"Derrick Mason made his regular appearance on "The Norris & Davis Show" on 105.7 The Fan on Monday morning, and since NFL Network will release on Sunday the top 10 players of 2011 according to a poll of players, Mason was asked by hosts Ed Norris and Steve Davis to name his pick for the best player in the NFL.

"Hands down, it's Peyton Manning," Mason said, giving an answer many Ravens fans probably didn't want to hear. "You take Tom Brady off New England, they showed they could go 11-5 [without him in 2008]. Now you take Peyton Manning off the Colts, I don't know where that team goes offensively."

The Ravens wide receiver said he based his rankings not on what statistics players racked up in 2010 or what accolades they got, but by what it would mean if you removed a player from his team and if it "changes that team dramatically." Mason believes only one other player can hang with Manning in that regard: teammate Ed Reed."