PFW's Top 50 list: a breakdown

[5xchampions]

Any day now, you can read our 2007 season preview magazine, which has landed safely in our hot little hands here in the office and soon should be in yours. I think we made some nice changes to this year's mag and offer some very good features. The Kickoff section is a must-read, too.

One section that has not changed is the player ratings story, highlighted by the Top 50 players list. It always generates controversy and discussion around the league -- and I must say I thought colleague Mike Wilkening did an extremely thorough (every time I write/hear/see this word, I think of Big Lebowski: "He's a good man ... and thorough") job of compiling this year's list, which is headed up by LaDainian Tomlinson at No. 1, natch.

Taking things a step further, Dan Arkush broke down the list, team by team, to show the breakdown. And now, I bring it to you:

San Diego (5)

RB LaDainian Tomlinson (1)
TE *****io Gates (18)
NT Jamal Williams (24)
LB Shawne Merriman (25)
OG Kris Dielman (48)

Indianapolis (4)

QB Peyton Manning (2)
WR Marvin Harrison (12)
DE Dwight Freeney (16)
WR Reggie Wayne (30)

New England (3)

QB Tom Brady (3)
DE Richard Seymour (21)
NT Vince Wilfork (45)

Cincinnati (3)

QB Carson Palmer (4)
WR Chad Johnson (11)
RB Rudi Johnson (40)

Seattle (3)

OT Walter Jones (27)
LB Julian Peterson (28)
RB Shaun Alexander (44)

Philadelphia (3)

QB Donovan McNabb (33)
OG Shawn Andrews (36)
RB Brian Westbrook (38)

Arizona (3)

WR Larry Fitzgerald (20)
WR Anquan Boldin (46)
S Adrian Wilson (50)

Kansas City (2)

RB Larry Johnson (5)
TE Tony Gonzalez (41)

St. Louis (2)

RB Steven Jackson (6)
WR Torry Holt (14)

Denver (2)

CB Champ Bailey (7)
WR Javon Walker (26)

Carolina (2)

DE Julius Peppers (8)
WR Steve Smith (15)

New Orleans (2)

QB Drew Brees (9)
OT Jammal Brown (35)

Chicago (2)

LB Brian Urlacher (17)
DT Tommie Harris (34)

Baltimore (2)

S Ed Reed (22)
OT Jonathan Ogden (43)

Minnesota (2)

DT Kevin Williams (23)
OG Steve Hutchinson (32)

Pittsburgh (2)

S Troy Polamalu (29)
NT Casey Hampton (31)

N.Y. Giants (2)

DE Mike Strahan (47)
TE Jeremy Shockey (49)

Miami (1)

DE Jason Taylor (10)

San Francisco (1)

RB Frank Gore (13)

Houston (1)

WR Andre Johnson (19)

Dallas (1)

CB Terence Newman (37)

Buffalo (1)

WR Lee Evans (39)

Cleveland (1)

TE Kellen Winslow (42)

Teams without Top 50 players: N.Y. Jets, Tennessee, Jacksonville, Oakland, Washington, Green Bay, Detroit, Atlanta and Tampa Bay.
I'd love to hear your feedback. Of course, you need to buy the magazine to hear the reasoning for each pick, but I am sure you guys have your opinions on who got left out or shouldn't have made the list, or who needs to be higher/lower. Bring it.

Posted by Eric Edholm on May 17, 2007 11:56 AM | Permalink | Comments (0

[5xchampions]

My question is...do you agree with the list...and if not...who is on your top 50 and why? Surely im sure most dont agree with this list...OR you may agree with the player being on the list just not at the spot where they project. I dont necessarily agree with the list, but i dont know the writers variables of how hes setting it up and if he assumes stats mean more than SB wins, or what. To see what im talking about...Payton Manning 2, Brady 3.

To me, Manning has to play second fiddle to Brady cause when the game is on the line, Brady puts his team in postion to win and Manning is just a really good QB. Im still also gauging that Manning needs Harrison while Brady can do it with anyone on his team. So tell me your list NFL Smackdown posters and let the debates begin.

[H41L2teh5k1n5]

How the hell did Rudi Johnson make it, and not Portis. I might be a little biased here, but come on.

[eliforpres]

For the most part I agree, but some of those players picked IMOVHO arent the best players on their respective teams. Thats a hard thing to do pick the "BEST PLAYERS" it's highly subjective and opinionated. You cant go on numbers alone because numbers wont be as high for a 2nd or 3rd year player as they would for a 7 -10 year vet. Systems that teams play can also stagger a players ability from one team to the next

Peace
EFP