I’ll give him credit, Michael Lombardi has posted an incredible report. Lombardi has painstakingly calculated the highest graded players on his blue-chip and red-chip scale, and then tallied up where teams come out in an overall ranking based on how many chips they have in their arsenal. The #1 team? New Orleans, not surprisingly. But where are the Giants you might be wondering? Top 10? No.
Surely top 15, right? Not remotely.
20?!
25!?!?!
Not quite. The NY Giants come in nearly at the end ranked 27th with 22 total chip points.
Once I tempered my reaction (WTF!?!?) I begrudgingly said to myself – “this is so typical, the Giants are still viewed as a bunch of regular guys that just play well.” But then I took a closer look at the rankings, and I said to myself — the Giants got majorly screwed here. Let’s take an up close look at Lombardi’s rankings and get our editing pen out and make some corrections as to where the Giants SHOULD be ranked.
Here we go. Let’s start with the head coaches first and foremost. Just so you know, these teams get a 10 point boost to begin with:
Head coaches:
Bill Belichick, Patriots
Jeff Fisher, Titans
John Fox, Panthers
Sean Payton, Saints
Mike Shanahan, Redskins
Mike Tomlin, Steelers
Now… If I have to make one or two revisions to this, it would be simply add a couple names that are clearly missing.
Firstly, where the hell is Tom Coughlin? Coughlin’s career achievements dwarf the resumes of half the coaches on this list… and Coughlin actually has a Superbowl title to his record whereas Fox and Fisher do not. Tomlin has one Superbowl title, and one playoff appearance to his name. Coughlin has 8 playoff appearances and 1 Superbowl title. How can you POSSIBLY make an argument otherwise. Mark this as the first of many disgraceful omissions on behalf of Lombardi.
Second, where is Andy Reid on this list? If John Fox and Jeff Fisher make this list – Reid absolutely must by default for outdoing what they’ve been able to do on the same terms without a Superbowl win. Reid’s list of 4 consecutive NFC Championship showings from 2001-2004 are impressive, never mind capping it off with a Superbowl appearance and one more NFC Championship in 2008 and 3 other playoff births.
Already, you can tell this is an abomination. Let’s get back to the Giants though and get back to the player rankings:
Quarterback:
Eli Manning did not make the blue chip list, but he did make the red-chippers. I’m not going to argue this one, even though I’d like to see the Superbowl MVP up top, every year Eli gets statistically outpaced by most of the other blue chip quarterbacks on this list. Perhaps one day he makes the transition to elite QB in other peoples eyes, but that’s a fight for another day. Career-wise Manning is more accomplished than Rivers, Rodgers, and Schaub — but I’m willing to let this one go since in the end he did get some recognition and score some points for Big Blue.
Running Back:
Knowshon Moreno and Darren Sproles have no business being ahead of Brandon Jacobs… sorry. Jacobs may not be the blue chipper from 2008 in most peoples eyes – but he was injured all of last season. You can make an argument for all the other red chippers there, but those two don’t belong ahead of Jacobs. Side note: Michael Turner is as blue chip as they come.
Tight Ends:
While I for one would make the case that Kevin Boss is among the most productive TE’s in the league, I realize that view is not shared by many. In fact he’s largely an unknown despite his red zone prowess. And since there are more red chip TE’s than blue chip TE’s in this particular list, that is an indicator to me that the bar is set unusually high for this category. So be it. Is Boss better than Celek or Cooley? I don’t think so… he certainly isn’t UTILIZED like those two players are for the Eagles and Redskins. More than anything, I think I’m a little peeved that the rest of the division has a TE represented here and the Giants do not, although maybe they could if they called Boss’ number a bit more particularly inside the 20. Maybe then he would be up there with the rest of the crowd.
Wide Receivers:
Lombardi said that Steve Smith of the Giants, who was right next to Wes Welker on the list, got cut at the final tally. Is Steve Smith actually one of the 16 best receivers in the league? No. According to PFF he is damn close though at #17 overall. Hakeem Nicks is just behind him at #19. We’ll see where they land next year.
OTs:
Two years ago David Diehl and Kareem McKenzie would be on this list. But understandably, this isn’t 2008 anymore and Diehl’s production has really slid. McKenzie may be looking at the end here this year… although he and Chris Snee could really open up some running lanes as of last year before he was injured. Still, in my heart I understand why no Giants appear on this list.
OGs:
Chris Snee representing on the blue chips.
Centers:
Shaun O’hara representing on the blue chips.
Now… onto the Defense.
DTs:
Perhaps why the front 4 was truly so dismal last year, no central push. There wasn’t one single Defensive Tackle within a mile to make this list. Alford/Canty injured, Cofield, Robbins and Bernard were non factors all year.
DEs:
But this is truly a crime, where is Justin Tuck? Played injured from the second week onward and still had a great year. This one is a legitimate snub of a league regarded blue chip defensive end. Unbelievable.
Linebackers:
Perhaps Boley and Bulluck will be here next year on the red chip list… but for now I understand.
DBs:
Look at the red chip players here – Terrell Thomas had a better year last year than both Terence Newman and Mike Jenkins. Thomas without a doubt deserves a chip over Newman. Corey Webster had an incredible 2008 season to backup his 2007 run in the playoffs, but sort of backslid in 2009. Had a great start, but tailed off after midway through the season and then got injured. But you know what… I expect both Thomas and Webster to be in contention for this list next year assuming both stay healthy.
Safety:
Antrel Rolle didn’t get any love even though he was a pro bowl selection, and Michael Griffen was up there even though he was statistically the worst overall safety in the NFL last season. Worse than C.C. Brown and Michael Johnson even! Hard to believe…
K/P:
If Feagles was still on the team, no doubt he’d be a career blue chipper.
Conclusion:
So let’s add up all the points Lombardi missed:
10 points: Tom Coughlin
5 points: Brandon Jacobs
10 points: Justin Tuck
5 points: Terrell Thomas
5 points: Antrel Rolle
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That’s 35 points the Giants were snubbed out of!
The total should be 57 total points for the Giants.
So Where does that put them on the total point list? 11th place between the Dolphins (61.5) and the 49ers (56.5). Now, that sounds like a much more accurate picture of the talent level on the NY Giants, doesn’t it?