proCanes.com's 2010 proCane Rankings Part V

Welcome to our 1st annual and long overdue proCane Rankings where we look back at the 2010 NFL season and rank the 43 proCanes that took snaps in 2010 (except for Sinorice Moss who was placed on IR before the start of the season).

Stay tuned as we countdown from number 43 to number 1. Our rankings are based on each player’s performance last year. In August we’ll go ahead and re-rank the player’s based on our 2011 expectations. For now read our review of each player’s 2010 season and where they rank overall. Enjoy!

To read our rankings of players 43-35, click here.

To read our rankings of players 34-26, click here.

To read our rankings of players 25-16, click here.

To read our rankings of players 15-9, click here.

8. Vince Wilfork DT New England Patriots: Wilfork who has slowly become the leader of the Patriots’ defense and made his second consecutive Pro Bowl this season has been listed as a NT for all 7 years of his career but this year, though still a NT saw action at defensive end and caused a lot of problems for opposing offensive lines. Wilfork had a career high 46 solo tackles and 2 sacks and was also in tiptop shape last season as he played on plenty of third downs where historically he would be pulled out of the game for. With this newfound versatility look for Wilfork to continue to pose major problems for opposing offenses and continue to excel.

7. Santana Moss WR Washington Redskins: Coming into the 2010 season many expected a big season from Santana Moss because of Donovan McNabb’s arrival. While McNabb didn’t have a very good season with the Redskins, Moss actually did post a career high in receptions (93) and over 1100 yards receiving which was the second best total of his career. Though his average yards per catch was a career low of 12.0 yards, that was more a product of the offensive scheme more so than Moss. Though Moss is entering his 11th NFL season, and his future with the Redskins is in doubt, he proved that he is still a solid, if not Pro Bowl WR, and no matter what team retains his services in 2011, they will be getting a #1 receiver.

6. Devin Hester WR Chicago Bears: Hester came into the 2010 season in somewhat of a drought, as his WR responsibilities increased for the Bears in 2008 and 2009 Hester did not have a kickoff or punt return for a touchdown in those two years after having 11 for touchdowns in his first two seasons. This season the Bears took a little off of Hester’s WR plate and it paid dividends as he had 3 punt returns for touchdowns and as a result broke Gale Sayer’s NFL record of 13 returns for touchdowns after recording his 14th versus the Vikings in Week 15. Hester was named to the Pro Bowl and first team All-Pro for the 3rd time in his career. Though Hester had more touchdowns receiving (4) in 2010, his receptions, yards, and yards per catch were his lowest in three years which has put the Bears in a predicament. The Bears paying Hester #1 WR money, but find he cannot be both an effective returner and WR and as a result are trying to find a balance. It should be interesting to see how the Bears handle his playing time in 2011.

5. Andre Johnson WR Houston Texans: Coming into the season Andre Johnson was only the second receiver in NFL History (Jerry Rice was the other) to lead the league in receiving yards for two consecutive seasons. If Johnson could have surpassed 1,500 yards in 2010 he would have been the only WR in NFL to have 3 consecutive seasons of 1,500 yards receiving or more. Unfortunately Johnson battled an ankle injury that he suffered in week 2 for the entire season, which made him miss three games. Despite missing three games he still had over 1,200 yards receiving and 8 touchdowns and was also named to his 3rd consecutive Pro Bowl. Despite missing 3 games Johnson led the NFL in yards per game with 93.5 and finished 6th in the NFL in receiving yards, and receptions. There is little to no debate as to the fact that Johnson is the best WR in the NFL and he should continue to be for several more years to come.

4. Reggie Wayne WR Indianapolis Colts: Wayne made his 5th consecutive Pro Bowl and was named to the All-Pro team for the first time in his career after a stellar 2010 season. Wayne started all 16 games and though fantasy owners will complain about him having only 6 touchdowns, Wayne had 111 receptions and over 1,300 yards receiving and as a result was second in the league in receptions and third in yards. In his 10th season Wayne is still one of the top 5 wide-receivers in the league and though some seem to think he has lost a step and others think the 2011 season could be his last Peyton Manning, there is no denying that he is still producing at a very high level and without him Manning would not be as successful and neither would the Colts.

3. Sam Shields DB Green Bay Packers: By now everyone knows Shields’ story going from an undrafted rookie free agent signee of the Green Bay Packers to starting nickel cornerback to Super Bowl Champion. To say that’s impressive would be shortchanging Shields and the path he has taken. Shields was the starting nickel cornerback from Week 1 versus the Eagles and started 6 games in 2010. He accumulated four interceptions none being bigger than the two he had versus the Bears in the NFL Conference Championship, where Shields had an interception to thwart a Bears’ scoring threat at the end of the 1st half and his second interception sealed the game for the Packers as the Bears were driving to tie the game. Shields also added a drive-stopping sack. Though still somewhat raw, Shields has cemented himself as the nickel corner for the Packers and many coaches across the league think he can be an elite corner in the not too distant future. Look for Shields to continue his success in 2011 and possibly even become the #2 cornerback for the Packers.

2. Ray Lewis LB Baltimore Ravens: What else could you possibly say about a 35-year old middle linebacker in his 15th NFL season who totaled over 130 tackles and played ALL BUT 5 DEFENSIVE SNAPS in all of the 2010 season? Enough said, if you ask us at proCanes.com but we’ll elaborate a little more. Lewis, who is still the leader of the Ravens defense and who some were saying coming into the season could no longer play on passing downs and had lost a step simply proved in 2011 that he is still the best MLB in the game. To accompany his 139 tackles, Lewis had 2 sacks, 2 forced fumbles and 2 interceptions (one of which he returned for a TD). Lewis also made his 7th straight Pro Bowl (12 total) and was named a 2nd team All-Pro. The Ravens have signed Lewis through the 2015 season and at this rate don’t be surprised if he is able to play it out. Truth be told Lewis isn’t athletically the linebacker he was as rookie, but mentally, he is the smartest linebacker in the game and that’s not only what sets him apart, but it also allows him to keep going.

1. Ed Reed S Baltimore Ravens: Under normal circumstances a player that leads the NFL in interceptions would be considered as the top player in the league, but Reed not only led the NFL in 2010 in interceptions and interception yardage, he did it while playing in only 10 of the 16 games regular season games. Reed made his presence known in his first game back by having 2 interceptions in Week 7 versus the Buffalo Bills along with a forced fumble. Reed only played in 12 games in 2009 and was injured for most of that season and as a result was on IR to start the 2010 season. Once Reed came back in 2010 he looked fresh, fast and his instincts were where they have always been, reading the opposing team’s quarterback mind along with the fact that Reed anchored the young defensive backfield of the Ravens and teamed up with Lewis. This offseason Reed hasn’t been talking retirement, on the contrary, he said he feels healthier than he has in quite a few years. With Reed going into the 2011 season completely healthy look for him to once again lead the league interceptions and make even more big plays than 2010.