ESPN NFL

The Denver Broncos arrived in North Carolina on Friday to find out there is another player in the Peyton Manning sweepstakes.

ESPN’s Chris Mortensen and Adam Schefter report that the San Francisco 49ers have emerged as a player in the Manning chase and that San Francisco officials have already seen Manning throw. Denver’s brass will watch Manning throw Friday.

The Titans are also in the mix. Schefter reports that Miami is already out and that the Cardinals are expected to move on.

Earlier in the process, Schefter reported that Manning would prefer to stay in the AFC. Manning’s younger brother, Eli, is the quarterback of the New York Giants. The Giants beat the 49ers in the NFC title game.

If Manning is picking his next team based solely on talent, the 49ers may have the edge on Denver and Tennessee. Schefter reports that the 49ers may be a long shot, but their interest shows that this process is still fluid.

Super Bowl rings do talk.

In an extremely close vote, our readers voted that the Chargers' trade of Eli Manning nearly eight years ago was not worth it. Manning just won his second Super Bowl ring with the Giants.

As of 2:15 p.m. ET Wednesday, 51 percent of the voters believe it was a poor choice and 49 percent think it was a good move.

It’s a difficult call. I think Manning is better off in New York and Philip Rivers is better off in San Diego. Remember, Manning never wanted to be a Charger and Rivers has developed into the face of the San Diego franchise. It worked out for both teams, but, again, Super Bowl rings carry weight.

The Chargers sent Manning -- whom they took with the No. 1 pick -- to the New York Giants for a package that included Rivers, who was the No. 4 pick, and picks that resulted in linebacker Shawne Merriman (who was a star before injuries derailed his San Diego career) and reliable kicker Nate Kaeding in a draft-day deal in 2004.

Thanks to everyone who played along.

There is no doubt Philip Rivers has been good for the San Diego Chargers.

He is the leader of the team, he’s the face of the franchise, and he represents the team’s best chance to make a run at a Super Bowl title.

However, do you think the Chargers are better off from their 2004 draft-day trade when they sent Eli Manning -- who they took with the No. 1 pick -- to the New York Giants for a package that included Rivers, who was the No. 4 pick, and picks that resulted in linebacker Shawne Merriman (who was star before injuries derailed his San Diego career) and reliable kicker Nate Kaeding.

Manning, of course, just won his second Super Bowl ring. Please take out AFC West poll and let us know what you think. Remember, Manning never wanted to be a Charger, so the team felt it was necessary to make a deal. We will review the poll results Wednesday.

One of the biggest storylines of the Super Bowl week is that New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning has a chance to all but secure a place in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

The general consensus is if a quarterback wins a second Super Bowl, he is all but guaranteed to make it to Canton. For the most part, that is true. Then there is former Raiders’ quarterback Jim Plunkett.

Of the five quarterbacks who won the Super Bowl twice who are eligible for the Hall of Fame, four are in. Plunkett is not. The other quarterback who has won two Super Bowl rings is current Pittsburgh quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. The three Hall of Fame eligible quarterbacks who have won more than two Super Bowl rings have been inducted.

“False premise,” Plunkett said this week with a laugh. “If winning two makes you a shoo-in, well, that’s just not the case.”

Plunkett led the Raiders to wins in Super Bowls XV and XVIII. Yet, he is not in Canton. He is considered by many as a journeyman. But the truth is, he was a leader who willed his team to two titles. And it may never change. There hasn’t been a big recent push for Plunkett to get into the Hall of Fame. He has never been a finalist.

“I had my up and downs, I struggled early in my career,” said Plunkett, who noted he played during an era in which running the ball was at a bigger premium than it is now. “I was very fortunate to play on two very good teams."

Plunkett said he believes his Raiders’ coach, Tom Flores, should be in the Hall of Fame. Flores coached the Raiders to two Super Bowl wins. Like Flores, Plunkett, 64, may have hope. He could someday get in as a Senior Committee selection.

