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Following NFL Network’s coverage of the NFL Draft, the network debuts this year’s countdown of the best players in the NFL with the 11-epsiode series The Top 100: Players of 2012. Beginning Saturday, April 28, at 8pm ET, each episode of The Top 100 will count down 10 players starting with No. 100. After the April 28 debut, The Top 100 moves to its regular timeslot on Wednesdays at 8pm ET beginning May 2. The season finale unveiling the top 10 players will be split into two parts airing June 27 at 8pm and 8pm ET. Last year’s No. 1 was New England quarterback Tom Brady. How much will his Super Bowl loss hurt him this year? And where will the New York Giants’ Super Bowl winning QB Eli Manning rank after being left off the 2011 list? Press release as well as the 2011 rankings from NFL Network below:
SUPER BOWL MVP ELI MANNING MAKES HIS DEBUT – THE TOP 100: PLAYERS OF 2012 PREMIERES SATURDAY, APRIL 28 AT 8:00 PM ET ON NFL NETWORK
Weekly Series Counts Down Top Players in Today’s Game as Voted on by Current NFL Players — Airs Every Wednesday at 8:00 PM ET Following April 28 Debut
‘The Top 100: Players of 2012 – Reactions’ Follows Each Episode at 9:00 PM ET, Featuring Commentary from NFL Network Analysts, NFL Players & Fans
39 New Players Crack the 2012 List
The votes are in and the players have spoken. For the second year, current NFL players have weighed in to determine the top players in today’s game on the new season of the returning series, The Top 100: Players of 2012 Presented by Buffalo Wild Wings debuting Saturday, April 28 at 8:00 PM ET immediately following NFL Network’s live coverage of the 2012 NFL Draft. After the season debut, the NFL Films-produced series continues at its regular time on Wednesdays at 8:00 PM ET, beginning May 2.
Immediately following each episode LIVE at 9:00 PM ET will be The Top 100: Players of 2012 – Reactions Presented by Buffalo Wild Wings. Host Lindsay Rhodes and a rotating roster of NFL Network analysts and current NFL players discuss and debate the latest group of players to be unveiled from NFL Network’s Los Angeles studios. Fans have the opportunity to join in the debate and voice their own opinions and reactions on Facebook and Twitter, and vote for their own Top 100 on NFL.com/Top100.
After failing to make the Top 100 last year, where does Super Bowl XLVI MVP quarterback Eli Manning debut? Will new Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning make this year’s list? New York Jets quarterback Tim Tebow was named today to Time magazine’s “100 Most Influential People in the World” list … will he rank among the NFL’s Top 100? Which player fell more than 80 spots this year from last? The answers to these questions and more will be answered in the 11-part series which counts down from 100 to 1, unveiling 10 players in each one-hour episode. The season-finale unveiling the top 10 is split into two special one-hour episodes on Wednesday, June 27 at 8:00 PM & 9:00 PM ET.
A wide range of current NFL players present each selection and discuss the qualities which makes each player deserving of his ranking.
In the new Huddle page on NFL.com, fans can discuss The Top 100 list and voice their opinions on whether or not NFL players got it right. Huddle, a Top 100-specifc social media content page, allows viewers to share Top 100 content, and communicate across social media platforms. Additionally, fans can discuss and debate the players revealed during each episode using the hashtag #NFLTop100.
On NFL.com, viewers can vote on each player ranking and whether it should be higher or lower. Voting results from viewers will be revealed starting halfway through the list on Wednesday, May 30. Viewers can also pose questions for NFL Network analysts and player guests by tweeting their questions to @nflnetwork. An on-air social media crawl will display selected questions and the analysts will answer questions in every episode.
Provided below are some facts regarding The Top 100: Players of 2012 list:
· For the first time, all 32 teams are represented with at least one player on the list. Seattle and Buffalo players were not represented in 2011.
· The Top 100: Players of 2012 features 39 new players
· Twenty-three players with a combined 30 Super Bowl rings.
· For the second consecutive year, the University of Miami, Fla. is the most-represented university (9 players).
