Walker's Fab 40....

[RavenScallywag]

James Walker is ranking the top 40 players in the AFC North, he's up to #29...

http://espn.go.com/blog/afcnorth/tag/_/name/walkers-fab-40

Only real big shock to me so far is Derrick Mason at #30. Really? Ike Taylor is a better player than Derrick Mason? At worst, Mason should be a top 20 player.

I'd rate Ray Lewis, Ed Reed, Ben Roeth, Troy Polamalu, Chad Ochocinco, maybe Santonio Holmes, and Carson Palmer ahead of him, probably have him tied with Hines Ward. Unless they are factoring in his possible retirement, him at #30 makes no sense to me.

[baltimore_hokie]

40 - Todd Heap
39 - Jerome Harrison
38 - Mike Wallace
37 - Lawrence Timmons (HAHA)
36 - Andrew Whitworth
35 - Antwan Odom
34 - Ryan Clark
33 - Dhani Jones
32 - Domata Peko
31 - Jarret Johnson
30 - Derrick Mason
29 - Ike Taylor
28 - Jared Gaither
27 - Rashard Mendenhall (WHAT????)
26 - Eric Steinbach
25 - Aaron Smith

[myfavoriteboxer]

I am glad that this thread is not about how Frank Walker's in the top 40. Whew

[Rayvens52]

I am glad that this thread is not about how Frank Walker's in the top 40. Whew

Frank Walker is going to be #1, everyone knows that!

[jonboy79]

I'd rate Ray Lewis, Ed Reed, Ben Roeth, Troy Polamalu, Chad Ochocinco, maybe Santonio Holmes, and Carson Palmer ahead of him, probably have him tied with Hines Ward.

The Ravens have two players I'd rate over anyone on that list, maybe save Big Ben... Ngata and Rice.

[purplepoe]

40 - Todd Heap
39 - Jerome Harrison
38 - Mike Wallace
37 - Lawrence Timmons (HAHA)
36 - Andrew Whitworth
35 - Antwan Odom
34 - Ryan Clark
33 - Dhani Jones
32 - Domata Peko
31 - Jarret Johnson
30 - Derrick Mason
29 - Ike Taylor
28 - Jared Gaither
27 - Rashard Mendenhall (WHAT????)
26 - Eric Steinbach
25 - Aaron Smith

Timmons is a hell of player.

Ike Taylor is the guy who makes me laugh.

These lists are so subjective but it makes for good message board fodder.

I'm interested to see where Walker lists Cribbs.

PP

[baltimore_hokie]

Timmons is a hell of player.


PP

He could be at some point, but he is not much of a player right now. He has as much "upside", if you will, as any LB out there, but he is too raw and stupid to be great at this point. JJ is better than him right now.

Mendenhall was average, other than the San Diego game, with a bit of a fumbling problem throughout the season.

[math_geek]

I took one look at the list on the first day and saw Todd Heap and figured the following players should therefore be on there (for being Ravens that are better players than Heap)

Jared Gaither
Derrick Mason
Jarret Johnston
Michael Oher
Matt Birk
Joe Flacco
Ray Rice
Terrell Suggs
Ray Lewis
Haloti Ngata
Le’Ron McClain
Ed Reed

That's 13 players, which is 3 more than our 25% share of a top 40 list, which is a lot, but then again, as the only team in our division that's made the playoffs in the last two seasons, we deserve some of Cleveland's spots.


So far that's
Steelers (6)
Ravens (4)
Bengals(4)
Browns(2)

Seems like Birk might not make the list, but I can't imagine any of the others I listed not making it on.

[purplepoe]

He could be at some point, but he is not much of a player right now. He has as much "upside", if you will, as any LB out there, but he is too raw and stupid to be great at this point. JJ is better than him right now.

Mendenhall was average, other than the San Diego game, with a bit of a fumbling problem throughout the season.

He's not much of a player right now?

He'd of led this team with his 7 sacks this year and 4 forced fumbles while missing 2.5 games. He's a good player and IMO definitely a top 40 player in a 4 team division.

JJ is rated above him in this list as he should be. He had a fantastic year.

Mendenhall is potential and that's probably why he is where he is on this list.

Remember, it's only 4 teams and one is the Browns!!!

