Outrage Ensues On Twitter After Tom Brady Ranked Behind Cam Newton On NFL Top 100
By Matt Dolloff, CBS Boston
BOSTON (CBS) -- Tom Brady may be the best winner in NFL history, but he had to settle for second place on the 2016 edition of the NFL's Top 100 list. So clearly the NFL is still rigging things for Brady to lose, right?
Well, the league's annual top 100 is actually selected by the players, not some clandestine Jedi council of league minions out to besmirch the great Brady name. You'd think Brady being listed as the No. 2 player in the league would be good enough, right? NOPE.
The reaction on Twitter was swift and fiery as the NFL revealed Panthers QB Cam Newton as the No. 1 player. A simple Twitter search for tweets referencing both quarterbacks was surprisingly tilted in Brady's favor, as even non-Patriots fans were almost universally surprised that Newton would take the No. 1 spot.
Speaking of that Super Bowl ... Newton's poor performance in Super Bowl 50 - and petulant postgame reactions - are likely what most fans are remembering most about Newton's MVP season last year. Also, this ...
... Contrast that infamous non-dive with Brady's reaction to a fumble in Week 17 of the regular season:
You could say Brady didn't get No. 1 because he didn't make the Super Bowl, but he didn't even make No. 1 after winning the Super Bowl and delivering an MVP performance for the ages - he lost to J.J. Watt, who while amazing does not have nearly the impact on his team or the league that Brady has, and Aaron Rodgers, who has not made the Super Bowl since the 2010 season.
Newton did have an incredible run up until Super Bowl 50, so it's not the WORST decision ever made by NFL players. But it's surprising that they would look at how Newton's season ended and still be comfortable with him in the top spot. Plus ... imagine the outrage around the country had Brady been No. 1. Pageviews for everybody. But no, instead they went for antagonizing just Patriots fans.
Who do you think deserved to be No. 1 on the NFL Top 100? Vote below.
Matt Dolloff is a writer for CBSBostonSports.com. His opinions do not necessarily reflect that of CBS or 98.5 The Sports Hub. Have a news tip or comment for Matt? Follow him on Twitter @mattdolloff and email him at mdolloff@985thesportshub.com.
