His first name stands out -- but not nearly as much as his game. It's too bad many haven't noticed.
Cleveland Browns linebacker D'Qwell Jackson led the NFL in tackles last season, but outside of Cleveland, the University of Maryland and Seminole, Fla. -- his hometown -- he isn't well known.
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| Cleveland tackling machine D'Qwell Jackson hasn't attracted much attention -- yet. (Getty Images) |
Yet there was no Pro Bowl, no All-Pro and little attention.
That's what playing for a loser does to a player. You get lost. You don't get your due. So we'll give him some.
Jackson is my choice as the most underrated player in the league. He headlines my list of players on each team who don't get the respect they deserve. Some are younger players who haven't been truly discovered, while others are like Jackson, players on bad teams who are stars without a big audience
D'Qwell is swell.
The Browns won't be good in 2009, but watch this kid play. Watch him D'Q a lot of running backs.
As for the league's most overrated player, my choice is Jacksonville Jaguars defensive tackle John Henderson.
That is a sentiment echoed by some in the Jacksonville organization.
"For the past two years, he's played more like a backup," said one Jaguars source.
At 6-feet-7, 328 pounds, Henderson should be a lot like former college teammate Albert Haynesworth, a dominant inside force teams have to double.
He was that in 2006. Jaguars coach Jack Del Rio said he wasn't a two-gap tackle, but a "three-gap tackle" that season. That's how good he was.
In the two years since, Henderson has been a big disappointment. Henderson had two sacks in each of the past two seasons and his tackle numbers were 38 in 2007 and 44. Henderson had 75 tackles in 2004 and 70 in 2005, and in 2006, his best season, he had 51.
He didn't endear himself to Del Rio last month when he checked out of practice with a "supposed" shoulder injury and Del Rio publicly called him out. There was some talk the Jaguars might cut him, but how can you cut that size?
The coaches are just hoping he can bounce back to his 2006 form. Good luck.
Until he does, he's the league's most overrated player.
Arizona Cardinals
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| Anquan Boldin: Not quite as good as he thinks? (Getty Images) |
Underrated: LG Reggie Wells. He has trimmed his body into good shape and was the best of the five line starters for the Cardinals last season.
Atlanta Falcons
Overrated: DE John Abraham. He's good, but not as good as he thinks. He needs to be more focused.
Underrated: DT Jonathan Babineaux. He's undersized but battles every snap. That's why the team gave him a contract extension.
Baltimore Ravens
Overrated: C Matt Birk. Put on the tape of him playing for the Vikings in the playoffs last January and try to tell me he's not overrated.
Underrated: LT Jared Gaither. In his first full season as a starter he developed into a good player. He should be even better in 2009 -- and has Pro Bowl ability.
Buffalo Bills
Overrated: DE Aaron Schobel. A few years back, he was a premier pass rusher. But injuries have set him back. Now he's just average.
Underrated: RB Fred Jackson. With Marshawn Lynch around, he won't get a ton of carries. But when he does get them in place of Lynch, he makes the most of them. He's also a capable receiver.
Carolina Panthers
Overrated: QB Jake Delhomme. I'm just not sure their passing game can be good enough with Delhomme at quarterback. The team cries that he's a winner, but he has to throw it better.
Underrated: CB Chris Gamble. He has developed into a quality cover corner. For some reason, he doesn't get noticed all that much.
Chicago Bears
Overrated: CB Charles Tillman. He is their top corner but struggled last season. He's also coming off shoulder surgery.
Underrated: S Kevin Payne. He's a playmaking safety in his third season who just might be ready for his first Pro Bowl.
Cincinnati Bengals
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| Chad Ochocinco: Still a No. 1 receiver? (Getty Images) |
Underrated: CB Leon Hall. I love this kid. He has a real chance to be special. He just needs to play the ball better in the air.
Cleveland Browns
Overrated: RB Jamal Lewis. He rushed for more than 1,000 yards last season, but his per-carry average of 3.6 wasn't good enough. He has taken a lot of shots in his career, and it might be showing.
Underrated: Jackson. His contract is up after this season, but without a new CBA he won't be an unrestricted free agent. He will cash in big if he is.
Dallas Cowboys
Overrated: WR Roy Williams. Has he ever lived up to the hype? He had better now or Dallas will be in trouble at receiver.
Underrated: NT Jay Ratliff. How he didn't make the Pro Bowl last season is a mystery. He was dominant.
Denver Broncos
Overrated: FS Brian Dawkins. He isn't what he was a few years ago. He's not as good in coverage at age 35.
Underrated: RT Ryan Harris. With Ryan Clady on the left side, Harris was overlooked last season. He shouldn't have been.
Detroit Lions
Overrated: LB Julian Peterson. Some will still see him as an elite linebacker. He's not anymore. He can still be good, but he sure wasn't dominant last season.
Underrated: CB Philip Buchanon. After a slow start to his career -- bust was being used to describe it -- he has bounced back to become a solid cover player. The Lions will love having him in their secondary.
Green Bay Packers
Overrated: CB Al Harris. He isn't his team's best corner and at 35, his age is starting to become an issue.
Underrated: CB Charles Woodson. Why isn't he considered an elite corner? Anybody?
Houston Texans
Overrated: DE Antonio Smith. They paid him big money to sign as a free agent, but his career-high in sacks is 5½ and he had only 3½ last season. He does have potential, but for now he's a tad overrated.
