[Countdown] Top 25 Players in the NFL

[bcransom]

12.

James Harrison - OLB - Pittsburgh Steelers

The former defensive player of the year is one of the scariest people on the field every Sunday. His pursuit of the ball carrier is ferocious and damn near unstoppable, which is evidenced by his big time sack numbers and very high tendency to force fumbles with crushing hits. His play against the run is what puts him over DeMarcus Ware for me. Harrison needs to improve his skills in coverage, but when he does, we'll be witnesses to something special.

[bcransom]

11.

Ed Reed - FS - Baltimore Ravens

Everyone knows how much of an impact this guy has on the game playing Centerfield for Baltimore. No one makes a QB think twice about throwing it into the secondary than Reed; he's got fantastic anticipation, speed, and hands, which leads to a lot of interceptions which would be completions or harmless incompletions with most other safeties in the game. He is ranked inside the top 5 in NFL history when it comes to interception return yardage (1,255 yards) and has the 5th most return touchdown's of any active player in the NFL...

...and when you intercept Peyton Manning twice in the same drive in the playoffs, you've earned your spot.

[bcransom]

10.

Haloti Ngata - DL - Baltimore Ravens

Ngata is one of the best defensive players in the NFL and possibly the most important member of an excellent Ravens defense (Which says a lot). He is a massive and incredibly strong. Ngata also has rare athletic ability, quickness and closing burst for such a huge force in the middle of the defensive line. He is extremely versatile and can shoot gaps while holding the point and absorbing double teams. He can also effectively line up in many spots along the defensive line. Ngata can be a force rushing the passer, but he could stand to develop a wider variety of moves. His effort also has been somewhat of an issue here and there, but that problem has progressively improved as he has matured. Ngata is an elite player.

[bcransom]

9.

Tom Brady - QB - New England Patriots

Brady has been one of the best Quarterbacks in the NFL for a long time, and while he’s coming off a ‘down year’ (No one seems to be considering the fact that he was coming off a major knee surgery) he’s still one of the best in the business. I don’t think his play regressed all that much, I think his year looks worse than it is because the team results were not nearly as good as they usually were in New England. He’s still one of the best leaders in the game and his physical attributes haven’t worsened in the slightest. Brady is still a top 3 Quarterback and an elite player in the game.

[TheSanchize]

I'd like to see you guys complaining about certain players make your own goddamn list. This is obviously opinionated and if you don't like it then make you own. Holy shit.

[SethMode]

I'd like to see you guys complaining about certain players make your own goddamn list. This is obviously opinionated and if you don't like it then make you own. Holy shit.

What's the point of making a list if it doesn't stir up debate? I swear, people get butthurt FOR bcransom more than he does. In fact, he seems to be the least butthurt and it's his list. It's the interest, quit bitching about people bitching.

[bcransom]

8.

Troy Polamalu - SS - Pittsburgh Steelers

Polamalu is the best safety in the NFL. Not only is he a great ball-hawk, he’s a huge hitter, and he seems to be in on every play. His importance was taken for granted I think by Steeler fans when he was an immovable object at SS, but when he was unable to play, the reality of the matter hit the team hard. DPOY candidate year in and year out, and is arguably the best player on his side of the ball.

[bcransom]

7.

Larry Fitzgerald - WR - Arizona Cardinals

His performance in the Super Bowl is what I think sold the country on him being one of the game’s best receivers. To come up that big when it matters the most is one of the most impressive things I've ever seen. However that’s not all he has going for him, as he's put up fantastic numbers consistently in his last three years. What's even more astonishing is how he put together those numbers with great players like Anquan Boldin and Steve Breaston stealing catches from him. The man can go up and get any ball over anybody in the NFL, has some of the best hands the game has ever seen, and can play the deep threat role and the possession role with the same level of excellence. An absolutely amazing player, and many peoples' choice for best receiver in the game.

[Archer]

/In before Nuke goes crazy at #7

[bcransom]

6.

Andre Johnson - WR - Houston Texans

This past season absolutely cemented Johnson as either 1 or 1a. with Larry Fitzgerald in the receiver rankings. No matter what measures a defense takes to keep this guy covered, whether it be foul play, penalties, triple coverage, over the top help, jam him at the line, etc. the guy continues to make amazing plays in bunches, and the stats are there to prove it. He led the league in yards (again), and has a ridiculous 216 catches for 3,144 yards and 17 touchdowns in the last two years. He's a man among boys on the field and is absolutely impossible to cover. This is a very subjective argument, but after last season, I would take Andre Johnson over everyone else to be my #1 WR.

[bcransom]

5.