PP

[RAVENOUS52]

I took one look at the list on the first day and saw Todd Heap and figured the following players should therefore be on there (for being Ravens that are better players than Heap)

Jared Gaither
Derrick Mason
Jarret Johnston
Michael Oher
Matt Birk
Joe Flacco
Ray Rice
Terrell Suggs
Ray Lewis
Haloti Ngata
Le’Ron McClain
Ed Reed

That's 13 players, which is 3 more than our 25% share of a top 40 list, which is a lot, but then again, as the only team in our division that's made the playoffs in the last two seasons, we deserve some of Cleveland's spots.


So far that's
Steelers (6)
Ravens (4)
Bengals(4)
Browns(2)

Seems like Birk might not make the list, but I can't imagine any of the others I listed not making it on.


I don't think Flacco's on the list just yet. Call it a hunch.

[edreedisgod20]

He's not much of a player right now?

He'd of led this team with his 7 sacks this year and 4 forced fumbles while missing 2.5 games. He's a good player and IMO definitely a top 40 player in a 4 team division.

JJ is rated above him in this list as he should be. He had a fantastic year.

Mendenhall is potential and that's probably why he is where he is on this list.

Remember, it's only 4 teams and one is the Browns!!!

PP

Timmons is a pretty mediocre player, at ILB, at least. Steelers fans joke about how Timmons is the best linebacker in the NFL - when unblocked.

[baltimore_hokie]

24 - James Farrior
23 - Michael Oher
22 - Heath Miller
21 - Casey Hampton

[RavenScallywag]

Ok, so based on where Oher made it on the list, I'm guessing you have to make the assumption that Walker is projecting for NEXT YEAR where these players rank...

Oher has been an immense success, but I don't think you can say he played better than Gaither this year. Next year, I think he leapfrogs how well Gaither is playing.

That would also explain why Mason is low o the list. If he expects to retire, for now he'd rank lower because he may not be back.

I expect Flacco makes this list.

[baltimore_hokie]

I expect Flacco makes this list.

Walker is big on Flacco. I expect him to be ranked pretty high on this list.

[trailhiker85]

Very subjective, naturally, but still fun to read and comment on. The list has good players for the most part, though I was a bit surprised that both Ike Taylor and Ryan Clark made it. I personally felt they were a bit inconsistent this year without Polamalu in the secondary. Then again, I didn't see all of Pittsburgh's games.

When this ranking is done, can we have one on the BOTTOM 40 players of the division? Not so nice, I guess, but that shouldn't stop message board affecianados. Can't wait to see where Derek Anderson and Brady Quinn rank on that list...

[RavenScallywag]

The problem with a Bottom 40 is it's very easy to grab the inactive scrubs for that. Brady and Quinn are better than a Paschal or a Prescott Burgess.

[trailhiker85]

The problem with a Bottom 40 is it's very easy to grab the inactive scrubs for that. Brady and Quinn are better than a Paschal or a Prescott Burgess.

Actually, Brady Quinn is one guy rather than two, but I see your point. Damn, I was really looking forward to the prospect.

[purplepoe]

20 - Joe Flacco
19 - Shaun Rodgers
18 - Leon Hall
17 - Santonio Holmes

PP

[Dave Lap]

Flacco at #20? I'd certainly rank him higher but I guess it depends on what criteria is being used.

If the AFC North was being disbanded and a draft of all the players in the AFC north was held right now where do you think Flacco would be picked?

I'd say 2nd after Roethlisberger. Maybe 3rd or 4th depending on team need. Of course part of his high selection would be due to his youth and high upside not neccessarily his (good but not great) play to date.

I still think he's in the top ten of AFC North players no matter what criteria is used.

[baltimore_hokie]

Flacco at #20? I'd certainly rank him higher but I guess it depends on what criteria is being used.

If the AFC North was being disbanded and a draft of all the players in the AFC north was held right now where do you think Flacco would be picked?

I'd say 2nd after Roethlisberger. Maybe 3rd or 4th depending on team need. Of course part of his high selection would be due to his youth and high upside not neccessarily his (good but not great) play to date.

I still think he's in the top ten of AFC North players no matter what criteria is used.

