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ESPN: The 10 Most Indispensable Players in the NFL

sports.espn.go.com — Sure, both Mannings are there. Brady, too. But you'll be surprised at who else is on the list (and pissed because of who's not).

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  • Conwaysb0718, on 07/23/2008, -13/+41Eli Manning is mediocre at best. He's hardly indispensable and its sad that the author had to convince the reader that he deserved to be on the list while at the same time admitting that he should never be on the list.
    • dafragsta, on 07/23/2008, -4/+8But he has a ring and he got it quite a few years earlier in his career than his brother with the rocket laser arm.
      • Duositex, on 07/23/2008, -12/+5Only because it's difficult to win 19 games in a season...
      • wezman2, on 07/23/2008, -0/+8No, only because it's difficult to win the Superbowl
      • vision777, on 07/23/2008, -0/+6He wasn't that great in the superbowl and was not the primary reason for the win.
      • ShakeWell, on 07/24/2008, -0/+2An SB ring doesn't automatically make you a great QB. Look at some of the ones in the past that won it based on a great defense, and often a great running game.

        Roethlisberger was not that great a QB when the Steelers won it a few years back, although he has improved since then. That team had a great defense, and an overpowering running game with Bettis pushing the pile.

        Look at QBs like Brad Johnson, Drew Bledsoe, etc. who has won the big game. It's a team sport. The QB doesn't always have to carry the team on his shoulders. Some do, Eli is not one of them.
      • romeyinfc, on 07/24/2008, -0/+1Bledsoe never won, maybe you're thinking of Trent Dilfer
    • blackinthmiddle, on 07/23/2008, -0/+11As a Giants fan, Eli always showed signs of greatness, but his inaccurate arms was always troublesome. However, he always plays well in the 4th quarter and last year showed that the big game doesn't scare him.

      However, I *definitely* wouldn't put him in the top ten! Just going by quarterbacks, I'd probably take Rothlisberger over him.
    • bizsumpark182, on 07/23/2008, -2/+2It the Giants lost Eli this year the team would get no more then 4 or 5 wins. Thats what this article is about, players that if the team lost would really hurt the teams performance.
      • ShakeWell, on 07/24/2008, -0/+1The same can be said for over half the teams in the league. Fact is, if a team's starting QB goes down, they are, more often than not, screwed.
    • c010rb1indusa, on 07/23/2008, -4/+2How is a guy who won over 10 straight games on the road, beat the best team the NFL has ever seen in the superbowl, and doing it all while under constant scrutiny from the NY media not indispensable?
      • boardthis, on 07/23/2008, -0/+4because the defense and running game is what put the giants in position to win the super bowl. eli was steady as a rock but he is by no means a 10 top indispensable player.
    • heloh, on 07/24/2008, -0/+1Eli Manning has been overrated his whole career.

      I guess we're just going to ignore the two previous terrible seasons from the man child because New York's defense stepped up in the Superbowl last year.
  • greenroom628, on 07/23/2008, -4/+20what? i can call out a couple more defensive players that more than deserve to be on that list: umenyiora, urlacher, bob sanders, cromartie, freeney, merriman, polamalu...all guys that make their defenses so much more than what they are.
    • fcruz1331, on 07/23/2008, -0/+2I completely agree especially on Urlacher and Sanders, and in a league where almost all of the Superbowl winning teams this past decade had a top-10 defense, it's ridiculous to see how much they are undervaluing the defensive player.
    • WalkerTXclocker, on 07/23/2008, -0/+1I think any list that takes 1000 or so players and condenses them to 10 most is going to be debatable. On your list you have 3 spots left and still have no offensive players. Not to mention it didn't say the best players, it said most indispensable. It's based off how important they were to their respective teams. I don't completely agree with this list but every time someone has to come up with their "better" list
    • c010rb1indusa, on 07/23/2008, -0/+1While D's are important, I can't think of 1 team outside the 2000 Raven that won a superbowl based solely on their D. The offense it still the most important part. The Colts won with bad defense, and the Pats last two superbowl wins were attributed to their offenses besting the offensive output of the Panthers and Eagles. I'm not saying defenses don't matter, but unless you have an offense to go along with it, their pretty much useless.
    • greenroom628, on 07/23/2008, -0/+1i agree with what walker and c010rb are saying...what i'm saying is that there should be more than one defensive player on that list. indispensable denotes that the system that they play with cannot function fully without that player as a 'lynch-pin'. we all saw how bad the colts d was without sanders and how bad the d line was without freeney. that's what i mean by indispensable and was shocked at the fact that there is only one d player on that list.
    • boardthis, on 07/23/2008, -0/+1bob sanders has not played an entire season yet in his career and the colts still win their division every year. thus bob sanders, though, a very good all-pro player, is not indispensable to the colts.

