In the Sunday Snide Remarks this week I made mention of several players being in the top five at their position. I received a slew of emails from readers saying I was being too vague, and that I needed to share my mysterious “top five” lists if I was going to reference them. So, this week I sat down and created the lists. It wasn’t easy.

These lists reflect who the best players are RIGHT NOW. History and past seasons are factored in, as well as what’s transgressed this season. Any players currently on IR will not show up on these lists.

In working on the defensive players, I couldn’t get over the significant differences between a 4-3 and a 3-4 scheme. How can you compare a pass-rushing 4-3 DE with a run-stopping 3-4 DE? Or, how can you compare what OLB Lance Briggs does in Chicago’s Cover 2 with what OLB DeMarcus Ware does in Dallas’s 3-4? You can’t.

In splitting up the schemes, I came up with this: ranking the defensive ends in a 4-3, Jared Allen is number one. He commands a constant double team off the edge while showing consistent strength against the run. I rank Green Bay’s Aaron Kampman No. 2 for the same reasons. Coming in a No. 3 (and rising) is Mario Williams, who is quite possibly the most powerful player at his position. Dwight Freeney is fourth because he still draws more attention than any pass-rusher in football. Finally, utility man extraordinaire Justin Tuck is fifth.

In a 3-4, Richard Seymour is easily the best defensive end. Luis Castillo is right behind him. At No. 3, you can’t ignore the progression of Baltimore’s Haloti Ngata. Same goes for Dallas’s Chris Canty, who is No. 4 on my list. Rounding out the top five is Corey Williams, not for what he’s done (or hasn’t done) in Cleveland, but for the sheer raw talent he possesses.

Inside at defensive tackle, Albert Haynesworth is not only the best 4-3 defensive tackle in the game, he’s the best defensive lineman in all of football (right now). Tommie Harris is No. 2 – I’m willing to bet he’d be No. 1 if he could stay healthy. Kevin Williams and Pat Williams of the Vikings comes in 3 and 4, with Jacksonville’s John Henderson is 5.

It was tougher choosing nose tackles because so many of the great ones are aging or injured all the time. That’s why I went with Vince Wilfork at No. 1. He’s the only guy in this group who is consistently on the field. No. 2 is Casey Hampton when he’s at his best. Kris Jenkins has played exceptionally well for the Jets, which is why I’m putting the ex-one-gapper third on my two-gapper list. Behind Jenkins is Kelly Gregg, the nucleus of Baltimore’s destructive front line. And coming in at No. 5 is Dallas’s Jay Ratliff – undersized, but overly productive. I didn’t forget about Jamal Williams or Shaun Rogers – injuries and inconsistency hinder them.

Linebackers are extremely fun to rank – especially the inside guys. The top five middle linebackers (4-3 players) are mostly young. The man at the top, however, is still 30-year-old Brian Urlacher (as long as he’s healthy). Right behind him is second-year stud Jon Beason (perhaps the league’s most underappreciated player). I put DeMeco Ryans (3) slightly ahead of Lofa Tatupu (4) because the former doesn’t gamble in his reads as much as the latter. Finishing things off is Antonio Pierce, who ranks ahead of Nick Barnett because of his leadership.

In a 3-4, Patrick Willis is king. After seeing the energy that Ray Lewis is still playing with this year, I have to put the vet in a secure spot at No. 2. His teammate, Bart Scott, is No. 3. Dallas’s unheralded defensive leader Bradie James comes in fourth, just ahead of New York’s second-year stud David Harris.

As far as outside linebackers go, the 4-3 is often less glamorous. Seattle’s Julian Peterson is a freak, and his versatility makes him No. 1. Behind him is Lance Briggs, who brings a load on contact and shows a true knack for big plays. Well behind Briggs is Ernie Simms (3), D.J. Williams (4) and sagacious veteran Keith Brooking (5).

In a 3-4, DeMarcus Ware is the best outside linebacker, and the gap between him and No. 2, Adalius Thomas, is bigger than any other gap between a No. 1 and a No. 2 on these lists. Thomas will probably be surpassed by Pittsburgh’s LaMarr Woodley (3) before long. The Steelers also have a guy at No. 4 – Mr. Monday Night, James Harrison. At No. 5 is San Diego’s Shaun Phillips. Obviously, Phillips wouldn’t be on this list if not for the injury to his teammate, Shawne Merriman.

I love cornerbacks – always have. In drafting a top five, there were about 11 or 12 guys who I strongly considered. I still hold firm that Dallas’s Terence Newman is the best. People never agree with this. The bottom line is, teams almost never throw Newman’s way. Champ Bailey is No. 2 because he’s a playmaker who can do everything. Nnamdi Asomugha ranks third for the same reasons that Newman ranks first. Coming in at No. 4 is Asante Samuel, arguably the most lethal pick-artist in the game (maybe aside from Antonio Cromartie, who gives up too many receptions to make the top five). Rounding out my top five is a surprise: Cortland Finnegan of the Titans.

Because so many teams use their safeties in a variety of ways, I decided to just make one list that included strong and free safeties. Troy Polamalu narrowly beats out Bob Sanders, simply because Polamalu, while not immune to the injury bug, is still more durable. Ed Reed is No. 3 – teams absolutely fear him. Arizona’s Adrian Wilson flies all over, which is why I put him fourth, ahead of another guy who flies all over: Kerry Rhodes for the Jets.