2011 NFL Predictions: The Uncontested Leader of Every NFL Team

Being a leader is about more than wearing a "C" on your shoulder—it's about being in the weight room first and leaving the film room last. Being a leader is about motivating the troops before the game and keeping them focused when all hell breaks lose in the fourth quarter.

Leading is such an important part of being a successful NFL player, but there is no way to measure it until players are tested on the field. Those who rise to the occasion find respect unparalleled in the world of sports.

These are the leaders of men in the National Football League.

Buffalo Bills: Kyle Williams

Not only is Kyle Williams the best player on the Buffalo Bills, he is their unquestioned leader.

Playing nose tackle requires strength—both physically and mentally. Williams excels with both. On a young team without many star players, the Bills are Williams' team.

Miami Dolphins: Karlos Dansby

This one could go many ways, and honestly you could say the Miami Dolphins have been looking for a leader since Dan Marino retired.

Karlos Dansby is a middle linebacker, a great football player and is making the calls on defense for an underrated front seven. The offense in Miami does feature an elite tackle in Jake Long, but he has yet to really assert himself as the leader of this team. And he may not be outspoken enough to ever fill that role.

New England Patriots: Tom Brady

An argument could be made for Vince Wilfork or Jerod Mayo, but no player controls the tempo of the New England Patriots like Tom Brady.

He has earned the respect of his peers through rigorous offseason workouts and by displaying the talent to win multiple Super Bowls.

Brady has the respect of his teammates, and that's all it takes.

New York Jets: Bart Scott

The New York Jets are largely a young team. Even the veterans on the roster are recent pickups through trades and free agency. One player new to the Jets has positioned himself as the heart and soul of the team.

His name is Bart Scott.

Scott is a fiery leader—known for his mouth and his hard hits. He is the type of personality that naturally leads while others follow.

Baltimore Ravens: Ray Lewis

As my daughter likes to say, "Duh, Dad!"

Who else would it be?

Haloti Ngata, Todd Heap, Joe Flacco, Anquan Boldin and Ed Reed are all great players but no one comes close to being the leader that Ray Lewis is.

Cincinnati Bengals: Andrew Whitworth

This one was a toss-up.

Carson Palmer should be the leader of this team, but he has requested a trade. Cedric Benson could be, but he's too enigmatic and odd to be a leader. What is sad is that the leader of this team might be Chad Ochocinco, even though he does not deserve to be.

One player we believe will lead the Bengals in the next decade is tackle Andrew Whitworth.

He is quickly becoming a great player, is a smart and vocal presence in the Players Association and is heavily involved in labor negotiations. His work there will lead to respect from teammates and peers alike.

Cleveland Browns: Peyton Hillis

The Cleveland Browns really have no clear-cut leader right now.

Joe Thomas is the best player on the team, but his quiet and unassuming personality does not lend itself well to leading. Colt McCoy will eventually become the leader but he's not there yet.

Who is?

Mr. Madden Cover 2011, Peyton Hillis.

His hard-nosed running style and tough work ethic have made him a fan and player favorite in Cleveland.

Pittsburgh Steelers: Troy Polamalu

When looking at the many leaders on the Pittsburgh Steelers, it was tough to separate one from the others.

James Farrior and James Harrison are both excellent players and leaders. Ben Roethlisberger is a legitimate franchise quarterback and elite player. Hines Ward is widely respected and revered.

None of these players have the credibility and talent of Troy Polamalu. When he is in the lineup, this is a better team.

Houston Texans: DeMeco Ryans

You could argue that the Texans are Matt Schaub's team, or even Andre Johnson's. Both players are excellent, but neither is the natural leader that DeMeco Ryans has been.

Ryans is the Texans' defensive captain and a rock-solid leader in the locker room and the huddle.

Indianapolis Colts: Peyton Manning

Did you really think it would be anyone else?

Jacksonville Jaguars: Maurice Jones-Drew

This could go a number of ways, but no one player exudes leadership in Jacksonville like Maurice Jones-Drew.

Aaron Kampman has been a solid leader, but he is not on the field enough to really step into a leadership role. MJD is the man in Jacksonville.

Tennessee Titans: Jason Babin

I really wanted to put Vince Young here, just to rile up the commenters.

Instead, we go with the solid choice of a veteran defensive end with Pro Bowl numbers. Jason Babin has to be respected not only because of what he does on the field, but because of the unconventional route he has traveled in the NFL since being a first-round pick in 2004.

His work ethic and integrity are top-notch.

Denver Broncos: Tim Tebow

Yes, Mr. Football Jesus is the clear leader in Denver.

As much crap as we like to give Tebow fans, the guy is a charismatic leader. As a second-year player he is organizing workouts in Denver, writing books and signing autographs everywhere he goes.

Tim Tebow may not be my favorite football player of all time, or even that good of a quarterback, but his leadership skills are amazing.

Kansas City Chiefs: Matt Cassel

With such a young roster in Kansas City, it is tough to pick out one leader above the rest, but quarterback Matt Cassel has the pressure of the franchise on his shoulders.

Cassel responded to that pressure in 2010 by leading the Chiefs to an AFC West championship and a Pro Bowl berth for himself. The future looks bright in KC.

Oakland Raiders: Richard Seymour

Aren't you glad I didn't say JaMarcus Russell?

Raider fans believe I hate them, which I don't. Hopefully this clears the air.

