Pro Football Weekly: Cowboys have 2 of the top 50 players in the NFL

[sbk92]

SportsDayDFW sports


According to Pro Football Weekly's list of Super 50 NFL players in 2010, the Cowboys possess one exceptional player on each side of the ball.

The list compiled by the magazine's senior editor, Mike Wilkening, combined the opinions of coaches and evaluators from around the NFL.

Those sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity, ranked the top players according to performance and value to team.

The highest ranked Cowboy was outside linebacker DeMarcus Ware, who came in at No. 17.

"In a disappointing season for the Cowboys, Ware stood out, notching 66 tackles and 15.5 sacks," Wilkening wrote. "He really came on late in the season, recording a half-dozen sacks in his last three games. He is simply one of the NFL's most dynamic pass rushers."

Just sneaking in at No. 50 was tight end Jason Witten.

"Witten, an exceptional short-and-intermediate receiver, hauled in 94 passes for 1,002 yards with nine touchdowns in 2010," Wilkening wrote. "He was targeted 128 times, most among tight ends. Time and again, he gets open."

The Baltimore Ravens and Green Bay Packers led the list, having five players from each team in the Super 50.

Quarterbacks consumed the top 5 spots with Tom Brady leading a group that included Aaron Rodgers, Peyton Manning, Michael Vick and Philip Rivers.

Green Bay linebacker Clay Matthews was the top non-quarterback, cracking the rankings at No. 6.

 

[dbair1967]

16 players better than Ware?

Um, no.

Vick in the top-5?

Joke.

 

[Rock Slamdance]

Like every list, I take these things with a grain of salt. That said, if I was to put together MY top 50 list, Ware and Witten would be the only two Cowboys, with Ratliff on the bubble.

 

[LAZARUS_LOGAN]

Here are the listings.

1. QB Tom Brady / New England Patriots

Brady was exceptional in the regular season, completing 324-of-492 passes for 3,900 yards with 36 touchdowns and a mere four interceptions. Including the postseason, Brady went 339 passes without throwing a pick. The Patriots underwent some drastic changes in the passing game, with WR Randy Moss departing, WR Deion Branch returning and rookie TEs Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez emerging as the NFL's brightest young tandem at their position. The constant was Brady, who garnered Pro Football Weekly/Professional Football Writers of America MVP honors for his efforts.


2. QB Aaron Rodgers / Green Bay Packers

Rodgers' mobility, accuracy and arm strength are his greatest assets and allow him to create on the move like few passers in the game. The Packers struggled to run the ball at times this season, and a host of injuries threatened to knock them out of contention, but Rodgers helped keep them afloat. And in the postseason, he was magnificent. Rodgers epitomized the term "dialed in" in the divisional round win at Atlanta, completing 31-of-36 passes for 366 yards and three TDs in a resounding 48-21 win.


3. QB Peyton Manning / Indianapolis Colts

We might have no clearer example of the "value to team" portion of our criteria than Manning. He willed a Colts team beset by injuries to first place in the AFC South. Playing without key weapons such as TE Dallas Clark and WR Austin Collie down the stretch and without much of a running game to fall back on, Manning delivered, throwing for 4,700 yards and 33 TDs. While Manning threw 17 picks, that was only one more than a season ago — and he attempted 108 more passes than in '09. The Colts needed him to play to his high standard this season, and, except for a three-game stretch, he did just that.


4. QB Michael Vick / Philadelphia Eagles

Vick was never better than he was this season. In just 12 games, he set career highs in passing yards (3,018), TD passes (21) and passer rating (100.2) while committing a mere nine turnovers. And did we mention that Vick still has that rare speed? He rushed for 676 yards on 100 carries. At age 30, and after two seasons out of football and one on the bench, Vick played like a legitimate MVP candidate.


5. QB Philip Rivers / San Diego Chargers

Rivers' case is very similar to Peyton Manning's. He was outstanding for a team heavily dependant on him, setting career highs in passing yards (4,710) and completions (357) with 30 TD passes and a 101.8 passer rating even with a supporting cast that was without WR Vincent Jackson (holdout) and TE Antonio Gates (foot) for extended stretches. Rivers has established himself as one of the NFL's top passers — a quarterback capable of lifting up the play of everyone around him.


6. B Clay Matthews / Green Bay Packers

Matthews garnered PFW/PFWA Defensive MVP honors after recording 13.5 sacks and 60 tackles for Green Bay's swarming defense. A late bloomer, Matthews didn't start until he was a senior at USC, but he has emerged as one of the game's top outside linebackers and pass rushers. Excellent effort, coupled with very good athleticism, makes him special.


