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Tavern talk: final almost blue list

With a little tweaking, we’re done. Michael Lombardi

Bookmark and Share Print This Send This August 26, 2009, 06:22 PM EST
56 Comments

The CEO of the “Simmons Project” called in today to register his complaints about the list and offer some advice as the head of the project (along with being vice president of common sense). So as a good soldier, I saluted smartly and carried out the plan -- almost. We did a podcast today to discuss the suggested changes and have put all of them into effect, except one. I just could not move Brandon Marshall down to almost blue status. But here are the other changes to the list, and we will be ready to make the list by teams, assigning our point value to the positions.

So the Blue CEO has made the following calls:

Blue: Kampman, Samuel, Gamble

Almost blue: Palmer, Marshall, Winslow, Daniels.

OFFENSE

QB (10): Brady, Roethlisberger, P. Manning, Rivers, Romo, McNabb, Cutler, Rogers, Brees, Warner.

Chris JohnsonAPChris Johnson

RB (10): Slaton, Jones-Drew, Tomlinson, C. Johnson, Westbrook, Portis, Forte, Peterson, Turner, D. Williams.

TE (4): Clark, Gates, Witten, Gonzalez.

WR (11): Evans, Moss, A. Johnson, Wayne, Marshall, C. Johnson, Jennings, R. White, S. Smith, Bryant, Fitzgerald.

OT (8): Long, Roos, Thomas, Clady, Peters, McKinnie, Gross, W. Jones.

OG (3): Mankins, Snee, Hutchinson.

OC (1): Mangold.

PUNTERS (2): Lechler, Scifres.

SPECIALISTS (5): McKelvin, Washington, Welker, Hester, Cribbs.

DEFENSE

DE (10): Freeney, M. Willliams, Ware, Tuck, Umenyiora, Jenkins, Cole, Allen, Abraham, Peppers.

Albert HaynesworthAPAlbert Haynesworth

DT (10): Henderson, Rogers, Wilfolk, Jenkins, Ngata, A. Smith, Ratliff, Haynesworth, Williams, Dockett.

ILB (6): Mayo, Pierce, Beason, Vilma, Rudd, Willis.

OLB (6): Suggs, Porter, Woodley, Harrison, Merriman, Kampman.

CB (10): Finnegan, Revis, Mathis, Asomugha, Rogers, Winfield, Woodson, Clements, Samuels, Gamble

S (5): Sanders, Reed, Polamalu, Landry, Wilson

MY FINAL ALMOST BLUE LIST....CHANGES ARE IN BOLD

OFFENSE

QB (4): Ryan, Hasselbeck, Manning, Palmer.

RB (5): Lynch, R. Brown, L. Johnson, F. Jones, S. Jackson.

FB (1): McClain.

TE (3): Cooley, Winslow, Daniels.

WR (11): Owens, Holmes, D. Jackson, S. Moss, Driver, Berrian, Colston, Moore, Boldin, C. Ochocinco, Royal.

OT (5): Light, Albert, Otah, Penn, Staley

OG (3): Pitts, L. Davis, Steinbach (removed S. Andrews; too unpredictable in terms of playing).

C (3): Gurode, O’Hara, Birk.

RS (1): Parrish.

Punter/Kicker (7): Janikowski, Reed, Gould, Hansen, Gostkowski, Lee, Jones.

DEFENSE

DE (3): Seymour, Mathis, Vanden Bosch.

Brian UrlacherAPBrian Urlacher

DT (7): Stroud, Hampton, T. Brown, J. Williams, P. Williams, D. Lewis, Mebane.

ILB (7): B. Scott, R. Lewis, Ryans, Urlacher, Barnett, Tatupu, Posluszny.

OLB (6): A. Thomas, Bulluck, Briggs, E. Sims, Dansby, Pace.

CB (13): J. Joseph, L. Hall, E. Wright, Robinson, M. Jackson, Bailey, A. Cromartie, Newman, Webster, Harris, Rodgers-Cromartie, Trufant, Jammer.

