Jealously, #1. He's the Dallas Cowboys QB. Players still hate the fact that he got the pro-bowl nod after his first season of playing and then all of the limelight that came along with it. It is no different that the amount of attention RG3 got, but the difference is that Romo has continued to play well years after his first start.
It's one thing to be overrated and not have the play to back up the hype. But the guy is always up there with the best passers every year, but missing is the wins in the post season. Again, if he plays the position well and does his part, which he has done, but has a defensive like we have, how can you blame him all the time?
Eli comes up in discussion frequently, but look at his last season. He suffered the same things that Romo has experienced almost his entire career, but yet he had an awful, awful season. Still think he is one of the top QB's in the game? I certainly don't. If he makes the list and Romo doesn't, it is an embarassment....
Everything you mentioned contributes to the flaws of the Top 100 list, but it's not the major contributing factor. The balloting procedure is the main issue. It is a problem for not only Romo, but many other players as well.
It is completely illogical to base any list on a sports league made up of so many different positions, according to a blank ballot of only 20 choices. The format would be great for making up Golf's Top 100 or even an NBA's Top 100. Those are either individual sports or sports with players associated with only a few positions. A ballot for an NFL Top 100 list must contend with players that are quarterbacks, running backs, tight ends, wide receivers, offensive lineman, defensive lineman, linebackers, cornerbacks, safeties and special teamers. Even punters and kickers receive consideration from their peers.
Hypothetically, Romo could receive a healthy number of votes and still not land on the list because the voting process is skewered towards uneven distribution of ballot choices. One player may vote for three quarterbacks. Another player may have five quarterbacks on his list. A player may not have ANY quarterbacks selected on his list, but might mark down twelve defensive players.
That's the problem. The ballots are not categorized. If the balloting process was fixed, Romo might still be omitted from the list. However, the overall list, based on popularity, would not have as much fluidity from year to year IF each ballot asked for certain number of players per position should be required.
Of course, NFL Network knows this already. The list is built intentionally to create fluidity and thus generate controversy. It's Miss America meets pro football. Even so, the Miss America pageant has better built-in selection processes in its system than NFL Network's list. And that's sad.