Richard Seymour brought to Oakland experience, credibility and three Super Bowl rings that prove he knows what he's doing. He was a leader on defense in New England and transitioned well into a leadership role with the Raiders.

On a talented defense that we expect to get much better over the next few seasons, Seymour is irreplaceable.

San Diego Chargers: Philip Rivers

San Diego has a leader firmly entrenched at quarterback with Philip Rivers.

A superstar during the regular season, Rivers must do a better job in the playoffs before his teammates can truly rely on him to be a Brady or Manning-style leader.

Dallas Cowboys: Jason Witten

It is Jason Witten, and not Tony Romo, who sets the tone for the Dallas Cowboys.

The tight end is recognized as one of the best leaders in the NFL, and the only tight end to make our list of leaders.

Witten is an exceptional player and person. There is a lot to like about No. 82.

New York Giants: Justin Tuck

You would think Eli Manning would be the leader of this team, right?

Hardly.

Manning seems to shrink from the middle of the battle while Justin Tuck runs in and creates plays.

Tuck, a captain for the first time in 2010, has one hell of a career ahead of him.

Philadelphia Eagles: Michael Vick

Michael Vick changes the way his team plays and the way opposing teams react.

Even in Atlanta, you could literally see a difference in the level of energy the Falcons played with when Vick was on the field. In Philadelphia, you can sense that the offense and defense are more amped up to play with Vick under center.

Washington Redskins: London Fletcher

London Fletcher is not only one of the most underrated players in the NFL, he is one of the best leaders too.

Fletcher is the rock around which the Redskins defense is built. He is a smart, savvy veteran.

Chicago Bears: Brian Urlacher

Pretty obvious, right? Lance Briggs deserves mention, as does Olin Kreutz, but this is Urlacher's team.

Detroit Lions: Kyle Vanden Bosch

First off, that is a great image. Seriously, look at that picture.

The Lions are building a truly terrifying defense, particularly up front. It will be Kyle Vanden Bosch's job to lead the team into the playoffs on the backbone of a nasty defensive line and speedy linebackers.

Calvin Johnson is a great player, but he has yet to lead the team in the way Vanden Bosch does.

Green Bay Packers: Charles Woodson

Reggie White to Brett Favre. Brett Favre to Charles Woodson.

At some point in the near future this will be Aaron Rodger's team, but if you objectively look back at the last three seasons in Green Bay, you will notice that it was Woodson leading this team. His role as the veteran in the locker room allowed Rodgers to grow into a leadership role.

Minnesota Vikings: Steve Hutchinson

It could be said that the Minnesota Vikings lack a true leader. While Jared Allen and Steve Hutchinson are both quality leaders, it will be tough for them to take the place of a franchise quarterback or Pro Bowl middle linebacker.

Hutchinson almost gets the nod here by default. We see the effort in Minnesota being more of a collective.

Atlanta Falcons: Matt Ryan

The transition to the Falcons being Matt Ryan's team is relatively new, but he has clearly left his mark on the Atlanta roster.

Ryan has the makings of the next great quarterback in the NFL, and his composure under pressure and cool nature when the game is hanging in the balance have earned him respect and trust from his teammates.

Carolina Panthers: Jon Beason

It seems natural that when there is not an established quarterback in place, the leadership role generally falls to the middle linebacker.

In Carolina, this is very true.

Jon Beason has filled the role as leader of the Panthers, as the team tries to find a true franchise quarterback. Beason is truly underrated. The job he has done with this team is remarkable.

New Orleans Saints: Drew Brees

Drew Brees is more than the leader of the New Orleans Saints.

He is the provider of resurrection in Katrina-ravaged New Orleans. He is the bringer of hope and wins to a football team in jeopardy of moving to San Antonio or Los Angeles.

Brees could run for mayor and we honestly believe he would win. Hell, he may be able to run for a senate seat and win regardless of party affiliation.

Brees has moved from leader to beloved.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Josh Freeman

Josh Freeman has taken charge in Tampa Bay. This is his team.

Freeman continues to impress scouts, writers and fans with his play—especially in leading the Buccaneers from behind late in games. Freeman's cool, calm, collected demeanor is perfect for the position. He's icy late in games when other players overheat.

Freeman, and Tampa Bay, are on the brink of something great.

Arizona Cardinals: Larry Fitzgerald

Larry Fitzgerald may not always be a loud, visible leader but you can bet the rest of the Cardinals are watching him to set the tone for the franchise.

Fitzgerald has at times been quiet and reserved, but as he ages and spends more time in the NFL, he becomes a more vocal and in-front leader.

St. Louis Rams: Sam Bradford

As Offensive Rookie of the Year and a clear-cut franchise quarterback, the St. Louis Rams have found their building block and leader in Sam Bradford.

Bradford hit the ground running during his rookie season, answering critics and showing that he does belong not only in the NFL but in a starting position.

San Francisco 49ers: Patrick Willis

The formula works: No quarterback, default to middle linebacker.

That's what has happened in San Francisco, where the Niners have been looking for a franchise quarterback since the Jeff Garcia era.

Willis is a worthy leader. He is not loud or aggressive, but a quiet, lead-by-example player who rules the 49ers locker room.

Seattle Seahawks: Lofa Tatupu

And again, without a quarterback to lead the team, you can look to the defensive captain. In Seattle, where Matt Hasselbeck is potentially leaving in free agency, the responsibility will fall to Lofa Tatupu.

A solid leader and a trusted tutor of head coach Pete Carroll, Tatupu is in a perfect situation to lead the Seahawks.