Adam: Andre Johnson – Houston Texans
Eric: Andre Johnson – Houston Texans
Hands, routes, size, speed. Andre Johnson is the complete package, the most difficult guy to cover in the league because he does so many things well. And unlike the other guy most people mention as the best in the biz, Larry Fitzgerald, Johnson actually has a quarterback who can get him the ball.
A: Adrian Peterson – Minnesota Vikings
E: Adrian Peterson – Minnesota Vikings
Though Adrian Peterson might not be the best "all-around" back, he's the best pure runner there is. His tenacity is unmatched. When most runners start heading towards the sideline at the end of the play, Peterson initiates contact with defenders to gain the extra yard. For this physical monster with electric speed, tremendous power, and cat-like agility that we haven't seen since Eric Dickerson and Bo Jackson, the biggest knock on him coming into last year was a case of fumblitis, but with just one fumble in all of 2010, Peterson clearly is a man who works on his craft.
A: DeMarcus Ware – Dallas Cowboys
E: DeMarcus Ware – Dallas Cowboys
DeMarcus Ware had more sacks than anyone in 2010. It's that simple. Ware has never finished outside of the league's top-10 in sacks for a season and even racked up an astounding 20 in 2008, the NFL's 6th-highest total ever. A pure missile of a man, Ware is nothing but strength and speed firing off the edge on every play.
A: Vernon Davis – San Francisco 49ers
The best athlete at his position and one of the best blocking tight ends, Vernon Davis is virtually peerless in terms of his ability and versatility on the field. After a rocky start to his career, he's put up back-to-back All-Pro-caliber years despite having nobody to throw him the ball.
E: Antonio Gates – San Diego Chargers
There is no more productive quarterback-tight end tandem than Philip Rivers and a healthy Antonio Gates. Despite no real weapons on the outside for the majority of last year, Rivers still threw for 4,000 yards, and his main weapon is Gates. While it seems like Gates is always injured, he's shown great toughness, playing in all sixteen games 2006-2009, only last year missing significant time. And even though he's reached the dreaded age of 30, there's still no other tight end I'd fear more when creating a defensive gameplan.
A: Bill Belichick – New England Patriots
E: The Hoodie – New England Patriots
The measure of a good coach is how he gets the most production out of the least amount of talent. Last year, even though we knew the Patriots would be good, no one was saying they were the most talented team. Yet despite a perceived lack of talent, they had far and away the best record in football at 14-2. That starts with the coach, the mad scientist, Bill Belichick. Plus, he's won three rings in four Super Bowl appearances. No other coach comes close in either of those categories.
A: Patrick Willis – San Francisco 49ers
Prior to the start of last season, expectations were high for the 49ers, primarily because of the supposed strength of the defense. However, it quickly became apparent that Nate Clements, well, kinda sucks, that Abruayo Franklin may have been a one year wonder, and that San Francisco wasn't all they were cracked up to be. Yet the Niners' defense revolves completely around #52, who I believe is the game’s most athletic linebacker. Intelligent, blazing fast, a lock down tackler, and excellent in coverage, if I had one player to build my defense around, it would be Willis.
E: James Harrison – Pittsburgh Steelers
What I'm looking for out of my top linebacker is the guy who most excels rushing the passer, stopping the run, and defending the pass. Others may be better in one or two areas, but the guy I grade highest in all three is James Harrison. The 2008 Defensive Player of the Year is the nastiest member of the always stellar Pittsburgh linebacker group who flattens quarterbacks, running backs, and wide receivers in equal measure.
A: Darelle Revis – New York Jets
E: Darelle Revis – New York Jets
Despite having a bit of a down year in 2010, Darelle Revis takes top honors here because when he's on, throwing to his side of the field is an incompletion at best and an interception at worst.
A: Aaron Rodgers – Green Bay Packers
This is a list of right now, so throw legacies out the window. Right now Aaron Rodgers is the best in the business. He carried an injury-ravaged team to a Super Bowl title, winning three straight road playoff games just to reach the big game. Name a quarterback attribute: arm strength, smarts, work ethic, accuracy, mobility, leadership; Rodgers is in the top-3 league-wide in every single one of those categories. You can't say that about any other quarterback.
E: Peyton Manning – Indianapolis Colts
You may notice that my Top Quarterback, Top Offensive Player, and Top Player Overall are all quarterbacks, but none of them are the same player. I couldn't decide on one—I don't think I should have to—and I wanted to spread the love. In the category of "Top Quarterback," I pick Peyton Manning because whenever I watch him drive the Colts down the field, I never get the feeling he's not going to score.
