Devin Hester voted 32nd best player in NFL by peers

Devin Hester the 32nd-best player in the NFL? That's where the Chicago Bears receiver/kick returner ranks in the NFL Network's top-100 poll of 415 players, ahead of stars such as teammates Brian Urlacher (No.49 on the list) and Lance Briggs (No. 92).

The network unveiled Nos. 31 through 40 in its "Top 100 Players of 2011" feature on Sunday, with the top 30 players yet to be revealed.

Hester's ranking already has been questioned by Sports Illustrated's esteemed Peter King, who is simultaneously presenting his top-100 list and has Hester nowhere on it.

"Devin Hester at 32 on the players' list?" King writes in his "Monday Morning QB" column on SI.com. "Way too high for me. Outstanding punt returner, but I can't put a guy in my top 100 who, in two seasons as a full-time starter for the Bears, has 97 catches for a pedestrian 12.7-yard average. Antonio Gates is my 32nd-ranked player. He's a tight end. Average per catch in the last two years: 15.0."

King has Urlacher on his list (also at No. 49) and ranks Bears quarterback Jay Cutler as the 85th-best player in the league. Interestingly, Cutler shows up nowhere so far in the players' voting (not surprising given the heat he took from some players after being unable to finish the NFC Championship Game).

Among the other notables on the players' list: Chicago native Donovan McNabb of the Redskins (No. 100), outspoken receiver Terrell Owens (91), former Illinois star Brandon Lloyd of the Broncos (58) and former North Chicago and NIU star Michael Turner of the Falcons (42).


(chicagotribune.com)