Darrelle Revis - CB - New York Jets

We knew he was great before, but the 2009 campaign sealed it. Revis shut down virtually everyone he matched up on, including such talents as Randy Moss, Andre Johnson, and Reggie Wayne... He had 23 pass deflections to lead the NFL, and QB's had a 32.3 QB Rating throwing at him. It really doesn't get much better than that. Revis essentially takes away his half of the field from the QB's options, which makes Ryan's blitz packages that much more effective; he allows safeties to play way further up to defend the run, and for doubles to be placed on the other receiver. Revis Island is a real, much to the chagrin of receivers around the league.

[bcransom]

4.

Chris Johnson - RB - Tennessee Titans

A high spot for someone coming off their second season, I know, but how can you not put a guy in the top 5 who's coming off a 2000 yard season behind a line that really doesn't excel in run blocking? Johnson is a unique kind of back. He's got the kind of speed that makes world-class athletes look slow chasing after him and hesitant when trying to tackle him, the kind of moves that make defenders look foolish on a daily basis, and the swagger to go with it all. The only question is, can he keep it up, or has he peaked too soon?

[bcransom]

3.

Patrick Willis - LB - San Francisco 49ers

Willis has been a monster from the moment he entered the public spotlight as a 4 star recruit at Ole Miss. He’s never been one to talk much, and because of this he isn’t talked about enough, but there is no doubt he is the premier Front 7 defender in the NFL, and very arguably the best overall defensive player (I wouldn’t be upset if you picked Revis over him). He’s been dubbed the next Ray Lewis and the similarity is evident right away when tape is compared of the two. Sheer ferocity, sideline-to-sideline speed, backbreaking hits, and unparalleled tackling define their games. Yes, that tackling which is often taken for granted by fans has become infectious in San Francisco since Willis’ arrival in 2006 with a ridiculous 174 tackles as a rookie, and has led to one of the league’s more stout run defenses. To go along with his elite tackling ability, Willis is also one of the better coverage linebackers in the NFL, showcasing very high aptitude at batting down passes in his short career. It’s scary to think that at 25, Willis may not have even reached his peak.

Accomplishments –
3 Time Pro Bowler; 2 Time All Pro; 2007 Defensive Rookie of the Year.

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ZiHzZgottA&feature=related"]YouTube- Patrick Willis Hits Brad Smith[/ame]

[bcransom]

2.

Drew Brees - QB - New Orleans Saints

Since Brees arrived in New Orleans, he has been making a strong case to be included in the elite class of Quarterbacks with Manning and Brady, and this year he sealed it in many minds with flat-out AMAZING consistency in excellence, (109.6 QB Rating, 70.6 CMP%, 4400 yards) leading his Saints to a 13-0 start and the oft-elusive Super Bowl victory (In which he was the MVP). He’s an absolutely fantastic player who delivers the ball with lethal accuracy and velocity, yet one that is very easily caught by his receivers. The man is liable to rip apart a defense every single time he drops back, even when they’re 100% sure a pass play is coming. After a long road with some definite ups and downs, Brees has cemented his name in the class of the elite, and as the face of a city torn apart by tropical disaster. Something tells me Brees’ name will be cemented in Canton one day as well.

Accomplishments –
4 Time Pro Bowler; 4 Time Offensive POTY; Super Bowl XLIV MVP

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hLmQe8bLIfY&feature=related"]YouTube- [NFL] 2009 - Best of Drew Brees[/ame]

[bcransom]

1.

Peyton Manning - QB - Indianapolis Colts

Peyton Manning is the best player in football, a first-ballot Hall of Famer, and quite possibly will be regarded as the greatest Quarterback in the history of the game when all is said and done. Anyone who has watched Manning play for a significant can name for you in a second what makes him so good. First and foremost, his intelligence and knowledge of the game of football is unparalleled in the sport. This allows him to be one step ahead of the defense when it counts – before the snap when making line adjustments or changing the play, and post-snap when making lightning quick reads and throws with dumbfounding efficiency and poise in the pocket or out. Manning is simply a notch above all the rest because not only is he an outstanding player on all fronts, but he makes everyone around him better as well; something that can be said for others in the league, but certainly not at the same level as on Peyton’s. With all that said, statistically there really is no debating this pick considering he’s already in the all time top 5 for virtually every significant Quarterback stat there is every single season and all-time.

Accomplishments –
10x Pro Bowler; 4 Time MVP; NFL 2000’s All-Decade Team; Fastest Player to reach 10,000 yards and 30,000 yards passing

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eq7eH9tB5Ac"]YouTube- 2009 MVP Peyton Manning Highlights[/ame]