      remember guys these players are not necessarily the best players in the NFL, but they are the toughest to replace if they are not available to the particular team they play for.

      this is also why gates is more indispensable than LT. the chargers rely on gates in the passing game because philip rivers has not found a comfortable and reliable WR target yet. this could change once chris chambers has had an entire offseason to learn the chargers offense and to get his timing down with rivers.
  • bigwillystyle, on 07/23/2008, -2/+13living in philly its scary to think where wed be if we didnt have westbrook. without hiom to take the load off mcnabs hands hed prbly be banished from the city
    • Julik, on 07/23/2008, -1/+10Yeah Westbrook is the whole offense... If he was not there the Eagles would be the same as the Dolphins.
    • pirate3, on 07/23/2008, -0/+3reading your comment made my head hurt, yet another testament to Philly fans everywhere.
    • boardthis, on 07/23/2008, -0/+1westbrook should be #3 on this list behind brady and peyton manning. no other RB has a bigger role of a team's running and passing game than westbrook does.
    • Exact0, on 07/24/2008, -1/+0I'm a giants fan, so naturally an Eagles' hater. 100% agree with bigwilly and boardthis though. The Eagles would be nothing (!!!) without Westbrook. He is nowhere close to the top 10 skill-wise in the NFL, But they have no chance to win without him.
      • heloh, on 07/24/2008, -0/+1You can name 10 running backs you'd rather have than Brain Westbrook?
      • Julik, on 07/24/2008, -0/+1Yeah no kidding... top 10 RB's easily. Could you imagine what he could do if they had a passing game like the Colts?

        The only RBs in the NFL I would take over him is LT and AP... and the only reason I would take Peterson is because he is younger.
  • JahRasta311, on 07/23/2008, -5/+33ESPN is up their asses. I'd dare anyone to honestly say Antonio Gates is more important to the Chargers offense than LT.
    • AJRiddle, on 07/23/2008, -10/+4And Antonia Gates probably isn't even the best TE in the NFL. I would argue that Tony Gonzalez is the best, he may be getting old but if he had the quarterbacks and offense that Antonio Gates had he would out produce him every year (he has most years).
    • Schreck1, on 07/23/2008, -3/+2Heard that
    • blackinthmiddle, on 07/23/2008, -1/+9People have been down on Tomlinson because he didn't have the ridiculous year that he had two years ago and him looking sour on the bench during the playoffs didn't sit well with some. But yeah, I don't see how anyone says Gates, as good as he is, is more indispensable than LT.

      People who would argue against LT would say that the running back position is one that you can find replacements for. The Giants didn't miss a beat after losing Tiki. I don't know. Again, I agree with you.
      • zacharytelschow, on 07/23/2008, -1/+3He wasn't off the charts amazing last year, but he still had 1949 all purpose yards, averaged 4.7 yards per carry and found the endzone 18 times (15 on the ground, 3 as a receiver) all without losing a fumble. That's a ridiculous year for anyone else, and may have been the worst of his career. He has thousands of touches over his career and has rarely missed playing time; he's the most durable and consistent back in the league over the course of his career. Anyone down on LT needs to cut the guy a freaking break.
      • morgino, on 07/23/2008, -3/+0Actually I would argue the Cromartie is the most important person on the team last year. LT didnt really have an explosive year much like Gates. Cromartie led the league in pics and made some crazy td runs. Watch out for this guy, he is going to be insane
      • zacharytelschow, on 07/23/2008, -1/+1@morgino:

