Last week’s column got it started with a look at some of the MOST TATTED athletes in the NBA…now it’s the NFL’s turn. Some think MORE is better while others feel QUALITY is found with less QUANTITY. What do you think? We welcome your comments below. Now, the NFL LOCK OUT crew…
You know there couldn’t be a subject on NFL ink without Chad Ochocinco involved…the 33-year old receiver has a host of tats on his arms, chest, face and rib area…mostly of a religious tone. On Chad’s right breast is an image of the virgin Mary with “Psalms 23″ inscribed just above. On Ochocinco’s shoulders is an image of a white dove next to a Christ crucifixion image of three on the cross. Chad really doesn’t have tats on his face, though…the two crosses on his right cheek and the state of Florida image on his right were either temporary tats or forgeries all together. You know how Ochocinco likes to play around…
Brandon Marshall’s tats tend to be focused on his arms and back with some torso ink on his ribs and stomach areas. The 27-year old Marshall features the virgin Mary on his left deltoid with various ink art extending down both his entire arms. We can make out two birds kissing next to a star on dude’s right side that extends to his stomach and the greek fraternity, Kappa Alpha Psi “KAΨ” (Phi Nupe, Frat!) inscribed on his inner right arm. Those birds on the stomach may have ruffled feathers in the aftermath of his wife stabbing him, however…
Antonio Cromartie, 27, is very spiritual…and displays it on his arms. The outspoken free agent has scripture inked on his forearms and an image of Jesus on his right bicep. Cromartie has been very critical of the union during the lockout…how would you critique his tats?
Redskins wideout Devin Thomas, 24, gives thanks to the Almighty up above for his very existence on his right arm with grateful words of God’s many blessings in his life. “The Show Must Go On-Devin Jr” is written on Thomas’s right breast in tribute to his son and he also has “Predator” and “Thor” tats. Now if only he can accumulate more career receptions than he has tats…
Buffalo LB Shawne Merriman, 27, has ink sprawled all over his biceps, triceps, neck and back. On his right deltoid is an inflamed “Superman” insignia above Chinese scripture while on the left arm is an image of a stake going through a heart surrounded by a crown of thorns…(Jesus reference?) On Merriman’s neck is inscribed the words, “Finish Strong”. I don’t doubt he will.
Pro Bowl DT Darnell Dockett, 30, gives tribute to his slain mother on his left breast who was shot in the head when he was just 13 (her murder is still unsolved). Dockett’s fascination with skulls are represented on his arms and on his chest now sits two demon heads coming up from flames (Dockett replaced the tribute to his mom on his chest with an image of her on his back). On the top of his left deltoid sits a pair of dice with the words, “Against All Odds” hinting at Dockett’s troubled past and current NFL stardom. A compelling character, Dockett’s tats seem to rep a cluttered life…
Dockett’s teammate, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, 25, is one of the premier cover-men in the NFL…yet his tats tend to cover him on a smaller scale than what we’ve previously seen from fellow NFLers. The words, “Love” and “Life” are presented on DRC’s chest with crosses positioned at each corner and the word “Outlaw” is arched around his stomach with gun images on each kidney in classic Tupac style. Both Rodgers-Cromartie’s arms are covered with smaller tats as well. Is smaller better? You decide…
Patriots safety Bret Lockett, 25, is new to the scene (he’s yet to really make an impact in the NFL) but his tats are impressive. Lockett has his left arm completely inked with various art which extends into his left breast with a dragon image…scripture is planted on Lockett’s right forearm and an illuminated cross covers his deltoid and bicep. Where would you rank Lockett’s art??
Running back Steve Slaton, 25, shows off his tatted arms with a blind-folded image of Lady Justice (suggesting justice is blind? Duhh!) on his right and a tribal king sitting on his throne with the words, “King of Oneself” on his left. The tribal tat seems to hint at Slaton’s Filipino roots (his maternal grandmother was born in the Philippines). Nice tats or too much spilled ink?
One of the few to keep it simple, running back T.J. Duckett, 30, displays the name of his mother, Jacquelyn Barkham across his arms in tribute. Duckett’s mom passed away in 2000 after a bout with cancer. T.J. hopes to catch on with an NFL team once the lockout ends. Where would you rank Duckett’s tattooed tribute?
NEXT WEEK: More ballers, boxers and batters.
