Summer is always very quiet compared to other seasons. NFL, NBA and NHL are each in the offseason. School is out, families are vacationing and television shows take a break.
As usual, various websites make lists to get the public talking. One week it may be the wealthiest athletes, another week the most attractive, and another, the most influential.
Well this week, ESPN polled their six NFL insiders covering the various divisions weighed in on the top players in the National Football League.
1. Tom Brady, New England Patriots
2. Peyton Manning, Indianapolis Colts
3. Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints
4. Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers
5. Troy Polamalu, Pittsburgh Steelers
6. Adrian Peterson, Minnesota Vikings
7. Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh Steelers
8. Chris Johnson, Tennessee Titans
9. Philip Rivers, San Diego Chargers
10. Michael Vick, Philadelphia Eagles
10. Andre Johnson, Houston Texans
I understand the point of the list is to get hits but they are way off in a few areas. First, how is Peyton Manning NOT number one?
Nobody means more to their team, nobody. Without 18 on the field, the Colts are mediocre. They never have had a particularly good defense and special teams is consistently one of the worst in the league. Sure they have some weapons but nobody dissects the defense and leads the other ten on the field like Manning.
Even in practice, it is he who leads practice. These offseason workouts during the lockout-yup, him too. I can’t believe the Colts would win more than four games, the same team except for Manning, that has won 10 or more game for nine straight years.
And I’m not the only one. Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Derrick Mason believes the Colts QB is No. 1.
“When you look at the rankings and you look at the importance of a player is this: Not the type of season that he had, one seasons or two seasons that he had, it’s what player do I kick off a team and it changes that team dramatically? I only know one player and it’s Peyton Manning,” Mason said. “You take Tom Brady off New England they showed that they can go 11-5. Now you take Peyton Manning off the Colts I don’t know where that teams goes offensively.”
The other choices are fitting and can work, except for Michael Vick rounding out the top-ten. While he is a difference maker, the team can run with about any other quarterback on the field. Essentially, he is NOT an x-factor. I’d argue he isn’t in the top 25 most valuable.
When I am choosing my top players in the league, I’m look at how the team could play without him. How would the team cope with his loss and how big was his presence on the field.
Take into account that criteria, and the list would alter a bit. In the end, Peyton Manning has to be atop the list. He not only has impacted the success of the Colts but the city of Indianapolis.