Tavern talk: final almost blue list

What - no specialists that are almost blue?

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?

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!

Who is defensive tackle A. Smith?

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

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.

No Frank Gore? really?

Aaron Smith - Steelers.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

no colquitt for punter???

hahaha, no DeMarcus Ware as Blue? Or even Almost Blue? Please.

I'm glad you added Eddie Royal to the almost blue list. He was exceptional last year as a rookie (over 900 yards and a performance against the raiders in week 1 that any WR would be proud of). With another year under his belt he'll be even better, and if Marshall ends up not playing much he'll be the #1 receiver for the Broncos which will only help his production.

Kampman blue at OLB? He's the guy who's been complaining about the transition from DE to OLB and no one's sure how it will really go. I think he'll be fine, but projecting him as Blue is a bit of stretch. KB53 should be pissed.

vinyltupee, I can how that can be confusing, but Ware is listed as a DE, not OLB. Which is weird, but he is a blue. So you can sleep tonight.

I don't like the Cowboys but Ware is a glaring omission. He is bluest of the blue.

EJ Henderson is better than half the LBs on your list.

@vinyl

D. Ware is listed as a DE.


@Theo

What the hell are you talking about? Of course there were some obvious choices but that doesn't mean the list is stupid. The fun is to see which way the border line players though. And the other fun part is reading all the posts of people pissed off about their guys not making it. Also the idea was to try to define a blue chip player, so technically an idea which involves evaluating people and what they've done. But hey great quote, hope the next one makes sense.

Love it Mike, although I do have to put my $.02

Putting Antonio Bryant over Colston is criminal.

Even if they were essentially the same player (FTR, I think Colston is far better) Colston has to get the nod based on his professionalism over Bryant.

I also would put Welker in over Bryant and Lee Evans. Welker may not have the deep speed, but everything else in his game is top notch.

-His blocking is tremendous, I put him ahead of every other WR in that category except maybe Hines Ward.
- He rarely ever drops balls, I can only remember 1 against JAX when Brady didnt have an incompletion until Wes had a brain fart and dropped a fairly easy one.
- His YAC is huge and he is a first down machine.
- Want to talk about creating mismatches? Put a corner on him in the slot and watch Welker break a tackle or bully the CB and run behind him. Keep a LB on him? 3 step drop and Welker is open on a slant, out or in, it really doesnt matter.

Its only my opinion of course, what I love about your articles is how great players rarely go unnoticed. To me you missed one here, Welker is a legit #1 and just because he isnt the #1 on his own team doesnt mean he isnt a top flight NFL WR. Dont forget he was one David Tyree miracle away from winning a SB MVP.

The rest though is money, way to go Lombardi!

Love it Mike, although I do have to put my $.02

Putting Antonio Bryant over Colston is criminal.

Even if they were essentially the same player (FTR, I think Colston is far better) Colston has to get the nod based on his professionalism over Bryant.

I also would put Welker in over Bryant and Lee Evans. Welker may not have the deep speed, but everything else in his game is top notch.

-His blocking is tremendous, I put him ahead of every other WR in that category except maybe Hines Ward.
- He rarely ever drops balls, I can only remember 1 against JAX when Brady didnt have an incompletion until Wes had a brain fart and dropped a fairly easy one.
- His YAC is huge and he is a first down machine.
- Want to talk about creating mismatches? Put a corner on him in the slot and watch Welker break a tackle or bully the CB and run behind him. Keep a LB on him? 3 step drop and Welker is open on a slant, out or in, it really doesnt matter.

Its only my opinion of course, what I love about your articles is how great players rarely go unnoticed. To me you missed one here, Welker is a legit #1 and just because he isnt the #1 on his own team doesnt mean he isnt a top flight NFL WR. Dont forget he was one David Tyree miracle away from winning a SB MVP.

The rest though is money, way to go Lombardi!

I don't get the lack of Jammal Brown love. He is the Left Tackle on the offensive line that has allowed a league low 29 sacks the last two seasons. The Saints throw almost every down and he has to protect Brees on the blind side. There are really 13 tackles in the league better than him? In five seasons he has made the pro-bowl twice and was All-Pro in 2006. He has played with a groin injury since last September and not said a word. Would he really be the 14th (or worst) tackle picked if the league had a tackle draft?

Briggs is definitely blue over Suggs and Woodley.

One of your blue-chippers has been outperformed by someone who was even left off the 'almost-blue' team:

Dwayne Bowe (?) should make the 'Almost Blue' list at minimum. His first two years in the NFL: 156 catches 2017 yards and 12 touchdowns.

Vincent Jackson (BLUE) has 130 catches for 2233 yards and 16 touchdowns for his four-year CAREER.

Lance Moore over Dwayne Bowe? Disgusting.