“I really don’t think about (not being in the hall of fame) too much,” Plunkett said. “My family and my friends do. I might get ticked off about it once in a while, but I don’t think about it every day.”

Perhaps the talk centering on Manning’s quest for a second ring will ignite talk amongst voters to revisit Plunkett’s candidacy.

» NFC Final Word: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

Five nuggets of information about Week 6

All about Al: It’s fitting the Oakland Raiders are the only team in the AFC West that is playing this weekend. The other three teams in the division are on their bye. This week should just be about the Raiders. It should be a special scene Sunday when the Cleveland Browns visit Oakland. There should be many tears as the Raiders play their first home game since the death of legendary owner Al Davis. The Raiders are planning to pay tribute to Davis throughout the game.

A chance for breathing room: The Raiders are 3-2. If they beat the Browns and move to 4-2, it will be the first time in nine years that they were two games over .500. Yes, that was the season the Raiders last went to the playoffs ... and the Super Bowl.

Razorback reunion: This game will be a battle of two top-notch running backs. Oakland’s Darren McFadden is the leading rusher in the NFL and Cleveland running back Peyton Hillis has been one of the league’s most effective rushers. Expect the two former backfield mates to try to outdo each other. Hillis blocked for McFadden and Dallas’ Felix Jones at Arkansas. All three were taken in the 2008 draft. McFadden and Jones were taken in the first round. Hillis was taken by Denver in the final round.

Campbell airing it out: Davis, one of the kings of the down-field pass, would love this statistic. Oakland quarterback Jason Campbell is second in the NFL in passing in the air, according to ESPN Stats & Information. His passes are averaging 9.8 yards in the air. He trails only the Giants’ Eli Manning is averaging 9.9 yards in the air per toss. Just air it out, baby.

Will the Raiders bring the heat? The Raiders blitzed more against the Texans than they have against any team this season. According to ESPN Stats and Information, the Raiders blitzed five or more pass-rushers 43.4 percent of the time at Houston. Their season average is 26.8. They blitzed four or fewer pass-rushers in Week 5 56.6 of the time. Their season average is 73.2. Will it continue against the Browns? Davis wasn’t completely against his defense blitzing the quarterback. But when it didn’t work, he wasn’t happy. With plenty of talented pass-rushers on this roster, I wouldn’t be shocked if the Raiders continued to blitz more if the coaching staff sees fit.

There are six active starting NFL quarterbacks who have won a Super Bowl.

Philip Rivers is not one of them.

That fact hangs over Rivers’ head and will be the biggest question mark about him until he wins one. There’s little doubt that the San Diego Chargers’ prolific, big-armed, big-hearted leader is the best active quarterback alive without a Super Bowl ring.

If Rivers, 29, ends his career without hardware, will it prevent him from being enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame? After his first five seasons as an NFL starting quarterback, Rivers (the No. 4 overall pick in the 2004 draft) has compiled statistics that suggest he is on his way to making the Canton, Ohio, museum.

And, thus far, he compares with non-Super Bowl-winning modern era quarterbacks such as Jim Kelly, Warren Moon, Dan Marino and fellow Chargers quarterback Dan Fouts.

“I think he’s on his way,” Gary Horton of Scouts Inc. said of Rivers' chances of becoming bronzed. “He’s got the look of a Hall of Fame player. He belongs with those names that have made it recently … It would really help his cause if he won a championship, but he’s on pace in my mind.”

Quarterbacks are judged on championships, and Rivers has pressure because several quarterbacks he is judged directly against have won Super Bowls recently.

New Orleans' Drew Brees won the title after the 2009 season. Brees left San Diego after the Chargers decided to start Rivers in 2006. The Giants' Eli Manning won the title in 2008. Manning and Rivers were the centerpieces of a 2004 draft-day trade. Pittsburgh's Ben Roethlisberger has won two Super Bowls. He was picked seven slots after Rivers in 2004. Green Bay's Aaron Rodgers won the Super Bowl earlier this year. He was drafted the year after Rivers.

