Hostile
The Duke
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In bold are the two players I championed in the last 2 drafts. Mel who? 
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Catch a rising star
By Cris Collinsworth
Special to NFL.com
(Oct. 20, 2004) -- The trouble with making a list like this is inevitably somebody will be left off. Undaunted, here are the Top 20 rising stars in the NFL today.
Honorable mention: Round 4 of the 2003 NFL Draft. This round produced Domanick Davis, RB, Houston; Onterrio Smith, RB, Minnesota; Shaun McDonald, WR, St. Louis; Quentin Griffin, RB, Denver; Lee Suggs, RB, Cleveland; and Dan Klecko, NT, New England.
20. Ricky Manning, CB, Carolina: Makes this list on the 2003 NFC Championship Game alone.
19. Chris Snee, G, New York Giants: Snee, Coughlin's son-in-law, has upgraded the "worst offensive line in football."
18. Darnell Dockett, DT, Arizona: Dockett has allowed Dennis Green to be creative with his defense in Arizona.
17. Willis McGahee, RB, Buffalo: It's amazing he is even walking, much less rushing for 111 yards in his first start against Miami.
16. Brandon Lloyd, WR, San Francisco: Lloyd was a big reason why the 49ers allowed Terrell Owens to go to Philadelphia. Another fourth-rounder from 2003.
15. Steven Jackson, RB, St. Louis: The Cowboys missed their chance to draft their running back of the future.
14a. Jonathan Vilma, LB, New York Jets: Vilma and the Jets are off to a great start.
14b. D.J. Williams, LB, Denver: I have never seen anybody that big run that fast. Can you imagine playing college football and lining up against Williams and Vilma at Miami?
13. Vince Wilfork, DT, New England: The fear was that New England's defense would not be the same without Ted Washington. It is.
12. Pisa Tinoisamoa, LB, St. Louis: Hawaii 5-0 (his alma mater and uniform number) packs a punch.
11. Roy Williams, WR, Detroit: The Lions aren't the same team when he is injured.
It's safe to say Antonio Gates is even better than the Chargers anticipated.
10. Troy Polamalu, S, Pittsburgh: Polamalu made plays all over the field against the Cowboys.
9. Michael Clayton, WR, Tampa Bay: A team desperate for a playmaker has found one.
8. Antonio Gates, TE, San Diego: The former power forward is making a power presence in San Diego.
7. Marcus Trufant, CB, Seattle: One of the best young cover corners in quite some time.
6. Byron Leftwich, QB, Jacksonville: Reminds me of Daunte Culpepper at this point of his career.
5. Andre Johnson, WR, Houston: If the Texans were on national television, Johnson would be doing national commercials.
4. Kevin Williams, DT, Minnesota: The Vikings defense is improving and Williams is a big reason why.
3. Terrell Suggs, LB, Baltimore: Quarterbacks beware. Suggs had 12 sacks as a rookie and is on pace for 16 this season.
2. Sean Taylor, S, Washington: Taylor might be the best athlete playing defense in the NFL.
1. Ben Roethlisberger, QB, Pittsburgh: Bill Parcells might be right. Nobody is laughing about his comparison to Dan Marino anymore.
**************************************
Catch a rising star
By Cris Collinsworth
Special to NFL.com
(Oct. 20, 2004) -- The trouble with making a list like this is inevitably somebody will be left off. Undaunted, here are the Top 20 rising stars in the NFL today.
Honorable mention: Round 4 of the 2003 NFL Draft. This round produced Domanick Davis, RB, Houston; Onterrio Smith, RB, Minnesota; Shaun McDonald, WR, St. Louis; Quentin Griffin, RB, Denver; Lee Suggs, RB, Cleveland; and Dan Klecko, NT, New England.
20. Ricky Manning, CB, Carolina: Makes this list on the 2003 NFC Championship Game alone.
19. Chris Snee, G, New York Giants: Snee, Coughlin's son-in-law, has upgraded the "worst offensive line in football."
18. Darnell Dockett, DT, Arizona: Dockett has allowed Dennis Green to be creative with his defense in Arizona.
17. Willis McGahee, RB, Buffalo: It's amazing he is even walking, much less rushing for 111 yards in his first start against Miami.
16. Brandon Lloyd, WR, San Francisco: Lloyd was a big reason why the 49ers allowed Terrell Owens to go to Philadelphia. Another fourth-rounder from 2003.
15. Steven Jackson, RB, St. Louis: The Cowboys missed their chance to draft their running back of the future.
14a. Jonathan Vilma, LB, New York Jets: Vilma and the Jets are off to a great start.
14b. D.J. Williams, LB, Denver: I have never seen anybody that big run that fast. Can you imagine playing college football and lining up against Williams and Vilma at Miami?
13. Vince Wilfork, DT, New England: The fear was that New England's defense would not be the same without Ted Washington. It is.
12. Pisa Tinoisamoa, LB, St. Louis: Hawaii 5-0 (his alma mater and uniform number) packs a punch.
11. Roy Williams, WR, Detroit: The Lions aren't the same team when he is injured.
It's safe to say Antonio Gates is even better than the Chargers anticipated.
10. Troy Polamalu, S, Pittsburgh: Polamalu made plays all over the field against the Cowboys.
9. Michael Clayton, WR, Tampa Bay: A team desperate for a playmaker has found one.
8. Antonio Gates, TE, San Diego: The former power forward is making a power presence in San Diego.
7. Marcus Trufant, CB, Seattle: One of the best young cover corners in quite some time.
6. Byron Leftwich, QB, Jacksonville: Reminds me of Daunte Culpepper at this point of his career.
5. Andre Johnson, WR, Houston: If the Texans were on national television, Johnson would be doing national commercials.
4. Kevin Williams, DT, Minnesota: The Vikings defense is improving and Williams is a big reason why.
3. Terrell Suggs, LB, Baltimore: Quarterbacks beware. Suggs had 12 sacks as a rookie and is on pace for 16 this season.
2. Sean Taylor, S, Washington: Taylor might be the best athlete playing defense in the NFL.
1. Ben Roethlisberger, QB, Pittsburgh: Bill Parcells might be right. Nobody is laughing about his comparison to Dan Marino anymore.
