Breaking Down the NFC East

[Hostile]

Quarterback
​

1. Eli Manning. Defending Super Bowl MVP.
2. Tony Romo. I think he will be the best once he learns to win in the Post Season.
3. Donovan McNabb. At one time the unquestioned king, now fading with injuries.
4. Jason Campbell. Has time to climb.

Running Back
​

1. Brian Westbrook. Can do it all, a true weapon.
2. Marion Barber. They don't call him the Barbarian for nothing.
3. Clinton Portis. Still effective despite a lot of miles on the tires.
4. Brandon Jacobs. Talks a good game, hasn't learned to walk it yet.

Fullback
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1. Mike Sellars. Very under rated and shouldn't be.
2. Madison Hedgecock. He isn't to blame for the Giants not having a better running game. He opens holes.
3. Jason Davis. Fair blocker.
4. Deon Anderson. If he can stay healthy he will climb this list easily. He has to stay healthy first.

Wide Receivers
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1. Plaxico Burress & Amani Toomer. Not long for this spot if Steve Smith isn't adequate replacement for an aging Toomer.
2. Terrell Owens & Patrick Crayton. If there weren't questions about the #2 WR spot would be first. There are, so they aren't.
3. Santana Moss & Antwaan Randle El. Lack size, but not heart.
4. Kevin Curtis & Reggie Brown. Brown hasn't lived up to expectations. Curtis is a #3 more than a #2.

Tight End
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1. Jason Witten. Probably the best overall TE in the NFL.
2. Chris Cooley. Emerging as a true threat and is solid.
3. Jeremy Shockey. Injuries, attitude issues, trade or no trade, and a load of unrecognized talent.
4. LJ Smith. In many divisions would be much higher. Don't think this means he isn't good. He is.

Offensive Tackles
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1. Flozell Adams & Marc Columbo. Big, bruising, and effective at keeping Romo upright. If Columbo leaves after 2008 this could fall.
2. William Thomas & Jon Runyan. Used to be the top group, but age is creeping up.
3. Chris Samuels & Jon Jansen. Injuries keep them from the #2 spot. Very good.
4. David Diehl & Kareem McKenzie. A solid tandem who got better as the year progressed and who could be argued as high as #2 tandem on this list.

Offensive Guards
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1. Pete Kendall & Randy Thomas. Wily veterans who anchor the O-line.
2. Leonard Davis & Kyle Kosier. If Kosier was better they could move up.
3. Shawn Andrews & Todd Herremans. Andrews may be the best OG in the NFL. Herremans holds him down a little.
4. Chris Snee & Rich Seubert. Snee is a great OG. Probably 3rd best in the NFC East behind Andrews & Davis.

Center
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1. Andre Gurode. One of the best in the NFL. A bull.
2. Shaun O'hara. Is a top 5 Center in the NFL.
3. Casey Rabach. Going to get better.
4. Jamaal Jackson. No scrub.

Defensive Ends
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1. Usi Umenyiora & Justin Tuck. The loss of Strahan will hurt, but they are deep and solid.
2. Trent Cole & Juqua Thomas. Some could argue thatJim Johnson's system makes them what they are.
3. Chris Canty & Marcus Spears. Mostly run stuffers in a 3-4, but big, strong, and effective.
4. Phillip Daniels & Andre Carter. It is surprising they couldn't do more under Gregg Williams

Defensive Tackles/Nose Tackle
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1. Barry Cofield & Fred Robbins. Solid against the run and play the pass well. They set up the Giants DEs.
2. Jay Ratliff. Motor never stops running. Plays whistle to whistle.
3. Cornelius Griffin & Anthony Montgomery. Griffin is under rated.
4. Mike Patterson & Broderick Bunkley. A lot invested without much return.

Outside Linebackers
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1. DeMarcus Ware & Greg Ellis. Ware is so good that even if Ellis were to retire Dallas wouldn't fall.
2. Gerris Wilkinson & Mathias Kiwanuka. They benefit form the system, but are good.
3. Rocky McIntosh & Marcus Washington. Going to get better. Book it.
4. Omar Gaither & Chris Gocong. Philly needs to improve this position.

Middle Linebacker/Inside Linebackers
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1. Antonio Pierce. The heartbeat of the Giants solid Defense.
2. London Fletcher. If he goes down the Commanders Defense does too.
3. Zach Thomas & Bradie James. Have not played together, but the potential is promising.
4. Stewart Bradley. Not bad, but nothing to write home about either.

