The 25 Best Players in the NFL

Starting the list of... number 25

GREEN BAY, WI - NOVEMBER 11: Steve Hutchinson #76 of the Minnesota Vikings moves on the line during the game against the Green Bay Packers on November 11, 2007 at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The Packers defeated the Vikings 34-0. (Photo by Jona

Number 24

ST. LOUIS, MO - DECEMBER 21: Patrick Willis #52 of the San Francisco 49ers celebrates a victory against the St. Louis Rams at the Edward Jones Dome on December 21, 2008 in St. Louis, Missouri. The 49ers beat the Rams 17-16. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Get

Number 23

MIAMI - JANUARY 4: Joey Porter #55 of the Miami Dolphins gestures during a AFC Wild Card playoff game against the Baltimore Ravens on January 4, 2009 at Dolphin Stadium in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

Number 22

NASHVILLE, TN - JANUARY 10: Linebacker Ray Lewis #52 of the Baltimore Ravens walks off the field after defeating the Tennessee Titans 13-10 during the AFC Divisional Playoff Game on January 10, 2009 at LP Field in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Andy Ly

Number 21

CLEVELAND - NOVEMBER 30: Reggie Wayne #87 of the Indianapolis Colts is tackled after a third quarter catch by Sean Jones #26 and Brandon McDonald #22 of the Cleveland Browns during a fourth quarter run on November 30, 2008 at Cleveland Browns Stadium in

Number 20

GREEN BAY, WI - NOVEMBER 30: Julius Peppers #90 of the Carolina Panthers rushes the passer against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field on November 30, 2008 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The Panthers won 35-31. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

Number 19

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - JANUARY 11: Brian Westbrook #36 of the Philadelphia Eagles runs the ball against the New York Giants during the NFC Divisional Playoff Game on January 11, 2009 at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Chris McGra

Number 18

OAKLAND, CA - DECEMBER 14: Randy Moss #81 of the New England Patriots runs against Nnamdi Asomugha #21 of the Oakland Raiders during an NFL game on December 14, 2008 at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum in Oakland, California. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/

Number 17

CHARLOTTE, NC - JANUARY 10: Steve Smith #89 of the Carolina Panthers looks on in the rain during the game against the Arizona Cardinals during the NFC Divisional Playoff Game on January 10, 2009 at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina. (

Number 16

CLEVELAND - NOVEMBER 23: Andre Johnson #80 of the Houston Texans carries the ball during the NFL game against the Cleveland Browns at Cleveland Browns Stadium on November 23, 2008 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

Number 15

SAN DIEGO - SEPTEMBER 07: Linebacker Shawne Merriman #56 of the San Diego Chargers exhorts the crowd against the Carolina Panthers on September 7, 2008 at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, California. The Panthers won 26-24. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Im

Number 14

SEATTLE - DECEMBER 07: Defensive lineman Richard Seymour #93 of the New England Patriots celebrates after recovering a fumble in the final two minutes of play against the Seattle Seahawks on December 7, 2008 at Qwest Field in Seattle, Washington. The Pat

Number 13

DENVER - DECEMBER 9: Champ Bailey #24 of the Denver Broncos intercepts a pass thrown by Brodie Croyle of the Kansas City Chiefs in the third quarter of the game at Invesco Field at Mile High December 9, 2007 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Steve Dykes/Ge

Number 12

GLENDALE, AZ - SEPTEMBER 16: Walter Jones #71 of the Seattle Seahawks gets set to block against the Arizona Cardinals at University of Phoenix Stadium on September 16, 2007 in Glendale, Arizona. The Cardinals defeated the Seahawks 23-20. (Photo by Kevin

Number 11

BALTIMORE - SEPTEMBER 17: Linebacker Terrell Suggs #55 of the Baltimore Ravens gestures to the crowd after recovering a fumble in first quarter against the Oakland Raiders on September 17, 2006 at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Win M

Number 10

CHICAGO - DECEMBER 11: Drew Brees #9 of the New Orleans Saints drops back to pass against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on December 11, 2008 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

Number 9

TAMPA, FL - FEBRUARY 01: Larry Fitzgerald #11 of the Arizona Cardinals celebrates after scoring a touchdown in the fourth quarter against the Pittsburgh Steelers during Super Bowl XLIII on February 1, 2009 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. (Ph

Number 8

FOXBORO, MA - NOVEMBER 30: James Harrison #92 of the Pittsburgh Steelers celebrates after the Steelers recovered a fumble by the New England Patriots on November 30, 2008 at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

Number 7

SAN DIEGO - DECEMBER 28: Runningback LaDainian Tomlinson #21 of the San Diego Chargers celebrates after scoring a 4 yard rushing touchdown against the Denver Broncos during the second quarter of the NFL game at Qualcomm Stadium on December 28, 2008 in Sa

Number 6

NASHVILLE, TN - SEPTEMBER 28: Defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth #92 of the Tennessee Titans tries to get the crowd into the game while taking on the Minnesota Vikings at LP Field on September 28, 2008 in Nashville, Tennessee. The Titans defeated the Vi

Number 5

PITTSBURGH - JANUARY 18: Troy Polamalu #43 of the Pittsburgh Steelers returns an interception 40 yards for a touchdown against the Baltimore Ravens during the fourth quarter of the AFC championship game on January 18, 2009 at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, P

Number 4

IRVING, TX - DECEMBER 20: DeMarcus Ware #94 of the Dallas Cowboys rushes the passer from the right side of the defense during their NFL game against the Baltimore Ravens at Texas Stadium on December 20, 2008 in Irving, Texas. The Ravens defeated the Cowb

Number 3

GLENDALE, AZ - FEBRUARY 03: Quarterback Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots drops back to pass against the New York Giants the second half of Super Bowl XLII on February 3, 2008 at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. The Giants

Number 2

MIAMI, FL - JANUARY 4: Safety Ed Reed #20 of the Baltimore Ravens intercepts a pass against the Miami Dolphins in an AFC wild card game at Dolphins Stadium January 4, 2009 in Miami, Floirda. Reed ran the interception back for a touchdown. (Photo by Al M

The Best Player in the NFL: Number 1

INDIANAPOLIS - DECEMBER 07: Peyton Manning #18 of the Indianapolis Colts celebrates as he runs off the field after their 35-3 win against the Cincinnati Bengals at Lucas Oil Stadium on December 7, 2008 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Gett