Ugly Duck
06-29-2010, 07:45 PM
Here's the AFCW guys in the Top 60:
11. Philip Rivers, QB, Chargers - Considered immature and petulant by some in the past, Rivers came into his own in 2009, proving he’s one of the NFL’s top signal callers. During an ’09 season that saw the Chargers win 11 straight games and their fourth straight AFC West title, Rivers played nearly flawless football, tossing for 4,254 yards and 28 TD passes. A two-time Pro Bowler, he’s won big playoff games in the past (vs. Indy in ’08), but lost a heartbreaker to New York at home in ’09. In 2010, San Diego will be the heavy favorites out of the AFC West. All eyes will be on No. 17.
13. Nnamdi Asomugha, CB, Raiders - Though he’s never played for a team that’s won more than six games in a season, Nnamdi Asomugha continues to be recognized as one of the NFL's top defensive players. A three-time Pro Bowler and three-time All-Pro selection, Asomugha is rarely challenged, keeping his fellow corners very busy on a weekly basis. If we aren’t going to consider “off-the-field” issues for Ben Roethlisberger, we probably shouldn’t weigh in the off-the-field life of Asomugha. Ah, maybe we should. On top of being one of the best corners in the game, he’s also one of the league’s top ambassadors.
17. Ryan Clady, OT, Broncos - A first-round pick out of Boise State, the 6’6 left tackle has made the Pro Bowl in each of his two pro seasons and was first-team All-Pro in 2009. Clady didn’t give up a sack his entire rookie season and was nearly impossible to beat in year number two. Entering his third season in 2010, he’s expected to get only better. Scary thought. The top offensive tackle on the list, Clady heads up a rich young crop of OTs across the NFL.
33. Champ Bailey, CB, Broncos - Still in the top 50? After all these years? You bet. At 32, Bailey still is one of the top cornerbacks in the game. In his last year of a six-year contract, he recently told reporters he plans on playing five more years, “at least.” Another player, we’d laugh. With Champ? We nod our heads and just wonder which team will be fortunate enough to have him.
34. Antonio Gates, TE, Chargers - Stat-wise, Gates had the best season of his seven-year career last year, catching 79 balls for 1,157 yards and 8 touchdowns. However, he’s not happy with the way the season turned out. Gates is yet another top player looking for a new deal. GM A.J. Smith came out last week and said Gates, not receiver Vincent Jackson nor left tackle Marcus McNeill, is the front office’s top priority. Hopefully something gets done before training camp.
40. Elvis Dumervil, LB, Broncos - Dumervil, who just signed his first- and third-round restricted free-agent tender, led the NFL with 17 sacks last year and has recorded 43 in the last four years, all the while making a combined $2.015 million. He’ll play for $3.168 million this year. A pass-rushing terror from the outside linebacker spot last year, Dumervil hopes to follow up on his All-Pro campaign under a new defensive coordinator.
60. Brian Dawkins, S, Broncos - What’s with all these ageless defensive backs? Dawkins is 36 years old and still one of the top playmaking defenders in the game. After eight Pro Bowl seasons in Philadelphia, he put together yet another one in his first year in Denver. The unquestioned leader of the young Broncos defense, Dawkins has become a Rocky Mountain fan favorite already.
http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/lists/NFL-football-top-100-player-rankings-1-20#sport=NFL&photo=11350344
11. Philip Rivers, QB, Chargers - Considered immature and petulant by some in the past, Rivers came into his own in 2009, proving he’s one of the NFL’s top signal callers. During an ’09 season that saw the Chargers win 11 straight games and their fourth straight AFC West title, Rivers played nearly flawless football, tossing for 4,254 yards and 28 TD passes. A two-time Pro Bowler, he’s won big playoff games in the past (vs. Indy in ’08), but lost a heartbreaker to New York at home in ’09. In 2010, San Diego will be the heavy favorites out of the AFC West. All eyes will be on No. 17.
13. Nnamdi Asomugha, CB, Raiders - Though he’s never played for a team that’s won more than six games in a season, Nnamdi Asomugha continues to be recognized as one of the NFL's top defensive players. A three-time Pro Bowler and three-time All-Pro selection, Asomugha is rarely challenged, keeping his fellow corners very busy on a weekly basis. If we aren’t going to consider “off-the-field” issues for Ben Roethlisberger, we probably shouldn’t weigh in the off-the-field life of Asomugha. Ah, maybe we should. On top of being one of the best corners in the game, he’s also one of the league’s top ambassadors.
17. Ryan Clady, OT, Broncos - A first-round pick out of Boise State, the 6’6 left tackle has made the Pro Bowl in each of his two pro seasons and was first-team All-Pro in 2009. Clady didn’t give up a sack his entire rookie season and was nearly impossible to beat in year number two. Entering his third season in 2010, he’s expected to get only better. Scary thought. The top offensive tackle on the list, Clady heads up a rich young crop of OTs across the NFL.
33. Champ Bailey, CB, Broncos - Still in the top 50? After all these years? You bet. At 32, Bailey still is one of the top cornerbacks in the game. In his last year of a six-year contract, he recently told reporters he plans on playing five more years, “at least.” Another player, we’d laugh. With Champ? We nod our heads and just wonder which team will be fortunate enough to have him.
34. Antonio Gates, TE, Chargers - Stat-wise, Gates had the best season of his seven-year career last year, catching 79 balls for 1,157 yards and 8 touchdowns. However, he’s not happy with the way the season turned out. Gates is yet another top player looking for a new deal. GM A.J. Smith came out last week and said Gates, not receiver Vincent Jackson nor left tackle Marcus McNeill, is the front office’s top priority. Hopefully something gets done before training camp.
40. Elvis Dumervil, LB, Broncos - Dumervil, who just signed his first- and third-round restricted free-agent tender, led the NFL with 17 sacks last year and has recorded 43 in the last four years, all the while making a combined $2.015 million. He’ll play for $3.168 million this year. A pass-rushing terror from the outside linebacker spot last year, Dumervil hopes to follow up on his All-Pro campaign under a new defensive coordinator.
60. Brian Dawkins, S, Broncos - What’s with all these ageless defensive backs? Dawkins is 36 years old and still one of the top playmaking defenders in the game. After eight Pro Bowl seasons in Philadelphia, he put together yet another one in his first year in Denver. The unquestioned leader of the young Broncos defense, Dawkins has become a Rocky Mountain fan favorite already.
http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/lists/NFL-football-top-100-player-rankings-1-20#sport=NFL&photo=11350344