Bill B.
Third String But Playing on Special Teams
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- Sep 15, 2004
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I was watching the NFL channel the other day and their Top Ten series has done shows doing the Steelers, Packers, and Cowboys. I was wondering what Patriots they would put on it. It is a lot harder to come up with this list than I thought. I had to leave some pretty good guys off my list. I'll go in reverse order like they do on the show.
10. Tedy Bruschi. 13 seasons, 2 Pro Bowls. I so wanted to put Julius Adams here, but Tedy was the heart and soul of the defense during the Super Bowl run. Recovering from a stroke and coming back to play is awe-inspiring.
9. Steve Nelson. 14 seasons, 3 Pro Bowls. One of the best players on the team during the 70s. Only missed 3 games in his career and was twice the Patriots team MVP.
8. Bruce Armstrong. 14 seasons, 6 Pro Bowls. Played in 212 games. Most of any Patriot. Anchor in the offensive line during the 90s.
7. Gino Capaletti. 11 seasons, 5 time AFL All Star. All time leading scorer for the AFL. The fact that this guy is not in the pro football HOF is a travesty.
6. Adam Vinatieri. 10 seasons with Patriots, 2 Pro Bowls with Patriots. Should a field goal kicker be on the top ten list? When you win 2 Super Bowls at the end of the game, yes. The kick he made in the snow to tie the Raiders in the 2001 playoffs has to go down as the greatest kick in NFL history.
5. Drew Bledsoe. 9 seasons with Patriots, 3 Pro Bowls with Patriots. As a longtime Patriots fan, I appreciate what Bledsoe did for the Patriots. He gave them credibility. He always played hard and ,a lot of times, played hurt. Helped beat the Steelers in 2001 playoffs and behaved like a good teammate when he didn't get the SB start. I'll always like Drew.
4. Mike Haynes. 7 season with Patriots, 6 Pro Bowls. This was tough because he left the Patriots to go to the hated Raiders. But if you look at his accomplishments as a Patriot, he was amazing. Best defensive back in Patriot history.
3. John Hannah. 13 seasons, 9 Pro Bowls. First Patriot in the HOF. He was as tough as they come. Used to love to see pull on sweeps. Missed only 5 of 191 games because of injury.
2. Andre Tippett. 12 seasons, 5 Pro Bowls. Hold Patriots record for sacks with 100. NFL record for sacks over a 2 year period with 35 in 1984-85. When once told that he was "the Lawrence Taylor of the AFC" he replied, "No. Lawrence Taylor is the Andre Tippett of the NFC." One of the best answers I have ever seen a football player give.
1. Tom Brady. 12 season, 7 Pro Bowls. Who else? 3-2 Super Bowl record. 33 game winning drives. Winning percentage of .780. He has never gone more than 2 seasons in a row as a starter without going to the Super Bowl.
That's my list for the top Patriots of all time. There were a lot of good ones that I left off. Who would you put in the Patriots top ten?
10. Tedy Bruschi. 13 seasons, 2 Pro Bowls. I so wanted to put Julius Adams here, but Tedy was the heart and soul of the defense during the Super Bowl run. Recovering from a stroke and coming back to play is awe-inspiring.
9. Steve Nelson. 14 seasons, 3 Pro Bowls. One of the best players on the team during the 70s. Only missed 3 games in his career and was twice the Patriots team MVP.
8. Bruce Armstrong. 14 seasons, 6 Pro Bowls. Played in 212 games. Most of any Patriot. Anchor in the offensive line during the 90s.
7. Gino Capaletti. 11 seasons, 5 time AFL All Star. All time leading scorer for the AFL. The fact that this guy is not in the pro football HOF is a travesty.
6. Adam Vinatieri. 10 seasons with Patriots, 2 Pro Bowls with Patriots. Should a field goal kicker be on the top ten list? When you win 2 Super Bowls at the end of the game, yes. The kick he made in the snow to tie the Raiders in the 2001 playoffs has to go down as the greatest kick in NFL history.
5. Drew Bledsoe. 9 seasons with Patriots, 3 Pro Bowls with Patriots. As a longtime Patriots fan, I appreciate what Bledsoe did for the Patriots. He gave them credibility. He always played hard and ,a lot of times, played hurt. Helped beat the Steelers in 2001 playoffs and behaved like a good teammate when he didn't get the SB start. I'll always like Drew.
4. Mike Haynes. 7 season with Patriots, 6 Pro Bowls. This was tough because he left the Patriots to go to the hated Raiders. But if you look at his accomplishments as a Patriot, he was amazing. Best defensive back in Patriot history.
3. John Hannah. 13 seasons, 9 Pro Bowls. First Patriot in the HOF. He was as tough as they come. Used to love to see pull on sweeps. Missed only 5 of 191 games because of injury.
2. Andre Tippett. 12 seasons, 5 Pro Bowls. Hold Patriots record for sacks with 100. NFL record for sacks over a 2 year period with 35 in 1984-85. When once told that he was "the Lawrence Taylor of the AFC" he replied, "No. Lawrence Taylor is the Andre Tippett of the NFC." One of the best answers I have ever seen a football player give.
1. Tom Brady. 12 season, 7 Pro Bowls. Who else? 3-2 Super Bowl record. 33 game winning drives. Winning percentage of .780. He has never gone more than 2 seasons in a row as a starter without going to the Super Bowl.
That's my list for the top Patriots of all time. There were a lot of good ones that I left off. Who would you put in the Patriots top ten?