Fansided

10 greatest fictional football players of all time

By Russell S. Baxter

Kino. Die Kampfmaschine, Longest Yard, The, Die Kampfmaschine, Longest Yard, The, Burt Reynolds, 1973. (Photo by FilmPublicityArchive/United Archives via Getty Images)
Kino. Die Kampfmaschine, Longest Yard, The, Die Kampfmaschine, Longest Yard, The, Burt Reynolds, 1973. (Photo by FilmPublicityArchive/United Archives via Getty Images) /
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8. LB Bobby Boucher Jr. (South-Central Louisiana State University)

Talk about a Cinderella story? Bobby Boucher Jr. (played by Adam Sandler) went from The Waterboy with a speech impediment to a pass-rushing demon for South-Central Louisiana State University.

In a game in which the team was not given a “shot,” Boucher was back with the team after intermission and was the catalyst for the Mud Dogs’ comeback victory in the Bourbon Bowl. He threw the game-winning touchdown pass as the team rallied from a 27-0 deficit (sound familiar, Jaguars fans?)

It’s safe to say that Sandler has made his share of appearances in sports movies. He went from hockey prospect to PGA golfer in “Happy Gilmore.” He also played the lead role of quarterback Paul Crewe in the 2005 remake of “The Longest Yard.”

7. QB Joe Pendleton (Los Angeles Rams)

In 1978’s Heaven Can Wait, Warren Beatty plays quarterback Joe Pendleton. He’s on course to be the starter for the Los Angeles Rams but supposedly dies in a bicycle accident. He is mistakenly whisked off to heaven and is cremated, so the powers that be must find him another body (billionaire Leo Farnsworth).

Farnsworth contacts coach Max Corkle, convinces him that he is actually Pendleton and in order to full fill his dream of playing quarterback buys the Rams.

The Rams are facing the Steelers in the Super Bowl and their quarterback is Tom Jarrett. That’s because Farnsworth/Pendleton was murdered by his wife and her lover. Once again, Pendleton is on the move because Jarrett is hit hard by the Steelers and would pass away on the field.

Pendleton takes over, the game reaches overtime, the Rams fumble but Pendleton is in the right position and scoops up his own team’s fumble and returns it for the game-winning touchdown.

Next: Nos. 6 and 5