Panel Selects Top 100 NFL Players
SportingNews.com
Sep 15, 2010
Wonder why Brett Favre decided to un-retire and take one last shot at another Super Bowl ring?
The Vikings are loaded with talent, that's why. Football is the ultimate team game, and the Vikings have elite players at a number of positions.
In Sporting News' annual poll of football experts to select the 100 best players in today's game, 99 former coaches and players — including 25 Hall of Famers — and current general managers named a league-high seven Vikings to the list.
Vikings in the top 100 include running back Adrian Peterson, defensive end Jared Allen, defensive tackle Kevin Williams, guard Steve Hutchinson, wide receivers Sidney Rice and Percy Harvin and, of course, Brett Favre.
"When he first walked into the locker room, I didn't really have any reaction other than, 'That's Brett Favre,' the guy I grew up watching and admiring," Harvin said of his first impression. "I think he prepares so well before every game and knows the opponent so well, it allows him to be so relaxed. It's important for a team to have a quarterback who never gets tense in the toughest situations, and he's the best at that."
The Vikings weren't the only team with a handful or more players on the top 100. The all-star panel of football experts also picked six Ravens and six Steelers plus five Colts and five Cowboys.
"From when it first started out, the offense being the ring leader around here, to us evolving as a pretty even team now as far as being solid on defense and offense, (the front office has) done a tremendous job," Williams said. "Getting guys in here, whether it be through free agency or the draft, and just taking care of business — those guys have really done a great job, surrounding the older guys with young talent that is starting to produce and pay off.
"It's rare that you get that many (Pro Bowlers), and then to return all 22 starters is a big plus for us."
Who is the No. 1 player in the NFL? No surprise, it's Colts quarterback Peyton Manning, the only four-time league MVP. Colts president and general manager Bill Polian built the Colts into an annual contender — winners of 12-plus games for seven years running — and says it was an easy to decision to start with Manning.
"He had a command presence about him that was unique for a rookie," Polian said. "It was in his demeanor. The way he took over, the way he called plays, the way he handled the team. Jim Kelly had the same presence (in Buffalo), but he had been in the USFL for two years (before joining the NFL), so you expected that."
THE TOP 100
1. Peyton Manning, QB, Colts
2. Drew Brees, QB, Saints
3. Chris Johnson, RB, Titans
4. Larry Fitzgerald, WR, Cardinals
5. Adrian Peterson, RB, Vikings
6. Andre Johnson, WR, Texans
7. Darrelle Revis, CB, Jets
8. Tom Brady, QB, Patriots
9. DeMarcus Ware, OLB, Cowboys
10. Jared Allen, DE, Vikings
11. Dwight Freeney, DE, Colts
12. Patrick Willis, ILB, 49ers
13. Aaron Rodgers, QB, Packers
14. Julius Peppers, DE, Bears
15. Brett Favre, QB, Vikings
16. Philip Rivers, QB, Chargers
17. Joe Thomas, OT, Browns
18. Charles Woodson, CB, Packers
19. Jason Witten, TE, Cowboys
20. Ryan Clady, OT, Broncos
21. Ray Rice, RB, Ravens
22. Wes Welker, WR, Patriots
23. Steve Hutchinson, G, Vikings
24. Brandon Marshall, WR, Dolphins
25. Elvis Dumervil, OLB, Broncos
26. Nnamdi Asomugha, CB, Raiders
27. Steven Jackson, RB, Rams
28. Ed Reed, FS, Ravens
29. Kevin Williams, DT, Vikings
30. Ray Lewis, ILB, Ravens
31. Haloti Ngata, DT, Ravens
32. Steve Smith, WR, Panthers
33. Randy Moss, WR, Patriots
34. Antonio Gates, TE, Chargers
35. Darren Sharper, FS, Saints
36. Dallas Clark, TE, Colts
37. Jake Long, OT, Dolphins
38. Reggie Wayne, WR, Colts
