Most Respected Opposing Players

Johnny Manizel: Just kidding. This isn't ESPN.

Frank Gore: While this one may be a little more personal than fan related, Gore is a player I respect for the way he plays, and the hard times he's been through. Tearing his ACL in college and missing an entire season was only the start, as he then had to run through a gauntlet of awful coaching featuring Mike Nolan and Mike Singletary. But Frank Gore keeps getting low and keeps chugging along. Now 32, he is coming off another 1000 yard season and has perhaps his best chance to win a Super Bowl.

Peyton Manning: While some may feel he is overrated, Manning has even had success against the legendary Ravens defences of the mid two thousands, at one point winning 10 in a row, thus being undefeated against Baltimore. Manning's knowledge of the game is legendary, and when Ravens icons like Ray Lewis and Ed Reed express that tremendous respect, it is hard for the fan not to follow.

Richard Sherman: Talk the talk, walk the walk. That very saying is impersonated in Richard Sherman. The brash cornerback earns my respect by always backing up his talk, never backing down from any player or any talking point. Sherman is more than your average trash talker. Earning a Stanford degree in communication, Sherman gave us the ultimate moment in his dismantling of Skip Bayless. Priceless. His on field performance, however, is his most impressive exploit. Sherman is near unbeatable when throwing deep, and any late throw will most likely end in an interception, rather than a knockdown.

J.J Watt: A player Ravens fans know all too well, and frankly, I'm tired of seeing our offensive game plans ruined. An experience fans across the league know all too well. Watt is this generation's Lawrence Taylor, Reggie White, Ray Lewis. The unstoppable force who just can't be game planned for. Before playing the Texans, I simply hope for controlled chaos. His motor and his desire in pursuit are among the best I've ever. A true game wrecker.

Andre Johnson: One of the most underrated players of the past decade. Yes. Underrated. One can only understand how great Johnson was when looking back to games from 2008 to 2010. Let's get one thing straight. Matt Schaub was never great. David Carr was a bust. Case Keenum is Case freaking Keenum. And every other quarteback in between is not worth mentioning. Johnson made the best out of bad situations. His release skills are the best I've ever seen. Add that to the fact he is 6'3, 230 pounds and you have, along with Randy Moss the most prolific wide receiver since Jerry Rice.

And that concludes the list. A few honourable mentions: Ben Roethlisberger (just writing that felt wrong), Jason Witten, Patrick Willis, Earl Thomas, Eric Berry and Andrew Luck.