SN panel selects 4 Bears on its Top 100 players list

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning tops Sporting News' list of the 100 greatest players in the NFL today, as selected by a panel of 106 Hall of Famers, major award winners, executives, coaches and other football experts.

Four Chicago Bears also made the cut: Lance Briggs at No. 57, Tommie Harris at No. 58, Brian Urlacher at No. 61, and Jay Cutler at No. 68.

Manning edged Tom Brady for the top spot despite picking up fewer first-place votes (50 to 35) than the New England Patriots QB. Vikings running back Adrian Peterson (three first-place votes) was third, Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald (three) fourth, Chargers running back LaDainian Tomlinson fifth.

Two teams - the Steelers and Vikings - each placed seven players on SN's list.

Six players picked: Chargers, Colts, Eagles

Five: Cardinals, Falcons, Cowboys, Patriots, Ravens

Four: Bears, Giants, Panthers, Titans

Three: Broncos, Jets, Texans

Two: Browns, Lions, Packers, Raiders, Redskins, Saints, Seahawks

One: Bills, Dolphins, 49ers, Rams

None: Bengals, Bucs, Chiefs, Jaguars

Sporting News Top 100 NFL active players

1. Peyton Manning, QB, Colts

2. Tom Brady, QB, Patriots

3. Adrian Peterson, RB, Vikings

4. Larry Fitzgerald, WR, Cardinals

5. LaDainian Tomlinson, RB, Chargers

6. Albert Haynesworth, DT, Redskins

7. Ed Reed, S, Ravens

8. Randy Moss, WR, Patriots

9. Troy Polamalu, S, Steelers

10. Tony Gonzalez, TE, Falcons

11. Ray Lewis, ILB, Ravens

12. Ben Roethlisberger, QB, Steelers

13. Dwight Freeney, DE, Colts

14. Steve Hutchinson, G, Vikings

15. DeMarcus Ware, OLB, Cowboys

16. Julius Peppers, DE, Panthers

17. Brian Westbrook, RB, Eagles

18. Drew Brees, QB, Saints

19. James Harrison, OLB, Steelers

20. Nnamdi Asomugha, CB, Raiders

21. Jared Allen, DE, Vikings

22. Donovan McNabb, QB, Eagles

23. Andre Johnson, WR, Texans

24. Steve Smith, WR, Panthers

25. Kurt Warner, QB, Cardinals

26. Champ Bailey, CB, Broncos

27. Shawne Merriman, OLB, Chargers

28. Osi Umenyiora, DE, Giants

29. Walter Jones, OT, Seahawks

30. Kevin Williams, DT, Vikings

31. Anquan Boldin, WR, Cardinals

32. Antonio Gates, TE, Chargers

33. Terrell Owens, WR, Bills

34. Alan Faneca, G, Jets

35. Patrick Willis, ILB, 49ers

36. Mario Williams, DE, Texans

37. Jeff Saturday, C, Colts

38. Jason Witten, TE, Cowboys

39. Brian Dawkins, S, Eagles

40. Matt Birk, C, Ravens

41. Joe Thomas, OT, Browns

42. Michael Turner, RB, Falcons

43. Clinton Portis, RB, Redskins

44. Bob Sanders, S, Colts

45. Terrell Suggs, OLB, Ravens

46. Justin Tuck, DE, Giants

47. Pat Williams, DT, Vikings

48. Joey Porter, OLB, Dolphins

49. Reggie Wayne, WR, Colts

50. Eli Manning, QB, Giants

51. Brett Favre, QB, Vikings

52. Asante Samuel, CB, Eagles

53. Chris Snee, G, Giants

54. Philip Rivers, QB, Chargers

55. Jordan Gross, OT, Panthers

56. Charles Woodson, CB, Packers

57. Lance Briggs, OLB, Bears

58. Tommie Harris, DT, Bears

59. Antonio Cromartie, CB, Chargers

60. Jammal Brown, OT, Saints

61. Brian Urlacher, MLB, Bears

62. Matt Light, OT, Patriots

63. Matt Ryan, QB, Falcons

64. James Farrior, ILB, Steelers

65. Vince Wilfork, NT, Patriots

66. Adrian Wilson, S, Cardinals

67. Lofa Tatupa, MLB, Seahawks

68. Jay Cutler, QB, Bears

69. Kris Jenkins, NT, Jets

70. Chris Johnson, RB, Titans

71. Shaun Rogers, NT, Browns

72. Julian Peterson, OLB, Lions

73. Kyle Vanden Bosch, DE, Titans

74. Trent Cole, DE, Eagles

75. Darnell Dockett, DT, Cardinals

76. Antoine Winfield, CB, Vikings

77. Willie Parker, RB, Steelers

78. Brandon Marshall, WR, Broncos

79. Leonard Davis, G, Cowboys

80. Aaron Kampman, OLB, Packers

81. Jon Beason, MLB, Panthers

82. Calvin Johnson, WR, Lions

83. Kris Dielman, G, Chargers

84. Andre Gurode, C, Cowboys

85. Jay Ratliff, NT, Cowboys

86. DeMeco Ryans, MLB, Texans

87. Roddy White, WR, Falcons

88. Michael Vick, QB, Eagles

89. Michael Roos, OT, Titans

90. Cortland Finnegan, CB, Titans

91. Ryan Clady, OT, Broncos

92. Haloti Ngata, NT, Ravens

93. John Abraham, DE, Falcons

94. Casey Hampton, NT, Steelers

95. Logan Mankins, G, Patriots

96. Steven Jackson, RB, Rams

97. Richard Seymour, DE, Raiders

98. Darrelle Revis, CB, Jets

99. LaMarr Woodley, OLB, Steelers

100. Dallas Clark, TE, Colts