True Value: Richard Seymour Among Most Underrated Players In The Game

Since the New England Patriots upset the St. Louis Rams in the Super Bowl following the 2001 season, the team has been known mostly for its defense. While the last few seasons have seen the Patriots reach lofty heights with their offense, many NFL observers and casual fans alike look at the "dynasty" years as ones built on a stout and sturdy defense. Still, the New England defense has hardly been as dominant in the past few seasons as it was during the beginning of the decade. From 2003 onward, the defense was built on a foundation of Rodney Harrison, Tedy Bruschi, and Richard Seymour. Now, in 2009, all three are gone. The departure of Harrison and Bruschi was an inevitable consequence of time—age eventually catches up to us all. But with Seymour, a three-time All Pro defensive end and perhaps the best 3-4 two-gap run stopper of the last decade, the choice was voluntary. There's a reason fans and players alike are rarely privy to the inner conversations held betw...