There's something very putting-square-peg-in-round-hole about creating this team, but this is the one position in soccer in which an athlete from another sport could logically and comfortably transition into (based mostly on that whole "uses hands" concept, but that's kind of a big deal). In scouting the NFL for players to man this vital position, Megatron's touchdown catch against the Cowboys last season -- in which he outleaped a host of defenders -- was evidence enough to put the Lions receiver in this spot. Translate that ability to get his hands on the ball in traffic to the pitch and you'll see why he'd be dominant on plays such as corner kicks and crosses.

Opposing strikers will soon learn what NFL receivers have long known ... stay away from Revis Island. Revis will man up against the world's best strikers. Cristiano Ronaldo would be reduced to a nonfactor.

On NFL United, Peterson will play a role very similar to what you'll see from Bayern Munich's Philipp Lahm on Saturday. Sure, he's a defender -- and a fine one at that -- but he can also push forward and provide extra punch on offense. Peterson's cover skills and playmaking ability on returns makes him uniquely qualified for this position.

As arguably the best linebacker in the game today, Willis will be an imposing, intimidating, and physical obstruction to opposing attackers. Willis is one of the NFL's premier defensive playmakers and should have no problem sniffing out advancing scoring threats on the pitch.

At 6-foot-6 and 265 pounds, Gronkowski is massive, and can at times appear a bit out of control with the ball in his hands. That makes him perfectly suited to mess things up for opposing offenses in front of goal. He'll also be very valuable getting his head on corners.

Matthews will man the defensive midfield position, playing a role of enforcer to intimidate opposing strikers. Matthews has shown a great sense of anticipating plays in the NFL (at no time was that more evident than in Super Bowl XLV, when he forced a Rashard Mendenhall fumble at a pivotal moment in the game), and that ability will translate well to soccer. Matthews also gets a nod due to his hair. All soccer teams need a player or two with outlandish hair. Matthews fits that role very well.

Griffin's rare skill set makes him an ideal fit as a central midfielder. His combination of smarts, speed and ability to properly distribute the ball will help him control the flow of the game and set up what promises to be a potent goal-scoring offensive threat.

Newton has an obvious knack for creating explosive plays, scoring a rookie record 14 rushing touchdowns in 2011. That free will to score when the opportunity arises will be presented frequently to Newton on the pitch as an attacking midfielder. In the NFL, RG3 and Newton -- two of the most exciting young quarterbacks to hit the league in quite some time -- would never hit the field together. But on NFL United, this dream pairing can wreak havoc in the midfield. At 6-foot-5, Newton will also be a stout presence on corner kicks and crosses.

Sproles' diverse series of skills on the football field -- runner, returner, receiver -- qualify him to play winger on this team. Wingers are typically fast, tricky and capable of playing both in defense and attack (Sproles will almost exclusively play in attack on this team, however), though he'll have to work on his ability to cross the ball using either foot. Adrian Peterson was also considered for a role in the midfield, but concerns over fitness eliminated him from the starting 11.

With 62 career touchdowns over six seasons, Pocket Hercules -- the NFL's leading rusher in 2011 -- will be looked upon to put a bulge in the back of the ol' onion bag. Jones-Drew's low center of gravity allows him to change direction at an instant regardless of how fast he is running. That would be an extremely dangerous and rare skill to possess in soccer.

Fitzgerald will be the team's primary striker, jettisoning himself from defenders, getting into space and providing goal-scoring punch. Fitzgerald won't even need to change jersey numbers, as No. 11 is common for strikers. Also, with his long dreads Fitzgerald fills a valuable hair role on the team.

Yes, we're bringing the hoodie to the pitch. Soccer coaches typically can be tidy and stylish, looking quite dapper in a suit on the sidelines. This isn't exactly characteristic of Belichick, but his rampant competitiveness should help him transition well from coaching football to soccer.