By Mary Paoletti
CSNNE.com
While browsing the latest issue of SI I happened upon the players NFL poll. This week's question: Who is the smartest player in the league? Here are the results which are based on 282 player responses.
...Ooo-kay.
I know that this was a 'smartest on the FIELD' thing. But let's rewind real quick to Wednesday's conference call with Peyton Manning.
Reporter: Hey, Peyton. On maybe a subconscious level, do you think you and Tom Brady have pushed each other over the course of the last decade?
Manning: Thats probably a littleyou mentioned subconscious, thats pretty deep for me. Im not sure Im that much of a thinker. I dont have the ability to answer that kind of question. Im not really sure.
Just sayin'.
The Fast Facts footnotes are also interesting.
"Of the seven QBs named (brother Eli not among them), only three (Manning, Brees and Tom Brady) received more than one vote. Seven linebackers and 10 defensive backs were cited.... Not a single running back, kicker or punter received a vote; tight ends and D linemen were represented solely by Tony Gonzalez and Albert Haynesworth (one vote each)."
Some quick analysis:
-- Eli: Well. You're probably used to it by now.
--Brady: Everybody hates the pretty girl. It's your burden to bear. Sorry, Tommy.
--Brees: How quickly they forget. Sadface.
--Running backs, kickers, and punters: Running backs get their bells rung quite a bit so this one isn't so surprising. And most guys probably forget that kickers and punters even exist until those special teams units run out onto the field. Oops.
--Tony Gonzalez: You supports PETA; I like animals. But I didn't get to vote so who's Tony's secret admirer? Tom Brady, perhaps?
--Albert Haynesworth: You voted for yourself.