A: Troy Polamalu – Pittsburgh Steelers
E: Troy Polamalu – Pittsburgh Steelers
It's easy to see how much the standing Defensive Player of the Year, Troy Polamalu, means to his defense. When Polamalu's out, Pittsburgh's defense ranks middle of the pack. When he's in there, it's a top-3 unit. Polamalu changes the game with his speed, tackling, and ability to get his hands on the football through interceptions and strip sacks. Offenses always have to know where #43 is on the field, or they'll pay for it dearly.
A: Joe Thomas – Cleveland Browns
To me it came down to Joe Thomas, Jake Long, or Ryan Clady. Since Clady was injured for much of last year, I went with Thomas because I believe he can do everything Long does but is a better athlete, and thus more equipped to handle speed pass rushers.
E: Jake Long – Miami Dolphins
It killed me to pick the Wolverine, Jake Long, over the Badger, Joe Thomas, but I call Long the better pro. Long may be the strongest left tackle around, and his technique is flawless.
A: Arrowhead Stadium – Kansas City Chiefs
Arrowhead is always sold out, always loud, and a Chiefs team without spectacular talent made the playoffs last year on the strength of their 7-1 home record. This city loves their Chiefs whether they are winning or not.
E: Heinz Field – Pittsburgh Steelers
Heinz Field has probably the worst playing surface of any in the league, the stadium's open end looking out on the Allegheny River and the Pittsburgh skyline allows winds to come in and create havoc with field goals, and the toughest defense in the league calls it home. Nobody wants to go to Pittsburgh.
A: Perry Fewell – New York Giants
E: Perry Fewell – New York Giants
This category is about an assistant coach that people might not hear much of that does his job well enough to make people think he could be a head coach one day. The pick here is New York Giants defensive coordinator Perry Fewell. He’s got head coaching experience as a former interim head coach in Buffalo. He’s black, so he’s a popular interview candidate with the Rooney Rule. Then on the field, the results speak for themselves. Last year Fewell helped turn around a dysfunctional Giants defense into a very competitive unit.
A: Green Bay Packers Inc., The People
E: We the People – Green Bay Packers
There are only a few owners with much name recognition, and the ones that do are more out of infamy—Al Davis, Jerry Jones, Dan Snyder—than them actually helping the team. So what it came down to, what's cooler than sports' only publicly-owned team, the Green Bay Packers? Nada. Nothing could be more in unison with the feel of Green Bay and the state of Wisconsin than the fact that its people own the team they live and breathe for.
A: San Francisco 49ers
This has nothing to do with my artistic side; it's purely emotional. When I see the 49er helmet I get goosebumps still to this day. Even when they're terrible, just seeing them on the field moves me. That's when you know you love a team.
E: Dallas Cowboys
There is no more iconic helmet than the one that adorns Dallas Cowboys' over-sized heads. The helmet's Lone Star symbolizes the Cowboys' tradition of winning and their collection of star players.
A: Aaron Rodgers – Green Bay Packers
I told you why he was the best quarterback, and since quarterback is the most important position on the field, it's not hard to see why he’s my top offensive player. Rodgers' array of skills, both mental and physical, is so hard to prepare for. I wouldn't choose any other player to build a team around.
E: Tom Brady – New England Patriots
Reigning NFL MVP Tom Brady is an offensive machine. Had he not gotten hurt and missed the '08 season, Brady's 2007-2010 run would have been perhaps the most dominant four-year period by any quarterback ever. When the Patriots traded away Randy Moss mid-way through last season, I didn't think the Patriots were going to be able to score. Instead, Brady proved me wrong and led the highest-scoring offense in football to an NFL-best 14-2 regular season.
A: Patrick Willis – San Francisco 49ers
E: Patrick Willis – San Francisco 49ers
The unquestioned leader of his defense, Patrick Willis plays a position that has to cover, pass rush, and stop the run, and he does it all at an elite level. Willis is incredibly smart, has blazing speed, hits like a ton of bricks, and has made the All-Pro team every year of his career. At 26 years old and entering his prime, he’s the building block we’d want for a defense.
A: Aaron Rodgers – Green Bay Packers
E: Aaron Rodgers – Green Bay Packers
Coming off a Super Bowl championship in just his third year as a starter, Aaron Rodgers is young and has a great arm, tremendous accuracy, mobility, and smarts. When starting a team, there’s no other player we’d pick first.
--from @AdamHocking and @jeuneski
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