The staff of ESPN.com recently rated NFL players based on their ambiguous "greatness" to form a list of the top 100 players in the league this year. More than 70 voters assigned each player a score between 1-100 to find an average ranking.
Off the top of the head, one might think think that Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers would claim the top spot. Instead, that honor was bestowed upon Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt, who came in just .53 points higher than Rodgers.
"In an era of voluminous QB totals, Rodgers is doing something even more amazing: He has all the huge numbers, but he's more efficient in producing them than any QB - ever. Consider: His TD-INT ratio over the last four seasons in 139-20. He has the lowest INT rate in the history of the NFL (1.6 percent) while also having the highest TD rate per throw (6.5 percent). Again, ever. 'I'm in the minority,' said one panelist, 'but I think when he's done, he will be the greatest quarterback ever to play.'
"Rodgers' 77.0 Total QBR since 2011 ranks second overall behind Peyton Manning (79.9)."
Rodgers' greatness will be put to the test this year as he will be without No. 1 wide receiver Jordy Nelson. Nelson tore his ACL last week and will miss the entire 2015 season. If Rodgers can post a similar stat line and make a deep playoff run without Nelson, he will have further cemented his all-time greatness.
