As you may know the NFL Network has been airing an ongoing series in which players voted for the top 100 players in the NFL. The thought would be that in doing this we, the fans would get a real, no nonsense look at who the players believe are the best guys on the field on Sundays, or so one would think.
However, after reading the methodology behind how this list was compiled it really raises some eyebrows and makes you wonder how this list was done. According to Pro Football Talk players didn't sit down and make a list from 1-100, but rather were asked to list their top 20 players. From there each selection would be awarded a point value and a top 100 list would be compiled. What does this mean? Well, to give it some context it means that some NFL player (as pointed out by PFT) thinks Donovan McNabb is a top 20 player in the NFL, hence awarding him the #100 spot.
I point this out because I have heard mentioned on several occasions that the lack of Carolina Panthers on the list (with the exception of Jon Beason) serves as some sort of mandate on how the NFL as a whole views our players. The reality, however, is that I don't know if I would say any of our players are top 20 in the league as a whole.
After the jump we look at some more rankings that scratched heads, and I'll try and do what the players were asked to... methinks I won't have Donovan McNabb on my list.
Ben Roethlisberger
Granted, I think Big Ben is reprehensible off the field, but on it it's hard to ignore his abilities. Well, unless you're a significant chunk of players. Roethlisberger finished 41st overall, with six QBs rated ahead of him.
Tony Gonzalez
I must admit, I share the sentiment of Washington Redskins' TE Chris Cooley on this one. Gonzalez is, without a doubt, the greatest TE to ever play the game, but the 46th best player in the NFL in 2010?
70 receptions, 656 yards, 6 TD.... I'll let you be the judge of that
Wes Welker
Inexorably he's linked to Tony Gonzalez in my mind. Welker game in at 50th, and finished the season with 86 receptions, 848 yards and 7 TDs, yet he was rated lower than the aforementioned Gonzalez.
My top 20
Let me take a crack and this. I welcome others to try the same in the comments. It isn't easy, but I gave it the old college try. Remember, this is solely for the 2010 season
1. Tom Brady
2. Philip Rivers
3. Peyton Manning
4. Arian Foster
5. Ed Reed
6. Demarcus Ware
7. Aaron Rodgers
8. Jamaal Charles
9. Michael Vick
10. Clay Matthews
11. Brandon Lloyd
12. Troy Polamalu
13. Reggie Wayne
14. Drew Brees
15. Stephen Tulloch
16. Chris Johnson
17. Dwayne Bowe
18. Nnamdi Asomugha
19. Greg Jennings
20. Jerrod Mayo