NFL Top 100: Players Of 2011

[RavensAllTheWay]

[quote name='thewarden86' timestamp='1309299817' post='701877']
Again, speed. Nothing more really. And yea, being a show boat to the degree that he is lessons his position IMO because an idiot like that doesn't deserve to be counted amongst a much more talented and humble role model like Larry Fitzgerald. But I digress. As I said, he's a slender little speed guy and that's all he is.
[/quote]
First of all, Greg Jennings got snubbed, and there's no question Wallace should have been on this list and actually pretty deep on it if you ask me. Although imo, still not as high Jackson.

That said, there are many different ways to determine what makes a great football player, or even a good one. I think when it comes down to it, there are so many great players in this game, making it difficult to separate them. So when it's as deep as the top 100, the little things like technique and skill set may be the deciding factor in the ranking process in some people's eyes. That may seem logical I guess. And it is true that all he really has is speed.

HOWEVER...there comes a point in my mind where none of that means anything because he makes so many plays. It would be better if he had more than speed, but even without it, DeSean Jackson has got to be better than 29.

It's like debating on whether Flacco is better than Romo, Eli and Ryan. I personally think he very much needs to work on his mechanics (slow drop back, slow release, sometimes lofts the ball.) The other three are better mechanically, so I think they could be considered better QUARTERBACKS, but not better FOOTBALL PLAYERS (I'd put him ahead of Romo and Eli, but he and Ryan are probably just the same.) Romo and Eli put up huge numbers time and again, but Eli is a turnover machine and Romo is not steady. Flacco is steady and does not turn it over as much as those two (especially Eli), hence why I think he is the best of the three.

My point is, skill set, mechanics, technique and all of that is mostly theoretical. You would expect someone with those better qualities to outperform someone who is not so good in thos qualities, but in some instances it just doesn't happen.

Now as far as the excessive celebrations and showboating, it would be better if he didn't take part in that stuff. But I personally don't think that takes anything at all from his play or anyones play in general. This may be an unpopular opinion, but showboating does not make you any worse of a player, hence why I don't think it should even be in consideration when ranking a football player. Besides, with the amount of times he breaks off a very long TD, how many times does he really follow up with something excessive or ridiculous? What he did in Dallas last season (falling into the endzone) was an exception. He goes overboard more than most people, but far more often than not, he does not go overboard.

[Passepartout]

10-1 Can't hardly wait to see the list as it is on Sunday before July 4th!

[PWNEDbyDEANO]

[quote name='Ed_Reed20' timestamp='1309223839' post='701560']
It just goes to show how terrible the list is that Jackson can make the top 30 while Mike Wallace is completely left off it entirely. And while I can't stand the Steelers, Lawrence Timmons not making it is just another sign of how little the players pay attention to their peers.
[/quote]

Definitely true on both counts. Timmons and Wallace are either near the top or on the way to the top of the game at what they do (sadly). Timmons I believe is one of the top 5 ILBs right now. I rate him higher than I do Mayo, who won All-Pro honors this year.

[MKdave]

Can't say I rate Wallace like a lot of the folks in here do. Timmons on the other hand, total beast.

[ravensfan2424]

Ray Lewis is to present Tom Brady's segment:

http://espn.go.com/blog/boston/new-england-patriots/post/_/id/4697448/ray-lewis-to-present-brady-on-nfln?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

[Jamal]

[quote name='ravensfan2424' timestamp='1309402943' post='702472']
Ray Lewis is to present Tom Brady's segment:

http://espn.go.com/blog/boston/new-england-patriots/post/_/id/4697448/ray-lewis-to-present-brady-on-nfln?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter
[/quote]
I'd much rather him present Brady than Manning.

But it would have been pretty cool to see him present someone like Patrick Willis imo.

[Ed_Reed20]

Just saw the segment on Peppers. The play where he chased a Bucc at least 35 yards down-field was amazing, especially when you think about previous highlights in which he pushed o-lineman back with seeming ease.

[Moderator 3]

Troy is number 6. That means Ed and Ray "out rank" him.

[lgcs27288]

2 things.

Hooray for 2 Ravens in the top 5 and top 2 defensive players on the countdown!

and

The NFL network needs to get its stuff in order. The segment specifically said a safety was coming off next and both guys said they thought AP was coming off next. I mean just get on the same page. C'mon Man!

[McBurks]

Ray Lewis #4! Woot. Final 3 are offensive players, I got AP,Brady, and the Manning.

