Freeney’s a wild card. He’s getting up there in age and, at this point in his career, is being asked to move positions and schemes in Chuck Pagano’s 3-4. This could work to his advantage. We’ll see. He’s always good for double-digit sacks … if healthy.

More Top 100: Nos. 60-41

In 11 games in 2011, Harrison recorded nine quarterback sacks, five interceptions, and displayed the ferocity that has long made him one of the most feared defenders in the sport. His critics say he’s lost a step, but he’s still one of the more menacing linebackers in the game. Ask any coach or opposing player — Harrison has their respect. They might not like the man, but this isn’t the business of friendship.

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Miller suffered a thumb injury and faced teams focusing on him off the edge. He still racked up 11.5 sacks and won NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2011. Miller, who played “The Joker” position for Texas A&M, will only improve in 2012. Playing hurt in the final four games of the 2011 regular season, he recorded only one sack. Expect those numbers to increase in 2012.

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Thomas had a big rookie year in 2010 and was even better in 2011. A tall, rangy safety, he’s one of those guys who are simply in on every play. In addition to safety, he is a special teams demon and a team leader. You can’t name a better run defender at the safety spot. Check his fourth-down goal-line stand against the Steelers a year ago. Vintage Earl Thomas.

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I know, I know. Troy’s supposed to be listed in the top 20 because, well, he’s Troy Polamalu. Well, guess what? His play really declined last year and you could make the argument that he wasn’t even the best safety on his team. Polamalu’s a master of his trade and one of the best to ever play his position, but didn’t play at an elite level in 2011. He could have a big bounce-back year.

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Arguably the best pure route runner in the league, Jennings is as smooth a wideout as you’ll find. He led the Packers in receptions (67) a season ago and is still the team’s deep threat over the top, despite the breakout year by teammate Jordy Nelson. Not overly physical and not especially a burner, Jennings is a cerebral receiver who reads the field. Aaron Rodgers’ go-to-guy in one of the league’s top passing attacks.

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Tony, Tony, Tony. Two years removed from the Cowboys’ last playoff berth, guess what — all eyes are on Tony Romo … again. He’s married with a kid now, and I’m not done with the guy just yet. Romo, though his detractors would say otherwise, had a strong 2011 campaign. He threw for more than 4,184 yards, had 31 touchdown passes to just 10 interceptions, and his 102.5 passer rating was a career high. Say what you want about the December wins and losses, Romo’s a top-10 quarterback.

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No one expected 20-year-old Tyron Smith to be the top lineman on the Cowboys’ O-line as a rookie, but that’s just what he was last year. The sky’s the limit for the big fella out of USC and in 2012 he’ll make the inevitable move to left tackle. Pundits didn’t think Smith was a “sexy” enough pick for Jerry Jones to take with the ninth selection in 2011, but he exceeded expectations. With the likes of Jason Pierre-Paul, Brian Orakpo, Jason Babin, Justin Tuck and Trent Cole in the NFC East, a stud left tackle is absolutely necessary. It looks like the Cowboys have one.

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One of the toughest men in all of football, Mankins moved from left tackle in college to guard in the pros and has been a consistent Pro Bowler ever since. A first-team All-Pro in 2010 and 2011, he’s a four-time Pro Bowler who has started every game he has played. The Patriots’ offensive line doesn’t get as much media attention as the skill position stars, but Mankins is right up there on the list of the team’s most valuable performers.

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From September to December, Ryan is consistently one of the best quarterbacks in the league. It’s time he does something come January. His three career playoff defeats all have been major duds, with 2011’s wild-card round performance against the Giants the worst of all (24-41, 199, 0 TDs). Ryan becomes a free agent in 2014 and is expected to score his second mega-deal from Atlanta ownership in the near future. A playoff win one of these years would be nice.

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Sure, he had a down 2011. A very down 2011, really. But Johnson’s healthy and still showed flashes of his 2009 and 2010 self last season. He’s probably not in the same class of running back as Adrian Peterson, Maurice Jones-Drew and Arian Foster, but Johnson’s still one of the most dangerous backs in football.

