Tavern talk: a look at blue-chip players

Today, we begin our look at the NFL’s blue-chip players, starting with the AFC East and North. It may not have been easy being green, but it’s even harder being blue....

DEFINING A BLUE-CHIP PLAYER:

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 10 at his position in the league.

AFC EAST

Buffalo

BLUE CHIP

APLee Evans

Lee Evans: One of the best players in the NFL. How he’s not picked for the Pro Bowl, I don’t know. Speed, quickness, power and big-play ability.

Leodis McKelvin: As a returner, he’s already in a league by himself. Might make it there as a corner as well.

ALMOST, BUT NOT BLUE

Marshawn Lynch: Not one of the top 10 backs in the league, but very close.

Terrell Owens: Expect a big year. Still effective, but not a top-10 player. Bump gives him fits.

Marcus Stroud: At one time, yes, but not now.

Roscoe Parrish: Love this player, but one touchdown as a receiver is hard to make him blue. As a punt returner, he’s a blue, but overall, just a cut below.

COACH/QB COMBO

Trent Edwards needs to take a “Mother May I” leap to make this combo work. Dick Jauron has done it before with Jim Miller running the show in Chicago. But right now, Edwards needs to step up.

Miami

BLUE CHIP

Joey Porter: Still hard to deal with coming off the edge with power and speed.

Jake Long: Highest-paid offensive lineman in the NFL played like a blue chipper last year.

ALMOST, BUT NOT BLUE

APRonnie Brown

Ronnie Brown: Not a top-10 back so far in his NFL career.

COACH/QB COMBO

Chad Pennington is solid, and Tony Sparano is an up-and-coming head coach. Dallas misses him badly.

New England

BLUE CHIP

Tom Brady: Hard to argue, even coming off an injury.

Randy Moss: Still one of the fastest wide receivers in the NFL.

Wes Welker: In his role as a blue, he impacts the game.

APJerod Mayo

Jerod Mayo: He’s going to be going to many Pro Bowls.

Vince Wilfork : Hard to block one on one.

Logan Mankins: One of the better guards in the NFL.

ALMOST, BUT NOT BLUE

Richard Seymour: Effective, but not as dominating as he once was.

Adalius Thomas: He’ll be very effective this year with Derrick Burgess coming off the corner on the other side.

Matt Light: Not a top-10 left tackle. Effective, but not great.

COACH/QB COMBO

Hard to argue with success. Best head coach in the league (Bill Belichick), best quarterback (Brady) spells many wins.

New York Jets

BLUE CHIP

Kris Jenkins: When healthy, he’s impossible to single block.

Darrelle Revis: Very good cover man.

APLeon Washington

Leon Washington: In his role, very hard to handle.

Nick Mangold: One of the better centers in the NFL.

ALMOST, BUT NOT BLUE

Bart Scott: Just 2½ sacks the past two years, but he might be a new player here.

COACH/QB COMBO

Too early for both (Rex Ryan, Mark Sanchez), but if the Jets’ front office hit with both moves this year, it might close the gap on the Patriots.

AFC NORTH

Baltimore

BLUE CHIP

Terrell Suggs : Impacts the key downs.

Ed Reed: Best playmaker on defense.

Haloti Ngata: A big-time player inside.

ALMOST, BUT NOT BLUE

Ray Lewis: What he brings to the team is all blue chip, just not the same as he once was -- but still effective.

Le’Ron McClain: Excellent fullback, but it’s hard to make a fullback a blue chipper. I never drove to the stadium on game day worrying about the fullback.

COACH/QB COMBO

I think the owner of the Ravens, Steve Bisciotti, and GM Ozzie Newsome hit home runs last offense with the selection of their new coach, John Harbaugh, and new quarterback, Joe Flacco. Nothing turns around a franchise quicker than having both perform well.

Cincinnati

BLUE CHIP

APCarson Palmer

Carson Palmer: Assuming his arm is fine, he’s a top player.

ALMOST, BUT NOT BLUE

Johnathan Joseph: Up-and-coming cover man. If they rushed better, he would be a household name. Missed half the season last year.

Leon Hall: Led the team with three interceptions. The strength of the Bengals is their corners, and Hall is the best one.

COACH/QB COMBO

Marvin Lewis needs to have his best year as a head coach in all areas. Palmer can carry the team to the playoffs, if Lewis does his part.

Cleveland

BLUE CHIP

Shaun Rogers: One of the best in the NFL when he wants to be the best.

Joe Thomas: Very solid left tackle, in the top 10.

ALMOST, BUT NOT BLUE

Josh Cribbs: He’s very effective in his role, but if he could do a little more on offense, he’d be an easy blue.

Eric Wright: Another corner who does not get much help from the rush, but has blue-chip traits.

COACH/QB COMBO

Hard to answer this question about the QB: Who will it be? But one thing has to happen -- the Browns better find their guy between Brady Quinn and Derek Anderson or they’ll have to draft a quarterback in 2010.

Pittsburgh

BLUE CHIP

Ben Roethlisberger: Yes, he’s one of the best in the NFL.

Aaron Smith: In his role, no one can block him -- or move him.

LaMarr Woodley: Maybe it’s the combination of the two, but Woodley is very effective when he is on his own.

James Harrison: Perfect match of talent and scheme.

Troy Polamalu: Makes plays on every level.

ALMOST, BUT NOT BLUE

Casey Hampton: If he were in shape, yes, he’d be a blue. But he’s not the same player he used to be.

Santonio Holmes: Looked like a blue at the end of the season; needs to do it all year now.

COACH/QB COMBO

The Steelers have a great young coach in Mike Tomlin and a great young quarterback.

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