Mercury is the tiniest of all the planets in our solar system. Just a fraction the size of Earth, Mercury is also the closest planet to the sun and as a result, flies around its orbit in just 88 days. Undersized and quick, that accurately sums up Philadelphia Eagles running back Darren Sproles, who is one of the smallest backs in the league at just 5 feet 6. Like his celestial comparison, Sproles' speed is nearly unmatched by his peers and the fire he plays with almost measures up to the 800-degree temperatures recorded on Mercury's surface. Well, not quite.

Venus takes pressure and heat to a whole new level, home to the greatest atmospheric pressure of any solid planet in the solar system and boasting temperatures of over 860 degrees Fahrenheit. For good measure, Earth's sister planet is also the brightest in the night sky. And when it comes to burning bright, few have ascended to prominence faster and brighter than Seattle cornerback Richard Sherman. Whether it is his intense internal fire or the immense pressure he's endured as the league's self-proclaimed "best cornerback," Sherman shares more than enough in common with Earth's scorching neighbor.

Earth is a special place, clearly. The number of factors that had to come together to create a perfect habitat for human life are truly mind blowing. In football, a player with the right mix of intangibles, smarts and athletic ability are equally impressive, which is why we can't get enough of J.J. Watt. NFL fans have never seen a defensive player with the hands, speed, strength and athleticism that Watt brings to the field each game. If Earth had to be represented at some sort of interplanetary football summit, Watt would be a stellar choice.

Mars' topography is a case study in extremes, boasting the solar system's highest peaks and deepest valleys. Residing right next to Earth and very similar in size and composition, the Red Planet is often compared to its wonderfully habitable big brother. Major high and lows? Overshadowed by a big brother? Sounds like Eli Manning to me. The New York Giant quarterback has had somewhat of a roller-coaster career, peaking with two thrilling Super Bowl upset victories and bottoming out with three 20-plus interception seasons. But, like Mars, there will always be intrigue surrounding Manning and a persistent curiosity about how his past will dictate his future.

Big, bold and unpredictable. Those are some of the defining characteristics of our solar system's largest planet, Jupiter. However, the same can be said for All-Pro tight end Rob Gronkowski. And, like its NFL counterpart, Jupiter is known for hauling in passes left and right, attracting meteors shooting in from all parts of the galaxy. The gas giant puts its massive gravitational shield to work, acting as a diversion for all of its celestial neighbors who wouldn't be able to handle the brunt of a space rock being hurled its way. Sounds like Jupiter would make a pretty good pass blocker. It's too bad that Gronk has that part covered, too.

Rings have a certain allure and that doesn't just apply to professional sports. Saturn's extraordinary band of rings has been the planet's most defining feature since Galileo stumbled upon them with his telescope in 1610. And rings? Rings are a staple of Tom Brady as well. The only current quarterback to boast four Super Bowl victories, Brady's familiarity with rings is giving Saturn a run for its money. Although, as impressive as that Super Bowl bling is, it doesn't quite stack up to the beautiful coagulation of ice and rock and that surrounds our second-largest planet.

Uranus is one of the more unorthodox planets. While most planets spin nearly horizontally around their axis, Uranus rotates on its side at nearly a 90-degree angle. In the NFL, it's hard to think unorthodox without thinking of Tim Tebow. Tebow's awkward throwing motion and unconventional skill set have made him one of the most intriguing, and frustrating, Heisman-winning quarterbacks in recent memory. And with a career completion percentage of just 48 percent and a quarterback rating of just 75.3, it's safe to say he's been on a cold streak, although maybe not as cold as Uranus' average temperature of negative 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

Neptune likes to fly under the radar. The closest planet to Earth not visible to the naked eye, Neptune is sly but also speedy. From its mere 16-hour days to the winds swirling around its atmosphere at 1,300 miles per hour, Neptune is all about fast. Elusive and quick, that's a great way to sum up Kansas City's Pro Bowl running back Jamaal Charles. The Chiefs' speedster has racked up 1,000 or more yards in his past five full seasons and remains one of the most dynamic open-field ball carriers in the league. For defenders, it sometimes seems like he's not visible to the naked eye either.

Pluto may have lost its status as a "planet," but today is its day in the sun, so we're going to treat it like the rest of them. Nearly 50 times farther from the sun than Earth, Pluto goes about its orbit alone along the very peripheries of our solar system. In a sense, you can say that Pluto is on an island all alone, a feeling very familiar for anybody lining up against All-Pro cornerback Darrelle Revis. After being spurned by the New York Jets and released by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Revis and Pluto must certainly share a sense of abandonment. Fortunately, Revis has bounced back in a big way en route to a Super Bowl victory with the New England Patriots last season. Your move, Pluto.