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Playing in Arizona, Campbell doesn’t get nearly the same amount of media attention as some of his young pass-rushing peers, but he should. 2011 marked a breakout year for the former Miami star, as he starred in Ray Horton’s 3-4 scheme and recorded eight sacks and 51 tackles. The best stat of all? Campbell blocked three field goals. Arizona has one of the best young defensive units in the NFL. It all starts up front with No. 93.

Green’s the first rookie wideout to make the Pro Bowl since 2003. He caught 65 balls for 1,057 yards and scored seven touchdowns. Big numbers for any receiver, they're huge numbers for a rookie, playing with a rookie quarterback, when neither guy had much of an offseason to work together. Expect even bigger things from Green, a 6-foot-4 manchild with 4.5 40-yard-dash speed.

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Peters’ ruptured Achilles notwithstanding, he’s one of the most versatile offensive tackles in the game. In 2011, he dominated at left tackle and earned another Pro Bowl nod — his fifth in a row. Other guys on the Eagles' offense get the media love, but Peters is the rock up front who makes it all click. His presence will be sorely missed at the start of 2012.

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Ask any coach in the NFL to list the 10 players they lose the most sleep over the night before a game and Hester’s name is bound to come up. Not an every-down guy (though he’s had a somewhat serviceable career at wide receiver), he’s still the most dangerous punt returner this sport’s ever seen. Last year he returned two punts for touchdowns, giving him 12 in his career.

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Whitworth doesn’t get nearly the same ink or media attention as, say, a Jake Long, but he’s right up there in the conversation about best tackles in the league. Whether it’s at right or left tackle, he’s a mauler who rarely misses any games due to injury. Cedric Benson rushed for 1,000 yards in three straight years in Cincinnati. Many of those yards came behind a barreling Whitworth.

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Sure, he’s old. But he’s still got it. Woodson followed up his 2010 NFL Defensive Player of the Year campaign with 74 tackles and seven interceptions at age 35. Still one of the best cover corners and hardest-hitting defensive backs in the league, Woodson’s a No. 1 cornerback on a team that blitzes as much as any team in the league. His game hasn’t shown much decline and when it does, he’ll move to safety. The guy can play until he’s 50.

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Too high on the list for a guy who’s not an every-down back? Nah. Sproles had a huge year in New Orleans, totaling an unheard of 2,696 all-purpose yards (1,313 from scrimmage). On just 87 carries, Sproles ran for 603 yards, averaging 6.9 per carry. He also was seventh in the NFL in receptions (86). He does it all. Not only was Sproles a worthy replacement for Reggie Bush in the Saints offense, but he was all Bush was and more.

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Dockett’s sack total in 2011 dipped to 3.5, the fewest he’s recorded since 2006. But playing a different position — the DE in a 3-4 — he may have had his most complete season to date. The Cardinals' D took a while to get going for first-year coordinator Ray Horton, but once it did, it was among the best units in the league. It all started with Dockett up front. He started 16 games and wrecked havoc at the line. At 31 he’s the veteran leader of what might be the best young unit in 2012.

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Wallace emerged in 2010 and made the leap to a No. 1 wideout in 2011. Though he didn’t get the big offseason money a lot expected, he’s still among the top receivers and arguably the most dangerous deep threat in the game. In 2011 he caught 72 balls for 1,193 yards and scored eight touchdowns. His 95-yard touchdown grab and run against Arizona and 88-yard score against Indianapolis were two of the longest touchdown receptions of the season.

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The NFL Network list has Steelers safety Troy Polamalu ranked in their top 20. Our list? Well, he’s a solid player, sure, but is he the same guy he was two years ago? We’ve got him listed as our fourth-best safety, one spot behind an up-and-coming star in Seattle. Also, where do you put Matt Ryan (right)? He’s a great regular-season quarterback, but can he win a big game? He hasn’t yet. Is Ryan a better QB than Tony Romo (left)? Where does Chris Johnson (28) fit in? See how we ranked them all.  — Peter Schrager

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