NFLN's best in the biz (top 5 at each position)

[Frizzy350]

the reason the numbers are different in two different places of the site is because the part listing beason as having 10 deflections and rudd have 8, that section adds interceptions to the passes defensed category.

[panthers55]

So he says that Gonzales is the best and it isn't a lifetime acheivement award and then turns right around and talks about his pro-bowls and all his lifetime acheivements.

Not a bad list but again what it is based on? TDs per catch, yards per catch, number of third down catches for first down or what?

These fluff lists are fine but frankly aren't based on research or who had the best year in 2009.

Gonzales wasn't the most productive TE last year nor did he have the best numbers. The reason I generally ignore talking heads and most of the blecher report and blog articles is because it is based on popularity and being good for a long time not who is best presently.

[panthers55]

the reason the numbers are different in two different places of the site is because the part listing beason as having 10 deflections and rudd have 8, that section adds interceptions to the passes defensed category.

Interesting. I would think that making an interception would count as a defended pass. Don't know why the profile didn't include them.

Thanks for the explanation.

[Peppers90 NC]

wow. what a shitty list. why is Evans even on the top 5?

I bet your good friends at EA Sports will concur(with Evans top 5) on Madden 11

[Peppers90 NC]

Rudd's numbers are higher than Beasons mainly because he is probably on the field more. Now I haven't done the research, but it's not hard to imagine that Tampa's defense last year worked more than ours did. Even with Jakes turnovers(most gave the other team a short field), our offense was much more efficient than theirs, which in turn, kept our defense off the field a bit more. This is a good thing, Rudd is a very, very good baller, but most would take Beason any day. The difference of one tackle is hardly anything, but it does tell us something about that dude in TB.

[Dpantherman]

Top 5 Running Backs:

5) Maurice Jones-Drew ; Michael Turner

4) Frank Gore

3) Stephen Jackson

2) Adrian Peterson

1) Chris Johnson

wow...

[Dpantherman]

Top 5 Running Backs:

5) Maurice Jones-Drew ; Michael Turner

4) Frank Gore

3) Stephen Jackson

2) Adrian Peterson

1) Chris Johnson

Done by Jamie Dukes.

[Dpantherman]

mentioned omissions- Ray Rice, D-Will & Stew.

[Panthro]

Is Stephen Jackson still that good? Like Top 3 good?

[SorthNarolina]

Jackson is really good but at the same time he's on the Rams. How many competitive games has he been in where stopping him was important? They were blown out 8 times last season.

I can see how Double Trouble can get pushed out of the top 5. They spilt carries so it probably has to do with giving the guys who carry majority of the time or something.

I just noticed Ray Rice out of the top 5? I don't agree with that at all. Frank Gore is good and has been under appreciated but he's not better than Rice.

[Ricky Spanish]

Jackson is really good but at the same time he's on the Rams. How many competitive games has he been in where stopping him was important? They were blown out 8 times last season.

I can see how Double Trouble can get pushed out of the top 5. They spilt carries so it probably has to do with giving the guys who carry majority of the time or something.

I just noticed Ray Rice out of the top 5? I don't agree with that at all. Frank Gore is good and has been under appreciated but he's not better than Rice.

i guess the main contributor to that fact would be consistency. ray rice had a great year last year, and that's it, but he's only been in the league 2 years, so he most likely will have many more great years as well. Gore is a proven commodity and has done well consistently. if rice puts up another year like he did last year, then he deserves top 5 status in my opinion.

[SorthNarolina]

Yeah Gore has been very, very consistent. He deserves props for that but I'm going to go with the fresh legs over Gore who always gets hurt and is getting older.

P55 made a good post somewhere about how people who make these lists need to be very clear on what criteria and context they are ranking these guys in.

I would rank them on if I was the GM of an expansion franchise, who would be ranked on my board?

And then mesh that with the guys with proven/distinguished careers.

So Gore would still be up there, but it would give credit to the guys who are tops presently.

[Cat'sGrowl]

Are people still going on about Jackson?

That "he plays on a bad team" excuse is going to have to die at some point..

How many great players have played on poor teams in the past, and still been considered great?

Plenty.

Barry Sanders was recognized as the best back in the game during his heyday (along with Emmit Smith) and he played on a terrible Lion's team (man, the Lions have been bad for a long time..)

I don't think Jackson is a Top-5 back.

Personally, I don't think AP or CJ will be for much longer either.

History has shown that players who are ran to death don't last long ( Larry Johnson anyone?), and CJ's style of play has a very short lifespan-the older he gets, the slower and less agile he'll become. Personally I think Johnson has about one or two good season left before he takes a rapid decline.

I don't think that Frank Gore is a better back than D'lo.

I don't think MJD, Rice, or Turner are either, but especially Gore.

Give DeWill his due guys, he's a special player.

Also, one name that has gone unmentioned on this list is Steve Slaton, who, I personally have as one of the best in the game.

[Ricky Spanish]

Are people still going on about Jackson?

That "he plays on a bad team" excuse is going to have to die at some point..

How many great players have played on poor teams in the past, and still been considered great?

Plenty.

Barry Sanders was recognized as the best back in the game during his heyday (along with Emmit Smith) and he played on a terrible Lion's team (man, the Lions have been bad for a long time..)

I don't think Jackson is a Top-5 back.

Personally, I don't think AP or CJ will be for much longer either.

History has shown that players who are ran to death don't last long ( Larry Johnson anyone?), and CJ's style of play has a very short lifespan-the older he gets, the slower and less agile he'll become. Personally I think Johnson has about one or two good season left before he takes a rapid decline.

I don't think that Frank Gore is a better back than D'lo.

I don't think MJD, Rice, or Turner are either, but especially Gore.

Give DeWill his due guys, he's a special player.

Also, one name that has gone unmentioned on this list is Steve Slaton, who, I personally have as one of the best in the game.

Slaton hit a wall last year, he's not even in my top 15.

I'm not arguing that Dwill is special, but i will be one of the few on the board to declare him not a top 5 talent. top 10 yes, but top 5, no, and it's by a hair. i'd put him on the same level as gore, but gore has been more consistent over his career than Dwill, so he gets the nod in my book. MJD deserves all the praise he gets, the guy does it all, runs, catches, returns, and he blocks like a mofo, and he's only like 4'3 or some ridiculousness like that. he doesn't get enough credit in my opinion, but then again i'm a sucker for undersized guys that play like they are giants (Smitty)

my top 7

Turner (I actually think he is just as good as Dwill, but i'm a homer, so he gets bumped down)

Williams

Gore

Jackson

Peterson (fumbles waaaaaaay too much to be top 2)

MJD

Johnson

and by the way, i don't expect johnson to do poo next year. as soon as he gets paid one of 3 things will happen:

He will get hurt

He will suck randomly

He will half ass it the rest of the way.

I seriously doubt he does anything close to what he did last year ever again.