PATRIOTSFANINPA

With the boring offseason in full bloom and nothing exciting going on for a few weeks,I reflect back to the beginning of Bill's tenure here in 2000 and the athletes he drafted and the players who have been at or beyond expectations.

Since Brady would be the unanimous decision by 99.9% of Pats fans,let's rule him out for this subject.

Your 7 best draft selections in order...1 being the best

1) Vince Wilfork - Had BIG shoes to fill with the Pats coming off 2 great FA NT signings in Washington and then Traylor,but Vince made an immediate impact in a position considered hardest to draft and has proven he is one of the best ever in history in the middle of the front line for the Pats.

2) Rob Gronkowski - Some may say he is not in the league long enough to put him at #2,but from what we have seen the past few years that unless injury becomes an issue,Rob has the potential to go down as the greatest TE of all time.

3) Richard Seymour - Could be higher than #3 but was injured often during his latter years here and missed time,However when he was healthy and younger he was arguably the most dominant DE in the NFL for several years.

4) Jerod Mayo - While Mayo may still lack being the complete all around top ILB,he certainly has solidified one of the positions that Bruschi and Johnson once dominated before he was drafted and is a mentor to guys like Spikes.

5) Deion Branch - I don't think people realize of how much Branch meant to the success of Brady and his passing game in the mid 2000s decade,Branch arguably could go down as Brady's all time favorite receiver since those 2 almost seemed made for each other....in a position where Belichick has failed to draft superstars,Branch is by FAR his best pick.

6) Dan Koppen - This is where the offense starts at every snap and Koppen Has been the stalwart in front of Brady for a long time,rarely has there ever been a mistake of a premature snap or a miscue that caused a turnover,while Koppen has not been the best OL pick in the Belichick era,he certainly has been a warrior you can count on.

7) Asante Samuel - I consider Samuel to have been the best corner drafted by Belichick in his tenure,in another area where Belichick has struggled to find a corner that could provide game changing plays,Samuel had done that here,sone think he was overrated while I think he was a big loss when he left here.

Honorable Mention.....Light,Mankins and Gostkowski

Did I miss anyone?,Do you disagree with the players I chose or where they are ranked?...let me know and let's hear yours.

__________________

To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

Gronkandez

I would put Light and Mankins way ahead of Koppen.

Hernandez should be in the conversation in a year or two.

randomk1

I like the points about Branch.

I'd put Seymour #1. Early decade was about D and he was one of the most important pieces in that 3-4

__________________
Three out of Four. Back-to-back.

NEGoldenAge

Asante Samuel should not be on that list... not even close. I also think that a lot of young guys on the current roster will end up on that list. If Mesko stays healthy, he will become one of the best punters of all time.

Kay Mad

Nice list but
IMHO- Light has to be #1 on the list.

He protected Brees ,Bledsoe, Brady.
Not bad for a 2nd round pick # 48 overall

__________________
It is what it is

mayoclinic

0. Brady

I know you excluded Brady, but he deserves to be on here anyway, so I made him "0".

1. Gronk
2. Wilfork
3. Seymour

Those 3 are non brainers. The only question is which order they should be in, and it depends how you look at it. I think Gronk will go down as a HOFer and the best TE of all time. Obviously, if you are basing it on performance to date, he can't be ahead of the other 2 guys.

4. Mankins
5. Light
6. Mayo
7. Hernandez

Leaving off Matt Light was a huge oversight. Again, Hernandez has only 2 years under his belt, but he's proven so far to be an impact player to me.

Players who could make this list in the future:

- Nate Solder
- Sebastian Vollmer
- Devin McCourty

__________________

To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
"OVER Loading at ANY position can create a Fatal Advantage. THAT is what interests ME. Attacking With Concentrated Force. THAT is what WINS. In the words ~ more or less ~ of General Patton: 'I'm fighting a WAR, here. Let the B*****ES worry about their FLANKS.' " - Off the Grid

"The key to any successful organization is to anticipate things, not react to them." - Michael Lombardi

BlueThunder

Matt protected Brees??

Did I miss something?

NM...Didn't consider college....

__________________
My guns are no threat to anyone who isn't trying to deprive me or my family of life,liberty or property. They are,however, EXTREMELY dangerous to anyone who threatens to take those things.

MoLewisrocks

Why 7? Top nine on a list that doesn't include the GOAT draft pick makes more sense.

You have to put Light ahead of Koppen. A starting LT for more than a decade and coming out of the draft in the second... But Koppen has to be in there before guys like Mankins and even Asante because of where he was drafted and how long he started HERE. Asante doesn't crack my list because while he filled in well as a starter in 2004 he wasn't really a factor beyond that. He didn't emerge until late in 2006...and he didn't come thru in 2007...and then he was no more.

1) Richard Seymour - Was injured often during his latter years here and missed time, however when he was healthy and younger he was arguably the most dominant DE in the NFL for several years.

2) Vince Wilfork - Had BIG shoes to fill with the Pats coming off 2 great FA NT signings in Washington and then Traylor, but Vince brought stability to a position considered crucial to a 3-4 base D and has proven he is one of the best ever in history in the middle of the front line for the Pats - and more. Athletic and versitile big man...

3) Light - starting LT for more than a decade for a HOF QB who only needed a little time to tear an opposing D to shreds. Needed help at times but then who doesn't.

4) Dan Koppen - This is where the offense starts at every snap and Koppen has been the brains in front of Brady for a long time, rarely has there ever been a miscue that caused a turnover on Koppen's watch unless due to size he was being run over by blueprint teams.

5) Deion Branch - I don't think people realize how much Branch meant to the success of Brady and his passing game in the first half of the decade. Branch arguably could go down as Brady's all time favorite receiver since those 2 almost seemed made for each other....in a position where Belichick has failed to draft much that stuck, Branch is by FAR his best pick.

6) Gronkowski - Some may say he is not in the league long enough to put him at #6,while others may want to see him #1...but from what we have seen the past few years that unless injury becomes an issue, Rob has the potential to go down as the greatest TE of all time and push everyone down this list.

7a) Mankins - He has struggled most when it mattered most, but he is one of the best LG's in the league and he's been durable and already been that for several years.

7b) Jerod Mayo - ROY and core leader out of the gate. He's had his struggles, mostly injury related, but he has emerged as defacto leader and QB of this D. The kind of cerebral and all in player BB has to have directing his D on and off the field.

Knocking on the door - Hernandez and perhaps a handful more...

Honorable mention - Ty Warren, Asante Samuel

Not a bad haul for a guy who sucks at drafting...

MoLewisrocks

I think you are falling victim to the what have you done for me lately mindset. You've only got 3 guys with rings on your list. What is it Bill says, potential is just talent that hasn't achieved yet... You can't be the best until you prove it.

sly24

That's pure misplaced hate. I can understand some people not putting him on the list but he at least deserves a mention. Incredible to think what would some people's attitude be towards him if he had made that INT in SB42. He played great while he was here. He's also 2nd only behind Rodney for most INTs in the postseason in nfl history.

__________________
Be the change you want to see in the world

To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.