This week the latest among what seems like an endless amount of Top 100 lists came out. This one was from ESPN which was projecting who would be the Top 100 players this coming season.
On that list, there was just one Raiders player – Josh Jacobs, who came in a number 88.
Most noticeably NOT on the list was any of the Raiders offensive linemen. No Rodney Hudson, who is arguably the league’s top center, no Richie Incognito who is among the league’s best guards, and no Trent Brown who is arguably the league’s best right tackle.
This isn’t just a one-time snub either for this group. None of them made the NFL Network Top 100 either, which is supposedly voted on by actual players.
This despite the fact that the recent Madden21 ratings have the Raiders offensive line as the second-best in the league and Rodney Hudson in particular as the second highest-rated center.
While these guys – and especially their agents – would probably enjoy making an appearance on lists like this, not making such lists doesn’t move the needle much for guys like Richie Incognito.
“Those lists don’t mean much to us,” Incognito said over video conference call Wednesday. “What means a lot to us is winning ball games, protecting the quarterback, and Josh Jacobs getting a lot of yards. We take great pride in the way we play and those lists are more for the fans than for us.”
Incognito is entering his 13th NFL season after making the Pro Bowl four times in is past six seasons. He was a major factor in the Raiders offensive line paving the way for Jacobs to reach 1150 rushing yards in 13 games as a rookie last season.
What’s important to Incognito now at the age of 36 that he was able to prove he’s still got a lot left in the tank. And as he said, “Now it’s time to go out and kick some (expletive).”
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