        Cromartie led the league with 10 picks. LT led the league in rushing yards and was second in TDs (only behind Moss). Both are phenominal athletes and I wish my team had 'em, but there's just no way the best running back in the league, who touched the ball 375 times last year, is less important to his team than the best safety in the leage.
    • Takfam, on 07/23/2008, -6/+1Antonio Gates is a product of a great Chargers team. On his own, he's an average TE at best. Stick him somewhere where team doesn't mesh as well as SD and watch his numbers drop.
    • madmaxmedia, on 07/23/2008, -0/+4Regardless of whether Gates belongs on this list, he is a great pass-catching TE. Linebackers cannot cover him, he's a walking mismatch downfield and could produce great numbers anywhere. However, he's not a great blocker.
    • Seemefearme, on 07/23/2008, -2/+2Gates belongs on the list, as well as LT. Eli off, LT on.
    • locriology, on 07/23/2008, -1/+1If Gates is more important than LT, why do the announcers talk about nothing but LT in every Chargers game?
  • galvo, on 07/23/2008, -3/+20The only thing you can depend on Eli Manning always doing is wearing that stupid look of idiocy on his face.
    • anatraj, on 07/23/2008, -1/+4Your statement's repitition is redundant.
  • Raabbb, on 07/23/2008, -0/+6Well they got Joe Thomas right as far as the Browns are concerned
    • zacharytelschow, on 07/23/2008, -0/+2The guy is a beast. One of the best lineman to come out of one of the best offense lineman producing schools (Wisconsin) in a long time.
  • lenninct, on 07/23/2008, -10/+5Vick!!!!!!! Not.......
    /goes back to work
  • Chrino, on 07/23/2008, -1/+7Wow, Joe Thomas? He's in his sophomore season. As a Wisconsin Badger fan, I'm excited to see what he'll do in the NFL, but to put him on a top 10 list like this is shocking to me. And this is from ESPN, not some blog spam.

    He is a beast though...
    • yacks, on 07/23/2008, -0/+2Well you do need to take a look into what he did for the Browns.. He really solidified their line.. without Thomas, I'm sure Derek Anderson would be looking for a new team this year if he could still walk.
  • Linkin4, on 07/23/2008, -15/+28Buried because MATT HASSELBECK is on the list. Seriously, he's terrible.
    • wezults, on 07/23/2008, -4/+4LOL, Agreed!
    • rightbrainnow, on 07/23/2008, -1/+7he's not terrible, just bald.
    • ScruffyLefty, on 07/23/2008, -3/+5This comment dugg down for not realizing that Hasselbeck is all the Hawks had on offense the last 2 years.
    • t3hbagel, on 07/23/2008, -7/+8You are retarded!

      Matt Hasselbeck is the best QB in the NFC. Easily.
      • davdev, on 07/23/2008, -1/+4I'd still take Romo or Brees over Hasselbeck, but I also think Hasselbeck is a very good QB. His receviers just stink.

        Not that anyone cares, but I played against Hasselbeck in high school. He was on a team with Greg Comella who played a few years with the Giants. They kicked our ass, and were up 40-0 mid way through the second quarter.
      • whahaa, on 07/23/2008, -1/+33 out of 4 teams in the NFC East disagree.
      • ScruffyLefty, on 07/23/2008, -1/+3Seahawks record against the NFC East the last 3 years disagrees.
      • hockeyfighter09, on 07/23/2008, -0/+4@davdev So you're saying that you would pick Romo a guy who has never won a playoff game in his career over Hasselbeck who has one Super Bowl game under his belt? Come back here and compare Romo with any great current QB after he has won a playoff game first.
      • woofers07, on 07/23/2008, -0/+4@Scruffy

        I hope you are arguing that Hasselbeck IS the best QB in the NFC, due to the fact that the Seahawks are 8-0 against the supposed "toughest" division in the league. But it sounds like you're arguing against it.
      • ScruffyLefty, on 07/24/2008, -0/+3Probably should of made that more clear. Yes I'm arguing that Hass is the best QB in the NFC
      • genlee99, on 07/25/2008, -0/+0@hockeyfighter09

