NFL Network Top 100 Players: Patrick Willis Ranked No. 23

by David Fucillo on Jun 19, 2011 6:23 PM PDT in San Francisco 49ers News

Fooch's Update: Pretty cool to note that some of the 49ers on Twitter have called BS on Willis being ranked No. 23. Posted some of them after the jump.

The NFL Network continued its countdown of the Top 100 players heading into 2011 with numbers 21-30. Earlier this evening @NFLNetwork tweeted out the latest results and Patrick Willis arrived at number 23 in the rankings. This a subjective list, but it's still nice to see players getting respect from their peers. For comparison's sake, that puts him ahead of the following linebackers:

Jonathan Vilma
Terrell Suggs
Brian Urlacher
Jerod Mayo
Cameron Wake
Lance Briggs
Jon Beason

I'm guessing Ray Lewis will be a top 20 player on this list given his respect around the league. More importantly, unless something is seriously wrong with this player-developed list, Justin Smith will be coming in as a Top 20 player. While these kinds of lists are simple offseason fodder, I think there is some value to a list developed by the players. There are issues with not seeing everybody play, but I'd like to think players have a decent idea of who is good and who is not so good. Maybe players haven't seen certain players, but i'd imagine there's a buzz around certain players.

Justin Smith would seem to be such a player and I would be stunned if he is not recognized accordingly. If he does come in as one of the "Top 20 Players in 2011" it doesn't necessarily mean that he is better than Patrick Willis. Aside from the fact that they play two entirely different positions, Smith is having a very impressive run since joining the 49ers. Willis will probably go down in football history as the "better player" on these kinds of rankings, but right now Justin Smith is playing some seriously amazing football.

Adam Snyder tweet:

@PatrickWillis52 is a top 5 player in the league. I call BS on the #top100NFL playersless than a minute ago via Twitter for iPhone Favorite Retweet ReplyAdam Snyder
ASnyds68

Joe Staley tweet:

Saw they had @PatrickWillis52 at 23 on the top 100. That list is bullshit they must have not asked anyone that actually plays.less than a minute ago via Twitter for iPhone Favorite Retweet ReplyJoe Staley
jstaley74

Patrick Willis even implicitly called BS on this one. Not a surprising response but still nice to see it:

number 23 hmmm. Its doesn't matter where I start its where I finish that matters most to me. In time my friends. " I have to Keep grinding"less than a minute ago via UberSocial Favorite Retweet ReplyPatrick willis
PatrickWillis52

Tweet Comment 27 comments | 0 recs |

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Comments

Guards and Centers should rarely hit the top100, too many QB’s, WR’s, DE’s and CB’s that all hold more value to thei team. Not to mention running backs and defensive tackles…

RLOTT#42

Yeah I said it, Craptree, and it is not a typo.....

Kaepernick is the lone quarterback in Division I history to pass for over 10,000 career yards and also rush for 4,000 yards.

by rlott#42 on Jun 19, 2011 6:30 PM PDT reply actions

centers shouldn't?

If the center is the leader of the offensive line, making a lot of the calls and line adjustments, isn’t there significant value to that?

by David Fucillo on Jun 19, 2011 6:32 PM PDT up reply actions

Jeff Saturday made the list

by Lok on Jun 19, 2011 6:36 PM PDT up reply actions

Yes, but if I line up all the players in the NFL and pick a team, the first 100 players will have very few Centers and Guards as high as some of these have made it so far. Too many tackles will be picked before Centers, they are more "valuable" maybe not

more important, but I wouldn’t bet 5 centers go in the top 100.

RLOTT#42

Yeah I said it, Craptree, and it is not a typo.....

Kaepernick is the lone quarterback in Division I history to pass for over 10,000 career yards and also rush for 4,000 yards.

by rlott#42 on Jun 19, 2011 8:51 PM PDT up reply actions

rlott42

SORRY FOR THE CAPS BUT VERY BAD EYES DUE TO THE NAVY AND SUBS…..GUARDS AND CENTERS ARE VERY,VERY CRITICAL IN A GAME AND WITHOUT QUESTION CENTER IS THE REAL GAME CALLER. REMEMBER RL42 HE HAS TO READ THE DEFENSE FASTER THAN EVERYONE AND THE D-LINE READ IS BY FAR THE MOST INPORTANT READ OF THE GAME AS SO MANY PLAYERS TAKES THE PLAYS ASSIGNMENT FROM HIM. CENTER IS MY FAVORITE POSITION SINCE I BEEN FOLLOWING FOOTBALL…….JUSTIN IS A MUSTIN IN THE TOP 20 ALONG WITH WILLIS THE FILLIS THE LIST. BUT ONE MOST INPORTANT THING THAT THE SURVEY SCREWED UP ON IS SOME PLAYERS ANSWERED TO LAST YEAR ONLY AND SOME ANSWERED TO THE ACTIVE PLAYERS CAREER, WHICH ONE IS IT….