The two other active quarterbacks to have won the Super Bowl are New England's Tom Brady (three rings) and the Colts' Peyton Manning (one).

If Rivers doesn't win a Super Bowl in his career, it could be held against him in the Hall of Fame voting room, especially if a few more quarterbacks win titles before he retires. The numbers could be stacked against him.

Brady and Peyton Manning are slam dunk Hall of Famers. I'd think Roethlisberger, Brees and Rodgers are in good shape to make it unless they all totally fall apart. Recent retiree Brett Favre will make it, and fellow recent retiree Kurt Warner has a great chance to be enshrined. The late Steve McNair could also get some consideration. Thus, a lot of quarterbacks who played during Rivers' career could be heading into the Hall of Fame in the next five to 15 years.

Seven quarterbacks have been enshrined in the Hall of Fame in the past 15 years. But this is a golden age of quarterbacking, so a large number will get in if they are deemed worthy by the voting committee. Winning that elusive ring is always recommended. A title could be the difference for Rivers between getting elected quickly and having a long wait.

Still, Rivers’ numbers show he is on pace to be considered seriously for Hall of Fame enshrinement.

In his career, Rivers (who threw a total of 30 passes in his first two NFL seasons) has thrown for 19,661 career yards. He has thrown 136 touchdowns and 56 interceptions. His career passer rating is 97.2. In 15 career seasons, Fouts threw for 43,040 yards, 254 touchdowns and 242 interceptions, and his passer rating was 80.2. Rivers is on pace for a much better career than Fouts, who never went to a Super Bowl but is enshrined in Canton.

Kelly, who lost four Super Bowls, played 11 seasons in the NFL. He threw for 35,467 yards and 237 touchdowns, and his passer rating was 84.4. Moon played 17 seasons in the NFL. He threw for 49,325 yards and 291 touchdowns, and his passer rating was 80.9. Dan Marino played 17 seasons. He threw for 61,361 yards and 420 touchdowns, and his passer rating was 86.4

If Rivers continues to play at a high level, he could be in the neighborhood of some of these Hall of Fame quarterbacks who did not win a Super Bowl.

Of the active Super Bowl-winning quarterbacks, only Rodgers has a better career passer rating than Rivers. Peyton Manning, Brady and Brees have more touchdown passes, and Peyton Manning and Brees have more passing yardage than Rivers since 2006.

“He stacks up with a lot the current guys and the recent Hall of Famers,” Matt Williamson of Scouts Inc. said. “I think he is very much in the same class as Kelly or Moon for sure -- and maybe even Marino. Longevity will be key, but his lifetime numbers should be off the charts.”

If Rivers (who had a famously speedy recovery from a torn ACL in the 2007 playoffs) can stay healthy, he should make a serious Canton push, ring or no ring.

“The guy has everything,” Horton said. “He’s a son of a coach. He’s a gym rat. He has great skills. He showed last year he can succeed with street free agents because all of his guys were hurt … Philip Rivers is a Hall of Fame type guy, there’s no doubt about it.”

In an interview with the Sporting News, San Diego Chargers’ general manager A.J. Smith caused a retroactive stir by taking a shot at New York Giants’ quarterback Eli Manning.

Of course, Manning didn’t want to be a Charger when the team had the No. 1 pick in 2004. The Chargers took Manning and then traded him to the Giants in a package that netted the Chargers star quarterback Philip Rivers in the draft-day trade.

Manning has won a Super Bowl with the Giants, but Rivers has developed into an elite player and is widely considered a much better player than Manning. Smith stoked the fires last week by saying this about Manning: "He was a Charger for 45 minutes and that was too much time to be a Charger, in my opinion."

Smith went on to say this about Rivers: "I believe with my heart and soul that he one day will lead the Chargers to a world championship. He's a great quarterback -- a phenomenal leader with great character, great work habits

ESPN.com’s SportsNation wants you to chime in on a poll on the matter. Do you think Smith should get over his beef with Manning or do you think he is entitled to hold a grudge against the player who didn’t want to play for him?

