Top 100

NFL Network kicked off their annual Top 100 Players series this week. This is the fifth year of the series. The nice thing about this top 100 is that it's solely a player's vote. No media. Just players. It's fun stuff. Each player earning recognition as a top 100 player is profiled with commentary from their peers. This commentary is the best part of the show. It's great to hear what the players have to say about the players that they hold in high regard. Former Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Ike Taylor is outstanding this capacity. It's a real shame that he had to go and retire this offseason. This could be the last season in which we get to hear from Taylor. The series runs for 10 weeks counting down from the #100 player to the #1 player. Players 100-91 were revealed on Wednesday:

100. Randall Cobb, WR, Green Bay Packers
  99. Calais Camplbell, DE, Arizona Cardinals
  98. Adam Vinatieri, K, Indianapolis Colts
  97. Joe Flacco, QB, Baltimore Ravens
  96. Jurrell Casey, DT, Tennessee Titans
  95. Emmanuel Sanders, WR, Denver Broncos
  94. C.J. Mosley, LB, Baltimore Ravens
  93. Jason Witten, TE, Dallas Cowboys
  92. Aaron Donald, DT, St. Louis Rams
  91. Julian Edelman, WR, New England Patriots

I would have guessed that Randall Cobb would be higher on this list. Calais Campbell and Jurrell Casey too. Two rookies have already been revealed in Aaron Donald and C.J. Mosley. I would expect a few more highlighted by Zack Martin and Odell Beckham Jr.

The disappointing thing about this year's edition of the top 100 is the likely lack of representation from the Minnesota Vikings. Adrian Peterson is an annual member of the top 100 club but he missed all but one game of the 2014 NFL season. It would be a surprise if the players put him on their ballots for 2015. Everson Griffen and Harrison Smith deserve to be on the list but I expect that both will have to wait a year. As a preview for the next episode it was mentioned that the only Notre Dame player on the list will be revealed. Seeing as Zack Martin is from Notre Dame and that he likely is on this list that means that Smith likely isn't. We'll find out next Wednesday.