All SportsNation Team

**maverick** · 24-Dec-07, 11:21 AM

http://proxy.espn.go.com/chat/sports...?event_id=3296

Vote for the top 5 athletes of the year. MMA fans will be happy to know that Randy Couture is decimating the competition! Here's the current standings:

63.0% Randy Couture
31.8% Floyd Mayweather Jr.
14.5% Tom Brady
11.2% Brett Favre
10.0% Alex Rodriguez

GM NOV8D · 27-Dec-07, 03:49 PM

Voted for a few of the lesser voted for guys and Couture

Josh Beckett - Ugh, I hate him and the fact that he shut my Angels down HARD in october baseball, but he's got some major talent.

Roger Federer - Don't really watch too much tennis, but in all the matches I watched/highlights I saw, dude was amazing.

Jimmie Johnson - How he does consistently well on the same tracks against the same drivers with all nearly identical cars beats the hell out of me.

Scott Niedermayer - Top defenseman in the league, was a HUGE impact on bringing the Ducks, and California their 1st cup. In addition, the DAY he announced his return to the ducks this year, there was a complete shift in attitude of the team and how they played. If that doesn't speak to you about his character, and how valuable he is, I dont know what else does.

Randy Couture - Over the hill and STILL pounding on the young guns, all day long. Nothing more really needs to be said.

Guys I couldn't justify voting for -

Tom Brady - His performance in the first 2/3 of the season was more than stellar, but since that, he's been showing major weaknesses, and his performance suffered a huuge drop.

Tony Romo - I love the boys, but he's on the same boat as Brady. That, and we still haven't seen him deliver in the playoffs.

Randy Moss - You're a better than averave reciever, but really, really tall.

Floyd Mayweather Jr. - You surprised us with a display of some power against Hatton, but really, all you do is exploit the points system and I don't like it.

Adrian Peterson - You've had a few superhuman games, but other than that, you're just another average back. I'd be inclined to put Hester or Barber III on that list before I put you there.

Alex Rodriguez - You had a great year, but you and Boras represent ALOT of what I hate about baseball in recent times.

C.C. Sabathia - We'll wait to see how you pitch after another few seasons first.

Tiger Woods - You're still the best out there, but you don't play too much these days. Who can blame you though, kudos to putting being a good father first.

The Flash · 28-Dec-07, 12:27 PM

I've been a Packers fan for life so I have to go with Brett Favre of course.

**MAURER** · 28-Dec-07, 01:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GM NOV8D

Voted for a few of the lesser voted for guys and Couture

Guys I couldn't justify voting for -

Tom Brady - His performance in the first 2/3 of the season was more than stellar, but since that, he's been showing major weaknesses, and his performance suffered a huuge drop.

Randy Moss - You're a better than averave reciever, but really, really tall.

Adrian Peterson - You've had a few superhuman games, but other than that, you're just another average back. I'd be inclined to put Hester or Barber III on that list before I put you there.

i have to disagree with these analyses. tom brady is two touchdowns away from the season record and hasn't lost a game yet. i don't see how he has really shown weakness. just look at his touchdown/interception ratio. as for randy moss. yes he is really tall. but so are a lot of nfl receivers. hes arguably the best in the league right now because hes one of the most athletic and has the best hands. adrian peterson has had a few suerhuman games, and he has has some not-steller games. thats true. but i don't think you can call him an average back. hes got some serious explosiveness, speed, power, and vision.

GM NOV8D · 28-Dec-07, 03:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MAURER

i have to disagree with these analyses. tom brady is two touchdowns away from the season record and hasn't lost a game yet. i don't see how he has really shown weakness. just look at his touchdown/interception ratio. as for randy moss. yes he is really tall. but so are a lot of nfl receivers. hes arguably the best in the league right now because hes one of the most athletic and has the best hands. adrian peterson has had a few suerhuman games, and he has has some not-steller games. thats true. but i don't think you can call him an average back. hes got some serious explosiveness, speed, power, and vision.

Yeah, Brady is two away from the record, but how many of those td's were before his performance started lacking? Also, the fact that his offensive line gives him enough time in the pocket to cook a seven course meal contributes.

Moss only "has the best hands" because he's a good amount taller than most of the corners/safeties in the league, and all Brady has to do is really lob one up in the general area. You put two guys with amazing athletic talent in one 3 yard circle. One has a foot and a half reach advantage over the other. Who's coming down with the ball?

Peterson is an average back imo. I agree with the fact that he's explosive, has speed, power, and vision. Marion Barber III is explosive, has speed, power, and vision. Both have been compared to Barry Sanders. Hester has many of the same qualities. Lendale White. LT. What it boils down to is, however, is that Adrian Peterson is a rookie, and is already showing signs of being highly prone to injury. Factor in how hard he runs and the fact that he likes to truck guys over like Emmitt Smith. It's a career ended short waiting to happen.

**MAURER** · 28-Dec-07, 03:44 PM

i agree that brady has slowed but he has still been winning games. im just saying that its hard to make a case against him as one of football's best. as for randy moss, yes hes taller than the corners and safeties but then again so are almost all receivers. as for adrian peterson, i agree that he may have a short career, but its about what hes doing right now, and i think hes been far better than an average back this season.