter #1 overall.

That's just Cleveland being a bunch of dumbasses like they always are, hence why they are the worst sports town in all of the United States.

Everyone thought Bennet was an absolutely horrible pick and most didn't even consider him a top 15 player. He won't even be in the league 3 years from now, that's how cutthroat it is - regardless if you are the first pick or not.

 

[Jay Sosa]

Wait 150 lbs are 75 kg right? I can bench press that about 8 times and I'm more of a runner than a power guy.

wait it's even less..that can't be right.

He wouldn't excel but I definitely think a world class cornerback like him could block some shots, whereas the average athlete in other sports probably wouldn't be able to.

I look at it like this: If I put the most athletic NFL players on a soccer team they'll be fine, athletically. Skill wise they wouldn't do well, but athletically they'd excel. If I put a soccer player at nearly any position in the NFL they wouldn't be able to compete. If I make Ronaldo a WR he wouldn't be able to get open, if I made him a cornerback he wouldn't be able to catch up with a WR, etc. He'd be great on special teams as a kicker though.

Stamina is not the only factor of athleticism.

Yeah no doubt about that, I even said something similar a few pages back. I grew up playing soccer and then basketball (not on a very competitive level obviously). The latter was way more demanding.

 

[Diprosalic]

I look at it like this: If I put the most athletic NFL players on a soccer team they'll be fine, athletically. Skill wise they wouldn't do well, but athletically they'd excel.

For how long though?

 

[mr2xxx]

lol at this comparison.

Based on the objective info, it is correct. I provided facts to back up my argument please bring some if you disagree.

 

[Dion Blaster]

He wouldn't excel but I definitely think a world class cornerback like him could block some shots, whereas the average athlete in other sports probably wouldn't be able to.

I look at it like this: If I put the most athletic NFL players on a soccer team they'll be fine, athletically. Skill wise they wouldn't do well, but athletically they'd excel. If I put a soccer player at nearly any position in the NFL they wouldn't be able to compete. If I make Ronaldo a WR he wouldn't be able to get open, if I made him a cornerback he wouldn't be able to catch up with a WR, etc. He'd be great on special teams as a kicker though.

Stamina is not the only factor of athleticism.

I think a football player would be gassed at some point during the second half of a soccer match. Which is kind of different from what you were getting at but it shows that this truly is an apples to oranges comparison. I have a hard time imagining the average LB contributing in anyway on the soccer field.

 

[Diprosalic]

Based on the objective info, it is correct. I provided facts to back up my argument please bring some if you disagree.

you just took the stats of the best of them. Did you consider that football might be more specialized than hockey? that these guys are way older?
the best bench presser in the nfl might run the slowest of them all, we don't know.

you can't just compare numbers like that.

 

[mustafa]

Wait 150 lbs are 75 kg right? I can bench press that about 8 times and I'm more of a runner than a power guy.

wait it's even less..that can't be right.

Yeah it's less than 70kg. It's less than most athletes' bodyweight.

 

[Steiner84]

basketball?
lolwut?

a quick shot and i would say propably tennis.
playing an australian open 6 hour match in 35° and no wind, quick direction changes and sprints in rapid succesion, serving and returning 100km/h+ shots again and again, 90% of GAF would propably die in the process.
I have the utmost respect for those guys.

also cyclists.
triathlets

 

[Just_myles]

Moto cross drivers have the most physically/mentally demanding job. Everything they do is pretty much manual.

Formula one drivers have drive assist all over the place, if you had said pre drive assit F1, then I would have said maybe.

 

[Kalamari]

As far as endurance is concerned, grand tour cyclists are hands down the winner. Few humans alive can endure the pain and suffering these guys take over a course of 21 stages.

 

[perineumlick]

basketball?
lolwut?

a quick shot and i would say propably tennis.
playing an australian open 6 hour match in 35° and no wind quick direction changes and sprints in rapid succesion, serving and returning 100km/h+ shots again and again, 90% of GAF would propably die in the process.

also cyclists.
triathlets

90% of GAF would probably die in the process of running up and down a basketball court a couple of times. It ain't easy, at all.

 

[mr2xxx]

you just took the stats of the best of them. Did you consider that football might be more specialized than hockey? that these guys are way older?
the best bench presser in the nfl might run the slowest of them all, we don't know.

you can't just compare numbers like that.

Pick the best athletic guy from the NHL combine and there is no doubt that I could find a punter that beats them.

Pat O' Donell
23 reps at 225
30.5" Vertical
4.66 40 yd dash


Position: PUNTER

Hockeys most athletic players would be regulated to staying away from all contact in the NFL.

