NFL All-Decade Team: Part One—Offense

We are counting down the last of 2009 and with that the end of an exciting decade of football highlights.

We've been fortunate enough to watch amazing superstars develop and make the NFL a league filled with parity and unexpected upsets, while watching brilliant coaches and schemes make every week suspenseful.

In preparation for a new decade to dawn on us in about two weeks, I've compiled my all-decade team for the 2000's.

Who were the best players at each position offensively for 2000-2009?

In creating this list, I put the guys with the best statistics that made the most impact on their teams and the league itself.

There is a multitude of players to choose from, but you can't put them all on here. In other words, a player with a gazillion Pro-Bowl appearances doesn't mean he is part of this team.

There will be one offensive lineman chosen for each position, two quarterbacks, two wide receivers, one tight end, one running back and one fullback for a total of 12.

I know that's one more than a regular offense, but there's too many good QB's to choose only one.

QB 1: Peyton Manning

Seasons Played In Decade: 2000-2009

Key Statistics: Three-time NFL MVP, Super Bowl XLI Champion, 49,841 passing yards, 366 TD, 95.3 career passer rating, most wins of decade (131)

There's no question about this one.

Manning has been the most prolific player of the decade, and his Colts have been a premiere team in the AFC for the last eight years. Manning's ability to manipulate defenses and read coverage is second to none.

Combine that with durability and a rocket arm as he said himself, and you have a legend. His Achilles' heel may be only seven postseason wins in 15 games, but that hardly knocks down the house of Manning.

He may finish as the best ever.

QB 2: Tom Brady

Seasons Played In Decade: 2000-2009

Key Statistics: 2007 NFL MVP, Three-time Super Bowl Champion, Two-time Super Bowl MVP, Most TD passes in a season, 10 consecutive postseason wins

One of the hardest football decisions I ever had to make.

Brady or Manning? Brady edges out guys like Brett Favre because he simply has been an assassin in the playoffs. Ten wins in a row? That's more than Manning's career total.

In addition, Brady doesn't turn the ball over very much. He has just 98 interceptions in 4,166 pass attempts. His Patriots are easily the team of the decade, and Brady is the catalyst of it.

Before he had Randy Moss and Wes Welker, Brady was making it happen with guys like David Patten (who?) and Jabar Gaffney.

Never has a QB made so much with so little, and Brady's pinpoint accuracy and competitive fire make him the second best player of the decade.

Although statistically far from Manning in the regular season, Brady has far more playoff success and for that reason, he is an integral part of the all-decade team.

RB: LaDainian Tomlinson

Seasons Active In Decade: 2001-2009

Key Statistics: 2006 NFL MVP, 132 Rushing TDs, 12,257 Yards, Record 28 TDs in one season, First player to have 100 receptions and 1,000 yards rushing in one season

L.T. is the best running back of the decade by the widest margin of any position on this list.

His combination of speed, power, durability, and elusiveness made him virtually unstoppable for many years for the Chargers.

He was a dual threat that could beat you running the ball, catching it out of the backfield, or even passing on trick plays with seven passing TDs.

The only thing left for Tomlinson to do is win a championship, and with the way the Chargers are playing in 2009, that is a possibility.

In a decade that saw many prominent ball-carriers have short-lived success such as Shaun Alexander and Larry Johnson, L.T just kept setting records and slashing through opposing defenses.

He may have slowed down a little, but his impact on the NFL this decade cannot be understated.

OT: Walter Jones

Seasons Active In Decade: 2000-2009 (IR in 2009)

Key Statistics: Nine-time Pro-Bowl selection, Four-time first team All-Pro

Jones was a nightmare for any defensive tackle lined up against him.

His strength and great footwork gave him an amazing base that players simply couldn't penetrate.

John Madden once recognized Jones as the best offensive lineman to ever play the game, and Shaun Alexander has Jones to thank for his rise to prominence in the middle of the decade.

On injured reserve in 2009, Jones career may well be winding down, but his success and outstanding ability at the position will make him a first ballot Hall-of-Famer.

OG: Steve Hutchinson

Seasons Active In Decade: 2001-2009

Key Statistics: Six-time Pro-Bowl selection, Five-time first team All-Pro

Hutchinson made a resounding bang in the NFL with the Seattle Seahawks, teaming with Walter Jones to make one of the most formidable guard-tackle combinations in NFL history.

Hutchinson moved players off the ball and paved the way for two prominent NFL rushers, Shaun Alexander and Adrian Peterson.

Hutchinson has since declined like all players do, but he still has some of the ability that made him one of the best offensive linemen the league has seen in a long time.

C: Kevin Mawae

Seasons Active In Decade: 2000-2009

Key Statistics: Seven-time Pro-Bowl selection, Three-time All-Pro selection, Started 232 games

There's no all-decade team of the millennium that won't include Mawae at center.

This guy was a monster all decade, and actually still is at the ripe age of 38. He may be close to retirement, but Mawae has cemented himself as one of the best centers of our generation.

