Which NFL Franchises are the Best Put Together? - Joe Chacon's Blog

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Joe Chacon's Blog

Which NFL Franchises are the Best Put Together? Stuck

Posted on July 20, 2012 at 12:23 AM.

(16)

We are only four days away training camps opening up throughout the NFL.

While the parity in the league today gives more fans a chance to be excited more than ever, there are still some franchises that have a ways to go before they will even sniff the playoffs.

There are an alarming number of teams who are built for the next couple of years, but due to upcoming expiring contracts it's hard to say that they are really well put together.

A team that is well put together is one that has a chance to win this season as well as for the next few seasons without a huge roster overhaul.

Here are the five best "put together" teams heading into the 2012 season:

5. New York Giants
There is a true debate today as to which Manning is better; Eli or Peyton?

Eli has emerged from his brother's shadows to become what many would consider to be the best Manning in the league. Prior to the 2011 season this would have been a laughable debate in Peyton's favor.

Structurally the Giants have five expiring contracts coming after the 2012 season and another five after the 2013 season.

Manning is locked up through the 2015-16 season and he will have a good nucleus around him for the duration of his contract.

The way the contracts are set up the Giants will have ample flexibility to maintain what they have or go after key free agents following this upcoming season.

Look for them to be near the top of the NFC East for the next couple of seasons.

4. New England Patriots
New England was 13-3 in 2011 and there is no reason to believe they can't have just as good of a regular season in 2012.

The Patriots have six contracts expiring after the 2012 season and four coming up after the 2013 campaign.

Tom Brady is locked down through the 2014-15 season.

New England isn't the overwhelming favorites year in and year out as they were a few seasons ago but they are still the favorites to win the AFC East.

The Pats have made their mistakes recently with a couple of bad contracts but overall they are poised to be strong moving forward.

3. San Francisco 49ers
Harbaugh's Niners are clearly the class of the NFC West. Well, the NFC West is a bit of a laughingstock and as a Rams fan it hurts me to say that. It just hurts to be a Rams fan in general.

If San Francisco doesn't win the West this year by at least four games it will be a surprise. The team has been put together pretty well over the last couple of seasons and only have nine players with an expiring contract over the next two seasons.

Patrick Willis and Ahmad Brooks are two of the big defensive players with long contracts. The core of the San Francisco team is the defense and that is how they are going to win most of their games in the 2012 season.

Seattle, Arizona, and St. Louis should all be improved this season but San Francisco is definitely the favorite for the next few years.

2. New Orleans Saints
New Orleans, much like Philadelphia, has a low amount of expiring contracts coming up within the next couple of years with seven.

The Saints were 13-3 last year and lost in the second round to the San Francisco 49ers.

Brees is locked up with his new contract and there are plenty of offensive and defensive weapons signed for a few years to keep this team competitive without any radical changes for the near future.

If New Orleans can weather this stormy 2012 season without their coach they will be fine going forward.

1. Philadelphia Eagles
The Eagles had one of the most disappointing seasons in recent memory. The "Dream Team" as many referred them as finished the 2011 campaign with an 8-8 record and outside of the playoff picture.

The team is structured very well. Michael Vick, LeSean McCoy, and DeSean Jackson are all locked up for a very long time.

Vick, if he stays healthy, is an elite quarterback and has a contract in force with the team than can last until 2016-17 season should the club pick up the option.

Overall the Eagles only have four expiring contracts coming up within the next two years.

Joe Chacon is a staff writer for Operation Sports and a featured columnist for Bleacher Report. You can follow him on Twitter @JoeChacon.

Comments

# 1 PackerBacker123 @ Jul 20

No green bay packers??? hmm... lets go though your countdown shall we. 5. NY Giants, yes they did win the Superbowl 2 times in the previous 5 years, so I agree that they should be on the list also due to what they did in the draft. 4. Patriots at number 4, you have got to be kidding me! Talk about a team in good hands, made the Superbowl 2 out of the last 5 years. And BUILDS themselves around the draft. Deserving of a number 2 spot on my list. 3. San Fran, this is an interesting team to say the least! With an emerging Alex Smith, a stout defense, and a power running game I think you actually got this right. 2. New Orleans, Yes this team did make the NFC championship game and have won a recent Superbowl, but with all the drama of a bounty scandal, several draft picks token away, and a suspended head coach, they are a number 4 on my list. 1. Eagles... what! A team that prides itself on being the "dream team" and finishes 8-8 and does not make the playoffs. NOT ON MY LIST.

# 2 Feldman011teen @ Jul 20

Wow really no Panthers really? As much hype as Cam is getting and the weapons they have you can't tell me they're not built. Oh and the Patriots? The defense is still old and garbage and who's catching or running the ball? Time is ticking on Brady.

# 3 paconaifas @ Jul 20

No Packers???????????? How can this be? A young and very talented team, already with a Superbowl ring and a season in which they should have done better, but lost against the Superbowl champions, and still they are not in this list!? And by the way, how can the Eagles be there? What have they done lately, compared to all the other teams on the list!? They don't even seem to have much of a future with all that they've shown so far, which is...nothing!

