Pats dominate ESPN's "All-Decade" rankings

For the past week, ESPN has put together lists of the top players, teams, moments, coaches, etc of the opening decade of the new millennium. What shouldn't be a surprise to anybody with an impartial bone in their body, the Patriots dominate many of the lists due to their tremendous success this decade, including winning 3 Super Bowls in a 4-year span. These types of lists, of course, always carry their share of controversies and arguments over snubs and "How could you include that guy?" The following is a re-cap of where the Patriots fit into the lists as well as my Patriots "All-Decade" team for 2000 - 2010. ESPN opened the week putting together an All-Decade defensive team. There were no Patriots that made the team, though Richard Seymour and Ty Law were near-misses for the team. I can't really argue with any of the selections ESPN made with the exception of Troy Vincent at corner over Ty Law. It seemed that the criteria for ESPN was that the corner had to have height and coverage ability, which is "rare." True, but does that automatically make a good corner? Vincent was definitely a solid corner, but Law also performed on the big stages in the post season, but if course I have my own biases.The only Patriot to make the All-Decade offensive team was QB Tom Brady. Brady edged out Peyton Manning mainly because of his postseason success and the ability to do more with less talent on offense. ESPN notes that Brady has won the same amount of playoff games (14-3) as Manning has played in (7-7). I can't argue there and I'm sure as long as people as people discuss football, they will argue whether Tom Brady or Peyton Manning was the better quarterback. I was a little surprised that Randy Moss didn't make the team, but I can't argue against Marvin Harrison and Tory Holt. Both have been consistent performers and didn't have the down years that Moss had in Oakland.The Patriots dominated the All-Decade moments, both positive and negative. The Play of the Decade was the David Tyree helmet catch from Super Bowl XLII against the Pats. I'm still seeing a therapist over that play so I can't comment much more on that. Former VP of Player Personnel Scott Pioli took the Personnel Man of the Decade honors for his work with Bill Belichick piecing together championship teams from mostly cast-off players and the draft. SpyGate took Scandal of the Decade and the infamous Tom Brady "Tuck Rule" play from the 2001 season playoff game against the Raiders took the "Most memorable officiating call." Pats owner Robert Kraft took the "Top Owner" award and former safety Rodney Harrison took "Most feared player" honors for his command of the field that kept receivers' heads on a swivel when going across the middle. The Patriots and Head Coach Bill Belichick took All-Decade Team and Coach honors. It was a clean sweep with the ESPN staff with these choices which, especially for coach, is an honor. Belichick beat out other Hall of Fame coaches such as Tony Dungy, Bill Cowher, and Mike Shanahan. Despite what the haters will undoubtedly say (he cheated, blah blah), Belichick has had the best decade out of any of the coaches mentioned, and as Belichick goes, the team goes. Three Super Bowls, four AFC Championships, six AFC East championships, and a near perfect season I feel make these choices undeniable. Even without QB Tom Brady, the Pats last season managed an 11-5 record, tied for the best in the East, with a quarterback who hadn't started a game since high school. That is the coaching job that Belichick can do. The most memorable coaching moment of the last decade, in my view, is when Bill decided to hike the ball out of the endzone and give up a safety in order to secure better field position in a Monday Night game against Denver in 2003. The decision proved to be a good one as the field position helped the Pats and they would eventually win the game with a last minute drive by Tom Brady.Three Patriots made the Top 25 Players of the Decade list, with the (controversial to some) choice of number 1 going to Tom Brady. Again, because of his championships, I feel this is an obvious choice over Peyton Manning who ranked #2. Brady won his championships with a less-than-stellar supporting class, and when he finally got himself Randy Moss and Wes Welker, broke Manning's single season records and nearly went undefeated. Randy Moss is ranked at #14 and Richard Seymour is ranked #20. Both players undoubtedly deserve the honors, particularly Moss. Seymour is listed as a defensive end which may actually have hurt him when it came to choosing the defensive team. He is a 3-4 DE, but in a 4-3, which is how these lists are generated, he would be a defensive tackle, which should probably be who is measured against. However, he is deserving of the list no matter which position you place him in. Finally, former Patriot Adam Vinatieri is the Kicker of the Decade in the special teams rankings. His clutch kicks as a Patriot in the postseason, including two Super Bowl winners, are legendary in New England and he is well deserving of the honor. Playing of these lists and Beth's "Who's the NFL team of the decade?" article, I have put together my list of the Patriots All-Decade team. If anyone has any alterations they would like to make, feel free to post and give your roster. OffenseQB: Tom Brady - Who else would I have chosen???RB: Kevin Faulk - He doesn't have the rushing stats of Corey Dillon or even Antowain Smith during his run as the starter, but his contributions, especially on third down, are unmatched by any other back this decade.FB: Heath Evans - He was a solid teammate and was able to fill in admirably as a halfback when called upon.WR's: Randy Moss and Troy Brown - Moss's talent can't be denied, even if he wasn't on the 3 championship teams. Troy Brown is Mr. Patriot and did whatever he was asked, including playing corner, returning kicks, and even being an emergency QB. David Givens was near-miss for me as was Wes Welker, but Moss is head-over-heels the most talented of teh bunch and I just can't say 'no' to Troy Brown. If I went with a 3-WR roster, Welker would have been the choice.TE: Daniel Graham - Graham was a better blocker than receiver, but he was the most consistent tight end for the Pats this decade.Offensive Line: C: Dan Koppen, LG: Logan Mankins, RG: Joe Andruzzi, LT: Matt Light, RT: Nick Kaczur - The line was tough to put together because the Pats have had so many interchangeable parts and people slide in due to injury and perform well. Damien Woody was a near miss but he couldn't shotgun snap, so Koppen gets the nod at center. Mankins may be the most talented of the group and Andruzzi was an inspriational member of the team, so they were easy choices at guard. Matt Light has locked down the left tackle position this decade and has been to 2 Pro Bowls. Right tackle was the hardest position to pick because the Pats haven't had a surefire starter there all decade. Kaczur has done an admirable job since 2005 and has been the most consistent RT this decade, so he gets the nod there. DefenseNT: Vince Wilfork - This irreplaceable player has performed exceptionally at the toughest position in the 3-4 and is on the "Must Resign" list this year. Ted Washington could have gotten this but he was only in New England one season.DE's: Richard Seymour and Ty Warren - Seymour has been a leader on defense and has made nearly every Pro Bowl this decade and Warren has unfortunately been overlooked by the national media, but this combination of defensive ends and Wilfork have provided the Pats their best line (when healthy).ILB's: Tedy Bruschi and Ted Johnson - Bruschi is the heart and soul of the defense and Ted Johnson was an run-stuffer extraudinaire. Roman Phifer was a near miss.OLB's: Mike Vrabel and Willie McGinest - Both players were exceptional pass rushers and McGinest's leadership and intelligence on the field were (and still are in my opinion) irreplaceable.CB's: Ty Law and Asante Samuel - Both were shutdown corners and picked their game up in the postseason.Safeties: Rodney Harrison and Lawyer Milloy - Rodney is an easy choice but the other safety spot was tough. I almost went with Eugene Wilson, but he didn't have the talent or staying power that Milloy had, even if Milloy only played a couple of seasons this decade. It would have been nice to see what these two could have doen together, but his release began the slogan, "In Bill We Trust."Special TeamsKicker: Adam Vinatieri - Clutch. Is there anything else to add?Punter: Jim Josh Miller - He was the most consistent and talented punter in the carousel of punters this decade.Long Snapper: Lonie Paxton - He held the position most of the decade and I can't remember a single bad snap, even in the worst of conditions. Of course, who can forget the snow angel?