What would an NFL offense look like with MLB stars?
On Saturday, the NFL playoffs began with a lopsided affair between the Kansas City Chiefs and Houston Texans at NRG Stadium that amplified how there really isn't a consensus among fans or pundits as to which team will hoist the Lombardi Trophy in February.
Only a fool would discount the New England Patriots, and Cam Newton has turned the Carolina Panthers into a formidable force, but absent an obvious favorite, is it so ludicrous to believe that a football team with an offense comprised of MLB stars couldn't at least hold their own this postseason?
Either way, we picked six ballplayers to comprise the foundation of an NFL offense that, given the parity across the league, could conceivably lead a team to Super Bowl 50 next month.
Quarterback - Alex Rodriguez
As a generational talent with multiple MVP awards who's found himself embroiled in scandal in recent years, Rodriguez is pretty much an older, less-married-to-Gisele Bundchen version of Tom Brady. Like Brady, Rodriguez has mostly managed to defy the ravages of age, and though his throwing accuracy could be a bit sharper, his arm strength hasn't really waned all that much. Decidedly calm in tense situations, Rodriguez is a strong candidate to run a two-minute drill, as well, especially if Ryan Dempster happens to be standing on the opposite sideline.
Running back - Mike Trout
In addition to owning a physique befitting a Navy SEAL, Trout has also been known to make it from the batter's box to first base in as little as 3.65-3.7 seconds. Boasting a drool-worthy combination of strength and speed, Trout could easily torch even the most imposing NFL defense for an 80-yard touchdown run faster than you can say, "Josh Donaldson still beat him for the 2015 AL MVP."
Fullback - Salvador Perez
Blessed with a strong lower body and impressive lateral quickness for a man of his size, the 6-foot-3, 240-pound Venezuela native seems like a natural fit to line up in front of Trout in an I-formation. His stamina is pretty much unrivaled, too, as Perez has started a whopping 406 games behind the plate since 2013 - 41 more than the next-most durable catcher.
Tight end - Jeff Samardzija
Before he was serving up homers with greater frequency than Pacman Jones draws unsportsmanlike conduct flags, Samardzija was a gridiron standout at Notre Dame, catching 179 passes for 2,593 yards and 27 touchdowns across his four years in South Bend. San Francisco Giants general manager Brian Sabean may not be cool with Samardzija running slant routes into the middle of the field, though, after handing the right-hander a $90-million contract last month.
Wide receiver - Kevin Kiermaier
Makes sense to put the dude who literally catches everything at the top of the receiving depth chart, right? Kiermaier's athleticism and route efficiency were pretty much unmatched among outfielders in 2015, when he led the majors with 42 defensive runs saved, and almost any quarterback would be able to reap the benefits of his preternatural ability to come down with the ball (Note: not Brian Hoyer).
Kicker - Zack Greinke
Who better than Greinke, baseball's most famous oddball, to handle a position widely known for attracting eccentrics? The 32-year-old right-hander spent all summer kicking butt in the National League, too, fashioning the fourth-lowest single-season ERA (1.66) since 1969 over 32 starts for Los Angeles. Shortly thereafter, Greinke punted the last three seasons left on his contract with the Dodgers and signed a $206.5-million deal with Arizona. Despite Greinke's lack of traditional football experience, the Minnesota Vikings would probably consider him an upgrade over Blair Wash, at this point.