Best Current NFL Player by Jersey Number (1-10)
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Jersey number is a funny thing in the NFL. Players will pay tens of thousands of dollars to get a particular jersey number, and bitterness can ensue if two players want the same number. Some of the more vibrant personalities in the NFL go a bit further.
One such personality decided to change his name to better reflect the importance of his jersey number. Chad Ochocinco, though, isn't even the best 85 in the NFL.
So who is the best in the NFL at each jersey number? This, I endeavored to find out, one number at a time. Here are the best in the NFL of the first 10 jersey numbers.
No. 1: Cam Newton
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The unquestioned No. 1 for jersey No. 1 is Cam Newton. He's had a prolific rookie season this year, putting up big stats and making the Panthers a fun team to watch again. One can only hope that this leads to wins in the future.
Honorable Mentions: none
No. 2: Matt Ryan
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Matt Ryan came into the league with high expectations, and he has exceeded them. With Matt Ryan under center, the Falcons are always a competitive team. The only things he has yet to do are win a playoff game and a championship.
Honorable Mentions: Jon Kasay, David Akers, Rob Bironas
No. 3: Stephen Gostkowski
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If this were a career merit award, this would go to Carson Palmer, but this is a measure of the best players in the NFL right now.
With that in mind, give me a top kicker over a marginal quarterback any day. Gostkowski has kicked under high pressure throughout his career, taking over for the legendary Adam Vinatieri. He has handled himself well in becoming one of the top kickers in the league.
Honorable Mention: Carson Palmer
No. 4: Adam Vinatieri
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If any kicker deserves enshrinement in Canton, it's Adam Vinatieri. He has excelled on the biggest of stages, and his clutch kicks have directly led to championships for the New England Patriots and the Indianapolis Colts.
Honorable Mentions: Kevin Kolb, Andy Lee
No. 5: Joe Flacco
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The other quarterback to come out of the 2008 NFL draft, Joe Flacco has actually had more team success than his contemporary, Matt Ryan. Flacco has one of the strongest arms in the league, and while he's having a down year, the Baltimore Ravens have been consistently tough with Flacco under center.
Honorable Mention: Josh Freeman
No. 6: Jay Cutler
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He may be one of the most polarizing players in the league, but no one can deny that the Chicago Bears are a better football team with Jay Cutler under center. He might not be pretty to watch, but he makes plays, has a strong arm and wins without a decent receiving corps or offensive line.
He was criticized for not being a winner with the Denver Broncos, but he has proven to be a playoff-caliber quarterback with the Bears.
Honorable Mention: Mark Sanchez
No. 7: Ben Roethlisberger
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Two championships, a career rating over 90 and playing through countless injuries haven't been enough to get Ben Roethlisberger mentioned in the same breath as Brady or Manning, but he is just as valuable to his team as any player in the league.
Big Ben puts up big numbers, but more importantly, he just wins games. When he is playing, the Steelers always have a chance to win.
Honorable Mention: Michael Vick
No. 8: Matt Schaub
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This looked to be Schaub's year before his season-ending injury. The Texans were flying high with a pounding running game, a dominant defense and one of the most underrated quarterbacks in the league.
Schaub has consistently been an efficient and effective passer throughout his career. He's the first true franchise quarterback in Texans' history. That deserves more praise than Schaub has ever gotten.
Honorable Mentions: Jason Campbell, Sam Bradford
No. 9: Drew Brees
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A lot of competition for this spot, but Drew Brees is too good to ignore. He is one of the most prolific passers in NFL history, consistently putting up huge yardage and touchdown totals. Only the second to pass for 5,000 yards in a season, Brees is the reason New Orleans Saints fans can finally believe in their team.
Honorable Mentions: Tony Romo, Matthew Stafford
No. 10: Eli Manning
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Eli Manning might not be considered one of the great quarterbacks in the league, but he consistently puts up solid numbers and has proven to be a winner. He might baffle analysts and fans with his inconsistency, but he steps up when it matters most.
The New York Giants are always in the game with Eli under center. With a Super Bowl championship under his belt, Eli truly deserves his spot on this list.
Honorable Mentions: Santonio Holmes, DeSean Jackson
