2012 NFL Player Rankings - Wide Receivers

Being a prima donna might get a few guys demoted a little. But not too much.

Here's the list:

1) Calvin Johnson, Detroit Lions
2) Larry Fitzgerald, Arizona Cardinals
3) Andre Johnson, Houston Texans
4) A.J. Green, Cincinnati Bengals
5) Victor Cruz, New York Giants
6) Greg Jennings, Green Bay Packers
7) Roddy White, Atlanta Falcons
8) Steve Smith, Carolina Panthers
9) Wes Welker, New England Patriots
10) Mike Wallace, Pittsburgh Steelers
11) Julio Jones, Atlanta Falcons
12) Hakeem Nicks, New York Giants
13) Brandon Marshall, Chicago Bears
14) Jordy Nelson, Green Bay Packers
15) Percy Harvin, Minnesota Vikings
16) Dwyane Bowe, Kansas City Chiefs
17) Miles Austin, Dallas Cowboys
18) Antonio Brown, Pittsburgh Steelers
19) DeSean Jackson, Philadelphia Eagles
20) Dez Bryant, Dallas Cowboys
21) Marques Colston, New Orleans Saints
22) Jeremy Maclin, Philadelphia Eagles
23) Pierre Garcon, Washington Redskins
24) Demaryius Thomas, Denver Broncos
25) Vincent Jackson, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
26) Torrey Smith, Baltimore Ravens
27) Eric Decker, Denver Broncos
28) Stevie Johnson, Buffalo Bills
29) Nate Washington, Tennessee Titans
30) Michael Crabtree, San Francisco 49ers
31) Darrius Heyward-Bey, Oakland Raiders
32) Danny Amendola, St. Louis Rams

2012 NFL Player Rankings - Running Backs

These rankings are not for fantasy value. And yes, Darren Sproles may be too high, but I like the way he plays, and the dual threat he brings to the offense. Here's the list:

1) Ray Rice, Baltimore Ravens
2) LeSean McCoy, Philadelphia Eagles
3) Arian Foster, Houston Texans
4) Adrian Peterson, Minnesota Vikings
5) Jamaal Charles, Kansas City Chiefs
6) Maurice Jones-Drew, Jacksonville Jaguars
7) Marshawn Lynch, Seattle Seahawks
8) Matt Forte, Chicago Bears
9) Darren McFadden, Oakland Raiders
10) Reggie Bush, Miami Dolphins
11) Fred Jackson, Buffalo Bills
12) Frank Gore, San Francisco 49ers
13) Ryan Mathews, San Diego Chargers
14) Steven Jackson, St. Louis Rams
15) C.J. Spiller, Buffalo Bills
16) Darren Sproles, New Orleans Saints
17) Willis McGahee, Denver Broncos
18) Trent Richardson, Cleveland Browns
19) Stevan Ridley, New England Patriots
20) BenJarvus Green-Ellis, Cincinnati Bengals
21) DeMarco Murray, Dallas Cowboys
22) Michael Turner, Atlanta Falcons
23) Alfred Morris, Washington Redskins
24) DeAngelo Williams, Carolina Panthers
25) Michael Bush, Chicago Bears
26) Jonathan Stewart, Carolina Panthers
27) Rashard Mendenhall, Pittsburgh Steelers
28) Ben Tate, Houston Texans
29) Cedric Benson, Green Bay Packers
30) Andre Brown, New York Giants
31) Chris Johnson, Tennessee Titans
32) Pierre Thomas, New Orleans Saints

2012 NFL Player Ranks - Quarterbacks

No writing on my part here. I'm simply going to rank the top players at each of the fantasy skill positions. Not by fantasy value, but by who I think is the best. Because I feel like it.

Some of you may think Andy Dalton is too high on this list, and he might be. But I feel he's going to prove me right this season.

Russell Wilson is a guy who I hope proves me wrong. I haven't seen much of his ability in the NFL yet, but there is definitely a chance he can be a top twenty signal caller this season. I like how he doesn't possess the ego of fellow newcomers Cam Newton (2nd year) and Robert Griffin III. His work ethic rivals anyone in the league, he doesn't complain about other teams "playing dirty" (RGIII) or charge fans cash for autographs (Newton).

Anyway, here's the list:

1) Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers
2) Tom Brady, New England Patriots
3) Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints
4) Peyton Manning, Denver Broncos
5) Matthew Stafford, Detroit Lions
6) Eli Manning, New York Giants
7) Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh Steelers
8) Matt Ryan, Atlanta Falcons
9) Matt Schaub, Houston Texans
10) Tony Romo, Dallas Cowboys
11) Joe Flacco, Baltimore Ravens
12) Andy Dalton, Cincinnati Bengals
13) Robert Griffin III, Washington Redskins
14) Alex Smith, San Francisco 49ers
15) Michael Vick, Philadelphia Eagles
16) Cam Newton, Carolina Panthers
17) Philip Rivers, San Diego Chargers
18) Jay Cutler, Chicago Bears
19) Jake Locker, Tennessee Titans
20) Carson Palmer, Oakland Raiders
21) Andrew Luck, Indianapolis Colts
22) Ryan Fitzpatrick, Buffalo Bills
23) Matt Cassel, Kansas City Chiefs
24) Kevin Kolb, Arizona Cardinals
25) Christian Ponder, Minnesota Vikings
26) Mark Sanchez, New York Jets
27) Sam Bradford, St. Louis Rams
28) Josh Freeman, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
29) Blaine Gabbert, Jacksonville Jaguars
30) Ryan Tannehill, Miami Dolphins
31) Russell Wilson, Seattle Seahawks
32) Brandon Weeden, Cleveland Browns

To Sum Up a Few Things...