        Yes Romo hasn't won a playoff game in his entire 1.5 seasons starting. Wonder how Hasselbeck did? Oh yeah, didn't make playoffs first 2 years starting, then lost 2 years in a row before going to Superbowl.
    • mlvassallo, on 07/23/2008, -0/+5LOL, we got some pissed off Redskins/Cowboys/Rams/Panthers fans on digg.
      • Linkin4, on 07/23/2008, -3/+2Patriots fan, mostly mad at how bad he is in Madden. I think they're an 87? in 08, but man are the hawks awful.
    • boardthis, on 07/23/2008, -1/+6hasselbeck had to endure and survive without a running game and he thrived in that position. try learning about football first before you try to become a knowitall.
  • opensourcer, on 07/23/2008, -1/+10This list is too debatable.
  • Chaoticx, on 07/23/2008, -2/+7All I can hope for now is that AP carries my Vikings to the Superbowl on his back. GO AP!!!
    • SwedishNinja, on 07/23/2008, -0/+2If All Day isn't hurt for half the season again, he'll do some GREAT things for the 'Vikes, regardless of who the QB is.
      • davdev, on 07/23/2008, -1/+1AP is a great player. Probably the #1 pick in a lot of fantasy drafts this year
      • akatherder, on 07/23/2008, -0/+2AP had two huge games (224 and 296). He only broke 100 yards in 4 more games (102, 103, 112, 116). The other 8 games he played in, he only broke 70 yards once.

        He was probably the best fantasy VALUE last season if you compare the risk-return (Randy Moss is arguable since he went low in drafts), but that kind of inconsistency won't win you a fantasy championship.
    • czarnick420, on 07/23/2008, -1/+1Go Vikes! AP and T-Jack gonna kick some ass this year!
    • boardthis, on 07/23/2008, -0/+1AD is a great player but the real stars of the vikings is their line. the offensive AND defensive line. AD didnt even start most of the games last year. chester taylor was the starter and he even rushed for 5.4 yards per carry. steve hutchinson is more indispensable than AD.
  • frepnog, on 07/23/2008, -20/+2I hate football.
    • erad222, on 07/23/2008, -0/+7Than why are you reading or bothering to click this?
      • frepnog, on 07/23/2008, -1/+0because football sucks JUST THAT MUCH.
    • Yimyack, on 07/23/2008, -0/+5Go drink your soy milk.
  • computerusr, on 07/23/2008, -6/+2Preseason hasn't even started yet!
  • diggstown, on 07/23/2008, -2/+10Antonio Gates over LT2? Who's smoking the crack pipe?
    • vision777, on 07/23/2008, -1/+0I thought LT would be one of the first names on the list. They consistently win games during the regular season based on his ablility on offense.
  • rightbrainnow, on 07/23/2008, -2/+8Wow, I like Jeffri Chadiha, but Eli Manning...really? If Tyree doesnt make the helmet catch, Eli is still the QB in NY that cant get it done....nonetheless not on this list.
  • Treoinmypocket, on 07/23/2008, -18/+2As far as I'm concerned, the entire NFL is...DISpensable.
    • Schreck1, on 07/23/2008, -1/+8Nobody gives a ***** what you think...haha, ain't that a bitch
    • Schreck1, on 07/24/2008, -0/+1How so? Because I replied? No. I replied to let you know nobody gives a *****. I could use that same logic and say you care about the NFL since you are in an NFL article
  • Yimyack, on 07/23/2008, -6/+11I wish Goddell, ESPN/SI, would stop getting on their knees in front of Brady & the Patroits. 19-0?

