Which NFL CB's Are Worth The Effort Of Obtaining Football Tickets? by Jay Nault

Which NFL CB's Are Worth The Effort Of Obtaining Football Tickets?
by: Jay Nault

Can CB's move football tickets? We think there are a few who can, and we're going to continue our positional rankings with that crucial position today. CB's are invaluable, and many General Managers will rank them just behind QB’s on the overall hierarchy of positions on a football team. A good CB can not only take away a team's best WR, but shut down an entire half of the field. This can seriously limit a team's game plan, and inhibit its ability to spread the ball around. Below are the top 5 CB's in the NFL today, and as always, more than pure statistics have been considered.

1. Champ Bailey

Bailey is perhaps the most feared CB in the league, and for good reason. He's big for a corner, has legendary speed, the ability to close like a cougar and has great hands. He can also play the ball with a high level of skill, which is something even some of the best CB's don't have. Bailey never leads the league in INT's because opposing QB's so rarely choose to test him. However, ask any WR in the league this very question, and Bailey will almost always be at, or at the very least near, the top of the list of best CB's.

2. DeAngelo Hall

Hall may be young, as he's not set to turn 23 until November, but in two years, he's already become nearly as feared as Bailey. Hall is not big, but he has lightning speed and quickness that's unmatched. He's also a physical tackler and will stick his nose into run support without hesitation. Not to mention, when he does get his hands on a ball, he's a threat to make a big play every time. Hall's return ability alone is worth the price of football tickets. Like Bailey, you won't see much of Hall on Sundays, but that’s because the ball isn't coming his way.

3. Ronde Barber

Barber is a bit different than Bailey and Hall in that he plays the "Tampa 2" scheme, which means that he's in zone coverage more often than man-man, but he plays it better than anyone out there, and he's ready to pounce on the slightest mistake a QB makes. Barber is also a threat in the open field, and one of the fiercest hitters in the league, so RB's will look for Barber as they break through a hole, which is rare for CB's.

4. Ken Lucas

Many felt that the Panthers overspent when they signed Lucas last year, but all he did was bring stability to the field and shut down pretty much every WR he faced all season. Lucas is a big, physical corner who can run, and he's also a ballhawk, as he’s snagged 12 interceptions over the past two seasons. Lucas is not a CB WR's look forward to seeing on the schedule.

5. Chris McAlister

McAlister is one of the cornerstones of the Raven defense, and that's saying something considering he shares the field with Ray Lewis and Ed Reed, among others. However, one of the reasons Lewis and Reed are so revered is that McAlister's blanket coverage allows them to roam free and make plays. Like many others on this list, McAlister is never leading the league in INT’s because so few passes come his way.

6. Honorable Mention

Three players make this list, and they include Nathan Vasher, who's a great ballhawk but can get beat on that rare occasion. Al Harris may be a bit slow, but Chad Johnson called him one of the best in the NFL, and that's good enough for us, and Ty Law is another legendary thief who's always around the ball, but he's getting up in years. Regardless, any of these CB's is worth the effort to obtain football tickets.