With this week's closing of the Pro Bowl Balloting, a lot is being made of the fan's impressions of who is putting in that work on the field. What better time to revisit the individual player power rankings!
I'll attempt to slot the Top 25 players based on several factors: overall career performance, season performance, recent performance and probably most importantly, overall worth to the team. Again, these are completely subjective, but to balance that out, I'll include their Pro Football Focus cumulative grades. PFF breaks down film of each play for every player in the NFL and assigns it a grade ranking from -2.0 to +2.0. A players individual grade is the accumulation of every snap he's taken for the 2011 season.
Here's a look at one man's opinion on the pecking order inside the Dallas circle and at the dinner table. Who deserves the big piece of chicken?
| Position | Player | Prev. Rank (Week 14) |
PFF Cumulative | 2011 Snaps | PFF Position Rank | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tony Romo | 1 | +11.4 | 927 | 8 (QB) | 22 TDs and 4 INTs since the Lions game. Masterful. |
| 2 | Tyron Smith | 7 | +18.7 | 944 | 2 (OT) | The best rookie tackle since Jake Long |
| 3 | DeMarcus Ware | 2 | +24.4 | 792 | 5 (3-4OLB) | Stinger is hurting him, but when healthy he's the best. |
| 4 | Jason Witten | 3 | +7.2 | 944 | 8 (TE) | Tough year in blocking for The Senator. |
| 5 | Jay Ratliff | 4 | +13.5 | 661 | 13 (DT/NT) | Rib injury hurting, but still a monster in the middle. |
| 6 | Sean Lee | 5 | +9.1 | 755 | 16 (ILB) | Get Chuck Norris some help in the middle, please. |
| 7 | Dez Bryant | 6 | +10.0 | 679 | 10 (WR) | One of the most gifted athletes in the league, how hard is he working to improve his routes? |
| 8 | Miles Austin | 9 | +2.8 | 444 | 35 (WR) | Getting ready to return to elite threat. |
| 9 | Felix Jones | 18 | +6.2 | 322 | 25 (HB) | Showing first round talent, but dinged up again. |
| 10 | Laurent Robinson | 11 | +5.2 | 510 | 21 (WR) | Best FA scrap-heap pickup in team history? |
| 11 | Mike Jenkins | 15 | +1.7 | 524 | 38 (CB) | Quietly having resurgent year amidst numerous injuries. |
| 12 | Anthony Spencer | 10 | +10.6 | 815 | 10 (3-4OLB) | No respect Anthony. |
| 13 | Sean Lissemore | 12 | +13.0 | 253 | 6 (3-4DE) | Lisssssyyyyy! This year's Stephen Bowen. |
| 14 | Gerald Sensabaugh | 13 | +3.8 | 872 | 12 (S) | Had a couple questionable performances since contract. |
| 15 | DeMarco Murray | 8 | +9.4 | 390 | 17 (HB) | Sorely missed, would have given Dallas best back combo? |
| 16 | Jason Hatcher | 16 | +6.2 | 362 | 13 (3-4DE) | Hit or miss 3-4 DE |
| 17 | Dan Bailey | 17 | +15.2 | N/A | 17 (K) | The return of Mr. "Split'Em"? |
| 18 | Montrae Holland | 19 | +8.0 | 587 | 16 (OG) | Lumpy Returns and performs admirably. |
| 19 | Victor Butler | NR | +5.6 | 212 | 14* (3-4OLB) [not enough snaps] | Doing well in subbing for injured Ware. |
| 20 | Kyle Kosier | 24 | -1.0 | 950 | 33 (OG) | We thank you for your service, but will be looking elsewhere. |
| 21 | Doug Free | 25 | -3.4 | 950 | 31 (OT) | Get ready to return to the right side, Doug. |
| 22 | Terence Newman | 21 | -5.2 | 714 | 82 (CB) | It's so haaarrdddd… to say good-byeeeeee…. |
| 23 | Tony Fiammetta | 22 | -6.8 | 204 | 29 (FB) | Had a horrible game against the Bucs, cost Felix. |
| 24 | Orlando Scandrick | 23 | -1.6 | 573 | 52 (CB) | Still trying to explain his early extension. |
| 25 | Mat McBriar | 14 | +11.6 | N/A | 17 (P) | Recent kicks say he's still injured but not letting on. |
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