The Kind-Hearted Smart Aleck

Over the past 24 hours or so, I've heard a great deal of talk on ESPN about the following topics in the NFL world (besides Adrian Peterson, Greg Hardy, and Ray Rice) and thought I'd chime in, because I've had to shake my head a great deal at some of the ESPN talking heads. 1) "Was Seattle exposed?" Uh, no... The defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks were not "exposed" due to a 30-21 road loss to the San Diego Chargers. The fact of the matter is, while Seattle has been nearly unbeatable at home the past 2+ years (16-1 to this point, 18-1 including the playoffs), they have been a good, but not great road team. Over that same time-frame, Seattle is 9-8 on the road (10-9 including the playoffs). So, no, in a road game where veterans Philip Rivers and Antonio Gates played about as close to perfection as a quarterback and tight end can, and still being in the game until close to the very end, does not mean Seattle was exposed - not by a long shot....

1. Peyton Manning (Denver): The Broncos have gone from one of the worst to one of the best offenses in the league this year - scoring 30 or more points in 9 of their 14 games and in 7 of their last 9. They scored 30 or more just twice all year last year, in 18 total games (two playoff games). For as great as Aaron Rodgers and Tom Brady are, not even they do what Peyton Manning does behind center. The guy is the best. He took an average Denver offense and made them one of the very best (and in just one season). 2. Aaron Rodgers (Green Bay): I would have ranked him 1st last year in his once-in-a-lifetime Madden kind of season. His receivers haven't helped him out a great deal and without much threat of a run game, the pressure has been placed firmly on Rodgers' shoulders. While he may not be my top quarterback at this juncture, he's still in the top three (along with Brady), without question. Also, unlike Manning or Brady, Rodgers can run for a first down here and there w...