The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/1155524
SEPTEMBER 2019 THE WOLVERINE 71 BY AUSTIN FOX N ew England Patriots quarter- back Tom Brady found himself at No. 6 on NFL Network's list of the top 100 players (which is voted on by the players themselves) heading into the 2019 season, despite throwing for 4,355 yards and winning his sixth Super Bowl title (a 13-3 win over the Los Angeles Rams) last season. Brady, who was tabbed No. 1 on the list each of the last two years, actually was left outside the top five for the first time since the rankings debuted in 2011. The 42-year-old was also pegged as the third-best signal-caller, with the New Orleans Saints' Drew Brees checking in at No. 2 and the Kansas City Chiefs' Patrick Mahomes at No. 4. "I've never been around anyone who loves football more than Tom," Patriots wide receiver Matthew Slater said upon the ranking's release. "The drive that he has in year 19 is even more than when I got here [in 2008]." "He's the Michael Jordan of foot- ball," Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald, who took the No. 1 spot from Brady, chimed in. Brady was one of three former Wol- verines to appear on the countdown, with Tennessee Titans left tackle Tay- lor Lewan slotting in at No. 77 and Kansas City Chiefs defensive end Frank Clark at No. 85. Only six schools have more alumni voted onto the list. CBS Sports' Jared Dubin was a bit kinder to Brady on his own list of the game's top players, however, tabbing the signal-caller at No. 4 overall. "Like [Green Bay Packers quar- terback] Aaron Rodgers, Brady was not at his very best last season," the scribe wrote. "But Brady at 'not his very best' is still good enough to win the Super Bowl — even at age 41. "If he hasn't fallen off by now, we should probably stop expecting it to happen every year and just take it in stride whenever it does." The MLB RICH HILL TO BE USED OUT OF LOS ANGELES' BULLPEN UPON HIS RETURN A forearm tendon flexor strain MICHIGAN IN THE PROS Tom Brady Still Viewed As One Of The Game's Best Heading Into 2019 Brady finished at No. 6 in the 2019 NFL Network Top 100, which is voted on by the players. It was the first time since the list debuted in 2011 that he finished outside the top five. PHOTO COURTESY OF THE NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS /DAVID SILVERMAN Position Player Team OG Ben Braden New York Jets QB Tom Brady New England Patriots TE Ian Bunting* Chicago Bears LB Devin Bush Pittsburgh Steelers TE Jake Butt Denver Broncos DE Taco Charlton Dallas Cowboys WR Jehu Chesson Washington Redskins DE Frank Clark Kansas City Chiefs CB Jeremy Clark New York Jets OC Mason Cole Arizona Cardinals CB Blake Countess* Philadelphia Eagles WR Amara Darboh Seattle Seahawks WR Devin Funchess Indianapolis Colts LB Rashan Gary Green Bay Packers LB Ben Gedeon Minnesota Vikings TE Zach Gentry Pittsburgh Steelers OC Graham Glasgow Detroit Lions DT Ryan Glasgow Cincinnati Bengals DE Brandon Graham Philadelphia Eagles QB Chad Henne Kansas City Chiefs DT Willie Henry Baltimore Ravens RB Karan Higdon Houston Texans S Delano Hill Seattle Seahawks DT Mo Hurst Oakland Raiders OG Kyle Kalis Cleveland Browns FB Joe Kerridge Cleveland Browns S Tyree Kinnel Cincinnati Bengals OT Taylor Lewan Tennessee Titans CB Jourdan Lewis Dallas Cowboys CB David Long Los Angeles Rams DT Bryan Mone Seattle Seahawks OG Patrick Omameh New Orleans Saints RB Thomas Rawls* Jacksonville Jaguars S Jabrill Peppers New York Giants QB Jake Rudock Miami Dolphins LB Jake Ryan Jacksonville Jaguars OG Michael Schofield Los Angeles Chargers QB Wilton Speight* San Francisco 49ers S Dymonte Thomas Denver Broncos CB Brandon Watson Jacksonville Jaguars P Matt Wile Minnesota Vikings S Jarrod Wilson Jacksonville Jaguars DE Chase Winovich New England Patriots DL Chris Wormley Baltimore Ravens * Finished collegiate career at a school other than Michigan Former Wolverines On NFL Preseason Rosters