As of now only 3 former Patriots are in the NFL Hall of Fame (Hannah, Haynes and Buoniconti) and 11 overall are in the Pats Hall of fame. Here is the Pats list:
#73 John Hannah * G * 1973-85: Had his #73 jersey retired by the Patriots.
#40 Michael Haynes * CB * 1976-82: Had his #40 jersey retired by the Patriots.
#85 Nick Buoniconti * LB * 1962 - 68
#78 Bruce Armstrong * T * 1987-2000: Had his #78 jersey retired by the Patriots.
#20 Gino Cappelletti * WR/K * 1960-70: Had his #20 jersey retired by the Patriots.
#89 Bob Dee * DE * 1960-67: Had his #89 jersey retired by the Patriots.
#14 Steve Grogan * QB * 1975-90
#79 Jim Lee Hunt * DT * 1960-71: Had his #79 jersey retired by the Patriots
#57 Steve Nelson * LB * 1974-87: Had his #57 jersey retired by the Patriots.
#15 Vito "Babe" Parilli * QB * 1961-67
#56 Andre Tippett * LB * 1982-88, 90-93
Obviously, the last decade has seen the Patriots become one of, if not the top team in the NFL. From 1999-2006 (11 years) they went 113-63 (64.2%), went to 4 Super Bowls (96, 01, 03, 04), and won 3 of them (01, 03, 04). There have been a number of good to great players on the team during the run. My question is who should be in the NFL Hall, the Pats’ Hall and who should have their #s retired? The retired jersey is tough because they are already low on numbers in the 80s and 50’s (even though Tippett’s number 56 is not “officially” retired)
Here is my opinions.
Hall of Fame, Pats’ Hall and number retired.
#24 Ty Law (CB) – 36 career regular season INTs as a Pat (50 career overall). 3 INT game verse Colts in the AFC Championship game. INT returned for TD verse Rams in 01 S.B.
#12 Tom Brady (QB) – While his career numbers are not there yet (21,564 passing yards, 147 TDs and 78 INTs) his career winning percentage (75.9 – including playoffs) and 3 Super Bowl rings make him a lock.
#4 Adam Vinatieri (K) – Too many big kicks to mention. Played in 5 Super Bowls (96, 01, 03, 04 with Pats and 06 with Colts) and has 4 S.B. rings.
Hall of Fame, Pats’ Hall (number not retired)
#37 Rodney Harrison (S) – His reputation as a dirty player will keep him out but he was a GREAT player in both S.D. as well as in N.E and is worthy of the NFL Hall. Not only a great individual player (only player ever to have 28.5 sacks and 32 interceptions in a career) but also a great team leader. Kept the injury riddled Patriot secondary afloat in 2004 on route to the Pats 3 SB win in 4 years. Didn’t play long enough as a Pat to have # retired.
Patriots’ Hall and Number retired
#93 DE/DT Richard Seymour – His career numbers are not great (only 29.5 career sacks) and that will keep him out of the NFL Hall but he is already a 5 time Pro Bowl selection, 3 time AP All Pro selection and 3 time Super Bowl champ.
Patriot Hall of Fame
TE Ben Coates – Was a great TE through the 90s. Went to 5 Pro Bowls and averaged 71 receptions, 805 yards and 7 TDs from 1993-1998.
WR/PR/DB Troy Brown – Mister everything for the Pats. Has had great success as a WR, PR and has been a decent nickel back. His 2001 season was one for ages as he set a team record with 101 receptions. He also returned 2 punts that year for TDs not including the one he returned in the play of f win over the Steelers that year. Had 3 interceptions in 2004 when he was forced into action as a DB.
LB Tedy Bruschi – Heart and soul of the 03 and 04 Super Bowl teams and I would argue there was no more complete ILB in the NFL for those 2 years. Had some decent season before those years but nothing to get overly excited about. No telling how “great” he could have been if the stroke had not made him an “old” 32 year old. He has clearly lost a step but he was great. Not gret enough for long enough to be Hall worthy. Played in 4 Super Bowls
LB Mike Vrabel – extremely versatile player that has been an excellent OLB, ILB and part time TE for the Pats. Has 8 career receptions (2 in Super Bowls) and all have gone for TDs. Any role he has been asked to do he has done and done well.
LB Willie McGinest – Never had tremendous numbers in the regular season but was at his best in the playoffs. His 16 career playoff sacks is a record as well as his 4.5 sacks against Jacksonville is a single playoff game record. 78 career regular season sacks as a Pat (82 overall)
S Lawyer Milloy – played 7 years in NE where he was an intimidating hitter. IN his N.E. career he never missed a game (112 games) and logged 759 total tackles, 7 sacks, 19 interceptions, 7 forced fumbles and 7 fumble recoveries. He left N.E. in an ugly contract dispute
#73 John Hannah * G * 1973-85: Had his #73 jersey retired by the Patriots.
