In case you're having trouble locating the ESPN.com home page today, our friends from Scouts Inc. have taken on the daunting task of ranking the Super Bowl participants 1-106. I realize our experts have spent countless hours in the ESPN media room breaking down tape and debating the players on this list, but that doesn't mean we can't poke a few holes in it.
It appears that Scouts Inc. ranked the players in terms of their overall skill. What I would like to do is provide a Top 10 in terms of which players mean the most to their respective teams.
1. Patriots QB Tom Brady- This is pretty obvious. He's the best quarterback in the league, and he's already in the discussion of all-time greats.
2. Giants QB Eli Manning- I'm not sure how you decide Manning is No. 15 on the list when he's the most important player on the field for the Giants. This is a quarterback league, and Manning's the biggest reason the Giants have made a remarkable postseason run.
3. Patriots WR Randy Moss- He'll be the most dynamic player on the field in Super Bowl XLII. Teams have to account for him on every play, and that makes players such as Donte Stallworth and Wes Welker even more effective.
4. Giants WR Plaxico Burress- An unbelievable target for Manning. He absolutely abused the Packers' Pro Bowl cornerback Al Harris on Sunday.
5. Patriots DE Richard Seymour- When he's healthy, Seymour is one of the most disruptive players in the game. When you talk to blockers around the league, this is the guy they worry about most.
6. Patriots CB Asante Samuel- He's had an excellent season. The Patriots' secondary has given up some big yardage at times this season, but Samuel has held things together.
7. Patriots LT Matt Light- His matchup with Umenyiora will be huge. He struggled with Umenyiora's speed in the game at the Meadowlands.
8. Giants DE Osi Umenyiora- I thought Scouts Inc. had Michael Strahan too high at No. 5. Umenyiora is the player most teams worry about now. I think he has the ability to give Light fits in Super Bowl XLII.
9. Patriots LB Mike Vrabel-Still an outstanding player who can get to the quarterback.
10. Giants LT David Diehl- He's been a huge part of Eli Manning's success in the postseason.