Underrated: RT Eric Winston. For some reason he doesn't get the attention he warrants as a good right tackle. He's near the top of everyone in the league.
Indianapolis Colts
Overrated: RB Joseph Addai. They didn't draft Donald Brown without a reason. The team is down on Addai.
Underrated: CB Kelvin Hayden. He has developed into a good corner. The Colts made him a priority by giving him a long-term extension in March.
Jacksonville Jaguars
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| Henderson: Too much time on cruise control? (Getty Images) |
Underrated: G Vince Manuwai. He's coming off a major knee surgery, but when he's on the field -- and he will be this season -- he's a road grader.
Kansas City Chiefs
Overrated: RB Larry Johnson. He isn't close to being what he was a few years back. Elite? Not anymore.
Underrated: WR Dwayne Bowe. He is a big, fluid receiver who would be a marquee name anywhere else. He makes it look easy when he runs.
Miami Dolphins
Overrated: LB Channing Crowder. He is decent against the run but struggles to cover the pass. He talks a good game, though.
Underrated: S Yeremiah Bell. He isn't great in coverage, but he's improving in that area. He bounced back from an Achilles' tendon injury in 2007 to play at a high level last season.
Minnesota Vikings
Overrated: QB Brett Favre. Hey, he's coming. And he isn't the answer to this team's troubles.
Underrated: LB Chad Greenway. He made a huge improvement in 2008 and showed why he was a first-round pick. He has a lot of versatility.
New England Patriots
Overrated: LT Matt Light. He's just OK as a pass protector. In his ninth season, he might be slowing down some.
Underrated: DE Ty Warren. He doesn't get the credit of fellow line starters Richard Seymour and Vince Wilfork, but he's nearly as good.
New Orleans Saints
Overrated: TE Jeremy Shockey. There is so much ability, but does it show up enough? Injuries have hurt, but that's part of what keeps good players down.
Underrated: G Jahri Evans. It's about time he started getting the attention he deserves. He's an elite player.
New York Giants
Overrated: MLB Antonio Pierce. His bark is bigger than his bite. He is a good player but not nearly as good as some would believe.
Underrated: LT David Diehl. He isn't an elite player, but after moving from guard, he has done a nice job at left tackle.
New York Jets
Overrated: LT D'Brickashaw Ferguson. He sure hasn't lived up to the hype. He's a decent player but not a dominating one.
Underrated: CB Darrelle Revis. He's not mentioned among the top corners by a lot of people, but he should be. This will be his season to get the recognition he deserves.
Oakland Raiders
Overrated: WR Javon Walker. Injuries have taken a toll, and he's not the same player he was in Denver. His career has dipped in a hurry.
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| Zach Miller might be about to catch a lot more attention. (Getty Images) |
Philadelphia Eagles
Overrated: RB Brian Westbrook. He's a good player but some think he's great. He doesn't stay on the field, and for a guy who didn't rush for 1,000 yards last season, you'd think he was Adrian Peterson the way some talk about him.
Underrated: S Quintin Mikell. He was the Eagles' best safety last season, not Brian Dawkins. He's a good tackler who has improved in pass coverage.
Pittsburgh Steelers
Overrated: RB Willie Parker. He was bothered by injuries last season, but his 3.8 per-carry average wasn't very good. He did start 11 games. Rashard Mendenhall might take away a lot of his carries.
Underrated: DE Aaron Smith. He has been on this list a lot, and he stays there after another good season. He's a perfect 3-4 end.
St. Louis Rams
Overrated: TE Randy McMichael. We keep hearing how he's a top tight end. Now he's coming off knee surgery.
Underrated: CB Ronald Bartell. The Rams made sure to sign him to a long-term deal to bring him back when he hit the market in the spring. He has been a pleasant surprise.
San Diego Chargers
Overrated: RB Darren Sproles. Is he really more than a third-down back and return man? The way he's getting paid, you'd think he was.
Underrated: QB Philip Rivers. How many consider him an elite quarterback? I do. He carried the Chargers last season.
San Francisco 49ers
Overrated: TE Vernon Davis. He sure hasn't lived up to the hype he had coming into the league. He had just 31 catches last year. Ouch.
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Underrated: C Eric Heitmann. If he played on a better team, he would get a lot more attention. He's the glue of the young line.
Seattle Seahawks
Overrated: WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh. He averaged less than 10 yards per catch last season. He's a No. 2 receiver at best.
Underrated: DT Brandon Mebane. He had 5½ sacks last season and played well against the run. With the addition of Colin Cole to help handle the nose, that number should go up.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Overrated: DT Chris Hovan. He plays hard but is limited by his size. He can get pushed around a lot at times.
Underrated: S Tanard Jackson. In his third season, he should get some Pro Bowl consideration. He's a big hitter who can also handle coverage duties.
Tennessee Titans
Overrated: RB LenDale White. He scores a lot of touchdowns so the Fantasy people love him. But he averages less than 4 yards per carry.
Underrated: DT Tony Brown. He didn't get the proper credit playing next to Haynesworth, but he is a disruptive force in his own right. Brown played well even when Haynesworth wasn't on the field.
Washington Redskins
Overrated: CB DeAngelo Hall. He played well for the Redskins when he was picked up last season, but he isn't as good as he thinks -- or others think.
Underrated: CB Carlos Rogers. He looked like a Pro Bowl corner at times last season but has some inconsistency. If he can work through that, he should be a better player than Hall.
