Uncle Rico

Michael Lombardi did this with AFC teams last week, and now he rates teams' players, who's blue chip and who's red chip.

NFL.com news: In evaluating AFC, Colts have perfect blend of blue-chippers

From a quick glance the two surprises I see are making Randy Moss only red chip (may that chip be on his shoulder all year!) and giving Santonio Holmes blue chip status (I seem to remember no one else wanted him).

Pretty breezy mid-July reading. I know these types of assessments are meaningless and all these rankings columns are adding up to a big pile of nothing. But I thought Lombardi's approach was a good way to take a look at the players in the conference and where their teams may stand, while we wait for the football to begin.

mgteich

I would think that the writer thinks more of Mankins, Light and Banta-Cain than many patriots fans.

Uncle Rico

Vollmer too. I can't help thinking that if these guys play to Moss's level, as Lombardi groups them, it'll be a very good year.

Deus Irae

A lot of his "chips" are questionable, IMO, regardless of team.

For example: Hali for the Chiefs is suddenly a blue chip? There was talk that he might get cut last year.

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sbpatfan

Maybe it's just me but I find this article pretty stupid, it seems like he just turned, "name your team's top players" into something incredibly complicated and drawn out.

Thank you Michael Lombardi for informing me that Tom Brady and Vince Wilfork are "blue chips" of the Patriots.

stinkypete

I'd also hardly consider a punter or a fullback to be a "Blue chip" player.

Sciz

This is full of lol

Brandon Marshall is blue chip. Randy Moss is red chip. Malcom Floyd is red chip. He had under 800 yards last season, and 140 of them were in the last game.

How in effing hell is Oher a blue chip? He played 1/3 of a season at the position that he's already being anointed the best at.

Alex Mack played every single snap for the Browns last season and was light years better at C than Oher was at LT, yet isn't even red.

ausbacker

Gary Brackett Blue Chip? C'mon Man. Would anybody know who he was if he didn't look like Junior in the Simpsons?

HEY BRO! WHAT UP?

Brackett is the epitome of a "system" player. In fact, anyone not named Freeney and Mathis are replaceable. We've seen the Colts let go LB's in the past and they've been terrible with their current teams.

Tamba Hali as a blue chip player is laughable as well.

Antwan Odom as a blue chip player? He's gotten injured every season but one and never has registered 10 sacks.

Ron Sellers

Aside from debating who is a 'blue chip' and who is a 'red chip' player, maybe Lombardi should look at roster philosophy.

It seems to me that the Colts tens to be top heavy, and then fill the rest of the roster with lower paid players, while the Pats and Chargers try to spread the salary (and talent) throughout the whole roster. The Jets seem to copy the Colts model - but the thing is they don't have a single player worth paying top dollar like Manning.