We came across Peter Schrager’s list over at FOX Sports and one of our favorite discussion settings is ranking players, teams, coaches or anything in sports. Everyone has their own opinion on someone or something and lists are a great way to spark debate. So, we’ll give you the highlights of the list and link it after the jump. Make sure you read the qualifications for the rankings and comment on those as well.
Here’s a few names that standout to us for one reason or another:
- Jason Witten got hosed at #96. He’s the most valuable TE in all of football. Should be higher than that.
- Matt Forte is at #87 and Devin Hester is at #85. Forte should be higher and Hester shouldn’t even be on the list.
- Housh at #68 is also wayyyyy to high. WR receivers go to die in two places. Chicago and Seattle.
- Right below that at #67 is Matt Cassel. We look forward to a colossal bust of a season from the fromer back-up to the Golden Boy.
- Can’t believe we’re going to say this. Kurt Warner should be in the top 20. Don’t care how old he is.
- Charles Woodson at #58…excuse me? He’s on the decline and had to reinvent his career in Green Bay.
- Brian Urlacher being ranked nearly 35 spots in front of Lance Briggs. We’re Bears fans. This simply is not true anymore.
- Bears again, but, biggest acquisition of the off-season at #31. He’s got a lot to prove. They expect him to be in the top ten here in Chicago.
- Randy Moss > Tony Romo, Dwight Freeney, Carson Palmer, Donovan McNabb and LT. But, apparently not here.
- Phillip Rivers is overrated. We’re only going to say that once. Get out of my top 25, let alone at #16.
- We think we’re in the minority, but Manning at #1 is dead on. Big Ben at #3 is not.
What do you think? Here’s the link to the list:
Top 99 Players for ’09 (FOX Sports)
Big Ben. More wins in his first 5 seasons than anyone. Even that Brady cat. Best rookie season by a QB ever. 1 conference finals loss, 2 conference finals wins and 2 for 2 in the Super Bowl. Plus, an 80+ yard drive in the final 2 minutes to win the entire thing. A drive in which he accounted for, excuse my lack of research on this one, 90-100% of the yards on that SB-winning drive.
These lists, which are purely opinion-based, always seem to have Ben disrespected by being placed behind idiots that haven’t done anything like Carson Palmer. This is one of the first lists that actually gives him his dues. #3 sounds about right.