Take the poll and then voice your opinion on the subject in the section below.

My thoughts are that Smith can say whatever he wants about Manning. It’s just an opinion. I think the more interesting part of his comments was his overwhelming endorsement of Rivers and his expectation that his quarterback will win a Super Bowl. It has to make Rivers feel good, knowing how much confidence his boss has in him.

What key event significantly changed the fortunes of the Chargers -– for better or worse? Give us your take and we’ll give you our definitive moment May 24.

The Chargers got a great steal when they nabbed Oregon QB Dan Fouts in the third round of the 1973 draft. Fouts and coach Don Coryell made San Diego’s "Air Coryell" offense famous. Fouts was a premier gunslinger, and while the Chargers never made it to the Super Bowl under his guidance, they were one of the most dangerous teams in the NFL during his heyday.

The Chargers’ lone Super Bowl performance, a lopsided loss to San Francisco in Super Bowl XXIX, is a bad memory. But it was a part of team history.

The Chargers set themselves up for a productive decade with the selection of running back LaDainian Tomlinson in the 2001 draft. He became the NFL’s best running back for a time and was the face of the franchise until his release in 2010.

In 2004, the Chargers made the best of Eli Manning's desire to not play for them. San Diego held the No. 1 pick, took Manning and then packaged him in a deal with the New York Giants that brought QB Philip Rivers to the Chargers. Rivers has developed into the new face of the franchise in San Diego.

If you have a better option than what we have listed, hit Other in the SportsNation poll and let us know in the comments section.

I didn’t create any waves in our quarterback Power Rankings that were released Tuesday.

All 10 of the quarterbacks I voted for made the top 10. The only variation from my poll and the final ranking was the flip-flop of Baltimore’s Joe Flacco and the New York Giants’ Eli Manning. I had Flacco ninth and Manning 10th. In the Power Rankings, Manning was ninth and Flacco was 10th in a tie with Dallas' Tony Romo.

The only time I struggled during my ranking was at 10th place. I chose Manning because of his Super Bowl ring over the likes of Romo, Chicago’s Jay Cutler, Tampa Bay’s Josh Freeman and St. Louis Sam Bradford. In all, I considered 18 quarterbacks. It’s a pretty strong quarterback league these days.

I think there are seven elite quarterbacks -- New England’s Tom Brady, Indianapolis’ Peyton Manning, New Orleans’ Drew Brees, Green Bay’s Aaron Rodgers, Pittsburgh’s Ben Roethlisberger, San Diego’s Philip Rivers and Philadelphia’s Michael Vick. I think Rivers is in a good spot at No. 6. He’s clearly the best quarterback in the NFL without a Super Bowl ring and it was good to see other voters agree. Rivers was fifth on three ballots and sixth on the other five.

Kansas City’s Matt Cassel received one 10th-place vote. I considered Cassel, but I want to see more development before I place him on this impressive list.

Pat Kirwan of NFL.com offers a redo of the 2004 draft. He has the San Diego Chargers taking quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.

The Chargers, of course, took quarterback Eli Manning and traded him to the New York Giants for a package of picks including Philip Rivers, who the Giants took at No. 4. Kirwan reasons that Roethlisberger and his two Super Bowl rings are difficult to argue with. That’s true. However, would Roethlisberger really be better than Rivers in San Diego?

We addressed that subject prior to the Super Bowl. Both Gary Horton and Matt Williamson of Scouts Inc. said they believed the Steelers would be just as good with Rivers as they are with Roethlisberger. However, they don’t know if the Chargers would be as successful with Roethlisberger as they are with Rivers because of the way Rivers fits Norv Turner’s offense.

With Roethlisberger in San Diego in his redo, Kirwan had Oakland taking Rivers instead of Robert Gallery, who has had a so-so career and said he will leave this offseason as a free agent.