Cornerbacks
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1. Terence Newman & Anthony Henry. The depth behind them isn't a drop off and Jones could start over Henry.
2. Asante Samuel & Sheldon Brown. Is Samuel is anything like he was at new England they will be solid. Lito shepherd isn't appreciated near enough by Philly.
3. Sam Madison & Aaron Ross. A coin toss for this spot and 4th.
4. Carlos Rogers & Shawn Springs. Need to stay healthy to climb the list.

Safeties

1. Ken Hamlin & Roy Williams. Let the squawking begin.
2. Brian Dawkins & Quintin Mikell. Dawkins is the best in the bunch, that's why they are so high.
3. Laron Landry and Reed Doughty. Doughty played well in replacement of Sean Taylor. They can climb this list.
4. Sammy Knight & James Butler. How long before Kenny Phillips takes one of the spots?

 

[theogt]

I think you're nutso if you'd take Eli over Tony.

Yeah, there's the Super Bowl thing, but that doesn't make Brad Johnson better than Tony.

 

[bbgun]

RB category should contain more than one name per team, ala wide receivers.

 

[pancakeman]

RB category should contain more than one name per team, ala wide receivers.

3rd WR's and 3rd CB's also see enough action that maybe they should be on there too.

 

[Primetime42]

"Learns to win a playoff game" is weak, no offense.

I don't think Eli "learned" to win anything. Team effort. So many things went wrong beyond Romo's control and if just one of them had gone right, we'd be talking a different story.

I don't blame him for what happened and I expect him to answer those critics late in the season.

 

[dooomsday]

1. DeMarcus Ware & Greg Ellis. Ware is so good that even if Ellis were to retire Dallas wouldn't fall.

 

[Manster68]

The best acquisition made by the Cowboys this season just might be Hudson Houck. If the Cowboy offensive line improves from last season, then the whole team improves.

I think Tank Johnson will get more snaps at the nose than Ratliff. No problem with Dallas being #2 at that position though.

 

[Fletch]

"Learns to win a playoff game" is weak, no offense.

I don't think Eli "learned" to win anything. Team effort. So many things went wrong beyond Romo's control and if just one of them had gone right, we'd be talking a different story.

I don't blame him for what happened and I expect him to answer those critics late in the season.

Exactly! Tony does have to learn how to win. But at the same time, the team has to learn how to win together! Offensively and defensively!

Eli had his defense do most of the walking. Eli did have clutch throws, but you can't say that Romo couldn't have made the same type of throws had the team as a whole put him in the same position that the Giants put Eli in.

Just wait till this coming season!

 

[Kilyin]

3. Donovan McNabb. At one time the unquestioned king,

maybe if you're having dinner at PhoenixTalon's house.

 

[pugilist]

The best acquisition made by the Cowboys this season just might be Hudson Houck. If the Cowboy offensive line improves from last season, then the whole team improves.

I think Tank Johnson will get more snaps at the nose than Ratliff. No problem with Dallas being #2 at that position though.

 

[WilmingtonHeel]

What about kicker and Punter? I think we have the best of that bunch as well. The list is good made alot of good, fair points

 

[burmafrd]

Just because Eli managed to make few mistakes for a 4 game period-no matter how important those 4 games were- is no reason to think he is better then Romo. Just howmany PLAYS did Eli make? not very many.

 

[kinderwords51]

Newman and Henry above Samuel and Shephard? No way.

 

[ThreeSportStar80]

All the safties in the NFC East are average at this point really...

 

[TheSkaven]

I think you're nutso if you'd take Eli over Tony.

Yeah, there's the Super Bowl thing, but that doesn't make Brad Johnson better than Tony.

Romo is the best quarterback in the division. Eli played well in the playoffs last year, but it is no coincidence that it happened to coincide with great defensive play.

I'd also put Jason Campell above Donovan McNabb. This isn't Donovan McNabb circa 2001 - this one has lost his mobility and his confidence. He's also hurt, and could be a question mark for training camp (according to local reports).

 

[WilmingtonHeel]

Henry may not even start Pacman and terence would be the most talented duo around. Man talk about speed, and throw in Mike Jenkins and Scandrick nobody has that much speed at the corners. The talent level is very high

 

[Manster68]

Henry may not even start Pacman and terence would be the most talented duo around. Man talk about speed, and throw in Mike Jenkins and Scandrick nobody has that much speed at the corners. The talent level is very high

This cornerback unit could become the scariest unit since...

...ever!

 

[CATCH17]

Ill take TO and Crayton over Burress and Toomer

Also Eli may be the Superbowl MVP but the best Quarterback in this division has a star on his helmet.

 

[THUMPER]

I would rank Romo over Manning but otherwise I think it is a pretty good list Hos.

 

[sonnyboy]

You went overboard trying not to be a homer ranking Romo behind Manning.

WR and CB units should go 3 deep.