Peter Schrager's top 99 NFL players for '09

[oregonpackfan]

Peter Schrager lists his top 99 NFL players for the upcoming season.

The only Packer to make the list was Charles Woodson at #58.

While I agree with the majority of his lists, there are a number I do not agree with him. He lists QB Tony Romo as #28!--a highly overrated ranking, IMO.

http://www.comcast.net/slideshow/sports-nfltop99/1/

[Scott Campbell]

Jennings, Kampman, Rodgers - all should be right on the bubble.

[packer4life]

its an absolute atrocity that ARod is not anywhere on this list...I'll take him on my team over devin hester in a heartbeat

[SnakeLH2006]

Jennings, Kampman, Rodgers - all should be right on the bubble.

Kampy has been a proven beast for years, but I can see how he slides out of the top 99 with a position change. But Jennings and ARod should be there not only for their strong 2008 seasons, but as young stars that most likely are just getting better. Wouldn't bet against either for having insane stat years as leaders for the 2009 Pack. Kinda a shit list from the link to omit those two.

[Partial]

It's the top stars of 2009. Not the top future stars who are playing in 2009 and could get better later on in their careers :P

[SnakeLH2006]

It's the top stars of 2009. Not the top future stars who are playing in 2009 and could get better later on in their careers :P

No shit. Read my post. Both are better in 2009 at their positions than Kampy will be at his in 2009. All 3 are good, but Snake's guess is that Kampy regresses slightly with a new position but still gets 8 sacks. Arod wins 10 games and throws for 35 TDs and Jennings gets 95 catches 16 Td's. Those guys with their upside move ahead of Kampy. What was your point?

[Guiness]

How Jennings doesn't make it is beyond me.

Some other names you have to shake your head at. How is Forte on the list? TJ Housh is a reach. And Cassel. Gimme a break. Jake Long and Matt Ryan? Good last year - but one of the 99 best players in the league? How many games did Kris Jenkins miss?

Then, of course, Cutler at 31...I think he just put down 99 names he remembered, or watched TSN and wrote down the first 99 football players they named, scratching Favre off the list 'cause he's retired.

[BF4MVP]

How Jennings doesn't make it is beyond me.

Some other names you have to shake your head at. How is Forte on the list? TJ Housh is a reach. And Cassel. Gimme a break. Jake Long and Matt Ryan? Good last year - but one of the 99 best players in the league? How many games did Kris Jenkins miss?

Then, of course, Cutler at 31...I think he just put down 99 names he remembered, or watched TSN and wrote down the first 99 football players they named, scratching Favre off the list 'cause he's retired.

Housh averaged 9.8 yards a catch last year. He's a very average, overrated receiver.

Cutler has been overrated his entire career.

hahahahahahaha that list is a fucking joke.

Rodgers? Jennings? Hello...Anyone who has watched those two play would know they belong on the list. Especially since Rodgers is better than Cutler....

[hoosier]

Reggie Bush is another one who has no business being on any top 99 list. If he hadn't been drafted 1st overall, I mean 2nd overall, he would never even show up on peoples radar screens.

I can see leaving Rodgers off, since he has only been a starting NFL QB for one year and his team's record was noticeably worse than the previous year. But leaving Kampmann off is dumb, and leaving Jennings off instead of Housh is probably just a reflection of Housh's 15 minutes of free agency fame last winter--his name was etched in Schrager's memory for at least six months.

Moral of the story: Pete Schrager gets his knowledge of the NFL from watching ESPN highlights and scanning power polls.

[Partial]

Reggie Bush is a dynamic playmaker. Offensive coaches salivate at the mere thought of having a premiere talent like him to use in a multitude of ways. He's definitely top 99 in my opinion.

[SnakeLH2006]

Reggie Bush is a dynamic playmaker. Offensive coaches salivate at the mere thought of having a premiere talent like him to use in a multitude of ways. He's definitely top 99 in my opinion.

Actually, Snake agrees. Bush has a nasty case of hype vs. expected results (I mean really, is he supposed to be a 2000 yard a year RB?). He was hyped (and after seeing him in college, I was VERY excited at seeing the next Barry Sanders with pass-catching ability to boot), but really, that hype is hard to live up to. Bush is what he is, a beast. Dude gets an unfair rap from his draft hype, but look at him fill up stats at RB, receiving (gonna give you almost 100 catches a year) and on ST. He puts some stats up and is very dangerous, so easily a top 99 player. An average RB, an excellent pass-catcher, and an insane PR/KR guy that can take it to the house on any play. He's a tough guy, a team guy, and a special talent you won't find on many, if any rosters. Devin Hester is the hype clown.

Anyone remember this game on MNF...Snake does...Wow:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=epKm8UAt2Rw

As far as Cutler...Ya..Dude needs to have a winning team in college or the pros first. Not excited bout that guy, and not to sad to see him on the Bears.

Housh?? That's a joke. Yeah, he catches lots of balls, so did 5 guys from the old Run-N-Shoot ATL offense from the early 90's, but hard to think of their names. Jennings WINS games, and makes outstanding plays/catches/TD's to give our O hope. I doubt any NFL GM would take Housh over Jennings right now.

[SnakeLH2006]

BTW, to make it clear with the other 2 guys. Cutler is prick/hasn't won shit. That's why he's not a top 99.

Housh is a good player, but dime a dozen. Guys like Jennings that win games..those are the types to keep. What has Cutler done to will his team some wins, or Housh? Just saying, but both those guys are just guys.

[hoosier]

Reggie Bush is a dynamic playmaker. Offensive coaches salivate at the mere thought of having a premiere talent like him to use in a multitude of ways. He's definitely top 99 in my opinion.

Bush's contributions on offense have diminished progressively from year 1 to year 3. His role in the running game has been mediocre at best (12 tds, 3.7 career yards per carry, only one run of more than 40 yards in his career), and his role in the Saints passing game has slipped from 2006 (88 receptions, 742 yards) to last year (52, 440). Granted, he has missed ten games in the last two years due to injury, but his inability to stay on the field hurts his team. He had a nice year last year returning punts, but if that's his primary contribution then putting him among the top players in the league is a stretch.

[HarveyWallbangers]

Bush is not a top 99 player. That would put him, on average, as the 3rd best player on each team. I can think of at least 3 or 4 Packers (Rodgers, Jennings, Kampman, Woodson) I would take over him, a handful of Bears (Forte, Cutler, Harris, Briggs, Urlacher, Tillman) and Vikings (Peterson, Hutchinson, Kevin Williams, Allen, Winfield) over him. Detroit might be the only team that he would be one of the three best players on. We haven't even gotten to the likes of New England (Brady, Moss, Mankins, Seymour, Wilfork) and Pittsburgh (Big Ben, Parker, Smith, Harrison, Farrior, Polamalu). I don't think he's even close to the top 99. Sure, he's good in his role, but he's just not big enough to carry a big load (see the injuries and ineffective running inside), and that's a huge downgrade.

[Cheesehead Craig]

One would think that a top 99 player would have at least 1 All-Pro selection or have won something in their career.

I can see why A-Rod is not on there given the W-L of last year. I don't agree with it, but understand it. Jennings not on there is a joke.

He's got the top 5 correct, IMO. You can argue their order all you like, but all of them are in the top 5 in some order.

There's a bunch of Ravens defenders on that list and deservedly so.