by Jeremy Devries

Created on: January 29, 2009

Let me make this first point perfectly clear. To be underrated, you first have to deserve to be rated at all. When reading through other author's lists of underrated players, they often cited players that no one has even heard of. An obscure left defensive tackle, or fullback from Illinois Weslyan or a defensive back whose influence on the teams success is marginal when compared to other positions on the field. Of course these guys are underrated! They don't deserve to be rated at all! Instead, I am going to list the 3 most underrated household names in the NFL. These are guys who make a difference every second they are on the field, but still are underrated by the fans, the media, and often times by their own team.

The third most underrated player is Jeff Garcia. Jeff Garcia has quietly led his teams to victory everywhere he has played. His teams have instantly become contenders with him under center, yet all you hear about is how he's, "pretty good, for a backup, or pretty good for a guy form the CFL." The problem is that Jeff's personality has turned some people off. On camera, he has seemed a bit feminine and that hasn't fit the mold of football player to many fans. Football fans like tough and gritty, not soft spoken and quiet. Rumors have also said that Garcia has had some problems in the locker room with his teammates as well. On the field however, Jeff Garcia has proven to be nothing but a severely underrated winner on (at the very best) rebuilding teams.

The second most underrated player in the league is Carson Palmer. This is a quarterback that week in and week out puts up incredible numbers, has battled through injuries, and has still managed to be successful when surrounded by convicts and fair to poor players. The Bungals are still the Bungals, but Carson Palmer is a calm, collected and professional under center. Seriously, every week he has directed an entire team that deserves to be serving 15-20 in San Quentin. I am constantly impressed with the play of the USC grad, and one of these days ESPN will stop covering idiots like Ocho-Retardo and give Carson the credit he deserves. Palmer reminds me of Troy Aikman (minus Emmit Smith of course) and minus the media coverage as well.

Finally, the most underrated player in the NFL is so obvious that you should be hit in the head with a brick if you can't see it. Kurt Warner is not only a great quarterback, but I am starting to believe he needs to be mentioned in the list of best of all time. We are talking

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