The Top 5 Current Players in the NFL

A game changer is hard to find these days in professional sports. Teams search diligently for the next game changer, only to find a superstar that is good enough to make a big play and boost his own statistics but not able to change the magnitude of a game. Not many people have the ability to change the momentum in one play on a consistent basis. Joe Montana and John Elway had the ability. Barry Sanders would give the opposing team headaches a week before the actual game. There are many great players in the NFL today, but only five players come to mind when I think of best-of-the-best.

5.) Terrell Owens – Wide Receiver – Dallas Cowboys

There is a huge possibility that Terrell Owens will destroy a team’s locker room chemistry in a season. Ok, maybe it’s a fact. We all know that he loves to insult his quarterbacks (the guy throwing him the ball and helping to increase his stats. Hello T.O, is anybody home?) On and off the field. However, this list is not “The best People” award. The off-the-field Terrell Owens is a nightmare. The game-time Terrell Owens is phenomenal. He is too strong and too big for one defender to cover. Owens can make some of the game’s best players look like amateurs with his break away speed. All this guy does is catch touchdown passes. I’ll sign him. Where is Drew?

4.) LaDainian Tomlinson – Running Back – San Diego Chargers

One of the biggest reasons why the San Diego Chargers have been a top team in the NFL for the past two years is because of LaDainian Tomlinson. Tomlinson is one of the most versatile running backs in the NFL today. In addition to his hard running style, LaDainian can catch passes out of the back field as well as line up as a wide receiver and go down field. In 2005, Tomlinson threw a couple of touchdowns as well.

3.) Shawn Alexander – Running Back – Seattle Seahawks

With 27 touchdowns under his belt in 2005, Shawn Alexander is becoming more of a recognized figure in the NFL. With his slick and elusive running style, opposing defenses are left puzzled as to how to stop him. In 2004, Shawn Alexander was 1 yard away from claiming the rushing title. In 2005, Alexander won the coveted rushing title with 1880 yards. Look for Alexander to continue his dominance in 2006.

2.) Peyton Manning – Quarterback – Indianapolis Colts

One day, Peyton Manning will be giving his Hall of Fame Induction Speech in Canton Ohio. For now, he is too busy dissecting opposing defenses to worry about the Hall of Fame. In two years, Manning has thrown for 77 touchdowns. 2004 was his the record breaking year in which we saw Peyton throw 49 touchdowns, surpassing Dan Marino’s record of 48. Manning would be #1 if it wasn’t for the constant playoff collapses every year. However, one day Peyton Manning will get to the Super Bowl. It is all a matter of time.

1.) Tom Brady – Quarterback – New England Patriots

Brady doesn’t have the strongest arm in the NFL. He is not the most mobile quarterback as well. Tom Brady was drafted in the 6th round of the 2000 NFL draft, thought to be just another backup in the NFL. Five years later, Brady has 3 Super Bowl Rings and 2 Super Bowl MVP awards. There is no way the Patriots would be as good without Brady as the quarterback. He is as accurate as any quarterback in the league now and has tremendous leadership skills. At the age of 28, Tom Brady is far from done.

Other Notable Players

Steve Smith – Wide Receiver – Carolina Panthers
Derrick Brooks – Linebacker – Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Champ Bailey – Cornerback – Denver Broncos
Matt Hasselback – Quarterback – Seattle Seahawks
Brian Urlacher – Linebacker – Chicago Bears
Marvin Harrison – Wide Receiver – Indianapolis Colts
Michael Strahan – Defensive End – New York Giants
Clinton Portis – Running Back – Washington Redskins
Chad Johnson – Wide Receiver – Cincinnati Bengals