#40 Michael Haynes * CB * 1976-82: Had his #40 jersey retired by the Patriots.
#85 Nick Buoniconti * LB * 1962 - 68
#78 Bruce Armstrong * T * 1987-2000: Had his #78 jersey retired by the Patriots.
#20 Gino Cappelletti * WR/K * 1960-70: Had his #20 jersey retired by the Patriots.
#89 Bob Dee * DE * 1960-67: Had his #89 jersey retired by the Patriots.
#14 Steve Grogan * QB * 1975-90
#79 Jim Lee Hunt * DT * 1960-71: Had his #79 jersey retired by the Patriots
#57 Steve Nelson * LB * 1974-87: Had his #57 jersey retired by the Patriots.
#15 Vito "Babe" Parilli * QB * 1961-67
#56 Andre Tippett * LB * 1982-88, 90-93
Obviously, the last decade has seen the Patriots become one of, if not the top team in the NFL. From 1999-2006 (11 years) they went 113-63 (64.2%), went to 4 Super Bowls (96, 01, 03, 04), and won 3 of them (01, 03, 04). There have been a number of good to great players on the team during the run. My question is who should be in the NFL Hall, the Pats’ Hall and who should have their #s retired? The retired jersey is tough because they are already low on numbers in the 80s and 50’s (even though Tippett’s number 56 is not “officially” retired)
Here is my opinions.
Hall of Fame, Pats’ Hall and number retired.
#24 Ty Law (CB) – 36 career regular season INTs as a Pat (50 career overall). 3 INT game verse Colts in the AFC Championship game. INT returned for TD verse Rams in 01 S.B.
#12 Tom Brady (QB) – While his career numbers are not there yet (21,564 passing yards, 147 TDs and 78 INTs) his career winning percentage (75.9 – including playoffs) and 3 Super Bowl rings make him a lock.
#4 Adam Vinatieri (K) – Too many big kicks to mention. Played in 5 Super Bowls (96, 01, 03, 04 with Pats and 06 with Colts) and has 4 S.B. rings.
Hall of Fame, Pats’ Hall (number not retired)
#37 Rodney Harrison (S) – His reputation as a dirty player will keep him out but he was a GREAT player in both S.D. as well as in N.E and is worthy of the NFL Hall. Not only a great individual player (only player ever to have 28.5 sacks and 32 interceptions in a career) but also a great team leader. Kept the injury riddled Patriot secondary afloat in 2004 on route to the Pats 3 SB win in 4 years. Didn’t play long enough as a Pat to have # retired.
Patriots’ Hall and Number retired
#93 DE/DT Richard Seymour – His career numbers are not great (only 29.5 career sacks) and that will keep him out of the NFL Hall but he is already a 5 time Pro Bowl selection, 3 time AP All Pro selection and 3 time Super Bowl champ.
Patriot Hall of Fame
TE Ben Coates – Was a great TE through the 90s. Went to 5 Pro Bowls and averaged 71 receptions, 805 yards and 7 TDs from 1993-1998.
WR/PR/DB Troy Brown – Mister everything for the Pats. Has had great success as a WR, PR and has been a decent nickel back. His 2001 season was one for ages as he set a team record with 101 receptions. He also returned 2 punts that year for TDs not including the one he returned in the play of f win over the Steelers that year. Had 3 interceptions in 2004 when he was forced into action as a DB.
LB Tedy Bruschi – Heart and soul of the 03 and 04 Super Bowl teams and I would argue there was no more complete ILB in the NFL for those 2 years. Had some decent season before those years but nothing to get overly excited about. No telling how “great” he could have been if the stroke had not made him an “old” 32 year old. He has clearly lost a step but he was great. Not gret enough for long enough to be Hall worthy. Played in 4 Super Bowls
LB Mike Vrabel – extremely versatile player that has been an excellent OLB, ILB and part time TE for the Pats. Has 8 career receptions (2 in Super Bowls) and all have gone for TDs. Any role he has been asked to do he has done and done well.
LB Willie McGinest – Never had tremendous numbers in the regular season but was at his best in the playoffs. His 16 career playoff sacks is a record as well as his 4.5 sacks against Jacksonville is a single playoff game record. 78 career regular season sacks as a Pat (82 overall)
S Lawyer Milloy – played 7 years in NE where he was an intimidating hitter. IN his N.E. career he never missed a game (112 games) and logged 759 total tackles, 7 sacks, 19 interceptions, 7 forced fumbles and 7 fumble recoveries. He left N.E. in an ugly contract dispute