39. Troy Polamalu, SS, Steelers
40. Mario Williams, DE, Texans
41. James Harrison, OLB, Steelers
42. Jahri Evans, G, Saints
43. Miles Austin, WR, Cowboys
44. DeSean Jackson, WR, Eagles
45. Josh Cribbs, KR/PR, Browns
46. Vince Wilfork, DT, Patriots
47. Darnell Dockett, DT, Cardinals
48. Adrian Wilson, SS, Cardinals
49. Ben Roethlisberger, QB, Steelers
50. Nick Mangold, C, Jets
51. Jay Ratliff, DT, Cowboys
52. Clay Matthews, OLB, Packers
53. Tony Gonzalez, TE, Falcons
54. Justin Tuck, DE, Giants
55. Frank Gore, RB, 49ers
56. DeMeco Ryans, ILB, Texans
57. Asante Samuel, CB, Eagles
58. Albert Haynesworth, DT, Redskins
59. Champ Bailey, CB, Broncos
60. Terrell Suggs, OLB, Ravens
61. Chad Ochocinco, WR, Bengals
62. D’Brickashaw Ferguson, OT, Jets
63. Reggie Bush, RB, Saints
64. DeAngelo Williams, RB, Panthers
65. Maurice Jones-Drew, RB, Jaguars
66. Tony Romo, QB, Cowboys
67. Matt Ryan, QB, Falcons
68. Hines Ward, WR, Steelers
69. Vernon Davis, TE, 49ers
70. Brian Urlacher, ILB, Bears
71. Sidney Rice, WR, Vikings
72. Vincent Jackson, WR, Chargers
73. Lance Briggs, OLB, Bears
74. Eli Manning, QB, Giants
75. Chris Snee, G, Giants
76. Donovan McNabb, QB, Redskins
77. Robert Mathis, DE, Colts
78. Jon Beason, OLB, Panthers
79. London Fletcher, ILB, Redskins
80. LaMarr Woodley, OLB, Steelers
81. Vince Young, QB, Titans
82. Casey Hampton, DT, Steelers
83. Calvin Johnson, WR, Lions
84. Brian Orakpo, OLB, Redskins
85. Kris Jenkins, DT, Jets
86. Michael Roos, OT, Titans
87. Logan Mankins, G, Patriots
88. Shaun O’Hara, C, Giants
89. Cedric Benson, RB, Bengals
90. Brian Dawkins, SS, Broncos
91. Michael Turner, RB, Falcons
92. Anquan Boldin, WR, Ravens
93. Percy Harvin, WR/KR, Vikings
94. Thomas Jones, RB, Chiefs
95. Kyle Vanden Bosch, DE, Lions
96. Pierre Thomas, RB, Saints
97. Matt Schaub, QB, Texans
98. Roddy White, WR, Falcons
99. Jairus Byrd, S, Bills
100. Brian Cushing, OLB, Texans
THE PANEL
Hall Of Famers:
Lance Alworth; Chuck Bednarik; Raymond Berry; Dick Butkus; Willie Davis; Dan Dierdorf; Mike Ditka; Art Donovan; Tony Dorsett; Dan Hampton; Ted Hendricks; Paul Hornung; Sam Huff; Leroy Kelly; Steve Largent; Larry Little; James Lofton; Hugh McElhenny; Ron Mix; Mel Renfro; Jackie Slater; Paul Warfield; Dave Wilcox; Kellen Winslow; Ron Yary
Former Stars:
Fred Arbanas; Blaine Bishop; John Brodie; Derrick Brooks; Chad Brown; Isaac Bruce; Michael Carter; Ben Coates; Nolan Cromwell; Clem Daniels; Dermontti Dawson; Lynn Dickey; Boomer Esiason; Rich Gannon; La’Roi Glover; Larry Grantham; Trent Green; Bobby Hebert; Andy Heck; Priest Holmes; Claude Humphrey; Harold Jackson; Joe Jacoby; Vaughan Johnson; Levon Kirkland; Dave Kocourek; Daryle Lamonica; Mo Lewis; Louis Lipps; Neil Lomax; Don Majkowski; Karl Mecklenburg; Jon Morris; Tom Myers; John Offerdahl; Drew Pearson; Art Powell; Willie Roaf; Mickey Shuler; Fred Smerlas; Walt Sweeney; Dave Szott; Darryl Talley; Duane Thomas; Zach Thomas; Chris Warren; Doug Williams; Lee Williams; Louis Wright
General Managers:
Thomas Dimitroff, Falcons; Tom Heckert, Browns; Ozzie Newsome, Ravens; Bill Polian, Colts; Howie Roseman, Eagles; John Schneider, Seahawks; A.J. Smith, Chargers; Rick Spielman, Vikings; Mike Tannenbaum, Jets; Brian Xanders, Broncos
Former Coaches:
Brian Billick; Bruce Coslet; Herm Edwards; Chuck Fairbanks; Tom Flores; Dennis Green; Ted Marchibroda; Jim L. Mora; Jack Pardee; John Ralston; Sam Rutigliano; Buddy Ryan; Marty Schottenheimer; Dick Vermeil; Sam Wyche
This story first appeared in the September 13, 2010 edition of Sporting News magazine. If you are not receiving the magazine, subscribe today, or pick up a copy, available at most Barnes & Noble, Borders and Hudson Retail outlets.
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