    More like 18-1 & one big choke job...
    • diggstown, on 07/23/2008, -4/+6You're just biased :)
      • Yimyack, on 07/23/2008, -3/+10Tired is more like it...they had their chance & the Pats blew it. I'm tired of ESPN/SI blowing them.
      • davdev, on 07/23/2008, -4/+3You do realize that even with losing the SB, NE is still the favorite going into this year, right. Would you prefer ESPN spend more time covering the Raiders or Cardinals? The major networks disproportionally cover the best teams, because they tend to be more interesting than the teams that go 1-15.
        10 years from now, it is very possible the Indy and NE combine and go 4-28, and Miami plays San Francisco in the SB. At which time, you will be complaining that ESPN spends too much time covering the Dolphins
      • Yimyack, on 07/23/2008, -1/+2At least it would be a different story. At about win #7 I was getting burned out about how great NE was. It was a waste of time - so I shut it off. And you're probably right - I would be tired of any team they talk about endlessly.
  • erad222, on 07/23/2008, -12/+9Tom Brady isn't that ***** good. Randy Moss made a 36 year old Randall Cunningham look good in Moss's rookie season. You could put Ryan Leaf at QB and he'd still look great with the receiving corps that the Patriots had/have.
    • Duositex, on 07/23/2008, -4/+14You're right.. the three rings and all the records are a total fluke. You've clearly done your research.
    • Conwaysb0718, on 07/23/2008, -0/+6You assume Ryan Leaf would even show up. Isnt he managing a car wash now or something?
    • Raz0rEdge, on 07/23/2008, -0/+3So what of the Super Bowl wins with the receiver corps consisting of Patten, Givens, Branch, et el?
    • akatherder, on 07/23/2008, -0/+2How did Randy do in Oakland? It takes two to tango.
      • erad222, on 07/23/2008, -1/+2He didn't play because he didn't feel like it.

        Or however he puts it.
  • wezults, on 07/23/2008, -0/+5Not the greatest list but its nice to see it on the front page. Cant wait for the season to start.
  • jrattner1, on 07/23/2008, -0/+11Hahahaha no Chad Pennington?
    • nathanbutnet, on 07/23/2008, -0/+2Chad 'Water Pistol' Pennington should be on any list of this caliber. Take that as you will.
  • dafragsta, on 07/23/2008, -2/+4I said it all along despite his lack of Heisman and injuries. AD was far and away more impressive than Reggie Bush in college in such a way that would make his transition almost non-existent. Maybe not so much on stats, but to watch him run would tell you everything you needed to know. He's not afraid at running at a defender who has a better chance of making an ankle grab if he thinks he can overpower him. (and he often does, even in the NFL) AD would often not just stiff arm a guy head on, but he'd lock his arm and push the guy down to the turf so he couldn't give chase.

    I fear he'll end his career early because he's so physical, but if he doesn't, I think he could possibly be the best running back to ever play the game.
    • Brew, on 07/23/2008, -0/+3agree, watching Reggie Bush in college was a show but it was apparent (to me) that he wouldn't translate well. He didn't break tackles particularly well and his line almost always had holes that he could walk through. Yes, he is amazing in the open field, but he hardly ever gets to the open field in the NFL.
    • Lynx34, on 07/23/2008, -0/+2I'm afraid dafragsta might be right with Peterson's career ending early. He's really fun to watch but his physical playstyle is reminiscent of Bo Jackson, and we all know how his career ended.
      • yacks, on 07/23/2008, -0/+2I think so too.. Coming into the 2007 Draft there were issues with regards to injuries. He was injured his freshman year, sophomore and junior year before going into draft where guess what.. he gets injured again in his first NFL year. So far, he has been injured each year he has played since out of high school.. You cannot keep that up if you want a good career in the NFL. He may be walking around like Earl Campbell soon. :(
    • Exact0, on 07/24/2008, -0/+0AP is big, strong, and determined. Bush is an over hyped running back that is SCARED too get hit by anyone bigger than him. Of course everyone was talking about Bush (playing against college defense) being the next Barry Sanders (playing against professionals). Hopefully AP won't go the way of Bo Jackson, he's an exciting player to watch.

