To stand out amid all that sameness, many opt for customization. “They normally want the car completely done — rims and tires and stereos,” Shuler says. “When they first get drafted they want a huge stereo system. As people get older they don’t spend as much money.”

Elite is co-owned by Charles Woodson of the NFL’s Green Bay Packers, Shannon Anderson of the National Basketball Association’s Miami Heat, and the rapper T.I. Its customers include dozens of athletes from the NFL and the NBA.

Shuler says getting a new exotic car is a quick way to grab attention, but older cars prized for their exclusivity are increasingly popular among players. “The trend is to get a classic ride, because anybody can get a new car and not everyone can get a classic,” he says.

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James Brown, host of NFL Today on CBS, attributes players' taste in cars to their elite status in their profession. "They belong to a class that is very selective by virtue of their doing what many of us can’t. A lot of their choices in cars, whether it’s a Bentley or a Lamborghini or a Ferrari, is reflected in that,” he says. “A number of athletes that have been at their craft and profession for a while are starting to show an appreciative eye to classic cars — street rods and muscle cars."

A collector himself, Brown says he has offered advice to more than 20 NFL players who have come to him with questions about vintage cars, including Michael Strahan of the New York Giants and Jayson Taylor of the Miami Dolphins. "What I’m finding is that more of the guys are becoming savvy and sophisticated buyers," Brown says.

Rarity is what drew Atlanta Falcons defensive tackle Rod Coleman to his 1977 Chevrolet Impala convertible. "I had it repainted the Falcon colors: it's black and the roof is red,” Coleman says. “The interior is black, red, and white, and I put some 14-inch hydraulics on it.” (Hydraulics allow a car to be raised and lowered using switches on the dashboard.)

Coleman is also working to customize a 1977 Chevy Caprice convertible. "I like the body style," he says.

He usually selects what car he is going to drive according to his mood. "It’s like my personality — sometimes I like to be low key and sometimes I like to show off and sometimes I like to be laid back."

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He calls his Dodge Ram pickup "kind of country and city." When he is on the go, he prefers the BMW 645i.

And like Orpheus Roye, Coleman has a nostalgic streak. He still owns his 1991 Acura Legend.

Ten NFL stars talked to us about their favorite vehicles. To see what vehicles these players favor for reasons both showy and sentimental, click on the “slide show” link above.

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