The Raiders likely would have been in much better shape during those lean years in the middle of the last decade with Rivers. You also have to wonder if the Randy Moss experiment would have worked better if he had a young gun like Rivers throwing him the ball.

What does Kirwan’s exercise all mean? Nothing at all. But it’s fun to ponder.

In other AFC West nuggets Saturday:

Pro Football Focus has a nice piece on Oakland defensive lineman Matt Shaugnessy. It calls the third-year player a “secret superstar.” Shaugnessy is overshadowed by bigger names on the Oakland defensive line, but he has been an impact player. It will be fun to watch him continue to develop.

The San Diego Union Tribune has an update on the Chargers’ quest for a new stadium.

NFL Live has a look at Denver’s draft needs.

It’s clear San Diego Chargers fans do not hold anything against quarterback Philip Rivers even though Pittsburgh’s Ben Roethlisberger will play in his third Super Bowl since he was taken with the No. 11 overall pick in the 2004 draft. Three years ago, New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning won a Super Bowl ring. Manning was the No. 1 overall pick of that draft.

Rivers was the No. 4 pick of that draft class. The Chargers ended up with Rivers after a trade with the Giants that involved Manning. Unlike Roethlisberger and Manning, Rivers has not been to a Super Bowl.

Our sound-off question was if San Diego fans think the fact that Roethlisberger and Manning have qualified for a combined four Super Bowls is a direct knock on Rivers? Nearly every response I received did not pin it on the Chargers' quarterback.

I agree. Roethlisberger’s success has nothing to do with Rivers, even though Rivers was taken ahead of him. They are both elite players. Below are some of your responses. Thanks to everyone who participated.

Gregg from Ocala, Fla.: As a Raiders fan, I'm loathe to heap praise on a rival player, but out of the three QB's in the 2004 first round, Phillip Rivers is the best pure QB out of the three. Manning is a David Tyree once-in-a-lifetime catch from being 0-1 in the SB, and let's face it, the Steelers D gave Roethlisberger his first SB against the Seahawks. I can't fault Ben's performance against the Cards as he truly earned that one though. That being said, if Rivers had either stayed with the G-men or been drafted by the Steelers, he'd have his ring too. His problem is he's been saddled with an under-performing surrounding cast and two coaches, Schottenheimer and Turner, who have never been known as great playoff coaches. I don't know what their collective playoff record is, but I'm sure it is well under .500. Jason Campell is okay, but if I had a choice, give me Phil Rivers any day of the week and twice on Sundays.

Adam from Irvine, Calif.: The only reason why Big Ben and Eli Manning have been successful in winning the Super Bowl is mainly because of the dominating defenses they had. Without their team's defense they would not have been as successful in the playoffs. This is more so for Eli Manning as he is only a good, not elite QB in this league. Big Ben is probably one of the most clutch QB's of this era, but you have to wonder if Phillip Rivers had the Steeler's defense would he have won as many Super Bowl rings as Big Ben, or if Big Ben would have won without his defense. In conclusion Phillip Rivers is arguably in the top 5 of elite QB's in this league who is consistently the past couple of seasons has thrown for more than 4,000 yards and with a passer rating of over 100.00. In terms of throwing the deep ball there is no one better in this league. I hope that Phillip Rivers and the Charger organization finally gets over the early playoff exit hump and gets to the Super Bowl and finally bring a championship home to this organization.

Paul M. from San Diego: I've always thought that championships are overrated when referencing individual accomplishment. While the QB may have the greatest impact of the players on the field, the entire team has to be excellent (and healthy) in order to win a super bowl. I don't think anyone on the planet would argue that Eli Manning is a better quarter-back than Philip Rivers, despite his Super Bowl Ring. This applies elsewhere as well...can anyone possibly claim that Nash is not an all-time great Point Guard because he's never played in the finals?

Scott Boissoneau from Berlin, Conn.: On Rivers not being to the SB, I don't think you can put the onus on him. He is arguably one of the best QB's in the NFL. Roethlisberger and Manning had better teams around them to help with their success. Rivers will be there one day!