  • petaganayr, on 07/23/2008, -8/+3Chargers!! Woot, woot!
  • jokerhl, on 07/23/2008, -3/+1Just like every other list it's just opinion.
  • dngermouse, on 07/23/2008, -5/+11Lofa Tatupu is much better than Troy Polamalu and he's like what.. 24 years old?
    I'm no Pats fan but why the hell is RANDY MOSS not on this list..
    • desirecomplex, on 07/23/2008, -0/+2Your comparing a linebacker to a safety so thats like apples to oranges.. though the orange (polamalu) can line up at line backer, corner, and safety. Lets see Tatupu try that.
      • boardthis, on 07/23/2008, -0/+1let's see another MLB captain the defense and cover the run and pass in the cover 2 as effectively as tatupu can.
    • whahaa, on 07/23/2008, -1/+3because bellicheat's motto is that no player is indispensable and all are interchangeable [when you know what the defense is going to do].
    • davdev, on 07/23/2008, -0/+3Because the list is about the individual players that are most indespensible for their teams. Moss goes down, and the Patriots are hurt, but can survive. Brady goes down, and they are dead in the water.
    • dngermouse, on 07/23/2008, -0/+2i know Polamalu is primarily a saftety i was just comparing them defensively as a whole, don't get me wrong polamalu is a beast, but one can argue that Tatupu is a legend in the making. He's a ***** fridge
    • anatraj, on 07/23/2008, -0/+2Randy Moss is not on the list because the Patriots have other good receivers, but I agree he was awesome last year (got me 2nd place in my fantasy league).
  • plainOldFool, on 07/23/2008, -4/+3I know I am a biased Steeler homer, but no Roethlisberger? Granted his motorcycle helmet is a bit more indispensable but Big Ben has been a vital component for Pittsburgh.
    • davdev, on 07/23/2008, -0/+3Yeah, but its not to hard to replace his 12-21 150 yard games. He does throw an inordinate amount of TD's though. Willie Parker would be a bigger loss for the Steelers.
    • plainOldFool, on 07/23/2008, -0/+2Come to think of it, I'd hate to see Heinz Ward leave. I was bummed when Plexico left and look what that did for the Giants.
      • akatherder, on 07/23/2008, -0/+3Hines Ward. Heinz Field.
      • plainOldFool, on 07/23/2008, -0/+2Sneaking comments while at work. Sneek[alt+tab][alt+tb]in c[alt+tab][alt+tab]mments while at *******[alt+tab]..........[alt+tab]work.
    • boardthis, on 07/23/2008, -0/+1hines ward is more indispensable than roethlisberger. his downfield blocking, excellent route running and ablility to go over the middle still makes him the best player on the steeler offense.
  • diggtochina, on 07/23/2008, -4/+6What about Rex Grossman?? hahahahha
  • krische, on 07/23/2008, -8/+3No love for Brett Farve?
    • Yimyack, on 07/23/2008, -0/+5Technically he's 'retired'...for now.
  • lupka, on 07/23/2008, -2/+3How is Ray Lewis not on this list? He is infinitely more valuable to the Ravens as a leader than Manning is to the Giants. and Hasslebeck? He had a 47.4 QB rating in the Superbowl. Lewis was MVP.
    • Yimyack, on 07/23/2008, -0/+6If this list was written 8 years ago he would. But 8 years & a trial later changes things
      • lupka, on 07/23/2008, -1/+1That Super Bowl MVP, A defensive player of the year, and 3 Pro Bowl selections came AFTER the trial.
    • Crosshare, on 07/23/2008, -1/+1That QB rating goes up quite a bit in the super bowl if he wasn't robbed by the refs on the pass to Jackson.
    • greenroom628, on 07/23/2008, -0/+1i would say more like "if this list was made a couple of years ago" and the ravens had beaten the pats that last monday night game.

      i just saw a replay of that game on the nfl network...what an amazing game.
  • thisguy457, on 07/23/2008, -0/+8Eli Manning: "He's showed the world he can win in his own way and it's hard to imagine another Giant who belongs on this list over him." Umm, how about the Giant's defense? Strahan perhaps? The Giant's would have gotten killed if it wasn't for their defense upsetting the pat's o line. Ridiculous.
    • troyfoley, on 07/23/2008, -2/+2Strahan retired, dumbass. Therefore, not indispensable.
  • kanabiis, on 07/23/2008, -4/+9Gates over LT?? Is this guy smoking crack???? Fantasy Football team owners are laughing their ass off reading this list...

    No Champ Bailey but he choose Hasselbeck??? Yea, sports writer my ass
    • mlvassallo, on 07/23/2008, -3/+5You don't know much about football then if you are complaining about that.
      • kanabiis, on 07/23/2008, -4/+2The list is indispensable players....... Matt Hasselbeck is a mediocre QB at best, his numbers last year were no better then Carson Palmer, or Tony Romo, both who also lead their team to the playoffs.

