I honestly didn't know who they would present first when they got to #2 last night. And then I saw Gruden begin gushing over Peyton, it took a few seconds for it to sink in that they were ranking him 2 and Brady 1.
I'd say it's really splitting hairs between the two of them, but as other posters have mentioned, Brady did have the better year in 2010.
As for Aaron Rogers ranking, some had him above those two players (like Florio). But his track record is clearly too short. He could have a fantastic season next year and assert himself as the best, but until he does that he shouldn't be above those two. There was a time in Carson Palmer's career in which he was annointed the next Brady/Manning, but we were wrong about that (maybe not all of us). Albeit there are obvious differences between Palmer and Rogers, the point is that we shouldn't jump the gun on a "momentum stock," that is Rogers. Another year of elevated play and yes he could be up there. And he has the strong supporting cast around him to do that.
As for Ray Lewis....hmmm. I think everyone will place the same asterisk over his name when it comes up at #4. I interpreted the list as a 'who's the best going into 2011' - as opposed to what once was. That being said, the Ravens will certainly miss him when he does retire, as their fans have already professed. 35 is darn old in football doggy years.
