I recently made the mistake of watching the NFL Network Top 100 Players of 2011. The NFL Network ranked the players and then they had a fan poll which determined the viewer opinion of what the ranking should be. Aaron Rodgers was second in the fan ranking and a shocking ELEVENTH according to the NFL Network. Eleventh best player in the NFL last year? This becomes even more upsetting when you see who was ranked ahead of him. Brady and Manning were one and two respectively. Even though I don't agree with this, fine, whatever. Any ranking that is done with NFL players is always going to involve these two being one and two.......even if they do get bounced in the first round of the playoffs. Here's where it gets ridiculous. 3-10 are Adrian Peterson, Ray Lewis, Ed Reed, Troy Polamalu, Andre Johnson, Darrelle Revis, Drew Brees, and Julius Peppers.
I understand that perhaps the NFL network wanted to make a ranking of players that didn't involve the top 5 spots all being quarterbacks, but Drew Brees? Really? Drew Brees lost to a 7-9 team in the playoffs!!!!
This is just another example of national media not giving the Packers and mainly Aaron Rodgers the credit that is due. Shameful.
I can understand being irritated that Rodgers was not higher, personally (at least after last year) I think he should be in the top 5. Then again, I think it's obvious this is a QB driven league.
However, out of all the names on that list to pick Drew as the one not belonging is crazy. Especially when you consider that when the voting was done Drew was coming off the 2009 year where he:
Lead the team to win the SB (with opposing QB's of Warner, Favre, and P Manning)
Didn't throw a single interception during the post season
Had a regular season QB rating of 109.6
Had the highest single season completion percentage in the history of the NFL
Threw for 34 TD's in the regular season
Threw for 4,388 yards
Over the last five years the guy has averaged 4,583 yards and 30.8 TD's a year.
So, while I think Rodgers is right up there with the best of the best, you may want to rethink arguing Drew doesn't belong.