7. SS Troy Polamalu / Pittsburgh Steelers

Time and again, Polamalu made big plays for the NFL's most imposing defense. His most memorable play came in Week 13, when he blitzed off the left edge, hitting Ravens QB Joe Flacco as he was preparing to throw off a three-step drop. Flacco fumbled, Steelers B LaMarr Woodley recovered, and the Steelers later capitalized with the eventual game-winning TD. Polamalu has exceptional speed and is effective both bursting through the line in run support and covering a lot of ground quickly in pass defense. Some would say he's the Steelers' most indispensible defender.


8. ROLB James Harrison / Pittsburgh Steelers

There is a case to be made for Harrison as the NFL's top all-around linebacker in 2010. In addition to notching 10.5 sacks, Harrison racked up 100 tackles. What's more, he defended five passes and pulled in a pair of interceptions. Looking for more measures of his disruptiveness? He also forced a half-dozen fumbles. So strong and low to the ground, Harrison can be a nightmare to block as a pass rusher, and he's an above-average run defender, too.


9. DRE Julius Peppers / Chicago Bears

Here's a case where a player's numbers don't tell the entire story about his impact. Peppers, who has had six seasons in his career with double-digit sacks, notched 54 tackles and eight sacks in his first season in Chicago, but his effect on the rest of the defense was profound. Even when he didn't get to the quarterback, he was difficult to block, which helped the rest of the Bears' front four. Peppers, who has rare athleticism, also defended nine passes, with two interceptions.


10. QB Matt Ryan / Atlanta Falcons

Ryan's third NFL season was his best, as he set career bests in yards (3,705) and touchdowns (28). Ryan is an accurate, prudent passer who doesn't take many undue risks (his end-of-half interception vs. Green Bay in the divisional round aside) and fits the Falcons' scheme to a "T." The Pro Bowler has a very bright future.

 

[LAZARUS_LOGAN]

11. QB Drew Brees / New Orleans Saints

It was an uncharacteristically sloppy season for Brees, who threw a career-high 22 interceptions. He did lead the league in completion percentage (68.1), however, and threw 33 TD passes, which tied for the second most in the league. He sets the tone for the Saints, and few players mean more to their franchise.


12. RB Arian Foster / Houston Texans

Foster had a breakout season, leading the NFL in rushing and emerging as one of the game's best pass-catching backs, too. He started strongly (231 rushing yards, three TDs vs. Indianapolis in Week One), finished with a flourish (180 rushing yards vs. Jacksonville) and was exceptional in between. Boasting good speed, size and vision, Foster can make the most out of runs that don't look promising. He also can break a big play when the opportunity presents itself.


13. CB Darrelle Revis / New York Jets

His statistics don't show it — no sacks, interceptions or forced fumbles this season — but Revis remains one of the best cover corners in the league. During a stretch in the middle of the season, the Jets' corner limited Greg Jennings, Calvin Johnson, Andre Johnson and Terrell Owens to a combined nine catches for 74 yards, and in the playoffs, Reggie Wayne was thrown to only once with Revis on him. His coverage on the outside allows the Jets to run their blitzing style of "D."


14. WR Roddy White / Atlanta Falcons

White, the league leader in receptions (115), caught almost one-third of QB Matt Ryan's completed passes in 2010, breaking the franchise record for catches in a season. Defenses focused on limiting him, but they were unable to keep him quiet for long. White scored 10 TDs, and no one is questioning whether he's an elite receiver these days.


15. RB Jamaal Charles / Kansas City Chiefs

Charles' 2010 numbers read more like those of a college tailback shredding overmatched competition than a professional runner trying to move the chains against the best players in the world. He rushed for 1,467 yards and five TDs on 230 carries, good for a 6.4-yard average. He also added 45 catches for 468 yards and three TDs. On the heels of a breakout 2009 campaign, Charles was even better this season.


16. RB Maurice Jones-Drew / Jacksonville Jaguars

How productive — and important — was Jones-Drew to the Jaguars' surprising bid for the AFC South title? In 14 games, Jones-Drew rushed for 1,324 yards and added 317 yards receiving. In the team's eight wins, Jones-Drew rushed for 100 yards or more in six of them, including their last five victories. The Jaguars lost their final two games with him out of the lineup.