        Champ Bailey is hands down the best cornerback in the NFL, he has given up 0 TDs in his career with the Denver Broncos.

        Point being here that we are talking about indispensable players, you could replace Hasselbeck with any other QB in the NFL and the Seahawks would be fine, you could not replace Bailey with anyone and get the same results.

        So, I think it is YOU my friend, who happens to not know ***** about the NFL....
      • woofers07, on 07/23/2008, -1/+4Umm, the Bengals definitely did NOT make the playoffs, and Tomy Momo single handedly lost the first game of the postseason for the cowgirls. Champ Bailey did nothing for the Broncos last year, one CB cannot carry a team. Stop acting like you know what you're talking about.
  • fcruz1331, on 07/23/2008, -3/+7Tom Brady is a great quarterback and you can argue he's led the Patriots to more team success than Manning has with the Colts but there is no way he is more indispensable than Peyton. The Patriots we're a team with much better receivers than the Colts last year and there is no player in the NFL that does more for his team, weather it be calling audibles, leading the passing game, or coordinating the offense, than Peyton Manning.
    • davdev, on 07/23/2008, -2/+5As a Pat's fan I agree. While a loss to either would probably kill the playoffs hopes of both teams, I would say losing Peyton would be a bit worse for the Colts. Though it's kind of like arguing if you would be worse off if you lost your left leg or your right.
    • mtthwmiddleton, on 07/23/2008, -2/+5I still contend that, based on the Super Bowl last year, Brady isn't a great quarter back, but a good quarter back with a great o line and great receivers. We saw what happened when he was pressured or rushed, he couldn't get it done. Real great quarterbacks work well under pressure.
  • Takfam, on 07/23/2008, -0/+4I think it'll be interesting to see if the Chiefs defense can do anything without Jared Allen or if Minnesota ends up being a serious contender with his addition.
  • dngbauer, on 07/23/2008, -6/+3Whatever......HAIL TO THE REDSKINS! Thank goodness its almost football season!!!!
  • zacharytelschow, on 07/23/2008, -0/+4Injury prone and unproven Adrian Peterson at #4, especially with very capable Chestor Taylor on the same team? Antonio Gates more important than LT? Other than showing some love for Joe Thomas, whom I love, this list is pretty meh.
  • xevidentx, on 07/23/2008, -0/+5ELI MANNING?!?!?!?!
  • Brew, on 07/23/2008, -1/+9Really, Eli Manning? That is like saying Trent Dilfer was the key to the Ravens in 2000. He did his job and did not make too many mistakes. While the rest of his team was extremely solid all around.
    • Pronoiac, on 07/23/2008, -0/+4People loved to dump on Eli before he won a ring because he wasn't his older brother and now he's a god because he didn't ***** everything up and made a couple nice plays. QB's are always going to get more credit and attention(negative or positive) than they deserve.
  • Gorgonzola44, on 07/23/2008, -0/+7Anyone who's seen the Panthers play sans Steve Smith knows this guy doesn't know what he's talking about.
    • MadACR, on 07/23/2008, -2/+1And Jake Delhomme for that matter. The team imploded after a very good start. They went from contenders to bottom of the barrel.
    • boardthis, on 07/23/2008, -0/+1steve smith does belong on this list in place of eli manning.
  • enjoyincubus19, on 07/23/2008, -4/+3Would the Cowboys be worse without T.O. or without TONY FREAKIN ROMO?

    Gimme a break.
    • MadACR, on 07/23/2008, -2/+2T.O. is a curse to every team he is on. Randy Moss is the only ball hog that is worthy of this list. With TO, you have 1 dangerous receiver, without you have at least 2.