S (6): R. Nelson, Griffin, Horton, Phillips, Whitner, T. Jackson.

Now the list is final and we can move on to the team rankings.

Comments

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Danny
Aug 26, 2009
06:28 PM

What - no specialists that are almost blue?

Nicholas Gallenberg
Aug 26, 2009
06:38 PM

Yea I'm a homer but where do you see Nick Collins, Charles Woodson? I would think Collins is knocking on the door, and am I the only one who see Woodson for what he is, one of the best "football players in the league"? I mean Woodson is just the total package really. Zone, Man, Safety, Corner, 4-3, 3-4, good PR but limited there to keep him healthy, and now we are seeing some leadership post Favre. Just seems to me that Woodsons gotta be in there. What a football player. How many GM's would take Terrance Newman over Charles Woodson?

jhu12
Aug 26, 2009
06:44 PM

The list looks great and definitely almost final.

As a Bengals fan, two things:

1. I agree that Palmer is almost blue this year, he's got something to prove after the knee and elbow.... I'm not sure we can totally trust him yet with consistency. He could easily be blue by week 5.

2. Same with Ochocinco. I'm glad you heard the calls, and I'm fine with him on the almost blue list, especially with TO on the same list. He also clearly has something to prove.

Thanks again for taking the time, they've all been enjoyable reads and great debates. Let's get the season started!

Amit
Aug 26, 2009
07:00 PM

Who is defensive tackle A. Smith?

Mizike
Aug 26, 2009
07:04 PM

Hey, Nick, Charles Woodson is listed under CB for Blue. Why are you complaining?

Alex
Aug 26, 2009
07:23 PM

I think EJ Henderson and Chad Greenway are going to surprise a lot of people this year. They're overlooked in such a stacked defense but they won't be this year. Henderson was arguably Pro-Bowl level in 2007 until he got hurt in 08. Greenway has freakish athleticism, he was all over the place last year and will continue to get better this season. They'll be blue-chippers in no time.

Evan
Aug 26, 2009
07:28 PM

No Frank Gore? really?

Dan
Aug 26, 2009
07:54 PM

Aaron Smith - Steelers.

He plays DE in the 3-4 but would be a DT in a 4-3.

Packer Pete
Aug 26, 2009
08:02 PM

Hard to leave Nick Collins off the almost blue list with 7 picks, three returned for TDs, last season. It took a concerted grassroots effort to get Charles Woodson, who wasn't even an almost blue in the initial list, onto the Blue list. Looks like we'll have to get out the drums and fife and lead the march to get Collins that coveted almost blue.

Theo
Aug 26, 2009
08:08 PM

Michael, seriously, I don't need someone else to tell me who are the best 10 players on a position. Peyton Manning is a good QB? Really? WOW! Thanks for including that guy! I totally agree!

(or 1 center, because, hey, who cares about centers?)

Dumb people talk about people.
Normal people talk about what happened.
Smart people talk about ideas.

So if your CEO really wants to complain, he should complain about your lack of analysis.

BillyBoi
Aug 26, 2009
08:10 PM

Brandon Jacobs not a top 15 rb? Avg 5.0 yards a carry for the past two seasons. I guess it has to do with his lack of catches or fewer touches than everyone else.

Turner doesnt catch the ball and from a per play basis, he is better. Being the one guy counts for something but is it really the difference b/t a blue chipper and a guy who isnt on the list?

From a pure running the ball standpoint there are few who are better.

-He is easily top 5 in converting 3rd and shorts and goalines.

-Is top notch at picking up blitzes.

-Finally does wearing down a defense and placing fear in defenders not count for anything.


This is the guy that defines the attitude of one of the best teams in the league and sets the tone every game.

Doug
Aug 26, 2009
08:21 PM

I agree, I think Gore belongs on the almost blue list. He's definitely better that LJ and Ronnie Brown. I think I'd put Marion Barber on the almost blue list too. I'll have to listen to the podcast tomorrow and hear what you guys think on some of these players.

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