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Props for having Kampman higher and putting Jennings in the Top 50.

DJTG_2010 | 07/08/08, 12:42 PM

lol thanks, yea people think Jennings just came around last season, but he really broke out during the second half of the prior season (which you obviously know as a Packers fan). Kampman's been a monster the past two seasons, although it's still close with Allen, Freeney, and Taylor.

JFro | 07/08/08, 01:19 PM

Great list, the best I've seen regarding this topic. However, you left out some big names

Wes Welker
Ray Lewis
Nick Barnett
Al Harris

If I did somehow miss you having any of these, then I apologize

NYGiantsSBXLIICHAMPS | 07/08/08, 01:43 PM

all worthy candidates...Welker I considered, but I had to agree with many of the complaints about Prisco's list -- Welker was nowhere near Pro Bowl status the season before last. I tried to make this list not entirely based upon last season, but of course that's difficult to maintain in some spots. I think it's fair to say that all of the wide receivers I have listed are pretty clearly superior to Wes. Could he have been honorable mention? Sure, on the strength of last year's stats.

Ray Lewis is still a top 100 player, but he's definitely lost a step. Injuries are setting in with age and the Ravens' once intimidating defense has lost some of its luster. Look at it this way, Patrick Willis was the last linebacker to make the top 50, and he was virtually impossible to contain last season. He has the youth and explosion. Still, Lewis could have easily been honorable mention...I just didn't want the section to go on for another 50 players.

Barnett and Harris both very, very respectable. The Packers' defense was undeniably one of the best last season, I just felt Kampman and Woodson were the anchors moreso than the two you listed. Also, Barnett's not quite at the level of Merriman, Urlacher or Willis. He's right there in the second group.

JFro | 07/08/08, 02:03 PM

I think i would switch places with Moss and Owens.

Harry C is Mr. Jimmy Page | 07/08/08, 02:13 PM

^ agree

NYGiantsSBXLIICHAMPS | 07/08/08, 03:44 PM

Ehh every time I see or hear an interview with a defensive player, they always say their team has a more difficult time containing Owens than Moss.

Owens is the better route runner, and he's obviously more physical and aggressive than Moss. Moss is the master of the fly pattern, but that can be taken away by the better prepared defenses because they simply refuse to let Randy beat them over the top. In the playoffs, Moss has failed to live up to his regular season productivity rate.

Owens is less predictable thanks to his slants, ins, outs, and rubs at the line. While both can be off-the-field distractions, no one ever has to worry about Owens playing hard on gameday. He works for every catch he gets and takes little for granted, unlike Moss.

JFro | 07/08/08, 04:31 PM

I don't understand how you can put Toni Romo in a tie with Big Ben? I hate the Steelers, but Ben has had a pretty incredible career so far. What has Romo done? Yes he has been to the playoffs in his first two years as a starter and Dallas went 13 and 3 last season, but really? Eli Manning has also been in the playoffs every year he has been a starter, every single year. He also led his team to a super bowl victory over arguably the greatest team ever in the Patriots and he is only an honerable mention. I think Tony Romo needs to prove a little more (since Dallas is stacked on both sides of the ball) before he is ranked that high.

fletcher75 | 07/11/08, 01:15 AM

Good list.
The only glaring omission I see is Drew Brees. I see you have him high in the 'honorable mentions' category...But come on, he's easily a top 50 guy.

YODA | 07/11/08, 01:38 AM

To Fletcher, it's not a tie between Romo and Big Ben. I know I said when there's one spot between two guys that it is virtually interchangeable, but the player on top (Roethlisberger) is still better in my eyes -- albeit better by a very, very slight margin.

What has Romo done? Well, he was better statistically than Peyton Manning last season, so he must be pretty damn good. Brady and Manning have a wealth of talent around them, and yet no one seems to downplay their accomplishments. It's an unfair double-standard. Romo's less experienced but he's been nothing but prolific since taking over for Dallas.

I know Eli has the ring, but I don't believe he was the key to the Giants' Super Bowl victory. I have to credit the Giants' D, particularly the D-line, that was absolutely dominant throughout the postseason. Eli stepped up on the final drive of the big game, but over the course of the past two seasons Romo has been significantly more productive.

JFro | 07/15/08, 04:45 PM