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Roddy White is the second Falcons player to make an appearance on NFL Network's Top 100 Players of 2013 list, coming in at number 39, and he was in their studio to discuss his selection live. You can, and should, watch the whole segment on their website.
The list, voted on and determined by players, serves no other purpose but to provide a reasonable understanding of how players are viewed by their peers, and with just seven other receivers (one of whom is definitely Des Bryant, who came in at 35, and another is probably Julio Jones, who has not yet appeared) reportedly on the list between Roddy and the top spot, White's ranking implies that players around the league respect his ability.
Each Top 100 segment features other players discussing the selected player, and Richard Sherman, Seattle's loudest cornerback, had a lot to say about Roddy White, including his belief that Roddy doesn't belong on any Top 100 list. "Roddy White, top 100? No. He's just not, in my book, he's just not a top 100 player. Julio Jones is high on my list, because they have to account for him."
Denver cornerback Champ Bailey responded to Sherman's statement, "I don't know, respect? Man, [Sherman] talks too much. Julio Jones? [Roddy White] was ballin' before Julio got there."
White was not fazed by Sherman's perspective. His initial response was his trademark laugh. He then said what most of us are thinking when it comes to Richard Sherman, "...he's kind of talked himself into a place where he has to play some really good football this year."
White also pointed out that he has no problem with what Sherman said, but that his position on the list speaks for itself, "...the rest of the players in this league know what I can do, and, um, that's why I'm higher on this list than he is."
White was asked how teams try to defend Atlanta's offense, and he said it's different every week. Sometimes they focus on effectively covering Jones and White, and Tony Gonzalez is open to make plays. Sometimes they try to shut down White so it's all on Jones to make the plays. But you can't cover everybody effectively in this offense, White says.
Everyone's favorite analyst, Warren Sapp, said that Roddy White makes Julio Jones better, the reason being, there will be dire consequences if you leave one of them unattended. On Roddy and Julio, Sapp said, "It's like picking a knife or a bullet. It's going to be deadly, but the bullet will kill you a lot faster than the knife."
Bears cornerback Charles Tillman was also on the show to discuss White's selection, and when asked about Sherman's comments, Tillman seemed incredulous. "Like Champ said, he was balling before Julio got there," Tillman said, "I think he deserves to be on the list."
Fans have already begun to vote on the segment, now posted online, as to whether Roddy White is overrated or underrated on the list. The result, overwhelmingly, is that Roddy is underrated, and should have been ranked higher.
With seven receivers on the list between Roddy White and number one, knowing for certain that Des Bryant is one of them at number 35, I would estimate that the remaining six are Brandon Marshall, Andre Johnson, A.J. Green, Larry Fitzgerald, Julio Jones and Calvin Johnson, in that order. What receivers do you think came in higher than Roddy White on the list? Where do you think Julio Jones will be listed? Do you agree with Roddy's ranking, or do you think he should have been ranked more highly by his peers?