Joe from Monterey, Calif.: Bill, the fact that Rivers has not reached a superbowl in my opinion is the same reason that Manning did not want to play for San Diego. Management. Their hardline stance with a good majority of their players has alienated them and put a cloud of doubt in their locker room that I think reflects on the field and their attitude to take the step needed to be a perennial contender for the championship. They have had the "parts" to make them a great team for the past 5-6 years but have yet to make the leap to contend for a championship. From my experience as a life long fan of the team, San Diego fans are tired of waiting to see this team have high expectations and fall flat when the opportunity presents itself. Rivers has the same intangibles of any other elite QB in this league, but is slowly following the same career path as Dan Marino. What a waste it would be if he never realized his potential as a superbowl champion (hint A.J. & Dean, don't let his prime years slip away!!!). I will be forever hopeful that he can reach that goal.

Ryan from Houston: It's not a knock on Rivers at all. There's a saying that defense wins championships and if you look at when both the Giants and Steelers won the SB they had very strong defenses with pretty good offenses. San Diego really hasn't had as strong of a defense as the other teams so Rivers has had to carry the team on his shoulders a lot more than either of the other two quarterbacks. Both of them really just had to not screw up to win the SB, wheras Rivers has had to make big plays constantly to even get there let alone win it.

Aaron from Eugene, Ore.: Although Big Ben will be going to his 3rd Superbowl and Eli has won one, I still think that Philip Rivers is the best quarterback of the three. His stats since he became a starter blow away Ben's and Eli's. The only thing missing is a trip to the Superbowl, which is extremely important yes, but I don't think any San Diego fans find Rivers at fault for their playoff woes.

Russ H. from San Diego: No, I don't think that Super Bowl drought is in any way a knock on Rivers. The fact that they get to the playoffs and can't run the ball (Pittsburgh, Jets, Patriots D locked LT down to what, 20 yards a game?), makes them a one-dimensional team, and it doesn't help that their own defense plays like push-over china dolls or doesn't go down with the Tom Brady interception to ice the game and then fumbles it back to the Patriots. Rivers obviously has the most pure talent out of the three when it comes to throwing the ball (See: this year), he's just been plagued by bad luck, soft coaching, and dumb plays that a rough and tough team like the Steelers and Ravens would never give up.

Sunday, Ben Roethlisberger will play his third Super Bowl since he was taken with the No. 11 overall pick by Pittsburgh in the 2004 draft. Three years ago, New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning won a Super Bowl ring. Manning was the No. 1 overall pick of that draft.

Of course, San Diego quarterback Philip Rivers was the No. 4 pick of that strong draft class. The Chargers ended up with Rivers after a trade with the Giants that involved Manning. Unlike Roethlisberger and Manning, Rivers has not been to a Super Bowl.

How do San Diego fans feel about that? Do you think the fact that Roethlisberger and Manning have qualified for a combined four Super Bowls is a direct knock on Rivers? Or do you think the Super Bowl comparison is unfair because of Rivers’ strong performance as the Chargers’ starter since taking over in 2006?

Hit my mailbag with your thoughts on the subject. I will post some of your responses later in the week.

The Vincent Jackson saga will likely be quiet for the next few weeks.

The trade window passed Wednesday afternoon, and now Jackson can’t be traded until Oct. 18. The NFL trade deadline is Oct. 19.

There is a very small chance Jackson will be traded then. Thus, he will likely not play in the NFL this season.

As of now, Jackson has no plans of reporting to San Diego all season long. He is holding out because he wants a long-term deal. The Chargers have no intentions of giving him a deal.

San Diego was open to dealing Jackson, but at their terms. Jonathan Feinsod, one of Jackson’s agents, said Wednesday they had multiple deals done for Jackson, but the Chargers didn’t get an offer they wanted.

