NFL Top 100: Players That Got No Respect from the Current Rankings

Currently, NFL Network is in the midst of counting down the top 100 players of 2012. So far, the countdown has counted down through the No. 81 spot, and it's reasonable to suspect that there are controversial rankings. That's what comes with every great ranking, however, and what has been revealed already is no exception.

Tennessee Titans running back Chris Johnson was put in the No. 100 spot despite having run for over 2,000 yards in 2009. Along with Johnson, there have been some other players who didn't get any respect from the rankings. Let's check them out prior to evaluating Johnson even more.

View current rankings of NFL Top 100 of 2012.

Joe Thomas: OT, Browns (No. 82)

Easily the best offensive lineman on the Cleveland Browns, Joe Thomas is arguably the NFL's best overall lineman.

The No. 3 overall selection in 2007, Thomas has been named to the Pro Bowl every year of his NFL career. Not to mention, Thomas has also been a four-time All-Pro selection, with the previous three at first-team.

The man has started all 80 of 80 games thus far in his short career and has anchored the blindside of a Browns line that allowed just 19 sacks in 2007, 24 sacks in 2008 and 30 sacks in 2009. Now, Cleveland has gradually gotten worse, but Thomas is just one man walling off one side.

Much of the pressure on Cleveland's quarterbacks has come up the middle or opposite Thomas, as defenses fail against him quite often. Thomas should be at least in the top 60 or 70, as he's played with hardly any talent around him.

Provided that Cleveland does improve with Trent Richardson and Brandon Weeden in 2012, we could see Thomas jump into the top 50 for 2013.

Tony Romo: QB, Cowboys (No. 91)

Although Tony Romo has won just one playoff game for the Dallas Cowboys, the man has been Big D's most consistently reliable performer on offense in recent history.

For one, Romo currently hold the No. 2 highest all-time career passer rating of 96.9 and is coming off his best season. With over 4,100 yards and 31 touchdowns to just 10 picks, Romo also had a 66.3 completion percentage and a 102.7 rating in 2011.

Unfortunately, Romo goes severely overlooked when compared to other quarterbacks like Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers, Drew Brees, Matthew Stafford and Eli Manning. 

Even more impressive about Romo, the Cowboys dealt with more than a few injuries on offense last season. The receiving corps' most consistent performer was Laurent Robinson, and the ground game although solid, never hit a rhythm throughout the season.

Dallas' success was predicated off of Romo's production because the Cowboys defense also ranked No. 23 against the pass. Without Romo, Big D would not be close to playoff contention.

Chris Johnson: RB, Titans (No. 100)

It is most definitely correct that Chris Johnson ranks in the NFL's top 100, but he's also much better than No. 100.

This is a running back who accumulated over 2,000 rushing yards in just his second pro season and went to three straight Pro Bowls to being his career. Now, 2011 was a disappointing season, no question, but Johnson still gained over 1,000 yards and averaged four yards per carry.

Lest we forget, he also added 418 receiving yards, which was the second-most of his career.

On a more valid note, Johnson held out in 2011 and began to slow, with just 462 total yards through the first seven games. Then, Johnson powered up for the second half of the season and compiled 1,003 total yards in the final nine games, which averages out to more than 110 yards per contest. That's damn impressive when compared to the rough start, and it's unbelievable to think that 1,465 total yards in season is a down year. Then again, 2011 was Johnson's career low in total yards and touchdowns.

Even so, strictly based on his previous years of production, Johnson deserves to be ranked much higher than No. 100.

John Rozum on Twitter.