Peter Schrager's top 99 NFL players for '09

[pbmax]

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

Bush has 24 TDs in 3 seasons. 4 of those are punt returns. At 8 TDs per season, it looks like a nice number (active players only):

LaDainian Tomlinson (29)....17.63
Maurice Jones-Drew (23).....13.33
Shaun Alexander (31)........12.44
Randy Moss (31).............12.36
Clinton Portis (27).........10.86
Terrell Owens  (35).........10.85
Marion Barber (25)..........10.50
Larry Johnson (29)..........10.17
Marvin Harrison (36).........9.85
Brian Westbrook (29).........9.43
Brandon Jacobs (26)..........9.25
Larry Fitzgerald (25)........9.20
Edgerrin James (30)..........9.10
Steven Jackson (25)..........8.80
Antonio Gates (28)...........8.50

But 3 years into his career, his top end isn't going to get higher. And given that he has lost games to injury in two of three seasons, this number will go down over his career. There are 10 running backs on this list and 5 receivers with better averages. Harrison and Alexander may not play this season. If he is on the list, it should be at the back end. Otherwise, its based on the hope he will be healthy.

[Pack-man]

The real arguments should be that both Rodgers and Jennings should be on the list. There are 13 QB's on the list and 14 WR. I would say that Rodgers is a top 12 QB. Can't believe that there are 14 WR's better than Jennings.

[hoosier]

The more I think about it the more the absence of Rodgers from this list is a head-scratcher. The guy has Matt Cassel in his top 70. Rodgers had a better year statistically and has more physical talent. The only explanation for ranking Cassel well above Rodgers is team record. If Cassel had a lot to do with the Patriot's 11-5 record, fine. I am doubtful.

[KYPack]

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....

Housh is not overrated. You guys are underrating him. Yes Greg Jennings belongs, ARod, too. I don't claim to know who gets bumped, but some of the guys that are mentioned are decent bump candidates.

Housh runs the tough routes, the slants, digs, and sluggo's. He's a great blocker and doesn't shy away from contact. When Carson is (was) his QB, his YPC was respectable. Ryan Fitzpatrick could only throw the ball about 9.8 yards. Housh has averaged 12 - 13 ypc with Palmer tossing to him.

One top 100 you NFC freaks can't toss him off is all-time leading receivers. His 507 catches put him 99th on that list. He's the 23rd ATLR of active players.

[hoosier]

How about this. I think most of us think we see mistakes on Schrager's list, but what is the worst mistake of all (omission, under-ranking or over-ranking)? I think one of the worst of all is the over-ranking of Eli Manning at #17. He probably shouldn't be on this list in the first place, and definitely should not be anywhere near the top 20, above players like Seymour and Kevin Williams.

[pbmax]

How about this. I think most of us think we see mistakes on Schrager's list, but what is the worst mistake of all (omission, under-ranking or over-ranking)? I think one of the worst of all is the over-ranking of Eli Manning at #17. He probably shouldn't be on this list in the first place, and definitely should not be anywhere near the top 20, above players like Seymour and Kevin Williams.

I don't know, PFT is speculating that Manning will get the biggest contract in the league when he re-signs with the Giants. If even close to true, the Giants might disagree.

[hoosier]

How about this. I think most of us think we see mistakes on Schrager's list, but what is the worst mistake of all (omission, under-ranking or over-ranking)? I think one of the worst of all is the over-ranking of Eli Manning at #17. He probably shouldn't be on this list in the first place, and definitely should not be anywhere near the top 20, above players like Seymour and Kevin Williams.

I don't know, PFT is speculating that Manning will get the biggest contract in the league when he re-signs with the Giants. If even close to true, the Giants might disagree.

If they do that I think they're making a mistake. Manning has become a good QB for the team they have right now, primarily because he has learned how not to make mistakes. But the Giants don't win because of stellar QB play, they win with their running game and their defense. To pay a QB like Eli huge bucks will presumably mean (unless there's no cap) that those $$ have to come from somewhere else--namely, they won't be able to invest as much in the offensive line and the defense, which is where their bread is buttered.