    • bizsumpark182, on 07/23/2008, -2/+3Since when has TO been a curse to every team. Him and the Cowboys have gotten along pretty well. As a Cowboys I'm very glad to have TO on my team.
      • boardthis, on 07/23/2008, -0/+2getting along very well and losing playoff games.
    • bizsumpark182, on 07/23/2008, -1/+4Yes, yes they would. They would be much worse. Go ahead and digg me down for not agreeing with you, I don't care.
  • mlvassallo, on 07/23/2008, -0/+3Dug for Hass, although Walter Jones should be on that list instead.
  • S3Captain, on 07/23/2008, -2/+3I think we can all agree that this list has a lot of holes, not the least of which is having Eli Manning on it at all. The NY media was all over him until the playoffs. He's a spineless jellyfish that played just well enough. It was the other NY Giants players that really carried the load and won the Superbowl...and it was the failure of the Pats to play at the level at which they had been playing.

    Plus, if Justin Timberlake didn't stick his gum on Tyree's helmet, the ball never would have been caught. (if you don't get the reference, just shut up)
    • bizsumpark182, on 07/23/2008, -2/+1So your saying that if Jared Lorenzen had been playing instead of Eli that the Giants would have still won the SB. I don't think so.
      • S3Captain, on 07/23/2008, -0/+3Maybe. How would we know? The guy went 4-8 during the season. Look, I wrote that "he played just well enough". There is no doubt that Eli stepped up his game at the end of the season. But just because the Giants won the SB doesn't mean that he deserves to be on this list.

        Just for example, check out this 2008 Sporting News ranking:
        http://www.sportingnews.com/yourturn/viewtopic.php ...

        Eli is #12 in QBs. And their comments on that site hit the nail on the head. It took Manning until the end of the season to have ANY consistency. That's not Top-10 must-have stuff.
  • phornung, on 07/23/2008, -1/+34 of 10 are quarterbacks, which is a bit ridiculous. If all 4 teams called each other asking to trade those quarterbacks, there would be 2 teams that listen and 2 teams that hang up the phone. I bet you can guess which two players really are dispensable.
    • cleric04, on 07/23/2008, -1/+1And 2 of the 4 quaterbacks aren't even in the top 5 of quarterbacks.
  • wwwonka, on 07/23/2008, -2/+2gimme an AMEN-HALLELUJAH if you are sick of "lists" everywhere on the internet!!!
    ..and now for my 10 ten reasons why I hate lists....
  • LordFortis, on 07/23/2008, -0/+3Adrian Peterson isn't indispensable, his O line is (he's still a great player, but he'd be getting destroyed if he were on, say, the Jets or the Lions). Glad they gave props to Joe Thomas.

    I'm a Giants fan, but Manning shouldn't be on this list. Not yet, at least. If anyone should have been on this list from the Giants, it'd have to be Umenyiora.
  • bizsumpark182, on 07/23/2008, -3/+1Gee go figure, people getting angry at someone elses opinion.
  • geekee, on 07/23/2008, -3/+1Favre should be on the list. He'll be playing. Unfortunately, the Packers management is so screwed up, he may not be playing for the Packers.
  • diggpp, on 07/23/2008, -2/+2I can't argue with Tom Brady, though I am quite partisan :)
  • rexcom, on 07/23/2008, -0/+4I like how they only put Eli on the list because the Giants won the Super Bowl. Everyone agreed that at best he could just not get in the way of the more talented players on the team. I've been a Giants fan forever and that is all I've ever hoped out of Eli. Leave him off the list.
  • MoralThreat, on 07/23/2008, -0/+5If Eli didn't just win the Superbowl he wouldn't be on this list. Shouldn't be on this list anyways. One game doesn't make a person indispensable. And the whole team won the damn game, not just Eli.
  • mikhon, on 07/23/2008, -0/+3ok, a lot of people here are confused. this is a list of top 10 indispensable players, not top 10 best players
    indispensable does not always equal best.
    take LT vs Gates argument for example. yea, LT is hands down the best charger player, best running back the league, and pretty much living version of God in San Diego (yea, i'm the chargers fan), but presence of Gates is what shapes chargers offense. Take gates away and you get 8 man in the box on most of the plays and LT isn't going anywhere.
    having said that, i'm all for booting eli off the list and throwing LT in there (just keep Gates there too)
  • grobinson, on 07/23/2008, -0/+2ESPN The World Wide Leader in-making-debatable-controversial-lists-to-drive-traffic-and-burn-air-time-for-ad-revenue
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