Blog: Who needs more NFL rankings?

FLAGSTAFF, AZ - Can we please get a show of hands on the following question: who needs more rankings? Uh, certainly not Paulie Power Poll. 

Then again, who needs more TV time devoted to various Olympic sports like table tennis, equestrian, field hockey and badminton? 

Alas, that does nothing to stop the decision-makers from force-feeding us their unremarkable coverage non-stop.      

Which reminds us of rankings. Paulie Proliferation couldn’t help but notice that, effective this season, the suits at the Associated Press have decided that we can’t live without a college football type poll for professional football. 

Hence, the AP would like to present: “the first-ever AP Pro32 NFL power rankings, a new pro football version of the AP Top 25 college football and basketball polls."

Um, okay.  If you want to enlist a dozen media members to serve as “experts” and cast votes for a poll that will be updated weekly during the NFL season, who are we to argue with the insatiable appetite of NFL fans? 

That said, does it sound strange to state that Green Bay has been installed as the “Preseason #1"? Yes. At the same time, I know what you’re thinking: where are the AZ Cardinals ranked? Well, how about a preseason ranking of #23.

More interestingly, we’ll now include a copy of the comments made about the Cardinals by the AP Pro32 panel (along with the complete poll itself): 

ARIZONA CARDINALS (23, TIE)

Clark Judge (CBSSports.com, 20): Could make move to top of division if it finds a QB.

Alex Marvez (Foxsports.com, 21): Kevin Kolb and John Skelton aren't just competing for starting spot. Winner of that battle must prove he's difference-maker at quarterback or efforts of standout defense will be wasted.

Rich Gannon (CBS Sports/SiriusXM NFL Radio, 21): Loved how the Cardinals finished last season but who's the QB?

Clifton Brown (Sporting News, 23): Is Kevin Kolb the guy, or John Skelton? We can't be sure that either is good enough.

Pat Kirwan (SiriusXM NFL Radio/CBSSports.com, 23): Another team with QB question. Whoever gets ball to Larry Fitzgerald should be starter. Defense is better than people think with Dockett and Campbell disrupting most blocking schemes.

Ira Kaufman (Tampa Tribune, 24): Tough to beat when Cardinals don't beat themselves.

John Lynch (Fox Sports, 24): Head coach Ken Whisenhunt and coordinator Ray Horton saw exciting young defense develop last year that should only get better. If Cardinals get good play from QBs Kevin Kolb or Jon Skelton, this team will far exceed this spot.    

Dan Pompei    (Chicago Tribune, 24): Kevin Kolb is key man for Cardinals. If QB comes through, they are playoff contender.

Cris Collinsworth (NBC Sports, 24): Kevin Kolb with an offseason, and Michael Floyd added to lineup.

Bob Glauber (Newsday, 25): Plenty of talented players on this roster, except at most important position. Kevin Kolb? John Skelton? Uh-oh.

Rick Gosselin (Dallas Morning News, 25): Team's best player is WR Larry Fitzgerald. But he's being held hostage by pedestrian quarterback play.

Chris Berman (ESPN, 27): Finished strong. Maybe Patrick Peterson can return six punts for TDs.

The Associated Press Pro32 NFL Power Rankings , as voted by a 12-member panel, with first-place votes in parentheses, final records, total points based on 32 points for a first-place vote through one point for a 32nd-place vote:

                                                         W         L      T       Pts      Pvs

   1. Green Bay Packers (5)         15        1       0       374        _

   2. New England Patriots (2)     13       3       0        369        _

   3. New York Giants (5)                 9        7       0       362        _

   4. San Francisco 49ers             13       3       0       336         _

   5. Baltimore Ravens                  12        4       0      315         _

   6. Houston Texans                     10        6       0      314         _

   7. Pittsburgh Steelers               12        4       0       308         _

   8. Philadelphia Eagles              8         8        0      290         _

   9. New Orleans Saints             13        3        0      272         _

  10. Denver Broncos                    8          8       0      271         _

  11. Chicago Bears                      8          8       0      257         _

  11. Detroit Lions                         10         6       0     257         _

  13. Atlanta Falcons                    10         6       0     255          _

  14. Cincinnati Bengals              9           7       0     218          _

  15. Dallas Cowboys                   8           8       0     217          _

  16. San Diego Chargers           8           8       0     216          _

  17. New York Jets                       8           8        0    189          _

  18. Kansas City Chiefs             7           9         0    182          _

  19. Buffalo Bills                          6          10        0    169          _

  20. Carolina Panthers               6         10        0    167           _

  21. Tennessee Titans                9          7         0    162          _

  22. Seattle Seahawks                7          9         0    137          _

  23. Arizona Cardinals                8           8        0    115    _

  23. Oakland Raiders                  8           8        0     115         _

  25. Washington Redskins        5           11      0     101         _

  26. Tampa Bay Buccaneers      4          12       0     100         _

  27. Miami Dolphins                    6          10        0      64          _

  28. St. Louis Rams                    2           14       0      55          _

  29. Minnesota Vikings               3           13       0      49          _

  30. Cleveland Browns               4           12       0      42          _

  31. Jacksonville Jaguars          5           11       0      31          _

  32. Indianapolis Colts               2           14         0    26          _