The Chargers wanted two second-round picks. Perhaps when talks can resume next month, the Chargers will take a second-round pick and perhaps a fourth-round pick. It is unknown if there will still be high interest in Jackson that late into the season.

If Jackson is not traded, don’t expect him to change his mind and join the Chargers.

There is too much bad blood. Feinsod took a huge shot at Chargers GM A.J. Smith on Wednesday.

Said Feinsod: "Archie Manning had it right," a reference to Manning's reluctance to have Eli Manning play for San Diego after being drafted by the team in 2004. "They call [Smith] the Lord of No Rings for a reason."

Smith is not the type to take personal shots with a smile. On the day a Jackson deal fell apart, the relationship between the player’s camp and the team crumbled as well.

This relationship is over. The only question is will it end with a deadline trade or with Jackson sitting out the season.

Jonathan Feinsod, one of Vincent Jackson's agents, said his client would not be traded from San Diego by the Wednesday 4 p.m. ET deadline.

Feinsod said he had deals done for Jackson, but the Chargers would not agree on trade compensation.

“We had multiple offers and the Chargers squashed them all,” Feinsod said.

This is the second time this month San Diego turned down deals for Jackson, according to Feinsod.

It’s been reported that the Vikings offered a second-round pick in 2011 and another conditional pick for Jackson.

Feinsod ripped San Diego general manager A.J. Smith for not making a deal.

“Archie Manning had it right,” Feinsod said in reference to Manning not wanting his son Eli to play for the Chargers after he was drafted by the team in 2004. “They call (Smith) the Lord of No Rings for a reason.”

Yes, folks, it has gotten personal.

The Chargers can now trade Jackson on Oct. 18 or Oct. 19 before the NFL deadline. I don’t think these comments will inspire Smith to make a deal. If Jackson is not traded, he will likely sit out the entire season.

A weeklong look at current or former players or coaches with Hall of Fame potential in the division.

Broncos: Champ Bailey, cornerback

Claim to fame: Bailey has been known as one of the premier shutdown cornerbacks in the NFL since coming into the league with Washington in 1999. He’s been named to nine Pro Bowls.

Case for enshrinement: Bailey continues to be a shutdown cornerback. His signature play is an interception in the end zone that he brought back all the way to the goal line in the 2005 playoffs against New England. It was the key play in Tom Brady and Bill Belichick’s first postseason loss as New England Patriots.

Bailey is a tremendous run-stuffer. Unlike many cornerbacks, Bailey loves to get dirty and he often snuffs out sweep plays. He has said he worked hard to become a good tackler because he rarely gets tested in the air. Bailey is a bright, articulate player who takes his game very seriously. He’s simply an all-timer.

Case against enshrinement: Bailey has said it himself: He needs to get a Super Bowl ring before he seriously can be considered for enshrinement in Canton.

He should be in the clear, but the fact that Bailey hasn’t won a Super Bowl could play against him. The furthest he got was the AFC title game in the 2005 season.

Last run in Denver? Bailey, 32, said he plans to play at least five more years. However, the 2010 season could be his final year in Denver. His seven-year, $63 million contract expires after this season. There haven’t been any serious extension talks. Bailey said he is willing to wait to talk about a new deal and he wants to stay in Denver. However, Bailey will be expensive. If Denver doesn’t re-sign him, expect a contending team to open up the checkbook for this special player.

Will he make it? I think, if he wins a ring or not, Bailey will be enshrined in Canton.

Chiefs: Mike Vrabel, linebacker

Claim to fame: A main cog of the New England Patriots’ defenses during their dynasty years of the past decade.

Case for enshrinement: Dynasty teams usually send many players to Canton. Vrabel will get a long look. He is a natural leader, which is one of the reasons former New England executive Scott Pioli traded for him the first day he could when he took over in Kansas City last year. Vrabel is essentially a coach on the field.

Vrabel, who turns 35 next month, was a member of Sports Illustrated’s all-decade team for the 2000s. He was part of New England’s 50th anniversary team. Many people in Kansas City think if the Chiefs’ defense turns around this year, it will be because of Vrabel's leadership.

