ESPN's List of NFL's Indispensable Players Doesn't Add Up

Jeffri Chadiha of ESPN.com threw up his "Ten Most Indispensable Players" to their teams which has a few surprising names. A quick rundown:

1-Tom Brady, Patriots
2-Peyton Manning, Colts
3-Terrell Owens, Cowboys
4-Adrian Peterson, Vikings
5-Antonio Gates, Chargers
6-Albert Haynesworth, Titans
7-Brian Westbrook, Eagles
8-Joe Thomas, Browns
9-Matt Hasselbeck, Seahawks
10-Eli Manning, Giants

Let's start at the bottom: Eli Manning? I know we were all impressed by his playoff run, but you do remember the Giants looked very bad towards the end of last season, right? To me, the Texans' Andre Johnson, Panthers' Steve Smith or, Broncos' Champ Bailey are more list-worthy than Eli.

Not to dump on him, but he had a 32.2 QB rating in a win over the Bills and a 44.9 QB rating in a win over the Dolphins. His two highest QB ratings during the regular season? Both losses. That means he can suck and the Giants still can win football games. Doesn't seem very indispensable to me.

That brings me to Adrian Peterson ...

How in the heck is he that high on the list? He missed two games last season ... and the Vikings won both games. He ran for a grand total of THREE YARDS against the Niners ... and the Vikings won. Of course he's one of the best backs in the game ... but he isn't the fourth most indispensable player in the NFL if the team can win three games with him contributing nothing!

I could also get into the Brady-Manning debate at the top of the list, but it is too close to call. Both are outstanding leaders who continuously stay healthy. If either missed time, their teams would struggle. To me, Manning out in Indianapolis is the most devestating to his team since he pretty much is an assistant offensive coordinator, too.

You could say that about 75% of the quarterbacks in the NFL, too (ask the Panthers about Jake Delhomme's value) ... or guys like Dwight Freeney who saw their teams have issues when they are injured.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

7-23-2008 @ 12:46PM

NFLCzar said...

The NFL does not have indispensable players......NFL Teams do.

7-23-2008 @ 12:56PM

tobrien28 said...

Using Manning's numbers in the Bills and Dolphins game is stupid. Against the Dolphins neither team could get any passing offense going because the English field was getting ripped to pieces and turning into mud. Neither QB could grip the ball properly. In the Bills game visibility was so low neither QB could see their receivers at the end of the game. The Bills QB didn't fare well in those conditions either, throwing 3 picks.

7-23-2008 @ 1:23PM

Marc said...

So 3 picks, you're saying the Bills QBs played better than normal?

7-30-2008 @ 7:59PM

NC GIANT FAN said...

tobrien28...

couldn't agree more!!! those games are a horrible sample to pull from and last I checked football is a team sport and we won those games. Eli also ran for a TD during the monsoon in England so get off his case. The entire article is useless.

7-23-2008 @ 6:28PM

Gina said...

How about LT or Carson Palmer over Eli?

7-23-2008 @ 4:12PM

tom said...

forget eli, and adrian......where is uhh, what's that guy's name??? umm Ladainian Tomlinson. That list is a joke

7-23-2008 @ 5:01PM

soulcitysigma1914 said...

Thanks Sportz Assassin. This Panthers fan says your comments about both Jake Delhomme and Steve Smith were dead on. Granted, the Panthers were 2-1 with Matt Moore starting, so a Panthers fan couldn't make a case for Delhomme on this particular list. But anyone who has so much as read about the Panthers since 2005 would know that when Smith is not in the offense, there's no offense at all. Heck, Smith even won a game for the Panthers with his mouth last year by making DeAngelo Hall lose his mind.

7-23-2008 @ 5:35PM

Wayne said...

Sorgi would do better with Harrison, Wayne, Clark, and Addai than Cassel/Gutierrez/O'Donnell would do with Moss, Welker, Watson, and Maroney.

7-23-2008 @ 5:39PM

Bdeviled11 said...

The only indispensable player on the Vikings is Steve Hutchinson hands down, ask Shaun Alexander.

7-24-2008 @ 1:44AM

tyler said...

why in the world is Antonio Gates on that list. I can name three guys more valuable on HIS team (Marcus McNeill, LT, Merriman)

8-03-2008 @ 10:19PM

7-24-2008 @ 4:40AM

JG said...

I agree this list is garabage. But any list that is made wil have some controversial arguments between people. You will always have someone saying this person is better than that person and so forth, yet this list is way off. How is Peterson at #4?...lol Yeah he had a great rookie season but what happens if this season is unsuccessful? I hate when people blow up players to be bigger than life. Remember a guy named Bush?

7-24-2008 @ 9:28AM

Stephanie Stradley said...

Eli is indispensable to his team, not so much for his performance, but because Mister Mittens is his backup.

7-31-2008 @ 4:01PM

huskerdiva said...

I agree with Tom. Hello? Where is L.T.? I am so happy to see Adrian Peterson in there. Not so sure he should be below T.O. but I won't argue that fact. Obviously, I'm a Big 12, Vikings person. Adrian was a nemesis in the 12 but an still an unbelievable athlete. Johnny Rodgers comes to mind. L.T. is also an unbelievable athlete. Why can't you recognize him? He, too, has it all! Get with it.