Pete Prisco of CBS Sports has just put together a great list of all NFL teams Most overrated and most underrated players. Like all large lists, some of them I agree with entirely others I’m scratching my head at wondering if we’ve been watching the same teams. But for the most part when talking about the teams in the AFC North I’d have to agree with him.
For the AFC North the players were:
Browns:
Overrated- WR/KR Josh Cribbs
Underrated- NT Ahtyba Rubins
Steelers:
Overrated- S Troy Polamalu
Underrated- LB Lawrence Timmons
Ravens:
Overrated- WR Anquan Boldin
Underrated- CB Josh Wilson
Bengals:
Overrated- OLB Keith Rivers
"When you watch the Bengals play, you just expect more from a top-10 pick. Rivers is solid. But that’s not why you draft a guy in the top 10. He was second on the team in tackles, but he disappears at times."
Underrated- OT Andrew Whitworth
"At times, he is a force. He is big, strong and can dominate in the run game. He has some issues with speed rushers, but played well in 2010."
Just from a quick glance the list isn’t too bad. But the two that I’m most confused about would have to be Steelers Safety Troy Polamalu and Bengals Outside Linebacker Keith Rivers.
With Polamalu I don’t see him as being overrated. I understand he may not be the most healthy player on his team. And I understand he may not be a pure stat monster like other elite players in the league. But when he’s hurt and on the sideline that defense is nowhere near the same level it is when he’s in it. You can tell he’s a leader on that team and really is the “heart and soul” of that defense. When he plays in the game he makes everyone on the team that much better.
As for Rivers I’m not sure who “rated” him too highly to begin with. If you ask most Bengals fans they would say for the most part Keith Rivers hasn’t lived up to his top 10 pick status. Some of that could’ve been mental in connection with the broken jaw he was dealt by Hines Ward his rookie year, but the point is still the same. If the fan base was bragging about the talent oozing from Rivers I could understand a “overrated” label, but it’s quite the opposite. Some fans are even so bold to call him a potential draft bust (which if he doesn’t make some Pro Bowls soon, he might be).
Who would I suggest to name in his stead? If they would allow me to nominate Chad Ochocinco or Carson Palmer I think those would be top 2 candidates to replace Rivers. I feel with their ages and the lack of overall production from the both of them, a title of teams most overrated player could be just. (Considering the team doesn’t have many highly “rated” players to begin with, the options are slim)
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