OT: Top 50 NFL players, per Pete Prisco
Mainly just wanted to call out the UM (and other Big Ten) players. UM is pretty well-represented in the list., with 6 players, compared to 4 for the rest of the Big Ten (unless I missed one). Of course, that also means there are only 10/50 Big Ten players on this list. Clearly, osu and PSU are not holding up their ends of the bargain. =P
2. Tom Brady, New England
3. Drew Brees (Purdue), New Orleans
16. Charles Woodson, Green Bay
20. Joe Thomas (Wisconsin), Cleveland
26. LaMarr Woodley, Pittsburgh
29. Jake Long, Miami
33. Nick Mangold (osu), NY Jets
36. Steve Hutchinson, Minnesota
39. Leon Hall, Cincinnati
43. Dallas Clark (Iowa), Indianapolis
That is total domination on M's part. Great post.
Where's Plax? Or is the LYL (Longest Yard League) excluded?
OSU's only player is Nick Mangold? He isn't even the best football player in his family. Holly Mangold was a dominant OL at her highschool (not a joke.... look it up).
Also, Charles Woodson should be "2" for obvious reasons. Move Brady up to 1.
Good football genes. Anyone want to take one for the team?
Holley Mangold is HUGE!
At 17, she was 5'9" and 310 pounds, outweighing her older brother who plays in the NFL by 11 pounds!!!
BG will be on that list soon enough
there must be a rule against rookies being on this list, otherwise I'd love to see that one explained.
How is Mangold ahead of future HOFer Hutchinson?
EA Sports recently revealed the top 5 players at each position for its Madden 2011 game.
Mangold was the highest rated center. Hutch was in the top 5 of guards - but Mangold was rated higher.
So, this goes beyond just the author's opinion. Just sayin'.
He's probably generous to have Brady #2 overall - so I'll take that instead.
Since this list is obviously the best 50 players in the league RIGHT NOW, I wouldn't argue with it. Hutch isn't in his prime anymore and Mangold is right in the middle of his.
For comparison's sake, Ray Lewis is a future HOF'r and he isn't on this list over Woodley.
Any other school have more total players than us?
Michigan has 6 players
NC State (!) has 3 players (Rivers, Mario Williams, Adrian Wilson)
Tennessee (Manning, Witten), Pitt (Revis, Fitzgerald) and Cal (Rodgers, Asomugha) each have 2 players.
Every other school has 1 player.
Also did a quick pivot on players by conference: Big Ten (10), ACC (9!), SEC (7), Pac 10 (6), Big East (5), Conference USA (4), Big XII (2).
EDIT: Miami (YTM) (Ed Reed, Reggie Wayne) and Ole Miss (Oher, Patrick Willis) also each have 2 players on the list.
+1 fool
Went from future Hall of Famer at the start of his career, then injuries derailed him nearly completely, and is back in the top 20 players in the NFL the year after winning defensive MVP. It's been a crazy ride for Woodson in the league and I'm glad he is once again getting the credit he deserves.
I must say though, the fact that Dallas Clark was a walk on at Iowa is beyond impressive. Someone as talented as him was passed on by that many schools and walked on to Iowa (though I'm sure he was a preferred walk-on, nonetheless). Dallas Clark, best walkon in the past two decades? I would argue for it.
Was lights out last season, his first healthy one in a while.
There was a play that he was called for pass interference in the endzone, and upon the replay (of which showed no PI) the announcer said, 'Sometimes you just need to reward greatness.'
Looking forward to watching him again this year.
Top 50 on each team:
Detroit Lions- None (damn it!)
GB Packers- Aaron Rodgers (14), Charles Woodson (16)
Chicago Bears- Julius Peppers (31)
Minnesota Vikings- AP (8), Jared Allen (12), Kevin Williams (25), Steve Hutchinson (36) Farve (37)
Just missed: Wes Welker, WR, New England Patriots, Michael Roos, T, Tennessee Titans, Tony Romo, QB, Dallas Cowboys, DeAngelo Williams, RB, Carolina Panthers, D'Brickashaw Ferguson, T, New York Jets, Tony Gonzalez, TE, Atlanta Falcons, Jon Beason, MLB, Carolina Panthers, Chris Gamble, CB, Carolina Panthers, Johnathan Joseph, CB, Cincinnati Bengals, Miles Austin, WR, Dallas Cowboys, Clay Matthews, OLB, Green Bay Packers, Daryl Smith, OLB, Jacksonville Jaguars, Antoine Bethea, S, Indianapolis Colts, Sidney Rice, WR, Minnesota Vikings, Will Smith, DE, New Orleans Saints, Vincent Jackson, WR, San Diego Chargers, Calvin Johnson, WR, Detroit Lions, James Harrison, OLB, Pittsburgh Steelers, Vernon Davis, TE, San Francisco 49ers, Chad Ochocinco, WR, Cincinnati Bengals, Ryan Kalil, C, Carolina Panthers, Brian Cushing, OLB, Houston Texans, Trent Cole, DE, Philadelphia Eagles and Albert Haynesworth, DT, Washington Redskins.
He has just as much talent as any other WR in the league. Once the pieces fall together around him I expect him to be top 50, though beating out Andre Johnon probably isn't likely (that guy is the superest super freak at WR right now)
complain about. Maybe Allen and Williams a little high, but solid overall.
but more interesting to me is no Running Backs but two offensive lineman.
actually no Receivers either,
Well, Bo always did favor the lineman, I guess without a strong offensive line it doesn't matter how talented the QB/RB/WR's are.
And I think it was Anthony Thomas who said something like, he wanted to get the rushing record at Michigan in honor of the offensive linemen who made it possible.
At least Hutchinson and Backus were with him all four years. I think that 1997 members of the offensive line were all underclassman, and starting off at the same time as Thomas.
Where the hell is Josh Cribbs?