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19 Jun 2009

ESPN INSIDER: 10 Irreplaceable Players

Our list of the NFL's most irreplaceable players, based not only on how good they are but how big the drop in quality is to their backups.

UPDATE: Link fixed. M'bad.

Posted by: Bill Barnwell on 19 Jun 2009

11 comments, Last at 30 Jun 2009, 7:31pm by SammyG

Comments

1
by Spoon :: Fri, 06/19/2009 - 8:04pm

So, who wants to post the list for those of us without Insider?

5
by Waverly :: Sat, 06/20/2009 - 3:25pm

I'm not going to post the list, but you might want to search the web.

Maybe you'll find a page like this.

11
by SammyG (not verified) :: Tue, 06/30/2009 - 7:31pm

Or even this one
http://blogs.palmbeachpost.com/thedailydolphin/2009/06/19/should-any-dolphins-be-on-espns-irreplaceable-players-list/

7
by Rich Arpin (not verified) :: Sun, 06/21/2009 - 10:53pm

who even has insider?

2
by DZ (not verified) :: Sat, 06/20/2009 - 12:11am

Well, #1 is little surprise. It's the other half of the irrational thread. The one who didn't miss a season only to see his team win 11 games anyway.

Although with Cassel now gone from NE, maybe Brady should be back on this list.

3
by Joseph :: Sat, 06/20/2009 - 12:33am

Since I don't have insider--Drew Brees HAS TO BE one of them, right? The Mark Brunell of about 10 years ago would be a great backup, and the Joey Harrington of that time would be a great 3rd stringer/developmental guy--but NOW??

6
by td (not verified) :: Sun, 06/21/2009 - 3:12am

10 years ago Brunnell went 14-2 with one of the best offenses in the league. Don't be dissing young Mark Brunnell

4
by Ambientdonkey :: Sat, 06/20/2009 - 11:31am

Jay Cutler's backups are Caleb Hanie and Brett Basanez, I'll assume he's on the list.

8
by yonk4949 (not verified) :: Mon, 06/22/2009 - 11:31pm

I think this list is missing one key player... Sean Merriman. I don't know how he is not in the top 3, let alone the top 10. The sack/pressure production of the chargers dropped dramatically in 2008, he puts fear into the minds of QB's and allows his pass rushing teammates to have a much higher success rate of getting to he QB. The reason the chargers were such a great defense a year ago was because of a high pressure D which flowed through Merriman leading to more interceptions (and fumbles caused by Merriman) and flowed traffic into their solid linebackers in the middle. I am no Chargers fan but I believe he is #2 behind Peyton.

9
by Neoplatonist Bolthead (not verified) :: Fri, 06/26/2009 - 10:58pm

That's why the Chargers drafted English. If Merriman is at full health, that defense will be horrifying in long-yardage situations.

10
by Ian Philip (not verified) :: Mon, 06/29/2009 - 3:03am

Well, since Shawne Merriman is not on the list, it's stupid. We saw the Chargers become a shell of themselves without Merriman frightening the hell out of opposing QBs and Rbs.