10 NFL Players Suddenly Over the Hill

Whether or not their teams are in the playoff hunt, decision makers across the league are starting to prepare for the upcoming offseason. This includes identifying need areas, getting a feel for the upcoming draft class, and figuring out who is just too old to play. 

As the season winds down, how players play late in the season is usually a strong indicator of what to expect from him the next season. So far, we have seen a lot of of veteran stars and key contributors simply run out of gas. 

When a player declines, it is usually a very fast process and GM's would much rather let a player go a year too soon than to have him hang around a roster and eat cap space. 

Here are 10 players whose playing days have just about come to an end. 

Hines Ward

Give credit to Hines for taking his demotion like a professional, but the emergence of Antonio Brown and Emmanuel Sanders have rendered Ward expendable. In addition to Jerricho Cotchery and Mike Wallace, Ward is the fifth best receiver on his team. 

He can still make a few plays, but his speed and explosion are all but gone. If the Steelers keep him around, it will be solely for his veteran presence and blocking ability. Should they decide to get rid of Ward, it will be interesting to see how the fan base reacts as Ward has been a symbol of Steelers football for almost a decade.

Brandon Jacobs

With Ahmad Bradshaw out with an injury, Jacobs has had a chance to prove that he can still be a lead back. 

He has done nothing to prove that in his starts this year. Jacobs looks slow and does not break tackles like he used to. He does not bring much as a receiving threat.

There was a time when the Giants had the best running game in football with Jacobs in the backfield running over defenders and being a terror in the second level. When all is said and done, I would be shocked if Jacobs is a Giant next year. 

Anquan Boldin

This may be a bit of a surprise, but if you watch Boldin, he rarely beats man coverage. All of the plays he makes come from jump balls and out-muscling defenders. 

I give him a ton of credit for being a physical presence at the receiver position, but the Ravens' inconsistencies on offense are not all Flacco's fault. Boldin's inability to separate has been a large part of the problem. 

Boldin can still play, but he is not meant to be a number one receiver. As a number two or three, he can be effective, but his best days are behind him. 

Bart Scott

Scott had a nice day against the Redskins, his best game since Week 1, but his role in the Jets' defense has diminished more and more each week. He is still instinctive and is not afraid to throw his body around, but he can be a liability in coverage. 

Scott's demise has been very quick. Looking at the tape, Scott actually had a slightly better 2010 season than teammate and All-Pro David Harris. 

After restructuring his contract in the off-season, he is likely to be back in New York in 2012, mostly for his role as a veteran leader.

Derrick Mason

One of the main reasons the Jets traded Mason to Houston was because rookie Jeremy Kerley was simply better than Mason. 

Since going to Houston, Mason has done little to prove the contrary. He has just six catches for 55 yards and does not see a lot of playing time. Perhaps the Ravens were on to something when they let him go in the offseason. 

Jared Gaither

Once a solid tackle for the Ravens, Gaither saw just one play for the Chiefs in 2011. It was a false start, and he was promptly released. 

He was picked up by San Diego, who is decimated on the offensive line. But if the Chiefs were willing to cut Gaither based on one play, he probably was not too impressive in practice. Unless he shocks the world Monday night against the Jaguars, Gaither's time is coming to a end. 

Thomas Jones

Give him a lot of credit for staying in the league as long as he has as a running back, but Jones is clearly not longer a threat in the backfield. 

His last productive season came in 2009 with the Jets, when he ran behind the league's best offensive line in the most run-heavy offense. The Chiefs clearly like his veteran leadership, but when Jones could not even hold the starting job after Jamaal Charles went down, it became clear the Jones is on his last legs.  

Terrance Newman

The biggest issue for Terrance Newman has been his inability to stay on the field. He can still be a starter in the league, but he cannot hang with top opposing receivers like he used to; he just no longer has the speed.

Because of the team he plays on, his name is a lot bigger than his real production. He will probably hang in the league for a few more years, but he is clearly on the decline.  

Ronnie Brown

To be honest, I thought Brown was going to have a much larger role in the Eagles offense than he has so far. Of course, the Eagles aren't exactly looking for reasons to take LeSean McCoy off the field, but Brown has been a non-factor this season. 

The fact that the Eagles tried to trade him for Detriot's Jerome Harrison says a lot (it also must have been extremely awkward when the trade did not go through and Brown had to return to the Eagles). 

Shaun Rogers

The 32-year old defensive tackle has had a bit of a disappointing season, even though he is on a winning team for the first time in his long career. The Saints run defense has been pretty lousy all season, and his average play is part of the blame. 

Rogers can still be used in a rotational role, but his days as a dominant zero-technique are over.