NFL's Top 100 Players for 2017: 10-1

And then there were 10. The NFL Network concluded their Top 100 Players for 2017 with the long-awaited reveal of the Top 10.

10. Matt Ryan

  9. Le'Veon Bell

  8. Odell Beckham Jr.

  7. Ezekiel Elliott

  6. Aaron Rodgers

  5. Khalil Mack

  4. Antonio Brown

  3. Julio Jones

  2. Von Miller

  1. Tom Brady

Tom Brady is the first player to repeat as #1. He topped the inaugural Top 100 list in 2011.

It's nice to see two defensive players in the Top 5. 

Here's the order that I predicted. 

10. Ezekiel Elliott
  9. Odell Beckham Jr.
  8. Von Miller
  7. Julio Jones
  6. Antonio Brown
  5. Matt Ryan
  4. Le'Veon Bell
  3. Aaron Rodgers
  2. Khalil Mack
  1. Tom Brady

Well, I got the top player right. 

This Top 100 list is often criticized. Why anyone takes lists such as these so seriously to draw outrage is always a surprise to me. This list is interesting because it's based on a vote by the players. It's not some deep-thinker on a lap top or a polling of media that's made up of many that have rarely touched a football. It's a fun list intended to fill up some of the void that is the slowest part of the offseason. I enjoy this list and look forward to each week's reveal. Sure, I think that Minnesota Vikings defensive tackle Linval Joseph should've been somewhere on the list but it's not going to keep me up at night bellyaching about it. NFL Network started this list in 2011. It helped take up the time that was taken from us by the mind-numbing lockout. It was a dark time and the list provided a little bit of light. From the very beginning the most entertaining part of each reveal episode was the player commentary. I'd rather hear a player talking about a peer than some non-playing talking head. Much of the commentary was hilarious. Ike Taylor was a riot during the early seasons. Just as Charles James, Mike Daniels, and Micheal Bennett are informative and often hilarious now. A viewer can actually learn some football if he/she bottles their annoyance with the rankings and actually listens to the players talking about their peers. I still recall Luke Kuechly teaching me about the nuances of Charles Clay's game as if it was yesterday. It was great, interesting football stuff. It's just one ranking of the best players in the NFL.

Vikings that I'd like to see on the 2018 list.

Harrison Smith
Xavier Rhodes
Everson Griffen
Danielle Hunter
Eric Kendricks
Anthony Barr
Stefon Diggs
Dalvin Cook
Sam Bradford
Kyle Rudolph

That's damn ambitious. It would include over half the defense and about a third of the offense. If that happens perhaps the Vikings are closing the season in their own stadium in February.

Congratulations to all 100 players that made this year's list and especially Tom Brady on his return to the top. Now, it's on to training camps.