Polamalu, Ngata, Worthlessberger, Joe Thomas, and Flacco would all be in the mix at the top. The issue is that there are probably 19 guys that are better right now, at their position. Completely different scenario than a re-draft looking to build your team.

[RavenScallywag]

You know Carson Palmer will get rated above Flacco...I can see both angles of the argument. Joe is the better QB for this season, but Palmer has had better years where you'd put him ahead of Flacco. They have the same issue we do...not enough weapons. Caldwell and Coles are better options than we have, but neither are ready to take the heat off of Ochocinco.

I think this next year is the critical point of Flacco's career path. He improved in year two statistically, but the injury left some questions marks towards the end. In Year 3, he needs to be able to put this offense on his back, step up to be the star QB we're hoping he can be, and prove to the detractors that he can face a good defense and read the weaknesses, or at least catch the deception they try to trick him with. I'm hearing from a lot of people that in the middle of the season, Cam began going back to the rookie year philosophy of telling Joe "you can throw here and here, don't throw across the middle, etc". I like seeing that Joe began arguing with Cam in the final game, because I think that signals Joe saying "Look, I need to be able to sink or swim on my own...Let's take off the floaty belt and see if I can swim!". And I think a key to this is Ozzie and Harbaugh bringing in some better weaponry in the passing game. If he can do that, he'll definitley leap frog Palmer next year and be in the Top 10 for sure.

[baltimore_hokie]

12 - Carson Palmer
11 - Cedric Benson
10 - Haloti Ngata
9 - Josh Cribbs



I can't believe Ngata is only one spot ahead of Benson. And I would take him over Cribbs ANY day.

[Jeremiah W]

This list sucks.

We should just do a positional breakdown and ranking of all 4 teams.

QBs

Big Jen

Joe Flacco

Carson can't win a post season game Palmer

Dennis Dixon

Troy Smith

Derrick Anderson

Lady Quinn medicine woman.



RBs

Ray Rice

Benson

Harrison

Willis

Mendenhall


Wrs

Holmes

Ochostinko

Mason

Ward

Cribbs

TEs

Miller

Heap

LT

Thomas

Whitworth

Gaither

Starks

Oher

G

C...

[RavenScallywag]

Cribbs has a sensationalist quality to him...It's odd to see a guy who really just contributes in the return game in the top 10, but he's quickly establishing his legacy as the best returner of the past decade. If he can contribute more as a receiver and Wildcat QB/RB, he really solidifies his position in the top 10.

[Jeremiah W]

Cribbs has a sensationalist quality to him...It's odd to see a guy who really just contributes in the return game in the top 10, but he's quickly establishing his legacy as the best returner of the past decade. If he can contribute more as a receiver and Wildcat QB/RB, he really solidifies his position in the top 10.

Did you watch him run the rock vs the steelies?

Cribbs is a horse. If he can throw, or catch that is just a huge bonus. He is the best return man I have ever seen, and way better than average at RB/ wildcat.

[Gabrosin]

Ray Lewis, Ray Rice, and Ed Reed are the locks to be listed in the top eight. That'll give the Ravens 11 players (those three plus Flacco, Oher, Gaither, Ngata, Mason, Johnson, Heap, and Suggs) out of 40. The average expectation would be 10.

However, in the same division as the Browns, having 11 is a bit of a disappointment.

I think the only two Ravens who have a legitimate gripe about not being on the list are Le'Ron McClain and Ben Grubbs. Neither plays at a high visibility position, so it doesn't surprise me that neither is on the list, but both have a good case to be made. Others who merit at least some consideration are Matt Birk (hard to quantify) and Lardarius Webb (haven't seen enough of him yet). Kelly Gregg and Trevor Pryce seem too far into the end stage of their careers for this list, and Foxworth has to be more consistent to get consideration.

Okay, one more who deserves consideration: Sam Koch. But he's certainly not at a high-profile position, and you can justify leaving him off in favor of position players.

[jonboy79]

12 - Carson Palmer
11 - Cedric Benson
10 - Haloti Ngata
9 - Josh Cribbs



I can't believe Ngata is only one spot ahead of Benson. And I would take him over Cribbs ANY day.

I'm not sure there are 9 players I'd take over Ngata in the whole NFL, let alone the AFCN...