Mawae was at his best in New York for the Jets, where he helped pave a Hall-of-Fame career for Curtis Martin, and kept every QB standing that he snapped to.

Mawae played 177 games in a row, and anchored a line that only allowed 20 sacks in 2000, a mark that led the league.

Chris Johnson, the league's leading rusher, runs behind a line that is still headed by Mawae, and his toughness and strength has made him a premier center.

OG: Alan Faneca

Seasons Active In Decade: 2000-2009

Key Statistics: Eight-time Pro-Bowl selection, Super Bowl XL champion, Five-time All-Pro selection

Faneca has blocked for and helped keep many talented QBs and RBs standing.

Jerome Bettis, Willie Parker, and Ben Roethlisberger were all protected by Faneca, and he swallowed defenders on the line.

He's one of the toughest players in the league as proclaimed by some of his former coaches including Bill Cowher. He may be out of his prime but Faneca's motor and football knowledge have made him a great player.

OT: Jonathan Ogden

Seasons Active In Decade: 2000-2007

Key Statistics: 11-time Pro-Bowl selection, Super Bowl XXXV champion, Six-time first team All-Pro selection

This is a no-brainer. Ogden was a stalwart on the Baltimore Ravens offensive line, paving the way for Jamal Lewis for many years of his career.

Any opposing defender would tell you that at 6-9, Ogden was intimidating and strong, but also surprisingly nimble on his feet for a man his size.

Although he may be a little behind Walter Jones, his impact on the position and solid and consistent play is well-documented.

He remains one of the quickest offensive linemen the game has seen, and that is a tremendous asset to have when you are among the most powerful also.

FB: Lorenzo Neal

Seasons Active In Decade: 2000-2009

Key Statistics: Four-time Pro-Bowl selection, Two-time first team All-Pro, Lead Blocker for seven consecutive 1,300-plus rushing seasons

Neal is the gold standard for lead blocking fullbacks in the NFL.

He started his career blocking for Adrian Murrell (who?), a virtual unknown who ran for 1,000 yards the year Neal blocked for him.

Neal is best known for paving the way for LaDainian Tomlinson for much of his career, but also helped to make Corey Dillon and Eddie George household names.

His power and blocking skills are unparalleled in the decade, and Neal will always be regarded as one of the best lead blockers of all time.

TE- Tony Gonzalez

Seasons Active In Decade: 2000-2009

Key Statistics: 10-time Pro-Bowl selection, 6-time first team All-Pro, holds tight-end records for touchdowns, receptions and yards

There is no way anyone can argue this unanimous selection. Period. Gonzalez is the best tight-end the league has seen, and he's still good.

Gonzalez is the complete package at the position, possessing speed, power, incredible hands and the ability to block.

There may never be a prolific tight-end like Gonzalez ever again.

He made his career in Kansas City, which is even more impressive because they've largely been on the losing end for much of his career.

Gonzalez is great at every phase of his position, and when he decides to hang them up, he'll be recognized as the best tight-end to catch a NFL football.

WR 1- Randy Moss

Seasons Active In Decade: 2000-2009

Key Statistics: 6-time Pro-Bowl selection, 4-time All-Pro, 2000 Pro-Bowl MVP, 14,345 receiving yards, 145 TD, most TD's in a season for WR

Randy Moss is a phenomenon like we have never seen. His impeccable speed, amazing hands combined with great size made him the biggest draw since Steve Young.

Moss reportedly ran a 4.2 40-yard-dash in a workout, and wasted no time in Minnesota with QB Daunte Culpepper sprinting past defenders and scoring TD's.

Moss's attitude has made him a pariah in some circles, but even they cannot deny the talent this guy has.

If he hadn't dogged it a bit in Oakland, he may be much closer to records owned by Jerry Rice.

Moss will always be remembered as the most talented receiver since Rice, and a playmaker that could get behind any defensive scheme conceivable.

When Moss comes to play, nobody was going to stop him.

WR 2- Terrell Owens

Seasons Active In Decade: 2000-2009

Key Statistics: 6-time Pro-Bowl, 5-time All-Pro, 14,827 yards, 143 TD, only player to score a TD against all 32 NFL teams

I considered putting Torry Holt or Hines Ward on this team over Owens, but his attitude and knack for trouble isn't enough to leave him off of this team.

Say what you want about Owens, but he always came to play and left it all on the field.

Owens commands a double-team and that still isn't enough to keep him from finding his way deep into the secondary.

Along with Randy Moss, Owens created the most feared receivers of the decade. Owens will be partially remembered for his silly end-zone antics and penchant to cause dissension.

What he needs to be remembered for is his receiving ability, combination of speed, power, agility, and what he accomplished on the field.

One of the best receivers to ever play the game.

So there you have it, the 2000-2009 Offensive All-Decade team. Imagine if these guys all played together. There would have been an unimaginable dynasty, but a multitude of egos as well.

Maybe the decade's best coach, Bill Belichick could've handled it. Stay tuned for the defensive All-Decade team.