The sports media has a tendency to beat a dead horse until its guts spew out on a slew of topics. What I'm going to do here is write what I think is the bottom line to all of them. Some topics I talk about may be overdone in the media, while others I feel inclined to write about for no specific reason.

1. Robert Griffin III has had one spectacular performance thus far this season against a rather poor defense. What he did was impressive, but if he had had a crummy game, we'd all be screaming that he was a bust the way we are about Ryan Tannehill and Brandon Weeden. What I'm saying is, while Griffin will probably go on to have a terrific career, one game is far too small a sample size to evaluate an NFL player.

2. Beating the Bills proved nothing for the New York Jets. The Bills may well win two games this year. The Jets are still a circus as of now. If they can win two out of three against the Steelers, 49ers, and Texans, maybe it's time to start to think they are legitimate. But right now, they're still an 8-8 team at best.

3. Tim Tebow still cannot pass the football. It's kind of weird to me how for all the work he does, he can't correct his throwing motion and throw spirals. He'll be in the league awhile, but would be better off becoming a tight end. It'd also be nice if, as a backup quarterback backing up a mediocre starter and special teams player, Tebow would be talked about less than most teams. But as long as ESPN exists, we all know that's not going to happen. 

4. If the NFL is going to fine multiple defensive players each week, there has to be a way for them to fine guys on the other side of the ball as well. Slap DeSean Jackson fifty grand for admitting he didn't play hard last year or something.

5. The NFL needs to quit making the rules so the offense scores every time and everyone gets 350 passing yards. Heck, even Blaine Gabbert amassed 260 last week. The league needs to start catering to the hardcore fan instead of the casual one, which we know will never happen. I won't get into player safety here.

6. If my Phillies fall short in their comeback bid for the playoffs, go A's and O's. Love the fight these teams possess despite such minute payrolls (by pro sports standards, of course).

7. I'm still not getting why the NFL is still hiding the evidence in the bounty scandal. Looks more and more each day like they don't have any. We'll wait till the meetings are finished.

8. Michael Vick should be benched for Nick Foles if he pulls another dud this week against Baltimore.

9. I really hope Seattle gets an NBA team back. And they should call them the SuperSonics again, because that was by far the best name in pro sports.

10. It's a real shame the Pirates are collapsing again. The way they're going, it's bound to be losing season number twenty in a row. As they're accustomed to this time of year, Pittsburgh has already turned their full attention to the Steelers.

White Mamba Calls it a Career

NBA great Brian Scalabrine, known for his hustle on the court and by his nickname "White Mamba," retired from the league today. He turned down an offer from Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau to be an assistant, instead electing to serve as the play-by-play guy for Boston Celtics games.

A fan favorite around the league, Scal will surely be missed in Chicago. Today marks the first day in history that Bulls fans express jealousy toward Celtics supporters. People have been clamoring for his numbers, 24 and 44, to be retired league-wide.

Maybe I'm mocking him a little, but in all honesty, I respect the guy. He's a hard worker relatable to fans due to his straightforwardness and simply likeable character and wonderful personality. Teammates and coaches alike respect him for his work ethic, which has kept him in the league for a decade. Thibodeau thought so much of him that he offered him an assistant coaching position. But what really makes him a legend is this:

College Football's Flaws: Part One

It's a joyous occasion for college football fans across the country: Week One Saturday, which features a horde of competitive matchups. LSU vs. North Texas. Arkansas vs. the Gamecocks of Jacksonville St. In fact, we get all of TWO ranked vs. ranked games this weekend! Weak non-conference scheduling is the least of the problems, though, when it comes to college football.

It's simply a corrupt industry. Every day you hear about so and so from USC or Ohio State or whatever school receiving gifts from boosters or recruiters, or a story that surfaced about former UNC standout Julius Peppers regarding academic fraud or classes created for athletes to get by. Cam Newton, the guy you just took with your second round pick in your fantasy draft, got paid thousands to play for Auburn but got no penalty because his dad orchestrated it, or so he said. As any casual college football fan knows, these types of things go on at almost every large football school. Pressuring teachers to change players' grades. Preferential treatment to the players, in all aspects by the school, since they generate revenue. What do I mean? I'm not just talking about the free ride, but rather such things as additional academic help not available to other students just to keep players eligible, and having the football program bail its players out from trouble with school's police.

Fans simply look away during bowl season when corporate sponsors take advantage of college kids' talent in moneymaking schemes. Take the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl, for example. The financial corruption was endless (check the hyperlink for details). This is all centered around an amateur sport.