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Every offseason, the NFL Network goes through a series counting down the top 100 players of that year in the league, as voted on by other NFL players. There are always plenty of disagreements and doubts about the list, but it's at least something to talk about each offseason. This year's version, the Top 100 Players of 2015, continued on tonight, and we saw the second Colt make the list.
Kicker Adam Vinatieri already became the first kicker to ever make the top 100 list, as he checked in at number 98 on this year's edition. The player revealed tonight was one that was a no-brainer to appear on the list at some point, though most probably thought that we wouldn't hear his name for a few more weeks.
Cornerback Vontae Davis was voted as the 59th-best player in the NFL - a spot that seems very low for him considering the season he just had in 2014.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">NUMBER 59: First time on the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NFLTop100?src=hash">#NFLTop100</a>! <a href="https://twitter.com/Colts">@Colts</a> CB <a href="https://twitter.com/vontaedavis">@vontaedavis</a> <a href="http://t.co/Cv2squdSF6">pic.twitter.com/Cv2squdSF6</a></p>— NFL Network (@nflnetwork) <a href="https://twitter.com/nflnetwork/status/606266407857197056">June 4, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Perhaps there was a confusion and the players didn't rank him based on 2014, since the picture they used was from 2013 (note the different number, as he now wears number 21, a change that took place before last season). I kid, but the reality is that Davis probably should have been ranked higher on this list based on his play a year ago. In 2014, he reached "elite" status at the cornerback position and was among the best at that spot, as he didn't give up a single touchdown all season and quarterbacks had the lowest passer rating when throwing against him than against any other corner in football last year (according to Pro Football Focus). He was impressive enough that PFF ranked him as the sixth-best player from a year ago, and CBS Sports' Pete Prisco ranked him as the 40th-best overall player in the league. In short, this ranking seems a bit low for him considering what he did in 2014. Some of his teammates thought the same thing, notably fellow cornerback Darius Butler, who took to twitter tonight to express his thoughts:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">SMH at the <a href="https://twitter.com/nflnetwork">@nflnetwork</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Top100?src=hash">#Top100</a> ! My guy <a href="https://twitter.com/vontaedavis">@vontaedavis</a> was the best CB in football last year! HANDS DOWN! Numbers dont lie!!!</p>— Darius Butler (@DariusJButler) <a href="https://twitter.com/DariusJButler/status/606274402020392960">June 4, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Tight end Erik Swoope took to twitter to congratulate Davis for the ranking as well:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Well Deserved!! ✊ <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ColtsNation?src=hash">#ColtsNation</a> <a href="https://t.co/IupkFBbxHh">https://t.co/IupkFBbxHh</a></p>— Erik Swoope (@eswoope21) <a href="https://twitter.com/eswoope21/status/606268749109338112">June 4, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Davis responded to the ranking by poking a little fun at how low he was ranked, while at the same time being appreciative of the honor and thanking his teammates:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">.<a href="https://twitter.com/nflnetwork">@nflnetwork</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/nfl">@nfl</a> I need a new pic edit with my #21 jersey! I'll take that as a consolation for only being ranked #59. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Motivated?src=hash">#Motivated</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CantWait?src=hash">#CantWait</a></p>— Vontae Davis (@vontaedavis) <a href="https://twitter.com/vontaedavis/status/606275337408806913">June 4, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">But in all honesty I wouldn't even be ranked without my teammates and coaches so thank YOU! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ColtsNation?src=hash">#ColtsNation</a> it's just the beginning! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NFLTop100?src=hash">#NFLTop100</a></p>— Vontae Davis (@vontaedavis) <a href="https://twitter.com/vontaedavis/status/606276032375570433">June 4, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
So far, we've seen two Colts revealed on the list from numbers 51-100 in Adam Vinatieri and Vontae Davis. Quarterback Andrew Luck is a no-brainer to still be revealed on the list, and then wide receiver T.Y. Hilton should probably make the list of the top 100, though he likely wouldn't be above Davis so there might be some question as to whether he'll make the list.