Top Ten NFL players from Chicago

On Saturday, the city saw another local guy selected in the first round of a professional draft. This time, it was 6' 2" 270-pound defensive end/outside linebacker Larry English from Aurora.

But English is obviously not the first football player to be drafted out of the city and the near suburbs. Below are the top 10 current players in the NFL from the Windy City.

10. Tom Zbikowski



Zbikowski was the main reason I would tune into Notre Dame games earlier this decade. He is a freak and is simply fun to watch. My roommate was coincidentally on the Prospect team that stuffed Zibby, then a quarterback on his Buffalo Grove squad, on 4th-and-goal on the 1 in the state semifinal, promptly ending TZ's high school career.

9. Pierre Thomas



A relatively unknown draft pick from Illinois in 2007, it didn't take long to put his name on the map. His 2008 consisted of five starts, 625 yards rushing and nine touchdowns.

8. Shaun O'Hara



Ok, O'Hara didn't actually play high school football in Chicago, but he was born here. He is however, the most recognizable lineman on one of the best O-lines in football. The Giants' center has done a great job protecting Eli Manning in his four years in New York.

7. Napoleon Harris



Harris is a solid defender who will personally always be remembered to be the selling point on the deal that sent Randy Moss to Oakland. It's hard not to like Harris though, a Thornton grad and Northwestern signee. I like when guys stay at home and help out their local university programs. Oh and last week, Harris hit the game-winning three in overtime of his own McLegends All-Star Basketball Game.

6. Antwaan Randle-El



A high school teammate of Napoleon, Randle-El is one of a select few who made the transition from quarterback to receiver once they become pros. The highlight of the former Hoosier's career has to be the flea-flicker touchdown pass to Ward in the Super Bowl.

5. Kelvin Hayden



A late addition to the list, simply because we forgot about him, but certainly a guy who deserves to be on here. Most Bears fans recognize Hayden as the guy who picked off one of Rex Grossman's passes in the Super Bowl. The former Hubbard DB was injured for six games in 2008, but still managed to pick off three balls including a 85-yard return to the house.

4. Michael Turner



Everybody knew once a team was willing to give Turner they keys to the car that he would not disappoint. But I am sure nobody thought he was going to be arguably the best back in the NFL after Year 1 of first-string duties. "The Burner" is built like a bull and showed he has the ability to break a game wide open, as he did so often last season.

3. Flozell Adams



The Cowboys took Adams with a second-round pick in 1998, and moved him from guard to tackle, where he has since become a five-time Pro Bowler. Adams has become one the most consistent run-blockers the NFL has to offer. The Proviso West grad has made life easier for Marion Barber and Felix Jones, and will continue to do just that.

2. Simeon Rice



For the better half of a decade, there was no better end than Simeon Rice. For the first 10 years of his career he posted 10+ sacks a year eight times. His 122 total puts him 12th all-time. Because of a combination of age and arrogance however, it is tough to see any team with a strong desire to sign him to help add to that total.

1. Donovan McNabb



My grandfather was a member of the coaching staff of McNabb's pop-warner team on the South side about 25 years ago. And I like to think that he heavily molded DMN into the quarterback he is today. Regardless, the former Mount Carmel standout is one of the best quarterbacks in football. His elusiveness as well as a rocket arm make him maybe the most complete the league has ever seen. While we will have to wait to see if the Eagles can get to the Super Bowl again, it will most likely only happen with McNabb at the helm.