17. ROLB DeMarcus Ware / Dallas Cowboys

In a disappointing season for the Cowboys, Ware stood out, notching 66 tackles and 15.5 sacks. He really came on late in the season, recording a half-dozen sacks in his last three games. He is simply one of the NFL's most dynamic pass rushers.


18. QB Ben Roethlisberger / Pittsburgh Steelers

After missing four games because of an NFL suspension, Roethlisberger returned to the lineup and again showed why he is the Steelers' most important offensive player. One of his top plays of the season came not on a touchdown, but when he avoided a sack attempt from the Ravens' Terrell Suggs to throw the ball away on 1st-and-goal from the Baltimore nine with Pittsburgh trailing 10-6 late in the Week 13 matchup between the clubs. Two plays later, Roethlisberger threw the game-winning TD pass.


19. DLE Justin Tuck / New York Giants

Tuck was the Giants' best defender and one of the best defensive linemen in the league in 2010. He is an outstanding pass rusher and run defender, and he can wreak havoc whether he's lined up at end or tackle. What's more, he plays very hard, too.


20. WR Reggie Wayne / Indianapolis Colts

How important was Wayne to the Colts' passing game? He was targeted 175 times, catching 111 passes — both AFC highs. He has hauled in 100 passes in three of the past four seasons as Peyton Manning's go-to target. With injuries taking their toll on the Colts' passing game this season, Wayne was as important as he ever has been to the Indianapolis attack.

 

[LAZARUS_LOGAN]

31. DRE Dwight Freeney / Indianapolis Colts

One of the NFL's most feared pass rushers, Freeney has rare speed off the edge and a patented spin move he uses with devastating effect. He must be accounted for at all times, and he can impact the game even if he doesn't sack the quarterback.


32. DT Ndamukong Suh / Detroit Lions

The athletic, instinctive Suh already has established himself as one of the most disruptive interior linemen in the game. He notched 10 sacks as a rookie, most among defensive tackles. He plays with intensity and toughness, and he figures to be very, very difficult to block for many, many years. The Lions can move this three-technique around the line, making him even more difficult to handle.


33. ILB Patrick Willis / San Francisco 49ers

On balance, this wasn't Willis' best season — and he still notched 128 tackles and a half-dozen sacks. There aren't many playmaking middle linebackers in the league. Here is one of them. He's the key to the 49ers' defense.


34. RB Michael Turner / Atlanta Falcons

Turner makes this list for his exploits as the focal point of his team's ground game. The Falcons have one of the NFL's most old-school, physical offenses, and Turner, who rushed for 1,371 yards and 12 TDs, is the hammer.


35. WR Greg Jennings / Green Bay Packers

A very deserving first-time Pro Bowl selection, Jennings became the Packers' primary passing weapon after TE Jermichael Finley was lost for the season in Week Five. A constant matchup problem because of his deceptive speed — he never tips his routes — and the fact that he can effectively line up at any one of Green Bay's five wideout slots, Jennings finished the season tied for second in the league with 12 TD catches and was fourth with 1,265 receiving yards


36. CB NNamdi Asomugha / Oakland Raiders

Slated to be an unrestricted free agent, Asomugha, who turns 30 in July, is going to become a very, very wealthy man, whether it's back in Oakland or with a new club eager to have him lock down one side of the field. Asomugha didn't have an interception in 2010, but teams simply don't test him often. He's a blue-chip player.


37. RB Ray Rice / Baltimore Ravens

Rice, who racked up 1,776 combined rushing-receiving yards in 2010, can take an ordinary check-down pass and turn it into a thing of beauty. He can take a handoff, shed tacklers and leave them grasping at air in his wake. When the Ravens need a play, they turn to Rice.


38. CB Tramon Williams / Green Bay Packers

A case could be made right now for Williams being the top big-play corner in the league. In his first year as a full-time starter, he outperformed teammate Charles Woodson, ranking No. 1 in the league with nine interceptions (including playoffs). His playmaking instincts have been uncanny down the stretch and in the postseason.


39. CB Charles Woodson / Green Bay Packers

Woodson remains a Pro Bowl-caliber cornerback with tremendous versatility and is one of the biggest keys in Dom Capers' unpredictable, multilook defense. Able to line up outside against an opposing team's best wide receiver or in the slot, a position from which he often blitzes, Woodson has amazing toughness and can do it all. There isn't a better cornerback in the league in terms of tackling and run support.