Provided below are video links to the two promotional spots for The Top 100: Players of 2012:
http://www.lastudios.com/cmrmm/NFLNetwork/QTs/NFL_Top100_2012_Critic_30_Sat_April_28.mov
http://www.lastudios.com/cmrmm/NFLNetwork/QTs/NFLN_Top100_30_033012_Premieres_Sat_April_28.mov
The Top 100: Players of 2012 Episode Schedule
*‘The Top 100: Players of 2012 – Reactions’ immediately follows each episode at 9:00 PM ET*
Preview Show Wednesday, April 18 8:00 PM ET
Episode #1 Saturday, April 28 8:00 PM ET
(100-91) 9:00 PM ET – Reactions
Episode #2 Wednesday, May 2 8:00 PM ET
(90-81) 9:00 PM ET – Reactions
Episode #3 Wednesday, May 9 8:00 PM ET
(80-71) 9:00 PM ET – Reactions
Episode #4 Wednesday, May 16 8:00 PM ET
(70-61) 9:00 PM ET – Reactions
Episode #5 Wednesday, May 23 8:00 PM ET
(60-51) 9:00 PM ET – Reactions
Halfway Recap Tuesday, May 29 8:00 PM ET
Episode #6 Wednesday, May 30 8:00 PM ET
(50-41) 9:00 PM ET – Reactions
Episode #7 Wednesday, June 6 8:00 PM ET
(40-31) 9:00 PM ET – Reactions
Episode #8 Wednesday, June 13 8:00 PM ET
(30-21) 9:00 PM ET – Reactions
Episode #9 Wednesday, June 20 8:00 PM ET
(20-11) 9:00 PM ET – Reactions
Finale Recap Tuesday, June 26 8:00 PM ET
Episode #10 Wednesday, June 27 8:00 PM ET & 9:00 PM ET
(10-1) 10:00 PM ET – Reactions
Below is The Top 100: Players of 2011 list in its entirety:
100. Donovan McNabb 50. Wes Welker
99. Chad Clifton 49. Brian Urlacher
98. Darren McFadden 48. Champ Bailey
97. Shaun Phillips 47. Nick Mangold
96. Nick Collins 46. Tony Gonzalez
95. Jon Beason 45. Dwayne Bowe
94. Frank Gore 44. Robert Mathis
93. Eric Berry 43. Joe Thomas
92. Lance Briggs 42. Michael Turner
91. Terrell Owens 41. Ben Roethlisberger
90. Joe Flacco 40. Terrell Suggs
89. Adrian Wilson 39. Logan Mankins
88. Vernon Davis 38. Steven Jackson
87. Jordan Gross 37. Jonathan Vilma
86. Josh Freeman 36. Jason Witten
85. Jason Babin 35. Vince Wilfork
84. Josh Cribbs 34. Jahri Evans
83. Mike Williams 33. Jamaal Charles
82. LaMarr Woodley 32. Devin Hester
81. B.J. Raji 31. Reggie Wayne
80. Jared Allen 30. Maurice Jones-Drew
79. D’Brickashaw Ferguson 29. DeSean Jackson
78. Dallas Clark 28. Jake Long
77. Chris Snee 27. Calvin Johnson
76. Santonio Holmes 26. Philip Rivers
75. Jay Ratliff 25. Arian Foster
74. Greg Jennings 24. Roddy White
73. Trent Cole 23. Patrick Willis
72. Tony Romo 22. Antonio Gates
71. Mario Williams 21. James Harrison
70. Miles Austin 20. Michael Vick
69. John Abraham 19. Clay Matthews
68. Antrel Rolle 18. Nnamdi Asomugha
67. Brian Waters 17. Haloti Ngata
66. Richard Seymour 16. Charles Woodson
65. Vonta Leach 15. Dwight Freeney
64. Tamba Hali 14. Larry Fitzgerald
63. Cameron Wake 13. Chris Johnson
62. Jerod Mayo 12. DeMarcus Ware
61. Brandon Marshall 11. Aaron Rodgers
60. Justin Tuck 10. Julius Peppers
59. Jeff Saturday 9. Drew Brees
58. Brandon Lloyd 8. Darrelle Revis
57. Andre Gurode 7. Andre Johnson
56. Ray Rice 6. Troy Polamalu
55. Carl Nicks 5. Ed Reed
54. Asante Samuel 4. Ray Lewis
53. Marques Colston 3. Adrian Peterson
52. Matt Ryan 2. Peyton Manning
51. Ndamukong Suh 1. Tom Brady