Main Men

There was a time when the NFL players viewed certain players as the league's "main men." They likely still do. These were the elite players that the rest of the league stopped to watch. The best of the best, if you will. I first heard mention of this from players of the '50s. I'd imagine that John Unitas, Jim Brown, Night Train, Emlen Tunnell, Sam Huff, Bobby Layne, Gino Marchetti would be among the players that drew the stares of their peers. Every decade had them. Grange, Nevers, Thorpe, Hinkle, McNally, Hein, Hutson, Clark, Friedman were the guys in the first couple of decades.

I was thinking about this "main men" business while reading the thoughts of some of the Seattle Seahawks players after facing Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson. When the they took down the New England Patriots earlier this season the Seahawks kept barking at "main man" Tom Brady well after the game. Against Peterson the words were far different. "I just respect him," defensive Red Bryant said. "It's not every day you're on the field with a running back of his caliber. You hear about Jim Brown, Emmitt Smith, Walter Payton, Barry Sanders. Adrian Peterson is a first-ballot Hall of Famer. I can't come up with enough adjectives to describe how special of a running back he is." The Seahawks have seen elite players such as Brady, Aaron Rodgers, Calvin Johnson, Larry Fitzgerald. Peterson is the only one that left them in awe. "He's a special back," said safety Earl Thomas. "There's a reason why he is who he is." Seahawks coach Pete Carroll called stopping Peterson "a nightmare, to tell you the truth."

The players of the league are the only people that can truly judge who is best among them. They keep this among themselves. It doesn't keep me from wondering who among the best is the best.

Of course, we start with Adrian Peterson.

Quarterbacks: Peyton Manning, Tom Brady
I might burn for football blaspheme for this but I'm not so sure that Aaron Rodgers, Drew Brees, Eli Manning and Ben Roethlisberger make this list. Rodgers, if any of them. It's the elite of the elite.

Receivers: Calvin Johnson and Larry Fitzgerald
I might be a little biased but I think that Percy Harvin has entered this group. His versatility is so remarkable. He's a legitimate running back when he lines up in the backfield. He's one of the best returners in the game.

Tight ends: Tony Gonzalez
Rob Gronkowski and Jimmy Graham are well on their way

Offensive linemen:  I'm not sure that any linemen stand out enough right now to warrant the undivided attention of their peers. Not like Jonathan Ogden and Larry Allen in recent years. Joe Thomas and Maurkice Pouncey might be there one day.

Defensive linemen: Haloti Ngata, Jason Pierre-Paul, JJ Watt, Jared Allen
Watt and Pierre-Paul have made this level too damn fast.

Linebackers: Patrick Willis, DeMarcus Ware, Ray Lewis, Dwight Freeney
Brian Urlacher may make it but I don't think that he's been consistent enough in recent years. Freeney made it as an end.

Cornerbacks: Darrelle Revis
Champ Bailey may still make it

Safety: Ed Reed, Troy Polamalu, Charles Woodson

No kickers or punters allowed.