BOB ‘BEETLE’ BEILHARZ

BOB 'BEETLE' BEILHARZ

by BEETLE49715 on Jun 20, 2011 1:18 AM PDT up reply actions

I understand the importance of the position, but when you have rookies that hit the field at an all pro level, I doubt they’d be as highly sought after vs players at different positions. Id take Ed Reed over any center in the league and he’s a safety.

RLOTT#42

Yeah I said it, Craptree, and it is not a typo.....

Kaepernick is the lone quarterback in Division I history to pass for over 10,000 career yards and also rush for 4,000 yards.

by rlott#42 on Jun 20, 2011 9:40 AM PDT up reply actions

I understand Willis being #23

Because of how bad the team has been, but come on…#23 he deserves to be higher. At least top 15. Ray Lewis is going higher because of how much respect he gets from his peers.

"I hate it! It looks like a stickup at 7-Eleven. Five guys standing there with their hands in the air."

Norm Sloan

"We have a great bunch of outside shooters. Unfortunately, all our games are played indoors."

Weldon Drew

by EcERyda69 on Jun 19, 2011 6:40 PM PDT via mobile reply actions

this ranking is a joke

No Justin Smith? Ray Lewis(grandpa) above PWilly?

to top it off, even the players they have on their own network say they did not vote and ask who voted for this?
This ranking has no credibility to me and seems like a ranking that the two jerry’s did together.

"You know whats funny? I always thought uhm dogs lay eggs and I learned something new today" Peter Griffin

by HUNGRY HUNTER on Jun 19, 2011 7:29 PM PDT reply actions

Lewis

Lewis is well-respected in the league so it shouldn’t be surprising if he ends up in the top 20 (as would be expected).

by David Fucillo on Jun 19, 2011 8:57 PM PDT up reply actions

and well past his prime and never to forget the incident that he was involved with early in his career. being respected does not make up for the fact that every player on the nfl network asked about the rankings said that they did not personalty vote.

dhani jones was one of them.
here is his rankings of linebackers.

http://www.cincyjungle.com/2011/6/19/2231737/dhani-jones-ranks-himself-as-a-top-10-linebacker-in-the-nfl

if the NFL says that the votes are from the players they should be actually from the players or at least have the players lie while on the NFL network.

"You know whats funny? I always thought uhm dogs lay eggs and I learned something new today" Peter Griffin

by HUNGRY HUNTER on Jun 19, 2011 9:23 PM PDT up reply actions

ray lewis

For past accomplishments only.

by wtlichens on Jun 20, 2011 11:23 AM PDT via mobile up reply actions

With the way that this list has gone, I won't be surprised if Justin Smith wasn't in the top 20

by mtl9ers14 on Jun 19, 2011 8:38 PM PDT reply actions

No chance Justin Smith is on this list.

If he hasn’t shown up already, then he’s not going to. I love him to death as a player, and he’s been an enormous reason for the (limited) success of our defense, but to think that he’s among the top 25 players in the league would be letting one’s fanhood get in the way of reason.

As for Ray Lewis going ahead of P Willy – also totally reasonable. Willis is an immeasurably gifted athlete, but Ray has been – and still is – one of the absolute best defensive players this league has ever seen. There is no comparing his level of knowledge, ability, instinct, passion and leadership to any other defensive player of this generation. Commanding respect is not just a reputation that he’s earned, but a part of who he is as a football player.

"It came down like a punt, Coach!" - Josh Morgan

by shlecko on Jun 19, 2011 9:13 PM PDT reply actions

Agree on J Smith but not on P Will

Although I totally agree J Smith will not be on this list I disagree that Ray Lewis should be higher on the list that P Willy right now! If this was a list of players with the greatest body of work the hands down R Lewis will be top 3 (then Randy Moss should be on this list and not M Williams). But it is the top players 2010 to 2011 and hands down P Willis is the best LB in the NFL. Right now this Top 100 list suggest P Will is only the 5th best LB behind Harrison, Ware, Matthews & Lewis (guessing on the order but I’m sure of the players). I think that’s absolutely BS!!!

by willisHOF on Jun 19, 2011 11:25 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions

PROPS

OUTSTANDING FEEDBACK BACK SHLECKO, PROPS TO YOU.

BOB 'BEETLE' BEILHARZ

by BEETLE49715 on Jun 20, 2011 1:15 AM PDT up reply actions

+1

No chance J.Smith shows up at this point. He should have been top 100 but he isnt top 20 material. Willis should have been top 15

by 49er4life on Jun 20, 2011 11:03 AM PDT up reply actions

I think they went about it all wrong.

Each position should’ve only been able to vote for that position. In other words, linebackers should have only been allowed to vote for linebackers, and so on… and not allowed to vote for themselves.

I think the ideal was set by Ray Lewis, but I think even Ray Lewis has given Patrick Willis props. I think we are all a little biased here but I think even non-biased people would agree that Willis is (or at the very least on his way to becoming) the best linebacker in the NFL. Period.

