Jonathan Vilma voted 58th-best NFL player by peers

Jonathan Vilma has endured his share of criticism and scrutiny in recent months for his alleged role in the New Orleans Saints' bounty scandal, but he's still commanding respect from his NFL peers.

In Wednesday night's installment of NFL Network's The Top 100 Players of 2012, a 10-part series determined by the votes of active players, Vilma was voted the 58th-best player in the league. It represented a bit of a fall -- he was No. 37 a year ago -- but Vilma also missed five games last season while battling a knee injury that required arthroscopic surgery.

Now facing a season-long suspension, Vilma is a good bet to drop out of the Top 100 entirely in 2013.

The list also unveiled two more rookies -- Arizona Cardinals CB/PR Patrick Peterson and Denver Broncos OLB Von Miller -- who join already revealed Cincinnati Bengals WR A.J. Green. One more rook has yet to be announced, though it will almost surely be 2011 offensive rookie of the year Cam Newton.


(usatoday.com)