40. QB Jay Cutler / Chicago Bears

Cutler can be maddeningly inconsistent, but he is unmistakably one of Chicago's most valuable players. However, his season came to a very disappointing end after being knocked out of the NFC title game with a knee injury.

 

[LAZARUS_LOGAN]

41. WR DeSean Jackson / Philadelphia Eagles

Jackson is one of the NFL's premier deep threats. Anyone with the speed to run under one of Michael Vick's bombs is a nightmare to cover, and that's Jackson, who had 21 of his 47 catches this season go for 20 yards or more. He is capable of burning coverages designed to take away the deep ball, and he is exceptionally dangerous after the catch (see his 91-yard run at Dallas on an injured ankle). And, of course, he can be a game changer as a punt returner (see Week 15 vs. the Giants).


42. MLB Ray Lewis / Baltimore Ravens

Lewis, still going strong with 15 seasons in the books, remains a vital part of the Ravens' defense and an integral team leader. He has kept himself in remarkable shape and continues to rank among the game's best inside linebackers. His 139 tackles were the most he has registered since 2004.


43. WR Larry Fitzgerald / Arizona Cardinals

The Cardinals tried, tried and tried again to find a quarterback to replace Kurt Warner in 2010. Nothing really worked, but at least they had Fitzgerald, who hauled in 90 passes for 1,137 yards and six TDs. Cards QBs targeted him 173 times, and rightfully so.


44. TE Antonio Gates / San Diego Chargers

Gates played just 10 games because of a foot injury, but when he played, he was far and away the premier pass-catching threat at his position.


45. WLB Cameron Wake / Miami Dolphins

The former CFL star finished third in the league with 14 sacks. He helped the Dolphins' defense improve from 22nd in 2009 to sixth in '10. He is a relentless pass rusher, using his speed to get past tackles to the quarterback. His playmaking abilities helped a Dolphins team that struggled offensively to win a few games, thanks to its "D."


46. OLT Jake Long / Miami Dolphins

Long has established himself among the elite at his position. Despite knee and shoulder injuries, he started all 16 games for the third consecutive season.


47. QB Matt Cassel / Kansas City Chiefs

In the Chiefs' lone start without Cassel, they were shut out. In his 15 starts, he was productive and prudent, throwing 27 TD passes against only seven interceptions and leading Kansas City to first place in the AFC West.


48. C Nick Mangold / New York Jets

The Jets' offensive line is one of the NFL's best, and Mangold is the team's most important player up front. He hasn't missed a start in five NFL seasons.


49. RILB Jerod Mayo / New England Patriots

Mayo seemed to always be around the ball in 2010, leading the league with 175 tackles and adding three fumble recoveries. The veteran of a LB corps that included two rookies, Mayo was a key part of a Patriots' run defense that ranked ninth in the league. With injuries on the defensive line and lots of youth, Mayo picked a good year to have his best season, considering he was one of the more consistent guys on the Pats' defense.


50. TE Jason Witten / Dallas Cowboys

Witten, an exceptional short-and-intermediate receiver, hauled in 94 passes for 1,002 yards with nine touchdowns in 2010. He was targeted 128 times, most among tight ends. Time and again, he gets open.

 

[LAZARUS_LOGAN]

16 players better than Ware?

Um, no.

Vick in the top-5?

Joke.

It's a sick joke. Funny as to how Romo throws over 4,000 yards and has no less than 26 TDs and is one and done in the playoffs, and he barely cracks the top 15 of last year, but Vick throws a 1,000 yards less and 21 TDs, and is one and done, and he gets #4.

Then they seem to reward Gates for being injured with his ranking, and penalizes Witten for being healthy. I get the distinct feeling that PFW wanted to not have any Cowboys on their list, but then there would be a credibility issues.

 

[dbair1967]

It's a sick joke. Funny as to how Romo throws over 4,000 yards and has no less than 26 TDs and is one and done in the playoffs, and he barely cracks the top 15 of last year, but Vick throws a 1,000 yards less and 21 TDs, and is one and done, and he gets #4.

Then they seem to reward Gates for being injured with his ranking, and penalizes Witten for being healthy. I get the distinct feeling that PFW wanted to not have any Cowboys on their list, but then there would be a credibility issues.

Alot of the list looks like a joke to me.

 

[marionbarberthe4th]

I like when lists are over the top bad so I dont even feel the need to break down how insane they are.

Itd be like dissecting Black Swan

Hayooo

 

[Midswat]

At least Black Swan has Natalie Portman. I'd eat her.

This list? Garbage is all I'll say.