The NFL’s centennial season has been a year-long celebration into the league’s history, with no greater endeavor than naming the 100 greatest players in league history. With 22 players on a field at once, narrowing down such a field is no easy task – meaning there’s going to be plenty of “controversy” over who made (or didn’t make) the final cut (Hint: they didn’t give enough love to current players)
With the release of the final rankings last week – quarterbacks – the list of 100 players and 10 coaches is set. What tweaks would we make? We’ll name five players who should have been on it, and who they would replace (in alphabetical order):
Drew Brees:
NBC’s Peter King wrote in his column this weekend that the final voting for the NFL 100 list happened in June 2018, so the powers that be get a small pass here. Since then, though, Brees has become the NFL’s all-time leader in passing yards, completions and touchdowns. He has the highest single-season completion percentage. He, obviously, has a Super Bowl to his name. Even in today’s pass-happy NFL, he was the most notable omission from the list. In our list he takes the spot of Roger Staubach.
Troy Polamalu:
Late 2000s into the 2010s, “Ed Reed or Troy Polamalu?” was a fun conversation, as the two best safeties in the league were such different players. Apparently the NFL likes Reed more, as he made the list, but Polamalu was left off. A six-time All-Pro, Polamalu was an eight-time Pro Bowler and was the Defensive Player of the Year in 2010.
Since there were only six safeties selected, we’ll keep all the others on the list and say that Shane Lechler can go. Yes, he had a marvelous career, but there don’t need to be two punters on the NFL 100 list.
LaDainian Tomlinson:
Of all the slants towards players of yesteryear, running back was the most notable. Of the dozen running backs selected to the Top 100, Emmitt Smith played most recently – and he retired 15 years ago. In a list that includes Adrian Peterson, Terrell Davis and Marshall Faulk, Tomlinson gets our nod. The seventh-leading rusher in league history, he led the NFL in touchdowns three times and rushing twice.
Of course, his historic 2006 deserves its own category: he compiled 31 touchdowns (including a record 28 rushing), set the single-season record for points scored and compiled 2,323 yards from scrimmage. Off-field transgressions aren’t considered by the league in things like this, but for the sake of ease, bye-bye OJ (or, fine, Lenny Moore if he has to be one it).
JJ Watt:
Injuries could be the reason why, giving he’s missed at least eight games in three of the past four seasons. But here’s the list of players with three AP Defensive Player of the Year awards: Lawrence Taylor and Watt. Here’s the list of players with multiple 20-sack seasons: Watt. With apologies to Buck Buchanan, Watt is one of the 100 greatest players ever.
Charles Woodson:
An eight-time All-Pro (four First, four Second Teams), Woodson finds himself among the all-time leaders in plenty of defensive categories. He’s tied for first with 13 defensive touchdowns, second in pick-sixes (11) and tied for fifth in interceptions (65). He was the 2009 Defensive Player of the Year and was effective for all 17 of his professional seasons. He would narrowly edge Darrell Green on our list.