I can think of at least seven QBs playing in the NFL right now that I would rather have over Eli: his brother, Brady, Brees, Big Ben, Rivers, McNabb, Romo, and possibly Ryan and Rodgers (I'll let them do it for more than a season before calling them better). Aside from Peyton, Brady, Brees and Big Ben, I don't think any of these have definitely proven themselves worthy of building a championship team around (Rivers, Ryan and Rodgers are close).

[Partial]

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.

I love how you state everything as a definitive fact. Says who he's not a top 99 player? You? Who are you? This site, in their opinion, thinks he is, and they're more credible than you, so... Perhaps you should try saying something like this.

"I think ___ (is/is not) ____, because ____ does _____ imo.

I think your list of players is by and large BS. Downgrading for Bush for not being able to run up the middle is unfair. Don't run him up the middle, then. That's the same thing as saying that Kampman isn't a great player because he sucks in coverage. The obvious solution is to take him out of coverage.

Why ignore matchups and using a player in a specific way? Guys like Bush and Westbrook have success because they are used in a specific manner according to matchups that doesn't necessarily correspond to a traditional running back role.

[Scott Campbell]

They left off Vince Young.

[pbmax]

Guys like Bush and Westbrook have success because they are used in a specific manner according to matchups that doesn't necessarily correspond to a traditional running back role.

Westbrook has been the team's primary ball carrier for three seasons. Bush will be in a RBBC again, this year with Pierre Thomas. And Thomas will get the bulk of the carries.

The only thing in common is injuries and the occasional (for Westbrook) deployment at WR.

How this makes Bush among the top 99 players, though, will require another post.

[Tyrone Bigguns]

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

Really? How can the Packers have a top 5 receiving core and not one in the 99? Our blue chip weapons. Seems like you are arguing against yourself now.

I thought Jennings was a top receiver.

Steve Smith, Andre Johnson, Moss, SANTONIO HOLMES, Ochocinco, Hester, Calvin Johnson, Brandon Marshall, Roddy White, Terrell, Housh, Welker, Q, Wayne, and Fitz.

Ty will take out Hester. That is 15 wrs consider better than jennings. No packer TE, no packer RB.

All that talent around arod.

Amazing how non homers view things.

[pbmax]

At 99 players, almost 2 teams we are a lot light on the OL and a little light on the DL.

8 O Lineman and 16 D lineman (and that includes Suggs and Ware but not Harrison-why? went with first impression with hybrids)

[HarveyWallbangers]

I love how you state everything as a definitive fact. Says who he's not a top 99 player? You? Who are you? This site, in their opinion, thinks he is, and they're more credible than you, so... Perhaps you should try saying something like this.

Funny coming from a guy who will offer up his opinion on just about every football topic yet doesn't know how to throw a football. Hey, it's all our opinion. I didn't see you prefacing your comments on Vince Young, Aaron Rodgers, Julius Peppers, and many other topics with "just my opinion." Also, I'm not convinced Peter Schrager is any more knowledgeable than most of the fans on here who have a couple of football insider accounts. He's not a scout. He's a hack who perhaps has a journalism degree. If this came from somebody like Gosselin or McGinn, it would carry more weight. The guy even wrote this "And my apologies to the fine men at Football Outsiders, but I left the abacus at home for this one."

[th87]

Never heard of him.

[Tyrone Bigguns]

I love how you state everything as a definitive fact. Says who he's not a top 99 player? You? Who are you? This site, in their opinion, thinks he is, and they're more credible than you, so... Perhaps you should try saying something like this.

Funny coming from a guy who will offer up his opinion on just about every football topic yet doesn't know how to throw a football. Hey, it's all our opinion. I didn't see you prefacing your comments on Vince Young, Aaron Rodgers, Julius Peppers, and many other topics with "just my opinion." Also, I'm not convinced Peter Schrager is any more knowledgeable than most of the fans on here who have a couple of football insider accounts. He's not a scout. He's a hack who perhaps has a journalism degree. If this came from somebody like Gosselin or McGinn, it would carry more weight. The guy even wrote this "And my apologies to the fine men at Football Outsiders, but I left the abacus at home for this one."

I couldn't agree more. What we all should take is, assuming he is neutral or has a limited bias, a perspective on our talent.