From his column at NFL.com:

There has been much debate about “The Top 100 Players of 2011” as voted on by the NFL players all over the internet and on the television. My first reaction once the first group of 10 was announced was to hold off my commentary, instead waiting until the complete list was announced.

I have been holding back my thoughts until, as Popeye always said, “I can’t stand no more”.

Each week I watch the show and wonder if some of the voters actually watch the league or just rely on past performance.

The “Top 100” list should be reserved for players that impact the game.

That concept leads me to another chair-raising rating done by the players, placing Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger at No. 41. Really? There are 40 players in the league better than Big Ben? I don’t think so. I love Jamaal Charles, but he is not better than Big Ben. Neither is Devin Hester, or for that matter most of the players in front of Roethlisberger. Do you think the Steelers beat the Jets without Roethlisberger moving in the pocket to convert two critical third downs? No way. Could Hester or Charles make those kinds of plays? You know the answer.

We all know the NFL is a quarterback-driven league, therefore the blue-chip quarterbacks — Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, Drew Brees, Philip Rivers, Aaron Rodgers, and Big Ben — should all be in the top 10, no questions asked. To have Rivers at No. 26 is not an accurate portrayal of the best players in the league, nor is it to have Rodgers outside the top 10….


You can read the rest of Mr. Lombardi’s column (and watch video highlights) here.