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I would first like to go over a few guidelines that I followed while constructing this team. 1. Rules change every year. Mike Haynes is (IMO) better than, say Ty Law, but rules change. If we are talking 2001 rules, then Ty Law would get the nod...

The New England Patriots' All-Time Team

by William Berry (Columnist)

10

931 reads

Sports

August 05, 2008


I would first like to go over a few guidelines that I followed while constructing this team.

1. Rules change every year. Mike Haynes is (IMO) better than, say Ty Law, but rules change. If we are talking 2001 rules, then Ty Law would get the nod. If we're working with the 1976 rules, it would go to Mike Haynes. Same goes for Raymond Clayborn.

2. I won't be fair to guys that I never saw play, like Gino Cappelletti. I'll try to be even, but I know I'll mess up.

3. It'll be heavy with guys currently playing. Not, as many idiots will claim, because Patriot fans are bandwagoners, but because Brady is the best QB.

Hey, I love Steve Grogan (who gets better as time passes, btw).  Stanley Morgan?  Behind Moss on the depth chart. I would love to see what he could do with the "don't touch me after five yards, you ruffian" rules, but Moss is Moss.

4. Being an idiot fan, I'll focus on "skill" position players. Why? Because they get their names said a lot.

With that said:

QB: Tom Brady, Steve Grogan, Babe Parilli

RB: Corey Dillon, Curtis Martin, Craig James*, Sam "Bam" Cunningham, Jim Nance *James was awesome one year, (1985 with 1,227 yards).

TE: Russ Francis, Ben Coates

WR: Randy Moss, Stanley Morgan, Gino Cappelletti, Troy Brown*, Wes Welker

*Yes, I'm a homer, but in 2001, his 1,199 receiving yards and his punt returns were crucial. Don't believe me? Ask a Steeler fan about the 2001 AFC Championship Game.

The only reason this idiot fan even remembers to add a lineman is to get John Hannah in there.

The defense is both a 3-4 and 4-3, I'm afraid.

NT: I would have Smerlas, but he was near the end of his career in New England. I sound foolish naming the current guy, but I have to go with Wilfork. As backups, I'll take Smerlas or Ted Washington. Hey, it's not like there is a wealth of "old timers" talent there.

DT: Well, no one sticks out as "must be included." Seymour, Ty Warren, Willie McGinest, and see note above about current players.

LB: (ILB, OLB, MLB) Andre Tippet—HOF is almost an automatic berth. Nelson—might be rose-colored glasses, but I remember him as being quite good. Tedy Bruschi—pre-stroke, he was better than Ray Lewis in decline. Mike Vrabel—need TEs too:). Chris Slade, Willie McGinest, and Ted Johnson round out the list.

CB: Mike Haynes, Ray Clayborn, Ty Law, Otis Smith, and Troy Brown as a nickelback only. *Really dependant on rules

S:(FS and SS) Rodney Harrison, Lawyer Milloy

Punter: Eddie Hare (just kidding) Tom Tupa*

*He was distance. He was not punting from your 40 trying to pin them. The style may not be a great fit.

Kicker: I'd have a solid competition between Adam Vinatieri and Tony Franklin

Oh, this is IMICaAO (In My Incredibly Correct and Accurate Opinion)

Argue away. I know this list has holes you can drive a snowplow through. 

(Groundskepeper: Mark Henderson, of course:))

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10 comments Last one added 6 months ago — Leave a Comment

  1. Paul 11 months ago

    Nice to see somebody realize they had a team before winning the big one, Steve Grogan, now that brings back fond memories. Nice!

