On Wednesday, Pete Prisco if CBS Sports released his Top 100 players of 2014 list and just like the version put out by the NFL Network this year, it includes only three Pittsburgh Steelers players on it.
Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is the highest rated Steelers player on Prisco’s list and here is what he wrote about him.
He didn’t have great receivers last season and his line is perpetually a mess. But all he does is make plays.
AFC personnel man on Roethlisberger: “He is still capable of being one of the best in spurts, but not what he was. A top-10 quarterback, but he’s taken a lot of hits and would benefit from a better offensive line and running game.”
What? Didn’t have great receivers? Who caught 64.2% of the passes that Roethlisberger threw in 2013? Roethlisberger’s 4,261 passing yards in 2013 were also the second most of his career. That doesn’t happen with crappy receivers. The Steelers offense had its issues last season and the receiving core was way down on the bottom of that list.
AFC personnel man? Really?
Prisco’s second highest rated Steelers player is wide receiver Antonio Brown. I guess the Steelers did have a great receiver after all. Prisco, however, has Brown ranked as his tenth-best wide receiver and 63rd overall. That’s absurd.
He also writes:
With Mike Wallace gone to Miami, he emerged as a true No. 1 receiver last season, catching 105 passes with eight touchdowns.
AFC personnel man on Brown: “A good player who is a really nice No. 2. Alone, he doesn’t scare you that much, but he fits the scheme in Pittsburgh very well.”
Actually, Pete, Brown caught 110 passes in 2013, but don’t let facts get in the way.
Alone, he doesn’t scare you that much? I thought the Steelers didn’t have any great receivers? Maybe the AFC personnel man should ask Cleveland Browns cornerback Joe Haden about that. Haden is ranked 33rd on Prisco’s list and Brown has always played well against him.
Finally, Prisco has safety Troy Polamalu just making the Top 100.
He bounced back from a down season to play well in 2013. How much more does he have left?
Polamalu stat: He has just five total interceptions the past three seasons, showing how he’s become much more of a linebacker-like player.
If Prisco watched most of the Steelers games last season, he would know that Polamalu was forced to play quite a few snaps as a linebacker in sub package situations after the defense lost Larry Foote for the season in the opener. That’s not going to happen in 2014 and thus Polamalu will be able to go back to doing what he does best.
Prisco also conveniently forgot to mention that Polamalu forced a career-high five fumbles in 2014. That’s not bad for a “linebacker-like” player. Am I right, Pete?
These Top 100 ranking are always easy to pick apart, but Prisco has effectively put together one giant train wreck of one this year.
