Pete Prisco is a Donkey...

by Michael Bean on Jun 18, 2007 4:46 PM EDT in News

Last week, CBS.Sportsline.com's Pete Prisco made a list of the Top 50 players in the NFL. Much to my surprise (although it shouldn't have been, given what I already felt about Prisco's analysis), there were no Steelers on the list!

Prisco starts out with Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, LT, Champ Bailey, and Carson Palmer in the top 5. Not sure I'd put Champ in there, but whatever, no real beef. As I pass by Jammal Brown (OT Saints) and Shawn Andrews (G Philadelphia), Steve Hutchison (G Minnesota), I'm beginning to wonder where Faneca is on the list. Nowhere.

Neither is Troy Polamalu, who apparently isn't as good as Bob Sanders of Indianapolis, Kerry Rhodes of NYJ, or Sean Taylor of the 'Skins. Hmm. Casey Hampton, the absolute premiere run defender in the NFL (check back at Pittsburgh's stats against the run since he arrived in Pittsburgh as evidence) is also missing in favor of Jamal Williams of San Diego and Marcus Stroud of Jacksonville. Considering some of the WRs on the list, an argument could most certainly be made for Hines Ward as well.

What a short memory Prisco has. Has there ever been a team just one year removed from a Super Bowl that didn't have even one top 50 player on its roster? That's an unaswerable question, but I just don't understand how you can forget about a roster filled with elite players just because they had one disappointing season.

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Sean Taylor and Troy Polamalu

First, let me recognize that I thought it was a huge sleight against both the Steelers and Troy Polamalu personally that he wasn't included in the top 50 players. That ain't right.

But isn't Sean Taylor in the same conversation with Troy Polamalu? Over Taylor's career (past three years) he has:

257 tackles to Troy's 263
7 interceptions to Troy's 10
25 passes defensed to Troy's 23
2 sacks to Troy's 4
7 forced fumbles to Troy's 4

Considering Taylor had a much productive rookie season than Troy and at least compares with him in most key stats and even wins a few of them, isn't it fair to say that Sean Taylor is spoken of in the same sentenec as Polamalu?

Hogs Haven

by Skin Patrol @ Behind the Steel Curtain on Jun 18, 2007 5:37 PM EDT reply actions

When it comes to Ed Reed, Taylor,

and maybe Adrian Wilson, I could see them being ranked higher than Polamalu. I wouldn't agree with it, but it's a debatable point.

Bob Sanders and Kerry Rhodes over Polamalau is simply not a credible proposition, however.

Neither is Casey Hampton being completely left off the list, nor Roethlisberger after a single injury-ridden season to follow up two stellar campaigns, nor Willie Parker after a record-breaking, Pro Bowl season. Missing out on one or two of these is an acceptable error. All four would, in a just world, get you fired from your cushion job.

But yeah, Sean Taylor's good. Any other Skins make it? Moss, maybe?

by Desroko on Jun 18, 2007 5:55 PM EDT up reply actions

Naw, not even honorable mention

Prisco qualified his standings in such a way that it makes sense. He identified that it was very weighted towards "what have you done lately" which certainly wouldn't help the 'Skins. In the extreme, even that justification shouldn't preempt any 2005 World Champions from this list.

Hogs Haven

by Skin Patrol @ Behind the Steel Curtain on Jun 18, 2007 5:59 PM EDT up reply actions

He's a bandwagon guy,

like most national sportswriters. See also Peter King, who slobbered over Ben during the 2005 playoff run, and now calls him a C-plus player after a season in which he had to deal with a motorcycle accident, an appendectomy, a concussion, and the virtual disintegration of the offensive line at times.

by Desroko on Jun 18, 2007 5:37 PM EDT reply actions

Taylor...

Sure, he belongs in the disucssion. But Taylor was in the 30s in his list, meaning there should have been room for Troy if Taylor belongs that high.

by Michael Bean on Jun 18, 2007 5:52 PM EDT reply actions

He should have

just given him Bob Sanders' spot. When has Bob Sanders ever put together a solid year of production? What has he done to warrant being on the list?

Hogs Haven

by Skin Patrol @ Behind the Steel Curtain on Jun 18, 2007 6:03 PM EDT up reply actions

Hampton

Leaving Casey Hampton off the list is reason enough to ignore it altogether.

by Peter Bean on Jun 18, 2007 5:59 PM EDT reply actions

Let's take

one thing into account here. These guys all say whatever they feel like at the moment, and most of them have a VERY short memory. Couple of cases in point:

Two weeks before SB XL, my favorite blowhard, Shannon Sharpe, proclaimed that the NFC was so bad that the Steelers would prove to everyone what he 'had been saying all along', that lowest seed in the AFC could beat the highest seed in the NFC. Just 5 days later, his prediction had completely reversed, on the same website even, and he was taking the Hawks by 6 points.