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  2. eric banks 11 months ago

    qb tom brady, steve grogan ,drew bledsoe
    rb curtis martin, corey dillon,kevin faulk
    fb sam gash, mosi tatupu
    wr stanley morgan, gino capelletti, randy moss, deion branch, troy brown
    te ben coates, russ francis
    ol bruce armstrong, john hannah, dan koppen, sam adams, brian holloway
    dl julias adams, ted washington, willie mcginest
    lb andre tippett, don blackmon, ted bruschi, mike vrabel
    cb ty law, ronnie lippett, raymond clayborn, mike haynes
    s rodney harrison, fred marion
    k adam vinatieri
    p rich camirillo

    hof hannah, tippett, martin, coates, moss, haynes, harrison, vinatieri.

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  3. steve borunda 11 months ago

    Bruschi has NEVER been better than Ray Lewis. The guy has been to what, one pro bowl? I know that the number of pro bowls a player goes to doesn't make them great... but come on Bruschi vs a 9 time pro bowler and a two time defensive player of the year? Lewis is far better than Bruschi today, and to compare the two is almost insulting to the career of Lewis. If Tedy Bruschi didn't have the rings I would say it is completely insulting.

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  4. Jim C 11 months ago

    Lewis deserves any insults he gets.

    Ehhhh, he's a bum!!!

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  5. Scott 10 months ago

    qb: Tom Brady, Steve Grogan, Babe Parilli
    rb: curtis martin, corey dillon, sam "bam" cunningham
    fb: Mosi Tatupu
    wr: Stanley Morgan, Randy Moss, Irving Fryar, Wes Welker, Gino Capelletti
    ol: bruce armstrong, john hannah, Matt Light, Logan Mankins, Pete Brock
    dl: Richard Seymour, julias adams, ted washington, Julius Adams, Jim Hunt
    lb: Andre Tippett, Steve Nelson, Tedy Bruschi, Don Blackmon, Willie McGinest
    cb: Mike Haynes, Ty Law, Raymond Clayborn, Asante Samuel, Ronnie Lippett
    s: Rodney Harrison, Fred Marion, Lawyer Milloy
    kr: Troy Brown, Irving Fryar
    k: Adam Vinitieri, Tony Franklin
    p: Tom Tupa
    coach: Bill Belichick

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  6. dennis venhuis 6 months ago

    This is just an impromptu list. I chose to add a handful of old AFL players from the Boston days. Although I never saw any of them play, guys like Bob Dee, Larry Eisenhauer and Tom Addison were several times selected as AFL All-Stars. DT Houston Antwine was named to the AFL All-time team, so his inclusion is a must. I also chose not to include several current players such as Moss, Welker, Wilfork and at least two members of the O-line simply because they haven't logged enough years with the team. I'm sure within three or four years at least a few of these players will have earned a spot. I may have been a bit liberal in selection of LBs and DBs just because the Pats have had many 'good, but not great' guys at each of these positions. For example, Vincent Brown, Ted Johnson or Larry McGrew could probably replace Johnny Rembert, Ed Reynolds or Tom Addison at LB. WR Jim Colclough was chosen over Terry Glen based on higher YPC and more TDs -- but hey, that's all part of the fun of making these lists, right?

    QB -- Brady, Grogan, Bledsoe
    HB -- Cunningham, Collins, Martin, Faulk
    FB -- Nance, Calhoun
    WR -- Morgan, T. Brown, Cappelletti, Colclough, Fryar
    TE -- Coates, Francis
    OL -- Hannah, Armstrong, Neville, J. Morris, P. Brock, C. Long, St. Jean, S. Adams

    DL -- J. Adams, J. Hunt, Antwine, Seymour, McGinest(also at LB), Dee, Eisenhauer
    LB -- Buoniconti, Addison, Tippett, S. Nelson, Bruschi, Vrabel, Slade, E. Reynolds, Rembert
    DB -- Clayborn, Law, Haynes, Marion, R. James, R. Hall, Lippett, Hurst, Milloy

    P -- Camarillo
    K -- Vinatieri
    ST -- T. Brown, Fryar, Izzo

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  7. William Berry 6 months ago

    It is easy to forget guts from teams past. Thanks for the addition.

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