2011 NFL Season, NFL Top 100: Who Is No. 1 Heading into This Season?

With the NFL Network's Top 100 players list for the 2011 season getting narrowed down to just the top 10, I'm becoming very anxious to see who ends up claiming the top three spots.  

The NFL is a quarterback-driven league, and that's why I think there has to be three quarterbacks in the top five heading into 2011.  

There are many great NFL players, but quarterbacks and linebackers are the leaders of their respective teams and sides of the ball.

No. 10: CB Darrelle Revis: New York Jets

He is a great shutdown corner and stops every ball thrown his way, but quarterbacks are smarter now and don't throw many passes in his direction, so he cannot make an impact like an Adrian Peterson or Peyton Manning can.  

Don't get me wrong, I would take Revis any day of the week, but I just don't think he is worthy of going in the top five past any elite quarterbacks who have the ball in their hands every play.  

Revis had his career year two seasons ago, with six interceptions, and rightfully earned the nickname "Revis Island." The Jets have a lot of great players on their defense, but Revis is their best.

No. 9: WR Andre Johnson, Houston Texans

Andre Johnson is a beast at wide receiver and isn't afraid to run across the middle of the field.  He had 86 receptions last year with 1,216 yards and eight touchdowns.  He runs routes well, doesn't drop many balls and is a leader.  He could be higher only my list, but since he doesn't have the ball every play, he has to stay put at nine.  

No. 8: MLB Ray Lewis, Baltimore Ravens

He is a crazy middle linebacker who talks so much trash but backs all of it up.  I don't like Ray Lewis, but he is a great NFL player.  He is getting really old now and his stats are not what they used to be, but he is doing the little things on the field helping his team win games.  

No. 7: FS Troy Polamalu, Pittsburgh Steelers

He is known for his crazy hair.  On the football field he flies around making tackle after tackle.  He can cover any receiver in the game and any tight end.  He has the size, strength and speed.  He hits with authority and can take an interception back to the house.

No. 6: FS Ed Reed, Baltimore Ravens

Ed Reed is the best covering safety in the league.  He leads that defense along with Ray Lewis and can hit and cover.  He has knowledge of the game and has a good IQ of what to do and when to do it.  

No. 5: DE Julius Peppers, Chicago Bears

Peppers is a great run stopping defensive lineman and can get after any opposing quarterback, even Mike Vick.  On the Panthers he dominated. Now on the Bears, since he has Lance Briggs and Brian Urlacher, he doesn't need to do as much, but he still gives it his best day in and day out.  

I also like him at five because he goes hard every snap and even in practice, he never has any issues and always works to get better.  

No. 4: QB Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints

Brees won Super Bowl XLIV against the Indianapolis Colts.  He has one Super Bowl on his resume and is known for firing the ball around the football field.  He throws a lot of touchdowns with a weak team running game and is one of the best quarterbacks in the game today.

I like him a lot, but he is not better than Tom Brady or Peyton Manning, or maybe even Aaron Rodgers. Drew Brees had a down year last season, throwing 33 touchdowns and 22 interceptions, and had a passer rating of 90.9.  He will win a ton of games and will throw a lot of touchdowns, but also throw a lot of interceptions.  

No. 3: RB Adrian Peterson, Minnesota Vikings

Peterson is the best running back in Vikings history already.  He was drafted out of the University of Oklahoma in 2007.  He is known for breaking a lot of tackles and running people over.  He is a strong running back and is very big.  

In his four seasons he has a total of 5,782 rushing yards and 52 rushing touchdowns on 1,198 carries. He is flat out the best running back in the game today.  Even last year with Brett Favre hurt and not performing his best, he still managed 1.298 rushing yards and 12 rushing touchdowns.

No. 2: QB Peyton Manning, Indianapolis Colts

This is very debatable between him and Tom Brady, but I think Manning sounds right at number two because of his one Super Bowl ring to Tom Brady's three Super Bowl rings. Peyton Manning has had great receivers in the past with Reggie Wayne, Marvin Harrison and Dallas Clark and has only won one ring.  Tom Brady has had David Givens, Deion Branch and Troy Brown and has won three rings.  

Yes, I know that Tom has had Randy Moss and Wes Welker, but those two aren't better than Marvin Harrison, Reggie Wayne and Dallas Clark combined.  Last season Manning threw 33 touchdowns and had 17 interceptions.  He also had a passer rating of 91.9. He has thrown 33 interceptions in the past two seasons but has been to 11 Pro Bowls.  He is a clutch quarterback but can't win in big stages like Tom Brady can.

No. 1: QB Tom Brady, New England Patriots

Tom Brady is a complete winner.  He has three Super Bowls on his resume in his first four years.  He is a leader on and off the field.  You may hate him for his long hair, but he carries his teams every year and the Patriots are built around him.  He even took less money for the Patriots to bring in a better cast around him, what superstar does that? 

In 2007 he had the Patriots 16-0 in the regular season, and they lost to the New York Giants in the Super Bowl.  That season he had a career year, throwing 50 touchdowns and only eight interceptions.  In 2008 he tore his MCL and ACL, but in 2009 he came back and had 28 touchdowns and 13 interceptions.  

Not many guys who get that injury can come back the next year and put up those numbers.  Last season he had 36 touchdowns to only four interceptions in 16 full games.  He is the best player heading into the 2011 season.

What is your opinion on the NFL's top 10?  If you are as anxious as me, tune into NFL Network Sunday night at 8 p.m. to find out who the top 10 are.