Gauging the Most Overrated, Underrated Players in NFL's Top-10-Selling Jerseys

The list of the NFL's top-selling jerseys was released on Wednesday, and while there are a few surprises among them, the list is basically what you'd expect it to be, loaded with quarterbacks and some of the NFL's most well-known names.

While it makes sense why most of these players have the best-selling jerseys in the league, a few of them have been wildly overrated or underrated by fans all season long.

In the following slides, I detail just who these players are.

Overrated: Tim Tebow (No. 2)

As a person, as a celebrity and as a phenomenon, it's understandable why Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow has the second biggest-selling jersey in the NFL this season.

But as a football player, fans should be looking to hide his jerseys in the backs of their closets, considering how he's performed as a passer this year.

Tebow's jersey is a major seller because of all the hype that has surrounded him in his two years in the NFL and his performance as a quarterback at Florida.

But he's yet to meet that hype with consistently good play on the field, which makes his inclusion on this list both understandable and yet still unearned.

Overrated: Miles Austin (No. 10)

It's not surprising that Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo is No. 9 on the list of this season's best-selling NFL jerseys, considering he's the quarterback of one of the most beloved franchises in the league.

What is shocking is that fellow Cowboy, wide receiver Miles Austin, also made the list.

Austin isn't the most dynamic receiver on the Cowboys roster, let alone in the NFC. While he's a popular player, it's surprising that Cowboys fans would rather purchase his jersey instead of those of fellow receiver Dez Bryant or tight end Jason Witten.

Austin is the only receiver to crack the top 10 in this list. While he is talented, it is confusing as to why he's so popular, beyond being a high-profile member of one of the bigger-market teams in the league.

Underrated: Eli Manning (No. 8)

New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning has had the best season of his career, and though he managed to crack the top 10 of the best-selling NFL jerseys of 2011, it's amazing that he isn't higher up the list.

Manning is the first New York quarterback to lead his team to a Super Bowl since 1990 and is the best passer in the NFL's biggest market, however, he's been outsold by the likes of Green Bay Packers linebacker Clay Matthews (that hair!) and Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Michael Vick.

Perhaps Manning just isn't an exciting enough player to warrant more fans seeking out his jersey. However, in terms of who should sell a ton of jerseys, Manning deserves to be higher than just No. 8.

Underrated: Drew Brees (No. 4)

Yes, New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees has a top-five best-selling NFL jersey this year, but his jersey is still selling less than Denver quarterback Tim Tebow and super-popular Pittsburgh Steelers safety Troy Polamalu, despite those two players not accomplishing nearly what Brees has in the past few seasons.

Polamalu is a talented player, to be sure, and one of the best safeties to ever play the game, but his popularity of late relies more on his signature hair and entertaining commercials than his on-field skills.

Tebow, as discussed earlier, hasn't backed up his popularity with any significant NFL success.

Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers has the best-selling jersey this year because he's a Super Bowl-winning passer with exceptional skills. Brees fits that bill as well and thus should be more popular than he is.