In honor of the birthday of our country, NFL Network put together a list of the top ten Patriots players of all-time. It's a very impressive list (considering the lack of success prior to this decade), all things considered. What do you guys think
10) Ben Coates, TE. 5x Pro Bowler, 2nd most TD's in franchise history (50)*
9) Nick Buoniconti, LB. 5x Pro Bowler, Hall of Famer in 2001
8) Tedy Bruschi, LB. Pro Bowler, played in five Super Bowls (3 rings), emotional leader of the team.
7) Willie McGinnest, LB/DE. 3 Super Bowl rings, 2 Pro Bowls, NFL record for playoff sacks
6) Drew Bledsoe, QB. Most passing yards, completions, and attempts in franchise history.
5) Mike Haynes, CB. 6x Pro Bowler, Hall of Fame in 1997
4) Adam Vinatieri, Kicker. Arguably the most clutch kicker in league history, if it wasn't for this guy, the Patriots may or may not be Super Bowl champions. All time leader in post season kicks.
3) Andre Tippett. Hall of Famer in 2008, 100 sacks (most in franchise history)
And the top two? We all know who they both are...but what order? In my opinion, they actually got it backwards, although I certainly understand why #1 is #1, and #2 is #2. So, without further adieu, the second greatest Patriot ever...
John Hannah. One of two Patriots players selected to the NFL's 75th Anniversary team (along with Haynes), Hannah is easily one of the greatest offensive linemen in history. 9 Pro Bowls, 10 All-Pro's. Can't argue with it. Of course, with Hannah being named the second best, that leaves only one person.
Tom Brady, the greatest Patriot ever. I think we're all familiar with his career.
Not much to argue about with that list..Seeing as we haven't really been a top level team till around 94 with exception to a few years in the 70's and the Super Bowl trip in 86, it is not a suprise to see the names on the list that are there. would have loved to see Steve Grogan on the list somehwere though. Some older players like Len St. Jean, Jim Nance, Gino Capeletti, and Babe Parelli for just being the pioneers of this francise, but I don't know who I would have taken off the list.
John Hancock, Josiah Bartlett, Samuel Adams, John Adams, Oliver Wolcott, Richard Stockton, Benjamin Franklin, Samuel Chase Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Harrison.
Ben Coates should be replaced by Troy Brown. He is, without a doubt, the most versatile player the Patriots have ever had. definatly agree isnt brown the all time patriots leader in receptions?
and i think Ty Law deserves some props on this list i know he left town in an ugly way but the dude is hands down the best cornerback A) in the past 10 years and B) in patriots history
i will never forget his game against the Colts in the playoffs were he grabbed 2 interceptions including a diving 1 handed grab going out of bounds
to this day it is the greatest interception ive ever seen
A good list with some of the best players in the history of the league. I like the fact you have Hannah as your #2. He is the first name that comes to mind for me when talking about the best OGs to ever play in the NFL.
I would suggest a couple changes though. I would remove Bruschi and McGinest in favour of Richard Seymour and Bruce Armstrong.
In my opinion Seymour is the most likely candidate of current Patriots defensive players to make the Hall of Fame. He has been one of the constants on the Pats defense as so many other players changed around him. I definitely think he should be considered a top 10 player for New England.
As for Armstrong he was a rock on the Pats O-line for 14 seasons and holds the team record for games started with 212. He was a 6 time Pro Bowler and certainly one of the best OTs of the 1990's.
A good list with some of the best players in the history of the league. I like the fact you have Hannah as your #2. He is the first name that comes to mind for me when talking about the best OGs to ever play in the NFL.
It isn't my list, I just watched what they had on NFL Network and was putting it on here. Myself, I'd put Hannah #1. Brady's a great quarterback, easily one of the two best in the NFL now and might be a top 10. John Hannah is probably the best linemen in history not named Anthony Munoz.
Tom Brady and John Hannah are no brainers, Hannah is probably the best OG ever to play the game.
Ditto for Andre Tippett, the best LB ever to play for the Patriots, Michael Haynes, Adam Vinatieri, Nick Buoniconti.
I always liked Ben Coates, but I think Russ Francis was a better TE, he just played in a run heavy era of Patriots history. Francis and Dave Casper of the Raiders changed the way the TE was played. Until their era, TEs were never a deep threat.
Bruce Armstrong, deserves some consideration, and I'd replace Willie McGinest with Stanley Morgan. Love Willie, think he was special, but Morgan was incredible. Again, he played in a run heavy era. Something to consider... of the 18 WRs in the Hall of Fame in Canton, only one Paul Warfield has a higher YPR (yards per reception) better than Morgan's 19.2, to give you a good idea of how impressive that is, Randy Moss' is under 16.0. And we all know how how explosive he is.
And as much as I liked Drew Bledsoe, how could a Patriots all-time best team not include Jim Nance or Gino Cappeletti? Both of those guys were AFL superstars.
Brady Hannah Tippett Haynes Vinatieri Buonoconti Francis Morgan Nance Cappeletti in no particular order.... for my two cents.
Definitly Troy Brown over Ben Coates. But what about Robert Kraft? Where would the Patriots be without the Kraft family at the helm? His Best contribution was the hiring of Bill Parcells who I would rank as a great contributor to the organization but not as a Patriot, but more of an employee of the organization. Then of course, Bill Belichek,...So much easier for a top twenty...who do you replace on the list?
I always thought Stanley Morgan was one of the most underrated players ever. Not seeing him on this list makes me laugh. He would get 45 balls thrown him a year, catch them all and be around a thousand yards. It takes the Welkers and Harrisons twice as many catches to reach the same yard plateau. Morgan, unfortunately played at a time the offense was virtually all run. Even thier QB ( Grogan) was a much better runner than passer. Put Morgan with Tom Brady, and you have even a better version of Marvin harrison IMO.
Anyways, Morgan is on that list somewhere, I have a hard time with a kicker being number 4, even if he was the best ever. And even though I love Bruschi, MsGinnest, and Bledsoe, I think Morgan was a better WR than those guys were LB's, DE's and QB respectively. Also, Steve Nelson, Troy Brown and Seymour may also deserve to be on that list.
