Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
The NFL Network is well underway announcing their top 100 players for 2013, a list of the best players in the NFL as judged by the players. The Buccaneers already have three players on the list, as Gerald McCoy, Dashon Goldson, and Darrelle Revis have all made the top 100 ranking. McCoy and Goldson are probably both deserving of borderline top 100 rankings…
But Darrelle Revis has no business as the 67th best player in the NFL. He should be much, much higher.
Mandatory Credit: William Perlman/THE STAR-LEDGER via USA TODAY Sports
Last season, Revis ranked 5th on the list, and his injury has plummeted him down the list, as his peers obviously feel he’s unable to return to his previously dominant form. In fact, they ranked him below Earl Thomas of the Seahawks, and Chris Johnson of the Titans.
So why is this so ridiculous? As Robbie pointed out on this site a while ago, Darrelle Revis is an absolutely unique corner able of dominating in a way very few players are able to dominate at their respective positions. And according to Football Outsiders, despite not being heavily targeted, Darrelle Revis has been near the top of the league at getting stops and preventing big plays for his entire career. He shuts down half of the field and completely changes defenses, something no other corner in the NFL can do.
Darrelle Revis may be coming off of a major knee injury, and so there is reason to be concerned that he may not be the fifth best player in the NFL as a result. But even the most pessimistic projections should view 90% of Darrelle Revis as being a top 3 cornerback in this league (alongside Richard Sherman and Patrick Peterson), and deserving of being rated higher than Big Ben and Stephen Tulloch.
Not to mention, all indications are that Darrelle Revis is progressing very well from his knee injury, well enough to have the confidence to start a Twitter war with Richard Sherman. Revis is ready to get back on the football field and prove himself, because younger players like Sherman and Peterson are threatening to overtake him as the best corner in the NFL. And despite the ridiculous amount of speculation that Revis is not a team player because of his holdouts, his Jets teammates said he was a locker room leader, and that he would be missed. In other words, there is nothing to indicate that Darrelle has not been working hard to get back to football at 100% for this season.
So where do you think Darrelle Revis should rank among NFL players? Do you think his ranking in this NFL poll is fair considering his circumstances? Let us know in the comments below.