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KC Chiefs: Tamba Hali Rips NFL Top 100 Alex Smith Ranking

By Bobby Miller

Tamba Hali #91 of the Kansas City Chiefs (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
Tamba Hali #91 of the Kansas City Chiefs (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
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KC Chiefs outside linebacker Tamba Hali feels NFL disrespected Alex Smith by ranking him number 81 in ‘Top 100 Players of 2016’.

Four KC Chiefs players have been ranked in the NFL’s ‘Top 100 Players of 2016‘ rankings so far.

These rankings are voted on by NFL players themselves and rank the NFL’s best 100 players heading into 2016 NFL season.

“This year’s list received the most votes from current NFL players in the six-season history of the series,” NFL.com noted.

Their most recent ranking named KC Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith the 81st best player in the NFL.

NFL Network’s Top 100 Players of 2016 Reaction Show on May 11th featured an interview with KC Chiefs outside linebacker Tamba Hali, who was asked to share his thoughts on Smith being ranked 81st.

“That [ranking] is disrespectful,” Hali said.

“Alex Smith is one of those quarterbacks in the league who makes plays every week.”

“We have come out there and proven that over the year, so I feel he should be much higher.”

“I feel it was disrespectful, and I hope the fans agree with me.”

“I feel it was disrespectful, and I hope the fans agree with me.”

Prior to this exchange, Hali was asked for his thoughts on being named in the Top 100.

“When your peers vote you in the Top 100,” Hali said.

“It is always an honor for them to recognize you that way”

Hali was then asked whether he felt disrespected by his ranking of 84th.

“Because I don’t feel like I have been playing up to my ability due to the injuries I have had over the year,” Hali said. “I feel no disrespect.”

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This interview was awesome for so many reasons.

Hali’s humility and his willingness to stand up for his teammate in Smith, who has had more than his fair share of doubters, is something to be admired.

What’s more, Hali called out his peers from his recording studio while holding his son, Tamba Jr.

Although Hali’s ranking dropped 14 spots from last year’s rank of 70, his presence in the Top 100 is no small feat.

Hali is one of 13 players who have been in the NFL’s Top 100 list for each of its six seasons.

Smith and Hali’s 81st and 84th respective rankings were preceded by
Travis Kelce and Jeremy Maclin‘s 91st and 93rd respective rankings.

I do agree with Hali that Smith’s ranking is a little disrespectful, but his low ranking may have been a credit to the quarterbacks ranked higher rather than an intentional snub.

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In fact, it may be too early to say for certain whether Smith was disrespected.

As this list unfolds, we will learn just how many quarterbacks Smith has surpassed.

With Hali at 84, it will be interesting to see where fellow starting outside linebacker Justin Houston lands on this list in the wake of his ACL surgery.

The same can be said of Jamaal Charles, who could also see a drop due to injury and age concerns.

Either way, any future snubs or undervaluing of KC Chiefs players will just add more fuel to the fire in the 2016 NFL season.

To see the rest of the NFL’s ‘Top 100 Players of 2016’ videos click here, and for Top 100 Reaction Show videos click here.

Next: KC Chiefs All-Time Receiving Leaders

Do you feel Alex Smith was disrespected by his ranking of 81st among the ‘Top 100 Players of 2016’? Do you feel this way about Tamba Hali, Travis Kelce, and/or Jeremy Maclin? What are your predictions for where other KC Chiefs will end up in the ‘Top 100 Players of 2016’?

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