[darklight1216]

I'm predicting that Peyton will be number one. I'm glad that two Ravens were the top two on D.

Edit: I'm pleasantly surprised.

[JO_75]

Tom Brady # 1 player of 2011 and Aaron Rodgers didn't even make the top 10? This list is suppose to be based off last season... who took his team to the Super Bowl and won from the 6th seed... oh yeah the guy ranked 11th while # 1 & 2 lost in the playoffs. I forgot this list is judged by their own players, I smell jealousy. That's ok, when the Packers are the NFC Champs again the players will have no choice but put Rodgers in the Top 5 or even ranked as # 1.

Aaron Rodgers should have been # 1.

[1/28/01]

[quote name='JO_75' timestamp='1309745639' post='703490']
Tom Brady # 1 player of 2011 and Aaron Rodgers didn't even make the top 10? This list is suppose to be based off last season... who took his team to the Super Bowl and won from the 6th seed... oh yeah the guy ranked 11th while # 1 & 2 lost in the playoffs. I forgot this list is judged by their own players, I smell jealousy. That's ok, when the Packers are the NFC Champs again the players will have no choice but put Rodgers in the Top 5 or even ranked as # 1.

Aaron Rodgers should have been # 1.
[/quote]
Yeah, who cares ......Ray and Ed at 4 and 5 respectively made my night!!!

[lgcs27288]

[quote name='JO_75' timestamp='1309745639' post='703490']
Tom Brady # 1 player of 2011 and Aaron Rodgers didn't even make the top 10? This list is suppose to be based off last season... who took his team to the Super Bowl and won from the 6th seed... oh yeah the guy ranked 11th while # 1 & 2 lost in the playoffs. I forgot this list is judged by their own players, I smell jealousy. That's ok, when the Packers are the NFC Champs again the players will have no choice but put Rodgers in the Top 5 or even ranked as # 1.

Aaron Rodgers should have been # 1.
[/quote]

Aaron Rodgers should not have been number 1. Tom Brady was voted MVP, he should have been and was number 1. Rodgers should have been above Brees and possibly Manning though.

[hawkprey]

[quote name='JO_75' timestamp='1309745639' post='703490']
Tom Brady # 1 player of 2011 and Aaron Rodgers didn't even make the top 10? This list is suppose to be based off last season... who took his team to the Super Bowl and won from the 6th seed... oh yeah the guy ranked 11th while # 1 & 2 lost in the playoffs. I forgot this list is judged by their own players, I smell jealousy. That's ok, when the Packers are the NFC Champs again the players will have no choice but put Rodgers in the Top 5 or even ranked as # 1.

Aaron Rodgers should have been # 1.
[/quote]

That means Brees would have been #1 last year, and how well did he do in 2010? You can't say the 53 players that won the Super Bowl are the 53 best in the league.

Think of it this way: if the Giants didn't let the Eagles make a miracle comeback on them, Rodgers wouldn't have even been in the playoffs and would probably rank around 30-40. But does DJax returning a punt make Rodgers any worse of a player? Of course not. This is the top 100 for 2011, not 2010 ex post facto (despite my apparent misprint in the title, it is the top of 2011). You can't set your expectations based on one year alone.

[theFRANCHISE]

[quote name='hawkprey' timestamp='1309754125' post='703528']
This is the top 100 for 2011, not 2010 ex post facto (despite my apparent misprint in the title, it is the top of 2011).
[/quote]
Fixed it.

[XxSizzleXx]

Anyone know where the Peppers and Ngata segments are? I can't find them anywhere, not youtube or even NFL network.

Charles Woodsons and Dwight Freeney's are two others I can't find and would like to see.

Who presented Ngata's segment?

[darklight1216]

[quote name='XxSizzleXx' timestamp='1311243489' post='710467']
Anyone know where the Peppers and Ngata segments are? I can't find them anywhere, not youtube or even NFL network.

Charles Woodsons and Dwight Freeney's are two others I can't find and would like to see.

Who presented Ngata's segment?
[/quote]
I don't have any links for you, but Maurice Jones-Drew presented Ngata.

[XxSizzleXx]

Pretty bunk how they don't even have every video on NFL network.

[Ed_Reed20]

[quote name='XxSizzleXx' timestamp='1311582675' post='712563']
Pretty bunk how they don't even have every video on NFL network.
[/quote]

Agreed. I hope they upload all of them eventually.

[XxSizzleXx]

I'm itching to see the Peppers, Ngata and Freeney segments. Still can't find them anywhere.