WORST TAKE
First Take star replacing Stephen A. Smith ‘disappointed in NFL players’ after Patrick Mahomes snub on list
Mahomes' ranking wasn't the only one which has proved controversial
PATRICK Mahomes' ranking in the NFL's top 100 list has left one former Super Bowl champion thoroughly frustrated.
Damien Woody was on set for ESPN on Monday as part of a new look crew filling in for Stephen A. Smith and Molly Qerim, who were enjoying a long weekend.
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Joined by host Brian Custer, the panel also included Courtney Cronin and Kevin Clark.
A hot topic on First Take to kick off the week was the NFL's annual player ranking, as voted on by the players.
However, the 2024 list has proved controversial, with reigning Super Bowl MVP Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs not in the top spot.
The three-time champion and two-time NFL MVP, 28, found himself down in fourth, below San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey, Baltimore Ravens quarterback reigning MVP Lamar Jackson, and Miami Dolphins wideout Tyreek Hill in the top spot.
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Hill is not only the first wideout to ever make it to No. 1, but he's only the third non-quarterback to top the list.
But despite Hill's incredible 2023 season, in which he hit a career-high 1,799 receiving yards and 13 touchdowns, two-time Super Bowl champion Woody was furious with Mahomes' snub.
"We're talking about a guy in Patrick Mahomes that's embarking on something that Tom Brady hasn't done, that the great Joe Montana hasn't done," the former offensive lineman said of Mahomes' pursuit of the first-ever Super Bowl three-peat.
"He's literally one of one, and we've got a running back above Patrick Mahomes? I'm disappointed in the fellas that voted on this.
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"The players, come on guys, we've got to do better than this."
Viewers, however, were divided on Woody's take, heading for X to debate.
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"I’m almost certain they voted in November when the Chiefs were struggling and Tyreek was on a historical pace not after the Super Bowl. But I could be wrong," one commented (votes are normally submitted between Thanksgiving and New Year's, as per GQ).
A second said, "You can make a case for a guy like CMC…but them other 2? Ain't no way lol."
While another added, "Jaylon Johnson not making the top 100 is enough to know this list is garbage."
Cornerback Johnson was controversially snubbed from the list altogether after putting together a Second-team All-Pro and Pro Bowl season with the Chicago Bears.
First Take viewing figures
First Take went from strength to strength under the guidance of Stephen A. Smith and Molly Qerim last year.
The weekday ESPN debate show averaged 496,000 viewers in 2023 - making it the most-watched year in program history.
Its December average of 611,000 was a 24% year-on-year increase compared to 2022.
The show also reported more than 250 million views on YouTube.
First Take was helped by the addition of Shannon Sharpe alongside Smith and Qerim after he left Fox Sports' Undisputed.
Johnson didn't hold back when discussing his absence, calling it "bulls**t."
"There ain't no way. I don't know how you make Pro Bowl, All-Pro, and not [be] a Top 100 guy," he told reporters.
The 25-year-old was also frustrated by the inclusion of New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers at 92.
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This was driven by the fact that Rodgers only played one drive last year before suffering a season-ending Achilles injury.
"I could've been 101 I guess, but godd**n, Aaron Rodgers didn't even play in the season and he was voted," Johnson added.
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