49ers In The NFL Network Top 100 Players of 2011
by David Fucillo on May 24, 2011 6:00 AM PDT
in San Francisco 49ers News
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PrintIn an attempt to fill space during a loooooong NFL offseason, the NFL Network has been putting together a list of the top 100 players in the NFL in 2011. The list was decided on through a vote of current NFL players. We have a FanPost asking about Justin Smith's inclusion on the list and I thought I'd pull the entire topic to the front page for today. After the jump I've posted the current rundown of players 61-100. The NFL Network is releasing ten players every Sunday night.
As it currently stands, Frank Gore and Vernon Davis are the only 49ers included on the list at 94 and 88 respectively. In looking through the 49ers roster, I'd imagine Justin Smith and Patrick Willis are the only two players who would likely end up on this list. Mike Iupati might end up on the list in the future, but it's probably a little too soon. One guy who could surprise us might be Takeo Spikes. Given that this list is voted on by the players, maybe the respect for Spikes gets him on. I'm not holding my breath, but crazier things have happened...maybe.
In gore4president's FanPost on the topic, some folks were concerned about Justin Smith not being included. I have to say I'd be shocked if he was not on this list. I'd say there's a good-sized debate as to which of Smith and Willis was the 49ers best defensive player, or biggest impact player on defense, or how ever you want to describe it. Willis is the better overall player in terms of upside and what he can do on any given play. However, what Smith has done at a position like defensive end in the 3-4 has been pretty spectacular. Anytime there's a play near the line of scrimmage he seems to be involved, whether it be taking down a running back, hurrying or sacking a quarterback, or just being a general menace.
It's just about impossible to predict how the players voted on Smith and Willis, but I think at least one of those two will be in the top twenty. I wouldn't be at all surprised to see Bamm Bamm in the top ten. If I had to make a completely useless prediction, I'd say Bamm Bamm is eighth and Justin Smith is 19th. Those are probably incredibly homer-ific of me. I can live with that.
100. Donovan McNabb QB-WAS
99. Chad Clifton OT-GB
98. Darren McFadden RB-OAK
97. Shaun Phillips OLB-SD
96. Nick Collins S-GB
95. Jon Beason MLB-CAR
94. Frank Gore RB-SF
93. Eric Berry S-KC
92. Lance Briggs OLB-CHI
91. Terrell Owens WR-CIN
90. Joe Flacco QB-BAL
89. Adrian Wilson S-ARI
88. Vernon Davis TE-SF
87. Jordan Gross OT-CAR
86. Josh Freeman QB-TB
85. Jason Babin DE-TEN
84. Josh Cribbs WR/KR-CLE
83. Mike Williams WR-TB
82. LaMaar Woodley OLB-PIT
81. B.J. Raji NT-GB
80. Jared Allen DE-MIN
79. D'Brickshaw Ferguson OT-NYJ
78. Dallas Clark TE-IND
77. Chris Snee OG-NYG
76. Santonio Holmes WR-NYJ
75. Jay Ratliff NT-DAL
74. Greg Jennings WR-GB
73. Trent Cole DE-PHI
72. Tony Romo QB-DAL
71. Mario Williams DE-HOU
70. Miles Austin WR-DAL
69. John Abraham DE-ATL
68. Antrel Rolle S-NYG
67. Brian Waters OG-KC
66. Richard Seymour DE-OAK
65. Vonta Leach RB-HOU
64. Tamba Hali OLB-KC
63. Cameron Wake DE- MIA
62. Jerod Mayo ILB-NE
61. Brandon Marshall WR-MIA
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Yep
When you are one of the best you stay that way forever in the eyes of the media — long after your playing excellence is gone.
players voted not the media
Kellen Moore is awesome
Katie Mcgrath is our savior
Im not competitive I just addicted to winning.
Well
I wouldn’t exactly say his “playing excellence” is gone. He was on pace for yet another 1,000 yard season before injury last year. He also had an incredible 222 yard performance against Cleveland in week 4. Overall he had 72 catches for 983 yards and 9 TDs. I mean don’t get me wrong, he’s not as good as he WAS, for sure. But in my opinion he is still a game changer and teams that take him lightly pay for it.
19th...
Don’t know that Smith will be that high, but I’d be shocked if he’s not on the list if players did the voting…they probably realize more than the public what kind of impact Smith really has.
Eric Berry beat Frank Gore??????????!!!!
From that alone I deem the whole list a discredit to honorable travail of ranking football players.
The sad thing is
Had Frank not been injured I would be he’d be in the top 30. I mean he was on pace for another 2,000+ all purpose yards season.
Justin SHOULD be on this list
But as I said in the fanpost, I just don’t see him being ranked above some of the guys already on there. I hope he is, but I have my doubts.
I agree with Fooch about Willis. No doubt in my mind he should be top ten.
Sorry this list is laughable
Josh Cribbs on the list? PFFT. I’d rather have Danny Amendola, you know, because he can contribute on offense too. Not only did Amendola lead his team in punt and kick returns, but also in receptions. What did Cribbs have, 20 catches? Give me Amendola’s 80 catches any day of the week over Cribbs.
Also, the people that made this list forgot about the new kickoff rule. Cribbs won’t even be a factor in 2011. I don’t mean to sound like such a crusty whiny baby, but this list is pointless and the NFL Network is slapping itself in the face by making it.
Jared Allen only five spots ahead of Justin Babin? Sorry but Jared Allen is one of the best Defensive Ends in the league, coming off a down season (with 11 sacks). This joke list is a joke.
Signed,
Angry Fan.
by Andrew Davidson on May 24, 2011 9:06 AM PDT reply actions
players
The list was voted on by the current players.
by David Fucillo on May 24, 2011 10:05 AM PDT up reply actions
kickoff rules
It was probably also voted on before the kickoff rules were voted in to effect.
by David Fucillo on May 24, 2011 10:06 AM PDT up reply actions
Lists like this one...
Make Rolling Stone’s Top 100 albums of all time list’s look valid.
Rolling Stone hasn’t been relevant since they had Don Johnson on the cover with a guitar back in the 80’s.
Bite my shiny metal sig
I hate this list
I watched the first two episodes and had enough from there. The list gets even worse as it goes. I don’t understand how they came up with these. Are the players ranking them by career or their last year playing? If it was last season, Tony Romo has no business being on this list as he was injured for half the season. Jared Allen deserves to be much higher than #80. I just don’t get it.
"When I get sad, I stop being sad and be awesome instead. True story." - Barney Stinson
Not even the worst list in the last month
Some idiot on ESPN tried to re-do the 2006-2008 drafts, horrendous.
sd377 wants to ban me for unleashing the Kaepernick Supernova Gamma Ray
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