Jul 1st 2008 6:47AM by Michael David Smith (author feed)
Filed under: NY Giants, Texans, Houston, New YorkPete Prisco of CBS Sports came out with a list of the top 50 players in the NFL last week. Some of it was predictable (Tom Brady and Peyton Manning first and second), some of it was surprising (Kevin Williams in the top 10), and all of it was designed as a springboard for off-season arguments.

One of those arguments took place on ESPN Radio this morning, where Giants defensive end Osi Umenyiora (No. 42 on the list) was a guest. When asked what about that list surprised him, Umenyiora said, “Mario Williams at No. 6.” He then added, “This guy right here at No. 6 is just absolutely ridiculous.”

It’s easy to see why Umenyiora feels that way. Williams, the Texans’ 2006 first overall pick, did have one more sack than Umenyiora last season, but is he really so much better than Umenyiora that he deserves to be 36 spots ahead?

Maybe, maybe not. But, again, these lists are really nothing more than conversation-starters, and if the list got Umenyiora to express a strong opinion, it did its job.