Robin Hood of hype: Take from unworthy, give to the deserving July 6, 2006 By Pete Prisco / CBS SportsLine.com Senior Writer They go about their business with little of the adulation many of their brethren receive. Yet the coaches and scouts around the NFL -- as well as the opponents they face each and every week -- know who they are and what they can do. "Underrated" is their first name. In a league where the glare of stardom shines on some, there are many players who don't get their due. So each summer at CBS SportsLine.com, we do something about it: We ferret out the most underrated players on each of the 32 teams. In doing so, we also come up with the most underrated of them all.Of course, there's a flip side. For every underrated player, there's an overrated companion. So we've come up with one of those for every team, too. Many of those names you will recognize. Some of our underrated, you won't. So who's the most underrated player in the league heading into 2006 ? Anybody hear of Ian Scott? He's a starting defensive tackle for the Chicago Bears. He also plays next to Tommie Harris, who gets all the attention.Scott should get more. He is a 305-pound power player in the middle of the Bears line -- and gets overshadowed by Harris. Scott had 27 tackles last season to 32 for Harris. He didn't have a sack, while Harris had three, but -- based on press coverage -- you'd think there was a huge difference between the two. There isn't. A fourth-year player from Florida, Scott is one of those blue-collar guys that great defenses need. He takes up blockers, freeing linebackers Brian Urlacher and Lance Briggs to do their thing. Keep an eye on Scott this season. You'll see what we mean. So who's the league's most overrated? There are a lot of name players to choose from, but the winner is Dallas Cowboys safety Roy Williams. He isn't nearly as good as his reputation, which is Lone Star big.Who's in the background, eating Santana Moss' dust? Why, it's Pro Bowl safety Roy Williams. (Getty Images) . Williams played in his third consecutive Pro Bowl after the 2005 season, but he certainly hasn't performed to that level. Williams is a good hitter when in the box, but he struggles in coverage, which is why teams were able to exploit the Cowboys with some big plays last season. Anyone who saw the Cowboys blow that Monday night game to the Redskins saw that Williams can be trouble in coverage. The Redskins twice threw over the top of him for fourth-quarter touchdowns.Sure, he makes those highlight hits. But for every one of those, there's two misses in coverage. That's not good enough.There is no way he's a better safety than Adrian Wilson of the Cardinals or Sean Taylor of the Redskins, two players who should have gone to the Pro Bowl ahead of Williams. Those two, by the way, are among our 32 underrated players.It might not be the Pro Bowl, nor do we give them a trip to Hawaii, but at least they can take satisfaction in knowing somebody appreciates what they do.After all, it has to get tiring having "Underrated" as a first name. Now for the choices: - New York Jets Overrated: Running back Curtis Martin has been an all-time Jets great. But it's over. Martin is no longer an elite back and it showed last season when he rushed for a career-low 735 yards. Underrated: Defensive end Shaun Ellis doesn't get a lot of attention, but he simply goes out and makes plays. He should be comfortable playing end in the new 3-4 scheme. > http://www.sportsline.com/nfl/story/9542704
martin isn't overrated. It's not like this guys the only one who thinks he's done. Haven't we been hearing his "doneness" so to speak for years now? And im not 100% sure he's even done now. He could come back and rush for 1000 yards. As for the shaun ellis thing, i completely agree. JAbe got ALL the attention on that DLine. Shaun Ellis should flourish now that Abe is gone (hear me out here) when ellis had that good year two years ago (13 sacks? not sure) it's when Abe was injured. Shaun puts up better stats when Abe is gone. I can't fully explain it but that seems to be the trend.
plasticsloth, did a 4 year old do the photoshop job on your avatar? There are plenty of people on this board who would be happy to help, if only not to look at that any more.
hes overrated because he led the league in rushing one season, then got hurt the next season? I don't think anyone would predict him as a pro bowler this season.
Curtis has been underrated his entire career. He never has received the press derserved of his accomplishments as a NYJ. So now when #28 has a down year, the result of injury, as well as due to a suspect O-line and no passing offense, he gets signaled out as overrated....Come on Let's be fair.. How about Ty Law as the over rated NYJ from last year. I would be happy to wager that at least 5 of his picks came when he was not making a play on the ball but rather the recipenent of overthrows, tips and genrerally poor passes. Two INT's stick out as great plays...Both when he laid off the WR and suckered the QB into thinkiing the WR's were open...One was against Brady and the Pats that he returend for a TD and the other I believe was against the Dolphins at Home....Other than that what did he do??? Oh and how about that missed open field tackle against the Bills when he was made out to look like an ass by the RB. I'll agree with Ellis as being underrated in all aspects....
