Tavern talk: What's a blue-chip player?

I was on the Bill Simmons podcast the other day, and Bill had a great idea for a column, which in my world means I’m going to follow his instructions. When it comes to Simmons, I’m like Uncle Junior of the “The Sopranos” talking to Dr. Kennedy, his cancer doctor. Uncle Junior says, “When he says sign, I sign. When he says take a crap on the Queen Mary, an hour later they are hosing it down with disinfectant.” Bill has an idea for a column and I’m writing it. But first, I want to set the stage.

Yes, Tom Brady will be on the list.

What I’m going to do is grade the AFC and NFC to determine how many blue-chip players are currently on roster. And the definition of blue chip is the same one I used when I was grading pro players in the NFL. Here it is:

Player has abilities that can create mismatches vs. most opponents in the league. Is a featured player on the team and has impact on the outcome of the game. Not one player can take him out of the game. Each week he has a consistent level of performance. Plays at a championship level performance. He rates in the top ten at his position in the league.

Now, the other area of this report that needs to be addressed is the value of the quarterbacks as they relate to the head coach. To me, playoff teams in large part are about the quality of the head coach and the quality of the quarterback. That’s why one of the reasons I don’t love the Vikings this season is marginal quarterbacking and marginal coaching in a division that has gotten better in terms of quarterbacking.

So this report will have the blue-chip players along with a rating of the quarterbacks and head coaches. In addition, it will include an explanation of why some players are not blue chip and why others made the list.

Tomorrow in the Tavern: AFC East and North.

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