NFL's Annual Popularity Contest

Every year since 2011, the NFL has had an offseason poll which involves players in the league voting on the top players that year. In a series of 8 episodes on television, they release the list of the top 100 players according to this poll. Having the players vote was thought to provide the most accurate list since they are the ones who would know best how great a player is firsthand. However, many players argue that the list has not been accurate as the big name players known around the league always seem to be listed higher than they deserve.

Eric Weddle and Terrell Suggs both made the 2018 Pro Bowl and were the best two defenders on the Baltimore Ravens and the reason why they led the NFL in turnovers. Both players were somehow left off this years top 100 list. Teammate Tony Jefferson had this to say on twitter: "I just don’t understand the top 100. Weddle & Suggs been going to pro bowl after pro bowl.. how do they not make it? Should Especially be in front of people who didn’t even play half the year?". Jefferson is referring to numerous players that landed on the top 100 list without playing more than 8 games but most shockingly being Aaron Rodgers. No one doubts that Aaron Rodgers is a top player in the league but since he had only played 7 games and his season numbers were mediocre to say the least, it is very odd to say that he was the third best player of the 2017-2018 season.

Another player that was ranked much higher than expected was Jimmy Garoppolo. Landing at number 90 on the list, Jimmy only started 5 games last season and was playing for a team that had already been eliminated from playoff contention. Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback Jalen Ramsey, ranked number 17 on the list, was asked if Jimmy should have made the list: "Not yet. What'd he play, five games?" I do not agree with including someone on the top 100 list when they did not play even one third of the regular season. The NFL's top 100 does not seem to represent who the best players were during the season but rather the players with the best career accolades given recognition year after year. Terrell Suggs that has proven to be a great player every year and had four forced fumbles this year. His name not put on the top 100 list just goes to show that other players around the league do not like Terrell Suggs and that the popularity of a player has more influence of his ranking than does his actual performance.

Within the top 100 list there is emphasis on making the top 10. The last episode that airs exclusively shows the top 10 players with interviews and commentary by opponents and teammates of these players. Here are this years top 10 players voted by the players themselves:

1. Tom Brady
2. Antonio Brown
3. Carson Wentz
4. Julio Jones
5. Leveon Bell
6. Todd Gurley
7. Aaron Donald
8. Drew Brees
9. Von Miller 
10. Aaron Rodgers

If I was to name the top 10 players in the NFL during the 2017-2018 season it would be as follows:

1. Tom Brady
2. Carson Wentz
3. Aaron Donald
4. Drew Brees
5. Leveon Bell
6. Antonio Brown
7. Todd Gurley
8. Kareem Hunt
9. Deandre Hopkins
10. Xavier Rhodes