After taking a look at Marron’s highly ambitious 5 part geek Halloween Costume blow out, I thought about how awesome multi-part posts are and decided to do one myself. As I’m sure you know the first month of college and NFL seasons are in the books, and the CFL is getting ready for Canada’s version of the playoffs so I decided it would be fun to put together a super hero pro bowl from DC and Marvel. I’m going to give my top two choices for each position before I post who gets the nod that way you can try and sway me in either direction. Then the week of the Superbowl I’ll post the final results based on what went down for them between now and then.

Head Coach:

Reed Richards vs. Norman Osborn: Richards is the classic choice for everything you look for in a coach, he’s brilliant, innovative, a strong leader, great at juggling a diverse group of egos within a team environment, and the touch of gray gives him that elder statesman look that you need to get the respect of the young kids coming out of college today.  Osborn on the other hand is brilliant in his own right, and what he might lack in tactical expertise he will more than make up for with his ability to handle the media and keep his players in check.  There’s nobody better at getting the most out of problem players than Stormin Norman.   I mean who’d have thought Sentry could be the QB for the Avengers?

Quarterback

Steve Rogers vs. Clint Barton: Barton is everything you want in a quarterback, he’s a big good looking blond haired All American prototype with deadly accuracy, a strong arm and the leadership skills to march any team down the field in the two minute drill.  He’s also died and come back to life so we know he can take a hit.  Now Steve Rogers might not have Barton’s arm, but I think the term All American was coined in reference to him.  He might not have Barton’s pinpoint accuracy but he can throw a shield unlike anybody else in the pro’s.  Now he hasn’t come back from the dead like Barton, but something tells me we might be seeing him soon.

Running Back

Scott Summers vs. T’Challa: This one might seem a little odd, but with Cyclops at HB you can use his mutant powers instead of a FB which opens your other options up , whether it  be going with a double tight end formation instead of the I, or a 4th WR out of the pro set.  Black Panther might seem a bit odd at HB too, but consider this, if it’s third and 2 in the fourth quarter, is there anybody you’d rather give the ball to?  Me either.

Full Back

Ares vs. Cain Marko: Clearly Ares and The Juggernaut are to talented to leave out of the equation, but in my books they’re to slow to play HB and not big enough to on the line.  Ares is the obvious choice if you need a FB who can block but if you’re looking for a guy who’s skills are going to add an extra dimension to your offense and give defenses something to think about Marko’s the right man for the job.

Wide Receiver: Here are my five favorites for the three roster spots

James Madrox: All I can say is consider using a zone defense if you have to cover Multiple Man.  Trash talk is also important for a wide out to be able to do, I think Madrox has this angle covered too.

Pietro Maximoff: Quicksilver is the fastest guy in the Marvel U, and while I personally think a physical corner would be more than capable of slowing him down, no discussion about who would be the best WR in the Marvel universe is complete without considering him.  Wide receivers also have a lengthy history of being nuts so Magneto’s kid will feel right at home.

Lyra: As long as she can keep her cool She-Hulk is my choice for a slot receiver, she’s fast, can block, and will be a bitch to bring down.  Of course the key to stopping her is getting inside her head.  If you’re coaching Hulk’s daughter, don’t make her mad; you wouldn’t like her when she’s mad (the other coach will be happy as hell though).

Peter Parker: Oh how sweet it would be for Parker to finally get a shot to be a football star.  Think of the girls who would flock to him if he were the one to pull in the game winning touchdown.  He’s fast, trash talks at a fever pitch, and if you can toss a ball anywhere near him he can snag it.  I hear he’s got stick fingers.  On the downside lets hope his spider sense won’t cause him to bail on the tough catches when you know you’re going to get hit.

Matt Murdoch: I don’t know that there’s really anything special about Murdoch that would make him be your go-to guy.  I just think it’s awesome that he could do the job and he’s blind.  Anytime there’s  a chance to throw a blind guy in at WR I say give it a go coach.

Tight End

Hank McCoy vs. Piotr Rasputin: This X-Men showdown is another classic case of what type of look you want to give your offense.   Beast’s athletic skills make him a great red zone target, his brains make him a guy you want improvising when the field gets short, and he’s a great team player.  Colossus might not have the hands but might be the best blocker in the history of super powered football.  He’s a guy who takes the steel curtain to the next level, and while that might make him better suited to defense, I question if he has the smash mouth mentality that’s required to play the other side of the ball when you have the whole Marvel U. to choose from.

Center

Ben Grimm vs. Mister Sinister: Center is a tricky spot to fill.  You need somebody who’s sharp and on top of things, big and strong, capable of carrying the burden of leadership but not craving the spotlight.  These two fit the bill.  Grimm has made his career doing just that.  He can lead your 0-line but his ego will let him take a step back and allow the QB to lead the whole offense.  Now I can see the argument that Mister Sinister is a bit undersized, but consider this…how many times a game is he going to be able to draw the D offsides with his telepathy? and how do you get around a guy who can literally make you think you’re running in to a wall?

Rest of the O Line: Here are my top 5 candidates for the 4 roster spots on the O-Line

Bruce Banner: It can certainly be said that The Incredible Hulk could do better than playing on the line.  At least athletically speaking, my concern with playing The Hulk on defense is that there would be a personal foul after every play.  You also have some uniform concerns if he’s on your squad.  I mean not everything goes well with green skin and lets be honest, you’d really be leaving endorsement money on the table if your team colors clash with The Hulk’s skin tones.

Fred Dukes:  The Blob is a no brainer, this guy was born to keep the quarterback safe.  Look how long he spent protecting Magneto in the pocket.  Fred Dukes is the quintessential o-lineman and no discussion of football playing superheroes is complete without including him.  Although I’d hate to the QB who has to take him out for dinner if the line dosn’t give up any sacks.

Gorgon: I thought long and hard about making Gorgon a tight end.  I just thought with those legs he’d be able to out jump almost everybody and would be great in the red zone.  Ultimately though I don’t know if he’s smart enough to be a TE.  I think it’s better if you just tell him to block.  It’s also nice to have The Inhumans represented.

Blackheart:Every football team needs a demon, every football team needs a guy who’s good, but not as good as his dad was.  With Blackheart you can kill two birds with one stone.  The only problem you might have is that Blackheart might be a locker room cancer.  I think you’d really have to keep an eye on him if you’re coaching any team that Blackheart is part of.

Walter Langkowski: A couple of things make Sasquatch an obvious choice for the O-line.  First and foremost the dude is  big, strong, and hairy; the three biggest requirements for being an offensive  lineman.  The other reason to put Walter on the line is that he’s Canadian, so while you can’t pass up a guy that big and strong, he doesn’t know the game well enough to play any other position.

Next week I’ll be back with Team Marvel’s defensive team.