Another point was Peter the great ass King(sorry for any PK fans out there, I think he's a royal schmuck) had these DIRECT quotes from SI about Big Ben:

Roethlisberger is 23 - which leads to all sorts of delicious and dynastic thoughts for Steeler Nation.

As much as you want to celebrate the kid's accomplishments in 2005, it's hard to look at Roethlisberger... and not think dynastic thoughts.

So think of it, 10 more years of Cowher. 10 more years of Roethlisberger. It's enough to make these passionate fans of start counting down the days to training camp.

---

This same man now rates Roth as a C- player.

I guess I'm sorta getting off the point, but I think its all relevant. These guys say whatever comes to mind at the moment, and don't give a crap about facts, stats or anything else for that matter, except what floats through their minds when they are talking or typing. Sure one or two of them will back up a comment with a stat or two, but that's rare.

Prisco's just demonstrating the typical media attitude toward the Steelers and other small market teams, indifference. Nevermind that we have had the biggest national fanbase since the 70's. Or that we have two of the highest-rated SBs in history.

by steelerark on Jun 18, 2007 7:45 PM EDT reply actions

wow,

sorry that was so long :)

by steelerark on Jun 18, 2007 7:46 PM EDT reply actions

Let's just suffice it to say

Pete Prisco wouldn't make my top 50 NFL beat writers list, so I guess we're even. For the record, neither would Peter King though (see http://rockstarforhire.blogspot.com/2007/06/has-whole-world-gone-crazy.html)

Shameless, I know...

by Cotter on Jun 18, 2007 9:48 PM EDT reply actions

That is one the most bogus list's I've ever seen

Kitna in the top ten but Ben at 17th???

Romo has to be gaining ground on Vick as "most overrated QB."

At least Vick was put in his place at 21.

by cgolden on Jun 19, 2007 9:12 AM EDT up reply actions

We should all do our own top 25 or 50 rankings

just to see how similar or different they are.

by cgolden on Jun 19, 2007 8:10 AM EDT reply actions

You said it man...

Right there with ya'...
See - http://rockstarforhire.blogspot.com/2007/06/has-whole-world-gone-crazy-part-ii.html

I will say though, any top whatever list is bound to draw significant fire...I'm just waiting to hear how wrong I am.

by Cotter on Jun 19, 2007 4:53 PM EDT up reply actions

Cotter...

Solid list. I'll make one of my own and we can compare.

by Michael Bean on Jun 19, 2007 6:23 PM EDT reply actions

qb list

i thought about doing that but you really have to separate it into two lists.

1. Who do I want to start tomorrow, healthy in the biggest game of the season.

and

2. Who do I want as my franchise QB

at least that's what I concluded...

by schnifin on Jun 20, 2007 12:13 AM EDT up reply actions

both would be necessary

but we all have plenty of time on our hands to put those lists together right now.

by cgolden on Jun 20, 2007 8:25 AM EDT up reply actions

Isn't a list possible that incorporates both?

All things equal, younger quarterbacks are better. But all things are never equal, so couldn't you order a list that incorporates age yet doesn't use it as a defining feature? 2. is an extreme on age and experience premium. 1. is an extreme on production. The "better" qb in my opinion is the one who helps me win both immediately and in the future. The key principle is next year is always more important than the year after that, so an ever so slight premium is placed on immediate satisfaction.

Hogs Haven

by Skin Patrol @ Behind the Steel Curtain on Jun 20, 2007 12:46 PM EDT up reply actions

well

its not only an experience thing. It's also an injury thing. For instance, a healthy McNabb is a top notch QB. I would take him to start one game for my team over most other QBs in the league. However I wouldn't want him as my franchise QB b/c he gets hurt too much.

by schnifin on Jun 20, 2007 2:02 PM EDT up reply actions

btw...

really nice site you have. GOod stuff. I'm glad you stumbled across this site..we'll be in touch, that's for sure.

by Michael Bean on Jun 19, 2007 6:24 PM EDT reply actions

Rock n' Roll Man

Thanks for the kind words!

Yeah I'm a big fan of Behind the Steel Curtain as well. I was actually referred here by the guy who runs Stampede Blue...he and I, well, had a difference of opinion regarding one of his posts a few weeks back...basically he didn't have any lavish praise for Ben Roethlisberger so I called him a hack (but in the nicest way possible)...we made nice though...agreed to disagree...

by Cotter on Jun 19, 2007 7:38 PM EDT up reply actions