Check out my site!!
The Hometown Fan

by Drew Kerr on Jun 20, 2011 12:57 AM PDT reply actions

rlott42

BOB 'BEETLE' BEILHARZ

by BEETLE49715 on Jun 20, 2011 1:10 AM PDT reply actions

SHLECKO

OUTSTANDING FEEDBACK SHLECKO, PROPS TO YOUR KNOWLEDGE OF THE GAME…

BOB 'BEETLE' BEILHARZ

by BEETLE49715 on Jun 20, 2011 1:14 AM PDT reply actions

rlott42

BOB ‘BEETLE’ BEILHARZ

BOB 'BEETLE' BEILHARZ

by BEETLE49715 on Jun 20, 2011 1:17 AM PDT reply actions

DOUBLES

SORRY ALL, MY BAD…

BOB 'BEETLE' BEILHARZ

by BEETLE49715 on Jun 20, 2011 1:19 AM PDT reply actions

Roddy White

Anybody else see where Roddy White who has been complaining about anything and everything to do with this list, including his own position at #24 admitted on NFL net that on the day he was suppose to vote he had “other commitments” and did not vote. He actually laughed it off. What a phony.

by Jaxson876 on Jun 20, 2011 5:04 AM PDT reply actions

This list was went about completely wrong

It is too subjective to place a position over another position in regards to importance to a team. It should’ve been broken down by position. The 10 best at each position. Its impossible or too subjective to say Peyton Manning is a better player then P Willis even though they are both atop of the respective positions. Not to mention the confusion over body of work or last season’s best players. According to the list, center Andre Gurode is almost 20 players better then Greg Jennings. Seriously?? Fullback Vonte Leach is over 20 players better then VD? Ridiculous…I could go on all day with these comparisons.

Also, I think it works better if you allow the players’ counterparts to determine or vote on who they think are the best at the position. DBs should vote on best WRs/ TEs and OL/RBs should vote on best DL/LBs for the simple fact that they compete and watch film against these guys all the time.

Give tha guy a break...I remember losing most of our games because of mistakes by players that did not play the quarterback position.

I'm sure Norv Turner is a good judge of a good QB...even he said the guy can be good w/ quality people around him.

by NewAgecorner1 on Jun 20, 2011 9:14 AM PDT reply actions

I stopped watching this after 80-89 aired

It’s too bad the players play their favorites in this list rather than base it off talent. This is supposed to be the best players of 2011. I almost threw up in my mouth when I saw Tony Romo on the list when he only played half a season. I want this top 100 to end and go away forever. Complete [site decorum]!

"When I get sad, I stop being sad and be awesome instead. True story." - Barney Stinson

by Haggardninja on Jun 20, 2011 9:44 AM PDT reply actions 3 recs

rec'ed

"You know whats funny? I always thought uhm dogs lay eggs and I learned something new today" Peter Griffin

by HUNGRY HUNTER on Jun 20, 2011 1:36 PM PDT up reply actions

What pissed me off was where Antonio Gates was placed, #22

I love him to death as a player, if I had to pick one TE other than VD it would be Gates. But with that being said he only played half a season. How can a player who played 8 games be the 22nd player in the top 100 players of 2011? It just doesnt even make sense to me. This is list is garbage because it shouldnt be based off of the past it should based off of the 2011 season. Which is why players like Antonio Gates & Tony Romo shouldnt be on the list

by Lok on Jun 20, 2011 4:51 PM PDT up reply actions

RE-POST

I JUST WANTED TO LET THE NEWBIES THAT HAS ARRIVED AND REFRESH THE MEMORIES OF SOME OF US OLDIES BUT GOODIES THAT THE RULES WERE NOT SPELLED OUT VERY CLEARLY. I TOOK IT AS JUST THE TOP PLAYERS OF 2011 AND GOING BY THAT JUSTIN A “MUSTIN” SMITH WOULD BE A TOP 10 BY FAR CONSIDERING THE COACHES HE HAD AROUND HIM EVEN THOUGH HE HAD THE BEST COACH FROM THE SING, SING STAFF WITH HYPER TOM. WILLIS WOULD BE HIGHER ALSO BUT NOT SURE IF HE WOULD HAVE CRACKED THE TOP 10. OTHER PLAYERS VOTED FROM ACTIVE PLAYERS WHOLE CAREER UP TO THIS POINT AND THAT CHANGES THE VOTING 100%, SO I WOULD TAKE THIS TOP 100 AND THROW IT TO THE RAVENS SO THEY CAN PICK IT UP OFF THE DESK OF THE PEOPLE WHO PUT THIS ON PAPER TO MAKE THIS CONTEST PER-SAY AND LET THEM FLY IT OFF TO THE DUMPSTER IN RAVEN SAFE HAVEN LAND AND BURN IT AND START OVER AS WE HAVE TIME TO FINISH IT BUT MAYBE A LITTLE FASTER WITH CLEAR CUT RULES ON WHAT THEY WANT.

BOB 'BEETLE' BEILHARZ

by BEETLE49715 on Jun 26, 2011 5:37 AM PDT reply actions