The NFL Network finally finished unveiling its Top 100 players of 2016 — as voted on by the players — and four Pittsburgh Steelers are on the list.
Wide receiver Antonio Brown (No. 4) topped all Steelers and all wideouts, quarterback Ben Roethlisberger came in at No. 21, running back Le’Veon Bell (No. 41) was fourth among backs and defensive end Cameron Heyward was listed at No. 88.
Antonio Brown.
Unguardable.#NFLTop100 pic.twitter.com/WGbEhISV6v— NFL Network (@nflnetwork) July 7, 2016
Brown, easily one of the league’s brightest stars, earned his highest-ever spot in this year’s rankings; he finished eighth last year and 23rd in 2014. In 2015, Brown put up monster numbers — despite being without his starting quarterback for a chunk of the year and making do with backup quarterback Mike Vick. During the regular season, Brown had 136 receptions for 1,834 yards (the second-highest in the NFL), averaging 13.5 yards a catch. (You can see a video on his selection here.)
Being recognized by my peers as one of the top players in the @NFL is a complete honor, thank you. #CallGod #NFLTop100
— Antonio Brown (@AntonioBrown84) July 7, 2016
Congrats to @AntonioBrown84 on being #4 ! Even though you’re probably actually mad about being that high up lol
— Chris Boswell (@WizardOfBoz09) July 7, 2016
Roethlisberger seems to be perennially underrated on the Top 100, and this year is no different. Sure, it makes some sense that he’s behind reigning MVP Cam Newton (No. 1), Tom Brady (No. 2) and Aaron Rodgers (No. 6) — but Carson Palmer (No. 12) and Russell Wilson (No. 17)? C’mon, man. Roethlisberger’s pocket presence is undeniably one of the best in the league, and he combines incredible arm strength with pinpoint accuracy. In 2015, Palmer had the season of his life and Wilson was as solid as usual, but they still weren’t better than Big Ben.
It’s hard to know completely what to make of Bell’s 2015 season after he missed the first two games of the season because of a marijuana suspension and missed the postseason as a result of a gruesome knee injury. But, when healthy, there’s not really a better back than Bell. In 2015, in just his fourth NFL season, he averaged 4.9 yards per carry (556 yards on 113 attempts) and had three touchdowns. He also had 24 receptions for 136 yards (an average of 5.7 yards per catch). Bell is strong and quick — and he’s deadly to opposing defenses.
See also: That’s a rap: Le’Veon Bell reveals contract demands in song “Focus”
On the defensive side of the ball, Heyward was brilliant for Pittsburgh in 2015. He had 54 tackles (39 solo, 15 assists), seven sacks and one crucial forced fumble. Heyward was the crux of that Steelers defense, and he came up big when the team needed him to.
Two Pittsburgh players who were surprisingly left off the Top 100? Running back DeAngelo Williams and guard David DeCastro.
Williams filled in superbly when Bell was unable to play, and the 32-year-old Williams looked spry and fit and like it was the late 2000s, not 2015. Last season was Williams’ best since 2009 with the Carolina Panthers — in the black and gold, he rushed for 907 yards (an average of 4.5 a carry) and scored 11 touchdowns.
An All-Pro, DeCastro’s exclusion is head-scratching. He was the unquestioned star of the offensive line (especially with center Maurkice Pouncey’s injury in the third regular season game), and DeCastro helped open the field up for the Steelers’ backs and protect Roethlisberger and give him ample time in the pocket.
See also: Brown nominated for ESPY for best NFL player
The Carolina Panthers had the most names on the Top 100 list — seven — which was closely followed by the Cincinnati Bengals’ six names (A.J. Green, WR (No. 16); Geno Atkins, DT (No. 29); Andy Dalton, QB (No. 35); Tyler Eifert, TE (No. 44); Andrew Whitworth, T (No. 67); Carlos Dunlap, DE (No. 70)). In the rest of the AFC North, the Baltimore Ravens had just one player on the list (Marshal Yanda, G (No. 79)), while the Cleveland Browns had two (Joe Thomas, T (23); Gary Barnidge, TE (94)).
Here’s more on how the Steelers shook out against the rest of the league.
Quarterbacks
Cam Newton, Carolina Panthers (1)
Tom Brady, New England Patriots (2)
Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers (6)
Carson Palmer, Arizona Cardinals (12)
Russell Wilson, Seattle Seahawks (17)
Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh Steelers (21)
Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints (30)
Andy Dalton, Cincinnati Bengals (35)
Philip Rivers, San Diego Chargers (46)
Eli Manning, New York Giants (47)
Blake Bortles, Jacksonville Jaguars (56)
Alex Smith, Kansas City Chiefs (81)
Kirk Cousins, Washington (85)
Andrew Luck, Indianapolis Colts (92)
Derek Carr, Oakland Raiders (100)
Wide Receivers
Antonio Brown, Pittsburgh Steelers (4)
Julio Jones, Atlanta Falcons (8)
Odell Beckham Jr., New York Giants (10)
A.J. Green, Cincinnati Bengals (16)
DeAndre Hopkins, Houston Texans (19)
Brandon Marshall, New York Jets (25)
Larry Fitzgerald, Arizona Cardinals (27)
Allen Robinson, Jacksonville Jaguars (31)
Dez Bryant, Dallas Cowboys (51)
Demaryius Thomas, Denver Broncos (62)
Doug Baldwin, Seattle Seahawks (72)
Emmanuel Sanders, Denver Broncos (74)
Allen Hurns, Jacksonville Jaguars (89)
Jeremy Maclin, Kansas City Chiefs (93)
Sammy Watkins, Buffalo Bills (96)
Jarvis Landry, Miami Dolphins (98)
Running Backs
Adrian Peterson, Minnesota Vikings (5)
Todd Gurley, Los Angeles Rams (22)
Doug Martin, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (33)
Le’Veon Bell, Pittsburgh Steelers (41)
Devonta Freeman, Atlanta Falcons (50)
LeSean McCoy, Buffalo Bills (69)
Jamaal Charles, Kansas City Chiefs (75)
Chris Ivory, Jacksonville Jaguars (78)
Jonathan Stewart, Carolina Panthers (86)
Matt Forte, Chicago Bears (90)
Defensive Ends
JJ Watt, Houston Texans (3)
Khalil Mack, Oakland Raiders (13)
Muhammad Wilkerson, New York Jets (39)
Ezekiel Ansah, Detroit Lions (43)
Chandler Jones, New England Patriots (48)
Michael Bennett, Seattle Seahawks (59)
Carlos Dunlap, Cincinnati Bengals (70)
Calais Campbell, Arizona Cardinals (71)
Cameron Heyward, Pittsburgh Steelers (88)
Cameron Jordan, New Orleans Saints (99)
Image credit: George Gojkovich/Getty Images