Gore and Jacobs got lost in the last few updates. They were supposed to go from blues to almost blues but didn't make the updated list.

not Tj Houshmanzada on either list? relly

never mind dont listen to me i cant even spell really correctly

I don't really follow any other punters around the league, but as a Bills fan, I can say that Brian Moorman has probably been the best player on the team for us for the last 8 years. I guess that goes to show what a sad state of affairs it has been for the Bills. He's certainly had plenty of opportunity to perfect his craft (Hold on while I eat my TO cereal drenched in whiskey).......Anyway, I'm wondering how he shakes out against the other punters in the league. Couldn't he be considered as blue or almost blue?

I'm a real homer too, but Nick Collins was a fluke. He actually stinks out loud.

Glad to see about Woodson, though!

Someone please take the time and explain to me how lee evans is blue???

Hes totally inconsistant and that team doesnt win any games? I wouldnt put him in my top 20 receivers list.

Is Jeff Feagles really not one of the top Punters in the league? And he's been as consistent as anyone else.

What about Brandon Jacobs? Back to back 1,000 yard seasons. 5 yards per carry. He's a horse when he can stay healthy.

what about Greg Olsen at TE? all the reports coming out of Bears camp point to him being a fantastic TE. not elite, but definitely moving up a level. wouldn't that put him at the Almost Blue level? just sayin'.

It's Aaron RoDgers. With a 'D'.

Don't worry, by year's end, everyone will know how to spell his name.

How in the world is Lee Evans rated as a blue WR?? Over Boldin and Colston for that matter??

Rest of the list looks good.

WES WELKER SHOULD BE A BLUE WR!!! He is awesome on third down and has caught a couple hundred balls the last two years

Redskins homer here... Chris Samuels should be on there somewhere. I'd also make an argument for London Fletcher but he's old and could fall off at any time.

How is Richard Seymour not a blue chip? He's a top 5 34 de and he had 8 sacks last year from the position, which is especially remarkable considering there wasn't any other real pass rush.

Here's a specialist for you: Darren Sproles. The guy is franchise tagged, and scares the crap out of opposing special teams coaches. He's at least an almost-blue.

Also, I agree that D. Bowe should make the list as well. He may drop a lot of balls, but he has the stats to back up an almost-blue status.

Woodley>Briggs

Aaron Smith should be on the "almost blue" list. The guy is a dominant run stuffer. If he's not the slam dunk best DE in the NFL against the run, he's at least in the conversation. At this point, he's ahead of Seymour. Seymour was better in his prime, but injury problems have to seriously take away from his status. Smith has been more durable and is better even when Seymour does play.

Frank Gore needs to be on the almost blue list. Has played better than LJ for the last two years and is on par with the rest the group.

I like Ty Warren as a 3-4 end more than Seymour now. Seymour has been hurt and Ty Warren is a BEAST against the run. He would be close to Blue in my mind but maybe I am wrong.

So Vincent Jackson has gone from blue to not even almost blue?

Great work Mike, loved the podcast with Bill Simmons. I also wanted to toss in some comments:

S - I think OJ Atogwe belongs, I know he plays for the Rams but he's definitely a top 5 FS

HB - Also agree that Brandon Jacobs is a blue, the guy is a beast! Best RB in the league last year.
HB - S.Jax should be blue, he plays on the arguably the second worst team in the league, with a joke of an offensive line, no passing game, and still produces when healthy. Definitely belongs over Forte, C. Johnson, S. Slaton, and LT.
HB - Tomlinson did not play like a blue last year.

OLB - Lance Briggs definitely belongs as a blue, best player on the Bears D last year by far... although I could see you splitting this into two categories, 3-4 OLB and 4-3 OLB since vastly different skills required to play each position. I could see the same being done for 3-4 DE and 4-3 DE.

T - I do think J.Brown should be blue or close to it. Much better than J.Peters, Peters was awful last year and has looked terrible so far this preseason.

QB - Palmer deserves blue over Romo, Romo has had elite talent around him and never been able to produce when it counts. When Palmer had elite talent, he was an MVP candidate.

Agreed David, Warren is a beast. But in response to several posts, Seymour was out for some of 07, but in all games of 08 and is healthy going into this year. He is strong against the run and dominant against the pass.

Heard you on B.S. Report and ran to the list to make sure you had Revis at CB. Well done

As a Giant fan i agree with your rankings except for Brandon Jacobs and Antonio Pierce.

I thought Jacobs would be in the top 10 and was suprised he wasn't even on the list.
He was Giants MVP last year.

As for Pierce, he has slowed noticeably. I think he is overrated and will be replaced next year.

I think Madison Hedgecock is great also, but since you only have 1 FB listed i understand the omission.

Heard you on B.S. Report and ran to the list to make sure you had Revis at CB. Well done

Agreed David, Warren is a beast. But in response to several posts, Seymour was out for some of 07, but in all games of 08 and is healthy going into this year. He is strong against the run and dominant against the pass.