 

[cripterion]

As far as endurance is concerned, grand tour cyclists are hands down the winner. Few humans alive can endure the pain and suffering these guys take over a course of 21 stages.

I'm pretty sure it's hard. But perceptions are quite tainted now when you see that even the best had to cheat in order to overcome that pain.

 

[Vire]

Pick the best athletic guy from the NHL combine and there is no doubt that I could find a punter that beats them.

Pat O' Donell
23 reps at 225
30.5" Vertical
4.66 40 yd dash


Position: PUNTER

Hockeys most athletic players would be regulated to staying away from all contact in the NFL.

:lol

love it.

 

[Steiner84]

90% of GAF would probably die in the process of running up and down a basketball court a couple of times. It ain't easy, at all.

yeah, but cmon. its not even on the same level if you ask me. tennis players do far more.
Also dont forget the mental side. BB is a team sport. In Tennis its you. Its only you for every ball, you have to have a strong will to run after ball after ball.

for power per body mass my guess would propably be free climbers.

also people doing parcour

 

[Diprosalic]

Pick the best athletic guy from the NHL combine and there is no doubt that I could find a punter that beats them.

who is what, 4-5 years older than the NHL dudes?

 

[George Claw M.D.]

Since Hockey does have a combine we can discuss the NFL vs NHL in similar combine events. I'm comparing 2013 NHL combine vs. 2014 NFL combine stats.

Strength: Best of the 13 NHL combine was Tyler Lewington who benched 150lbs for 16 reps. NFL was Russel Bodine who benched 225 lbs for 42 reps.

Explosiveness- Vertical: NHL best Remie Elie with 28.5", NFL best was Ryan Shazier with 42".

Long Jump- NHL best was Zach Nastasiuk with 117", NFL was Lache Seastrunk with 134"

Pretty apparent that NHL guys are weaker and slower than their NFL counterparts.

Fun fact: He wouldn't even crack the top 10 best verticals for OFFENSIVE LINEMAN

Note, these are guys who average over 300lbs body weight:

1. Matt Patchan, Boston College (33.5)
   
2. Joel Bitonio, Nevada (32.0)
   
3. Taylor Lewan, Michigan (30.5)
   
4. Jake Matthews, Texas A&M (30.5)
   
5. Russell Bodine, North Carolina (29.0)
   
6. Gabe Jackson, Mississippi St. (29.0)
   
7. Ja'Wuan James, Tennessee (29.0)
   
8. Wesley Johnson, Vanderbilt (29.0)
   
9. Charles Leno Jr., Boise St. (29.0)
   
10. Brandon Thomas, Clemson (29.0)

 

[Big-E]

Does the NFL do a high school combine? Most NHL players are drafted much younger and have not had the benefit of 100 million dollar training facilities to get swol. Comparing college graduates to high schoolers is pretty damn hilarious.

 

[MWS Natural]

why would they waste muscle mass which slows them down and fatigues them more quickly if it brings them no significant advantages. Random dude in gym doesn't have to worry about that.

Muscle mass != slow

JaDaveon Clowney
4.47 40yard dash @ 6'6 250lbs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f5FM6C8AO8w



Bo Jackson
4.12 in the 40-yard dash @ 6’1”, 230 and was a Baseball Star
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dgYYaL--1qc

Does the NFL do a high school combine? Most NHL players are drafted much younger and have not had the benefit of 100 million dollar training facilities to get swol. Comparing college graduates to high schoolers is pretty damn hilarious.

There are various camps through the year. I attended a Nike one when I was in HS and those are LAUGHABLE numbers.

 

[genjiZERO]

basketball?
lolwut?

a quick shot and i would say propably tennis.
playing an australian open 6 hour match in 35° and no wind, quick direction changes and sprints in rapid succesion, serving and returning 100km/h+ shots again and again, 90% of GAF would propably die in the process.
I have the utmost respect for those guys.

also cyclists.
triathlets

I'd hate thought of cyclist too, but you, know - doping. So it's hard to say what's real and what's juice.

 

[Big-E]

You also forget thst no sport puts as much emphasis on the weight room in high school than football. All football players at my high school were expected to be in the weight room. Also remember that hockey is not a sport that is played at school, its played outside so facilities and time are different.

 

[entremet]

It strikes me as laughable to suggest soccer is more athletic than football because they run over longer periods of time. Soccer slows down and speeds up too - not nearly as much as football obviously, but the point remains these dudes aren't going at break neck speed all game long. You're not going to find many soccer players more athletic than Calvin Johnson or Ray Lewis.

