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Death, taxes, and any kind of list starting debate among sports fans.
It is true that lists of any sort inspire fans of one idea to argue with fans of an opposing one. We have seen this play out just about every day in the history of the internet with regards to the Dallas Cowboys; there are a variety of subjects these days that get the proverbial juices going.
What is particularly rare is a list that people agree with and that is certainly not the case when it comes to the NFL Top 100. Every year the league pushes this list out as something that “the players vote on!”, positioning it as some incredible measurement of NFL talent by the players’ peers. If only that were the case.
The NFL Top 100 has been a thing for a long time now and the 2020 version unveiled itself on Sunday night. There are two Dallas Cowboys present so far, what are your thoughts?
Jaylon Smith ,Tyron Smith, and Zack Martin are on this year’s NFL Top 100
There is a new Dallas Cowboys player wearing the number 88 this season and it was at that point that the first member of the organization popped up in the NFL Top 100. Jaylon Smith was deemed the 88th best player in the league by those that vote on this list.
As noted Jaylon is not the only Cowboys player to show up so far. A different Smith, Tyron Smith, showed up in intimidating fashion 10 spots later.
Another appearance for @thejaylonsmith on the countdown!
— NFL Network (@nflnetwork) July 27, 2020
The @dallascowboys LB is 88 on the #NFLTop100. pic.twitter.com/3AUVf73njs
SEVEN years in a row on the countdown…@dallascowboys tackle Tyron Smith lands at 78 on the #NFLTop100! pic.twitter.com/VghnoqySLX
— NFL Network (@nflnetwork) July 27, 2020
Both Jaylon and Tyron dipped in their ranking from a year ago which shows how the voting in the NFL Top 100 ultimately goes. Those that vote generally go off of what is happening in the moment which is why Cowboys were rated higher last year as they were gaining a lot of positive attention near the end of the 2018 season.
People will likely say that Jaylon’s ranking is a bit generous and that Tyron’s is low. There is a lot of expectation on the former to deliver as a legitimate cornerstone of the defense in 2020, while the latter is one of the best in the game at his respective position.
Zack Martin and Amari Cooper are on the list as well
The list itself is being unveiled in phases and on Monday night things rolled on. It was then that another Cowboys offensive lineman, Zack Martin, made his annual appearance.
Zack Martin reps the NFC East on the #NFLTop100!
— NFL Network (@nflnetwork) July 28, 2020
The @dallascowboys guard comes in at 55. pic.twitter.com/qAt6zmzRhQ
Zack Martin is the best guard in football so to consider him the 55th best player in the game is suspect at best. Again, this list is an annual exercise that shows how not-so-great the list itself is, if you need an example of that just consider that Todd Gurley ranked four spots higher than Zack.
While Zack unfortunately did not beat out Todd Gurley in “the eyes of the players” another Cowboys player did in Amari Cooper. He ranked 49th this year.
Another WR to make the #NFLTop100!@dallascowboys @AmariCooper9 checks in at 49. pic.twitter.com/ehgyP76HFC
— NFL Network (@nflnetwork) July 28, 2020
The Cowboys rewarded Amari Cooper with a long-term contract extension this offseason and considering what he’s done for the franchise after a year and a half’s worth of service, that makes sense.
Dak Prescott also made the list
What is a list about controversy and debate that doesn’t include Dak Prescott? Of course the Cowboys quarterback was going to find his way onto a list of the NFL’s top-ranked players.
While there will obviously be a lot of debate and discussion as to whether Dak was rated too high or too low, the list has Dak at number 46.
This @dallascowboys QB is BACK on the #NFLTop100!@dak comes in at 46 this year. pic.twitter.com/W0V1OBiJ3X
— NFL Network (@nflnetwork) July 28, 2020
That’s five Dallas Cowboys so far.