Only 735 yards huh? How about the fact that it was in only 12 games? This guy, like so many other sports writers is a flat out dipshit. Martin has been one of the most underrated players in the game over his entire career. I suppose the lack of an offensive line, and any passing attack whatsoever was CMart's fault as well, huh? This guy managed over 700 yards on 1.5 legs, with no blocking protection, and 8 guys in the box salivating on the snap the whole year. Had he simply put his uniform on, and participated in a few plays a game, he would have broken the consecutive season record for 1000 yard runs to start a career, a record he shares with only Barry Sanders. How the #$%& is Curtis Martin, in any way, shape, or form, overrated? And Shaun Ellis is underrated? Are you freaking kidding me? He's no slouch, but for goodness sake, he is not a superstar either. I guess we'll see this year. Now offenses can plan exclusively for him on the line. Plasticsloth, to verify what you wrote, in 2003 Ellis had 12.5 sacks. Yes, that year Abe only played in 7 games. Ellis played all 16. Abe had 6 sacks in just those 7 games himself.
Curtis has been underrated his entire career. He never has received the press derserved of his accomplishments as a NYJ. So now when #28 has a down year, the result of injury, as well as due to a suspect O-line and no passing offense, he gets signaled out as overrated....Come on Let's be fair.. ----------------------------------------------------------- Disagree. I think he's neither (underrated or overrated). He's been a solid player, but not great because he doesn't break away enough. Look at Tiki last season. How many times did he break out into the open last year and go down the sideline..........and 3/4's of the way through the season he was a legitimate MVP candidate because of it. Curtis NEVER breaks free down the sideline. I'm not saying Tiki is better than Curtis over a career, but I'm using Tikis year last season to make a point. You can count on one hand the times Curtis has broken free for a long TD as a NYJ, and he's been here a long time. For that reason, I can't say he is a great player, just a very good one. That's what people say about him, that he's very good, so IMO he's not underrated. I would also look at Curtis in the playoffs. Not great..at all.
We STILL haven't been told the extent of his injuries, but I think I've seen it mentioned that he might have torn his MCL last season, and he was playing through it. I don't think Martin is overrated. The guy lead the league in rushing the previous season at an unreasonable age for that sort of thing. Ellis is someone that no one mentions, but I don't think anyone was motivated last year. He needs the whip cracked, but, aside from last season, he was entirely consistent his whole time here. It should also be noted that he was an absolute beast as a 3-4 end earlier in his career, and now that he's a bit more developed, that might be something we catch again. -X-
Curtis martin is not overrated or underrrated but he is past time to retire. He's coming off major knee surgery and is 33. To "rebuild" with an old, injured greybeard is ridiculous. This is a rebuilding year and I'm surprised the new jet front office didn't cut Martin after June 1. He's a sure hall of famer, but damn it good teams move on. Denver has moved past Davis to Portis, and past Portis to Bell in the last 8 years. The jets still watch Martin get stuffed year after year.
I highly doubt that Martin would still be on the roster if the extent of his injury is as severe as you seem to think. This is a rebuilding year and there is a new regime in town so I don't see loyalty to a veteran player getting in the way of doing what is best for the team. Last season was the first of Martin's career where he performed at a subpar level, but some of the blame must go to his injury, our makeshift OL, and lack of a sufficient passing game. To say that he gets stuffed year after year is simply false. I am expecting to see a running back by committee system put in place this year. Expect a decent portion of the running load to be spread to Houston, Blaylock, and Washington. Perhaps the coaching staff is looking to see whether Houston can develop into a legitimate starting RB in years to come. If none of our options work out, I fully expect a RB to be taken with a high draft pick next season.
Year after year? Just a season ago he led the league in rushing, and 2 years prior he finished second.
i think Ellis was overrated last year but prior to that he was very underrated. If he plays like he can he is one of the top all around DEs in the league.
