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49ers FB
Fred Beasley
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Underrated players are players who have never gotten the recognition they deserve.
However, there are also some Pro Bowl players who make the magazine covers but still
don’t get all the credit they deserve. One such player may be the Colts’ Peyton
Manning. Many scouts and experts we spoke to feel there is a chance that, if he avoids
major injury, Archie’s boy may be the greatest quarterback ever to play the game.
What follows are some insiders’ observations of Manning and other top underrated
players at every position.
QB
Peyton Manning / Indianapolis Colts
"I saw Namath in his third year, Montana in his third year, Elway in his third
year, Bradshaw in his third year and Marino in his third year, and Manning is better at
similar stages of development than any one of them, including Marino."
"When he came out we felt there was a ceiling to how good he could be. The only
ceiling I see now is the sky."
"His arm strength has gone from good to exceptional, and his mobility has gone
from fair to good."
"Nobody can unload quicker, nobody can read defenses quicker, nobody is more
accurate or fundamentally sound, nobody is tougher and nobody is more team-oriented."
"With him, the Colts can win the Super Bowl. Without him, they could not make the
playoffs."
"He makes his offensive linemen so much better because nobody is better at
avoiding sacks. He makes his receivers better because he hits them in stride and throws a
very catchable pass just where they want it. And he makes the running game stronger
because playing eight or nine men in the box against him is suicide."
"The best player at the most important position on the field."
RB
Curtis Martin / New York Jets
"When the Jets said that he, not Keyshawn Johnson, was their most valuable player,
they were 100 percent correct. With him, the Patriots were a terrific team. But since he
left, they have been nothing, while the Jets jumped way ahead of them."
"He is so productive, consistent, reliable and complete. Rarely fumbles, picks up
the blitz, catches well, throws TD passes and is a great, intuitive runner with a big
heart."
FB
Fred Beasley / San Francisco 49ers
"Not just a blocker, not just a runner, but a really good all-around player with
good running skills."
FB
Bob Christian / Atlanta Falcons
"He may look like a pumped-up running back, which he is, but he blocks as
efficiently as any fullback in the game, catches the ball very well and is a much more
intuitive runner than most of today’s fullbacks."
TE
Ken Dilger / Indianapolis Colts
"The big-catch guys always make the Pro Bowl, but for the past five years, Dilger
has been the best all-around tight-end in the game."
"Guys like (Shannon) Sharpe and (Tony) Gonzalez are really H-backs. Dilger is a
true tight end. He blocks defensive ends."
WR
Jimmy Smith / Jacksonville Jaguars
"Keyshawn and Randy Moss get a lot more pub, but Smith is the best wide receiver
in the game today."
WR
Ed McCaffrey / Denver Broncos
"A lot faster than you would think, an excellent route runner and an even better
blocker. Plus, he is so big that you can have him covered and not have him covered."
C
Matt Birk / Minnesota Vikings
"Has replaced a Pro Bowl player (Jeff Christy), and they really have not missed a
beat."
OG
Ron Stone / New York Giants
"Once you get by Larry Allen, he may be as good as anyone."
"He shows up and plays every week and plays well every week."
OG
Randy Thomas / New York Jets
"He has come further faster than anyone felt he could. A great athlete for a
guard."
OT
Walter Jones / Seattle Seahawks
"He is in the same class with Willie Roaf and Orlando Pace."
OT
Tarik Glenn / Indianapolis Colts
"The best player on a pretty good line. Does a nice job of protecting Peyton
Manning’s blind side. He and the Titans’ Brad Hopkins are the most
underappreciated left tackles in the game."
DE
Chidi Ahanotu / Tampa Bay Buccaneers
"Overshadowed by (Warren) Sapp and (Derrick) Brooks, but a damn good player in his
own right. A notch below a Pro Bowler but very good."
DE
Eric Hicks / Kansas City Chiefs
"No one has improved more over the past two years than Hicks, who has been working
with one of the best, if not the best, defensive line coaches in the game in Bob
Karmelowicz."
NT
Pat Williams / Buffalo Bills
"We think he may be even better than Ted Washington. He is as quick a fat guy as
you will ever see, and he really plays hard."
DT
Keith Hamilton / New York Giants
"Very steady and solid."
OLB
Donnie Edwards / Kansas City Chiefs
"No knock on Derrick Thomas, but he is a better all-around player than Derrick
ever was."
"A disruptor. He makes big play after big play."
MLB
Greg Biekert / Oakland Raiders
"So smart and so tough. He may only run a five flat, but he gets to the ball
faster than the 4.6 guys."
OLB
Dwayne Rudd / Minnesota Vikings
"He may not be a big hitter, but he is a big-play maker with great speed and
athleticism."
CB
Samari Rolle / Tennessee Titans
"If he does not get a big head, he will be one of the top five cover corners in
the game — and may be already."
CB
Fernando Bryant / Jacksonville Jaguars
"He may be the first true cover shutdown-type corner the Jaguars have ever had. He
is just in his second year, and very few people throw at him."
S
Robert Griffith / Minnesota Vikings
"He may be the best all-around safety in the game today."
S
Jerome Woods / Kansas City Chiefs
"Lots of speed, range and ability."
PK
Ryan Longwell / Green Bay Packers
"Not a great leg but very reliable."
P
Bryan Barker / Jacksonville Jaguars
"Just a very reliable guy who does it year after year." |
