Falcons have 5 of the top 100 players in the NFL

[DrReality]

Falcons have 5 of the top 100 players in the NFL

9:21 am September 10, 2009, by D. Orlando Ledbetter

Tony Gonzalez is the 10th best player in the league according to The Sporting News.

THE BRANCH — Five Atlanta Falcons made the Sporting News’ list of the 100 greatest players in the NFL Today, as selected by a panel of 106 Hall of famers, major award winners, executives, coaches and other football experts. (No, I wasn’t on the panel. Mere oversight I’m sure).

Falcons QB Matt Ryan is ranked 63rd.

Tight end Tony Gonzalez (10th), running back Michael Turner (42nd), quarterback Matt Ryan (63rd), wide receiver Roddy White (87th) and defensive end John Abraham 93rd).

The Steelers and the Vikings placed seven players on the list.

The Chargers, Colts and Eagles had six players.

The Falcons, Cardinals, Cowboys, Patriots and Ravens had five players.

Some of the 106 panelists had ties to the Falcons including former players Steve Bartkowski, Billly “White Shoes” Johnson, Claude Humphrey and Jeff Van Note.

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning heads up the list followed by New England’s Tom Brady.

Abraham is ranked 93rd.

The complete list is below and can also be found online.

The Cheerleaders are ready for the season opener. (CURTIS COMPTON/AJC).

Here’s the position breakdown. There were 12 quarterbacks ranked, most of any position, followed by: defensive/nose tackles (11), wide receivers and defensive ends (10 of each), outside linebackers (9), running backs and cornerbacks (8), offensive tackles (7), guards (6), safeties (5), tight ends and middle linebackers (4), and centers and inside linebackers (3).

[Admin]

Those ratings seem pretty fair although there's no way in hell that Tony Gonzalez is the 10th best player in the NFL right now. In his prime absolutely, but he's nowhere near that same player now.

SN's TOP 100

1. Peyton Manning, QB, Colts

2. Tom Brady, QB, Patriots

3. Adreian Peterson, RB, Vikings

4. Larry Fitzgerald, WR, Cardinals

5. LaDainian Tomlinson, RB, Chargers

6. Albert Haynesworth, DT, Redskins

7. Ed Reed, S, Ravens

8. Randy Moss, WR, Patriots

9. Troy Polamalu, S, Steelers

10. Tony Gonzalez, TE, Falcons

11. Ray Lewis, ILB, Ravens

12. Ben Roethlisberger, QB, Steelers

13. Dwight Freeney, DE, Colts

14. Steve Hutchinson, G, Vikings

15. DeMarcus Ware, OLB, Cowboys

16. Julius Peppers, DE, Panthers

17. Brian Westbrook, RB, Eagles

18. Drew Brees, QB, Saints

19. James Harrison, OLB, Steelers

20. Nnamdi Asomugha, CB, Raiders

21. Jared Allen, DE, Vikings

22. Donovan McNabb, QB, Eagles

23. Andre Johnson, WR, Texans

24. Steve Smith, WR, Panthers

25. Kurt Warner, QB, Cardinals

26. Champ Bailey, CB, Broncos

27. Shawne Merriman, OLB, Chargers

28. Osi Umenyiora, DE, Giants

29. Walter Jones, OT, Seahawks

30. Kevin Williams, DT, Vikings

31. Anquan Boldin, WR, Cardinals

32. Antonio Gates, TE, Chargers

33. Terrell Owens, WR, Bills

34. Alan Faneca, G, Jets

35. Patrick Willis, ILB, 49ers

36. Mario Williams, DE, Texans

37. Jeff Saturday, C, Colts

38. Jason Witten, TE, Cowboys

39. Brian Dawkins, S, Broncos

40. Matt Birk, C, Ravens

41. Joe Thomas, OT, Browns

42. Michael Turner, RB, Falcons

43. Clinton Portis, RB, Redskins

44. Bob Sanders, S, Colts

45. Terrell Suggs, OLB, Ravens

46. Justin Tuck, DE, Giants

47. Pat Williams, DT, Vikings

48. Joey Porter, OLB, Dolphins

49. Reggie Wayne, WR, Colts

50. Eli Manning, QB, Giants

51. Brett Favre, QB, Vikings

52. Asante Samuel, CB, Eagles

53. Chris Snee, G, Giants

54. Philip Rivers, QB, Chargers

55. Jordan Gross, OT, Panthers

56. Charles Woodson, CB, Packers

57. Lance Briggs, OLB, Bears

58. Tommie Harris, DT, Bears

59. Antonio Cromartie, CB, Chargers

60. Jammal Brown, OT, Saints

61. Brian Urlacher, MLB, Bears

62. Matt Light, OT, Patriots

63. Matt Ryan, QB, Falcons

64. James Farrior, ILB, Steelers

65. Vince Wilfork, NT, Patriots

66. Adreian Wilson, S, Cardinals

67. Lofa Tatupu, MLB, Seahawks

68. Jay Cutler, QB, Bears

69. Kris Jenkins, NT, Jets

70. Chris Johnson, RB, Titans

71. Shaun Rogers, NT, Browns

72. Julian Peterson, OLB, Lions

73. Kyle Vanden Bosch, DE, Titans

74. Trent Cole, DE, Eagles

75. Darnell Dockett, DT, Cardinals

76. Antoine Winfield, CB, Vikings

77. Willie Parker, RB, Steelers

78. Brandon Marshall, WR, Broncos

79. Leonard Davis, G, Cowboys

80. Aaron Kampman, OLB, Packers

81. Jon Beason, MLB, Panthers

82. Calvin Johnson, WR, Lions

83. Kris Dielman, G, Chargers

84. Andre Gurode, C, Cowboys

85. Jay Ratliff, NT, Cowboys

86. DeMeco Ryans, MLB, Texans

87. Roddy White, WR, Falcons

88. Michael Vick, QB, Eagles

89. Michael Roos, OT, Titans

90. Cortland Finnegan, CB, Titans

91. Ryan Clady, OT, Broncos

92. Haloti Ngata, NT, Ravens

93. John Abraham, DE, Falcons

94. Casey Hampton, NT, Steelers

95. Logan Mankins, G, Patriots

96. Steven Jackson, RB, Rams

97. Richard Seymour, DE, Raiders

98. Darrelle Revis, CB, Jets

99. LaMarr Woodley, OLB, Steelers

100. Dallas Clark, TE, Colts

[bird_dirt]

what? no kickers?

[EazyRoc]

It's official. John Abraham is the most underrated player in football. He lead 4-3 DEs in sacks last year with no pass rusher to help him whatsoever.

[DrReality]

LaDainian Tomlinson, RB, Chargers

He's no longer that high either.

[jy23]

It's official. John Abraham is the most underrated player in football. He lead 4-3 DEs in sacks last year with no pass rusher to help him whatsoever.

Couldn't agree more