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Rams RB
Marshall Faulk
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The following list of the NFL’s top 50 players is based on two factors, with each
counting as half of the equation. The first was how well the individual played in 2001,
and the second was his value to his team. With these components in mind, we asked our
panel of NFL insiders to name the league’s top performers during the 2001 campaign.
All comments were made anonymously.
1. RB Marshall Faulk / St. Louis Rams
"Nobody else has anyone like Faulk. Not only is he the best pure runner in
football, he’s the best pass-catching back in the game, a team leader and a very
smart player who does an exceptional job of picking up the blitz."
2. QB Kurt Warner / St. Louis Rams
"A modern day Dan Fouts." ... "He is the most accurate passer in
the game and knows when to get rid of the ball. He also gets rave reviews for his
toughness and team-first attitude."
3. QB Brett Favre / Green Bay Packers
"The toughest man and best leader in the game, Favre threw the ball better
than he has in years this season."
4. DE Michael Strahan / New York Giants
"The best defensive player and perhaps even the best player in the game
overall. But the Giants were 7-9."
5. RB Curtis Martin / New York Jets
"Carried the Jets’ offense while the offensive coordinator and
quarterback could never get on the same page."
6. QB Jeff Garcia / San Francisco 49ers
"At times, he brought back memories of Joe Montana." ... "Very
efficient and gutty with a great sixth sense for the game."
7. MLB Brian Urlacher / Chicago Bears
"Fastest, most athletic, big middle linebacker the game has ever seen."
8. RB Jerome Bettis / Pittsburgh Steelers
"The Bus carried the Steelers to a big lead in their division before
injuries put him in the garage at the end of the year."
9. RB Rich Gannon / Oakland Raiders
"Tailed off somewhat late in the year. Great intangibles and enough passing
ability."
10. CB Aeneas Williams / St. Louis Rams
"Not only played at a Pro Bowl level, he was also the leader of the most
improved defense in the game." ... "Did for the Rams’ defense what Marshall
Faulk did for the offense when he arrived."
11. RB Ahman Green / Green Bay Packers
"Favre and Green are second only to Warner and Faulk when it comes to QB-RB
duos."
12. QB Kordell Stewart / Pittsburgh Steelers
"Had a terrific second half, but people forget he struggled early and
overlook how few touchdowns the Steelers scored inside the red zone."
13. MLB Ray Lewis / Baltimore Ravens
"Makes everyone around him better, and is a terrific player in his own
right."
14. RB Corey Dillon / Cincinnati Bengals
"For much of the year, he was the Bengals’ offense."
15. RB Stephen Davis / Washington Redskins
"The Redskins did not start to win until they made Davis the focal point of
their attack."
16. QB Donovan McNabb / Philadelphia Eagles
"Had an up and down year, but just look what he did at the end of the second
Giants game and after that."
17. WR David Boston / Arizona Cardinals
"Looks like a modern day Otis Taylor."
18. OT Jonathan Ogden / Baltimore Ravens
"The best left tackle in football."
19. CB Troy Vincent / Philadelphia Eagles
"A shutdown-type corner."
20. OT Orlando Pace / St. Louis Rams
"Where would the Rams be if Kurt Warner got hurt? Pace protects
Warner’s blindside."
21. MLB Zach Thomas / Miami Dolphins
"His play dropped off a little after Daryl Gardener got hurt, but he is
still a great leader with great instincts and intangibles."
22. RB Priest Holmes / Kansas City Chiefs
"Was a near-perfect fit for their offense."
23. C Kevin Mawae / New York Jets
"Terrific line leader and center." ... "Nobody blocks the
Dolphins’ Zach Thomas any better."
24. WR Rod Smith / Denver Broncos
"Became a marked man after Ed McCaffrey went down, but he still had great
production."
25. RB Garrison Hearst / San Francisco 49ers
"The comeback story of the decade."
26. WR Jimmy Smith / Jacksonville Jaguars
"Superproductive every year."
27. FS Brian Dawkins / Philadelphia Eagles
"Best safety in football."
28. WR Marvin Harrison / Indianapolis Colts
"Keeps putting up Hall of Fame-type numbers without much fanfare."
29. WR Terrell Owens / San Francisco 49ers
"Two subpar games against the Rams really hurt his status, but he also dominated
games and made a ton of big plays."
30. OLB Chad Brown / Seattle Seahawks
"Had a terrific year without anyone noticing."
31. FS Mike Brown / Chicago Bears
"Made big, game-winning plays."
32. DT Ted Washington / Chicago Bears
"Nobody protects linebackers any better, but a lack of stamina keeps his rating
down."
33. OG Larry Allen / Dallas Cowboys
"This was far from his best year, but he still was dominating."
34. QB Steve McNair / Tennessee Titans
"Much improved downfield passer, despite never being healthy all year."
35. QB Mark Brunell / Jacksonville Jaguars
"Deserves a Purple Heart."
36. RB Ricky Williams / New Orleans Saints
"One of the premier backs in the game."
37. DT Bryant Young / San Francisco 49ers
"A leader and a stud."
38. MLB Jeremiah Trotter / Philadelphia Eagles
"Not as good as he thinks he is, but he still is awfully good."
39. TE Tony Gonzalez / Kansas City Chiefs
"The one tight end who opponents will double-team and focus on."
40. DE Hugh Douglas / Philadelphia Eagles
"Impact pass rusher who can take over the game at times."
41. CB Charles Woodson / Oakland Raiders
"Even playing hurt, he was a shutdown type of corner. Would rate higher if he had
been healthy."
42. WR-RS Troy Brown / New England Patriots
"He is too small and too slow but was super on third downs and a top return
man."
43. DE-OLB Peter Boulware / Baltimore Ravens
"Made a huge difference once he moved to end."
44. WR Torry Holt / St. Louis Rams
"Had another Pro Bowl year." ... "Not the pure catcher Isaac Bruce is, but
he is a more explosive player."
45. RB Tiki Barber / New York Giants
"There were days when he was the Giants’ offense."
46. DT Warren Sapp / Tampa Bay Buccaneers
"This was not one of his better years, but he closed very strong."
47. DE Jason Taylor / Miami Dolphins
"Played the run better than he ever has before."
48. OT Tra Thomas / Philadelphia Eagles
"Belonged in the Pro Bowl." ... "Has become a top left tackle."
49. QB Tom Brady / New England Patriots
"Not a great talent, but a very efficient player who does the little things."
50. DE Grant Wistrom / St. Louis Rams
"Great instincts and intensity."
Honorable mention
OLT Walter Jones / Seahawks
"Outstanding pass blocker and athlete who may be the most athletic tackle in
football."
OLB-DE Jamir Miller / Browns
"Best player on a much-improved defense."
SS John Lynch / Buccaneers
"Smartest and toughest safety in the game."
OLB Anthony Simmons / Seahawks
"Has really come into his own now that he is playing the best position for him."
OLB James Farrior / Jets
"Finally was put into the type of defense he was drafted to play in and really
thrived." |