I have played high school and AAU basketball but I'd say soccer is the hardest sport I've played; never played football.

Saying soccer is more athletic than football is nonsense. Their strength and athleticism combine numbers are comparable with HS football players.

Muscle mass != slow

JaDaveon Clowney
4.47 40yard dash @ 6'6 250lbs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f5FM6C8AO8w



Bo Jackson
4.12 in the 40-yard dash @ 6’1”, 230 and was a Baseball Star
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dgYYaL--1qc




There are various camps through the year. I attended a Nike one when I was in HS and those are LAUGHABLE numbers.

Muscles do help with power generation, which what speed is. See sprinters being toned and muscle bound.

However, for long and steady energy expenditure, it's better to be slim. See all elite endurance athletes. Excessive stamina based training is also not great for building muscle, which is why endurance athletes aren't as bulky--there is a hormonal cascade that prevents them from putting on the muscle due to their training styles.

But power athletes like football players, muscle is great because you can generate more power for hitting, sprinting, and the like.

 

[KHarvey16]

Just for example though, Hockey has 20 players on a team and has 7 rounds in their draft. Basketball has 13 players on a team and only 2 rounds.

It's a very exclusive club for only the best in the world.

The reason for 2 rounds in the draft is that the players have to go to the pro team, unlike the NHL or MLB. Football has more because the roster size is like 90 people.

 

[Diprosalic]

But power athletes like football players, muscle is great because you can generate more power for hitting, sprinting, and the like.

and you only have to do it for like 6 minutes over a 3 hour period. plenty of time to rest while the other team is out there.

 

[mr2xxx]

Does the NFL do a high school combine? Most NHL players are drafted much younger and have not had the benefit of 100 million dollar training facilities to get swol. Comparing college graduates to high schoolers is pretty damn hilarious.

Not that I'm aware of.

Also the fact that the NHL would draft these kids shows that the barrier of entry from a athleticism perspective is much lower in the NHL than the NFL. They don't have to be as athletically gifted to succeed, their skill set is much more important. While in the NFL you have to have prototypical size, speed, power of a certain position for teams to even consider drafting you.

 

[mustafa]

Muscle mass != slow

JaDaveon Clowney
4.47 40yard dash @ 6'6 250lbs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f5FM6C8AO8w



Bo Jackson
4.12 in the 40-yard dash @ 6’1”, 230 and was a Baseball Star
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dgYYaL--1qc




There are various camps through the year. I attended a Nike one when I was in HS and those are LAUGHABLE numbers.

Yeah but can these guys run for 90 MINUTES?? 90 MINUTES?? Of pure running????

lol

BTW - see below for NBA Combine numbers (younger players than in the NFL):

http://www.draftexpress.com/nba-pre...raft=0&pos=0&source=NBA Draft Combine&sort=12

I believe the bench press is with 185lbs, which is more than 20% more weight than the 150 lbs used in hockey.

 

[Big-E]

The NFL combine is also far more important to the draft than it is for the NHL. I never hear anyone really mentiob combine numbers for NHL while combine numbers are everything as less known players can win out a job based on those performances.

 

[Parch]

Anybody old enough to remember Superstars? This was a TV show that brought together a variety of athletes to compete in a variety of events. It covered a lot of different skills.

By a very far margin, NFL athletes were dominant and won a lot of the events. Soccer and track athletes were very good as well.

Pro athletes that were consistently poor at the event. Basketball and hockey.

 

[entremet]

For certain positions, NFL football does have just amazing athletes--speed receivers and running backs for example are just crazy fast and strong.

Jerry Rice's offseason training regiment used to kill some his fellow teammates. He actually wasn't the fastest receiver at all during his playing years, but he trained with super long runs on terrain and hills. He developed tons of stamina, so he would outlast DBs, who would get tired covering him. He rarely burned DBs, but his ability to outlast his defenders was due to his intense stamina. It also allowed him to play for years, because stamina stays with you longer than speed and power.

 

[Diprosalic]

By a very far margin, NFL athletes were dominant and won a lot of the events. Soccer and track athletes were very good as well.

i guess they used american soccer players vs. NFL pros?

 

[perineumlick]

yeah, but cmon. its not even on the same level if you ask me. tennis players do far more.
Also dont forget the mental side. BB is a team sport. In Tennis its you. Its only you for every ball, you have to have a strong will to run after ball after ball.

Tennis is played in spurts; you're not running around constantly for the ball, and it's not one never ending volley after the other. Also in tennis you are not getting elbowed in the mouth or shoulder checked on a pick, or knocked to the floor during a lay up. You have to have a strong will to run that court, handle the ball, deal with the contact, and run the plays as designed, all while playing with a modicum of skill.

