The Top 100 Players of 2012 rolled on last night as players 11-20 were revealed. I am not a big fan of these list as I question their legitimacy for the most part. Several players have claimed not to have voted since the network started the top 100 last off-season and that is why I smell a rat. I like the concept that the NFL Network has, it\’s just I think they made up the list on their own for the most part. Sure a few players might have voted, but likely not as many as one might be led to believe. One aspect of the show that I do like is the comments made by other players about the ranked player in each vignette. That part seems genuine.
All of the above aside, the Pittsburgh Steelers had six players ranked in the top 100 list with safety Troy Polamalu leading the way. It was revealed on the Thursday night show that Polamalu ranked 19th overall. Last year Polamalu finished 6th overall, one spot behind Baltimore Ravens safety Ed Reed. This year Reed finished ahead of Polamalu once again at 16th overall.
The other Steelers that made the top 100 list were: LaMarr Woodley (63rd), Maurkice Pouncey (49th), Mike Wallace (47th), Ben Roethlisberger (30th) and James Harrison (29th).
The Reed versus Polamalu debate has and will continue to go on for some time, even after the two finally retire and are inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. What other players who played against Polamalu say now and for the rest of time will forever be a testament to the type of player he was.
Jacoby Jones, Matt Cassel and teammate Rashard Mendenhall are included in the vignette of Polamalu and of course all three had glowing praise for the Steelers former first round draft pick. Jones had perhaps the best quote when he said, “I want to know what God was thinking when he made that guy. The guy\’s a different animal.” Mendenhall said about Polamalu, “Troy is like the closest thing that I have ever seen to a super hero.”
So take the list for what it is and enjoy the videos if you might have missed any of them.
[flv:http://ll.video.nfl.com/films/s2012/top100/about/120620_top100_of_2012_troy_polamalu_700k.mp4 560 315]