Case against enshrinement: Vrabel may be considered just a complementary player instead of a dominant game-changer. He has made only one Pro Bowl and one All-Pro team. He has one season in his 13-season career with more than 100 tackles. He has only 11 career interceptions.

Don’t forget the offense: In both New England and in Kansas City, Vrabel has been used as a secret weapon. As a tight end in the red zone, Vrabel has nine receiving touchdowns in the regular season. He has two offensive touchdowns in the postseason. He is, by far, the NFL’s defensive leader for offensive scores. That will count for something.

Will he make it? I think Vrabel will have to wait a long time. His lack of dominant numbers will hurt him.

Raiders: Nnamdi Asomugha, cornerback

Claim to fame: Asomugha is arguably the best cornerback in the NFL. He is a true shutdown cornerback.

Case for enshrinement: He shuts down the entire left side of the field. A first-round draft pick from Cal in 2003, Asomugha had a breakout season in 2006 with eight interceptions.

Since then, teams just don’t challenge Asomugha. He has had one interception in each of the past three seasons. Asomugha has made himself a great run-stuffer because he doesn’t get much work in the passing game. He is a bright light for the league as he is involved in many charities.

Case against enshrinement: He might not have a large body of work. Asomugha, 29, had a slow start to his career, so his final numbers might not be great. Asomugha has played in Oakland for seven years. The Raiders have lost at least 11 games in each of those seasons, which is an NFL record. Of course, the tailspin is not Asomugha’s fault. Still, in a league where rings are cherished, he could be dinged for it.

Hall of Fame tutelage: Asomugha has benefited from the coaching of Pro Football Hall of Famer Willie Brown, who is known as one of the greatest cornerbacks to play the game. Brown has helped Asomugha throughout his career. The two are very close and often talk strategy.

Will he make it? I think Asomugha may run out of time. His late start and Oakland's losing ways have put him behind the eight ball, but he's special enough to make up for the lost time.

Chargers: Philip Rivers, quarterback

Claim to fame: He is an elite quarterback. Rivers is in his prime and has gotten better in each of the four seasons he has started.

Case for enshrinement: This is a long-term project. Rivers is 28 and he should have another eight to 10 quality years remaining in his career. But he is on the right track.

Rivers is one of the game’s best players. He has put up huge numbers. He has thrown for 8,263 yards and 62 touchdowns in the past two seasons. He threw only 20 interceptions in that time. If Rivers, who has a high-powered offense to work with, continues to produce at this rate, he will be considered for enshrinement down the road.

He is a proven winner. San Diego is 46-18 in the regular season since Rivers became the starter. He is a natural leader.

Case against enshrinement: If Rivers gets hurt and his career ends prematurely, his Canton push will fall short. He needs to have a long career. He also needs to show he can deliver in the postseason, when it counts most. In 2006 and 2009, the Chargers were upset at home in their first playoff game in seasons in which the Super Bowl was an attainable goal. Rivers needs some signature playoff wins.

2004 draft class: Rivers will always be compared to Eli Manning and Ben Roethlisberger. Manning was the No. 1 pick, Rivers was the No. 4 pick and Roethlisberger was the No. 11 pick in the 2004 draft. Of course, Manning and Rivers were the key figures in a draft-day trade between the Giants and the Chargers.

Both Manning and Roethlisberger have something Rivers doesn’t: a Super Bowl ring. Roethlisberger has two rings. If Rivers never gets a Super Bowl ring, this comparison could work against him. Still, Rivers appears to be the safest bet of the three as they all move forward. Rivers is playing great and he is a solid citizen. Manning is inconsistent on the field and Roethlisberger will start the 2010 season suspended because of off-field issues. In the end, Rivers probably will be remembered as the best of the three, but a ring will help.

Will he make it? If Rivers stays healthy, I think he will be a Hall of Famer. He'll retire with huge numbers.