 

[mr2xxx]

Yeah but can these guys run for 90 MINUTES?? 90 MINUTES?? Of pure running????

lol

BTW - see below for NBA Combine numbers (younger players than in the NFL):

http://www.draftexpress.com/nba-pre...raft=0&pos=0&source=NBA Draft Combine&sort=12

I believe the bench press is with 185lbs, which is more than 20% more weight than the 150 lbs used in hockey.

There you go NBA>Hockey. Similar age groups, stronger and better vert., also hockey guys can't claim bu bu bu stamina since basketball players have that in spades.

 

[danwarb]

For how long though?

Maybe 10 minutes before they start blowing. American Football is all short bursts and players are huge. Average distance covered in a game is about 0.2 miles, ~1.2 miles for a typical wide receiver.

 

[Diprosalic]

There you go NBA>Hockey. Similar age groups, stronger and better vert., also hockey guys can't claim bu bu bu stamina since basketball players have that in spades.

nba stars are also way taller, no kidding they can bench more. Size is not an advantage in Hockey, neither is jumping high.

 

[chicko1983]

It's gotta be Australian Rules Football.

You've really got to excel at just about everything be it fitness, strength in all areas and a wide range of skills. You have to be mentally and physically strong.

It's extremely fast paced and involves wide, long running, short burst sprints, gritty and dirty close quarters tackling and handballing, kicking of the ball, timing etc, placement of yourself on the field and who to ship it off to etc.

Basically you have to be a perfect balance of athlete. Extremely strong to remain physically imposing, but also fit and fast enough to stay in the contests. You have to have the skills to kick it to another running player with pinpoint accuracy, or take a screaming mark, or weave in and out of incoming opposition, but also the smarts to know who to kick it to. Footy's the best (except the rules. The rulebook is a joke at this point).

Also Tennis - once again, incredible skill set requiring perfect precision and the strength to return extremely difficult balls back into court. But also fitter than probably any other sport. The matches can go on for longer than any other sport, sometimes around 5 hours, which is ridiculous. Especially in the Australian summer during the Australian Open - some incredible athletic feats there.

Wake up Australia and support this.

I'm sorry guys, but Aussie football is not close to the speed and strength of the nfl. It would pip it on endurance though.

I'm Australian, grew up playing and watching afl all my life. I dominated when I was my fittest (captained school team and won bests and fairest etc) due to swimming training and realised that was all afl was about - fitness. Hell, you don't have to be a great kick and play afl these days, just be able to put it into space and let your teammate run onto it.

I would say that it does have the most athletic sportsmen in Australia, but I don't think they match nfl (wr, te, rbs) or nba players for speed, agility or strength.

The best ever running vertical leap at the afl combine is about 40inches by nic nat and jarred Brennan. The top nfl combine leap was 45inches, five inches higher than nic nat or jarred Brennan.

I heard last year there was a rugby player from Australia who was also Australian junior sprint champion try to play college football as a running back. This guy ran a high 10second 100m but was not the fastest guy in the team he plays for. You regularly hear of kids playing college football who are running 10sec hundreds, which is far quicker than anything else in the afl.

But afl is great for endurance. You do have to be fit to play afl these days and past greats like Darren jarman or Greg Williams wouldn't make it past draft camp these days, which is a shame. The sport is going downhill in terms of skill level and ultimately enjoyment.

The administrators need to slow it down more, not speed it up.

 

[Parch]

i guess they used american soccer players vs. NFL pros?

There were national championships and then world championships. Soccer player Brian Budd (Canada) won the world event 3 years in a row.

 

[mustafa]

nba stars are also way taller, no kidding they can bench more. Size is not an advantage in Hockey, neither is jumping high.

Having long gangly arms makes it harder to bench because your arms have a longer distance to travel.

 

[mr2xxx]

nba stars are also way taller, no kidding they can bench more. Size is not an advantage in Hockey.

Thread is about who is more athletic not who makes good hockey players. People keep bringing up facts but you keep moving the goal posts.Please show us something factual that would paint NHL players in a better light than NBA or NFL stars. Also bench press is more difficult the taller you are due to your arm length, it is not easier.

Edit: Vertical is a measure of how explosive your lower body is, which causes increased acceleration which benefits hockey players.

 

[equippedwithtowel]

There you go NBA>Hockey. Similar age groups, stronger and better vert., also hockey guys can't claim bu bu bu stamina since basketball players have that in spades.

And then we get into toughness, coordination, spatial awareness not to mention that vert and start/stop are entirely different developed muscle sets.