# 4 zkiesel @ Jul 20

I'm surprised the Ravens aren't on this list. Steve Bischotti (owner) and Ozzie Newsome (GM) have seemingly never made a wrong move in the front office. They lock up stars like Ray Lewis, Ed Reed, and Ray Rice. But aren't afraid to let go players like Todd Heap and Willis McGahee, because there's always an up and coming young player (Ed Dickson, Dennis Pitta), or a cheaper veteran (Ricky Williams last year) to fill their holes. With a system like that, how could they not be in the Top 5? Baffles me.

# 5 phuddy1285 @ Jul 20

The Eagles are vastly overrated. While there are a lot of pieces to like about them McCoy, Jackson they aren't as close as most think to getting to a Super Bowl. You used the terms Vick and healthy in the same sentence which is very ulikely to happen. If I am not mistaken he has only played one fully healthy season in his whole career. Hat leads people to beleive that he all of a sudden will stay healthy this year. Keep dreaming Philadelphia. You had your "dynasty" with the Phillies yet that seems to be over....

# 6 PackerBacker123 @ Jul 20

Eagles out, Packers/Ravens in...

# 7 DubTrey1 @ Jul 20

Eagles? and no Packers? Seems to be an easy bunch of choices on here. Ravens also should be on here. Surprised no mention either of Steelers. They are always in the mix - year after year after year.

# 8 steelereign @ Jul 20

I assume that this list is for teams as they are currently constructed? If not, how the heck are the Steelers not on this list? They have consistently built strong teams through the draft and are rarely out of the playoff picture. They are the epitome of a "put together franchise" - maybe one of the top 3 in all sports.

# 9 Blackout863 @ Jul 21

4 Big Issues with this

1: The Patriots should be at the top.
2: The Eagles should be nowhere on this list.
3: The Steelers, Ravens, or Packers arent on this list, Are you serious?
4: There is no such thing as Parody in the NFL much less sports. Parody is when everyone has a chance. How many different teams have won the Super Bowls in the past 12 seasons. Patriots (3) Steelers (2) Giants (2) Packers (1) Saints (1) Colts (1) Ravens (1) Bucs (1)

Of that 1/4 of the NFL, all of these teams are powerhouses and playoff mainstays. Where is the parody in that.

# 10 DIRRTY30 @ Jul 21

How can you call yourself a football fan and not put the Packers on here? They are one of the youngest teams in the NFL and have won a Super Bowl and have the league MVP, who is only 28, at quarterback, they have stars all over the field, are $11 million under the salary cap, and they do all of this through the draft without having to overpay free agents. The Eagles meanwhile went 8-8 last year, and they're paying their quarterback, who has never been healthy for a full 16 game season and who a few years ago was in prison, $100 million.

# 11 DIRRTY30 @ Jul 21

@Blackout863
"There is no such thing as Parody in the NFL much less sports. Parody is when everyone has a chance. How many different teams have won the Super Bowls in the past 12 seasons. Patriots (3) Steelers (2) Giants (2) Packers (1) Saints (1) Colts (1) Ravens (1) Bucs (1)

Of that 1/4 of the NFL, all of these teams are powerhouses and playoff mainstays. Where is the parody in that."

I would have to dissagree with you on that. 12 years, 8 champs. If there was no parody, you would be looking at 3 or 4 champs. Secondly, you failed to mention the other teams who also made the Super Bowl in those years. The Cardinals, Bears, Seahawks, Eagles, Panthers, Raiders, and Rams all made the Super bowl and had an equal chance of winning it. So, in the last 12 years, you had 15 different teams, or slightly under half the league, make it to the Super Bowl, with the Pats, Steelers, Giants, and Colts being the only ones to make it to multiple Super Bowls over that span. Everybody has a shot at the Super Bowl. Nobody thought the Giants would make it to the Super Bowl either year they won it. The Cardinals and Panthers made it to the Super Bowl after years of constant garbage. All it takes is the right coach and GM to put the pieces in place.

# 12 Retropyro @ Jul 22

Nevermind top spot, how are the Iggles even on the list? Going out and collecting high priced "never actually won" talent does not equal a well put together team.

# 13 Lionsfan7887 @ Jul 22

Ted Thompson does a great job with Greenbay

# 14 OtherMoon2 @ Jul 23

This was a wasteful read. The Eagles are not the #1 NFL Franchise, in any regard. Their defensive coordinator is their old offensive line coach...that's just to start. They over paid for defensive backs when they clearly needed help at the linebacker position. They went 8-8 (which you mentioned at the top...you said the went 8-8 and listed them at #1, you're an idiot) They lack depth and the offensive/defensive lines, their top receiver is terrified of contact, or and that elite QB you mentioned...

Here’s the official injury list.

1. 2010, Game 4: rib cartilage damage against the Washington Redskins caused Vick to miss the last three quarters of the game, as well as the next three games
2. 2010, Game 15: quad injury against the Minnesota Vikings that clearly affected his performance throughout the game, and likely would have cost him an opportunity against the Dallas Cowboys in the season finale had he needed to play
3. 2011 Game 2: concussion against the Atlanta Falcons after he was knocked backwards into offensive tackle Todd Herremans
4. 2011 Game 3: bruised right hand against the New York Giants after his non-throwing hand collided with the helmet of defensive end Chris Canty
5. 2011 Game 9: broken ribs against the Arizona Cardinals after a hit from linebacker Daryl Washington on the third play of the game

...I suggest you reconsider your list.