All-time Favorite Patriots Team

[fair catch fryar]

I'll take this in another direction, because I always wanted to touch on this:

My favorite team as a unit has to be the 2010 Patriots. Between Brady's stunning play, Woodhead's sudden appearance, the lovable BJGE, Branch coming back, and the rag tag presence of Tate and Crumpler made that by far my favorite Patriots team.

They overachieved in classic Patriots fashion. Really was an exciting season, especially 45-3 and that dagger TD against the Bears to close out the half.

I like your approach to it too. As much as I love the current Pats teams from 2001/present and the ushering in of the Parcells/Bledsoe era, my favorite will always be the 1985 team that went to their first Sb. Up until that point I was a young casual fan and I jumped on the bandwagon and never got off even after the devastation that ensued in the SB.

 

[brdmaverick]

(love the 12 man defense)

so does Tom Coughlin

 

[chris_in_sunnyvale]

Ellis Hobbes II over Bethel, but I can see your case for Bethel

I've been thinking of KR for my list and Bethel IS a good choice. The guy was one of the unsung heroes of the 2003 season...

- Huge KR down to the 15yd line after Tennessee took the lead late in the regular season game, allowing the Pats to retake the lead shortly thereafter.

- The KR TD as halftime expired in Indy in that epic goalline stand game.

- Huge KR just before halftime in Denver, allowing the Pats to steal 3 more points in a game that looked like it was getting away from them.

Throw in the TD bomb as a WR in the playoff game vs. the Titans (IMO the key postseason game that year that decided the title, despite how SB38 played out) and he made some monster plays in some tight games that played a huge role in HFA and ultimately their 2nd title.

Regards,
Chris

P.S. And this is what you hope to see from a KR. They do their jobs in two situations: Taking the opening kickoff to start one half and taking the kickoff after the opponent just scored. Since the latter happens much more than the former, having somebody immediately burst any bubble of momentum or put the other team at a significant disadvantage defensively is huge. Bethel did that superbly in '03.

 

[doesntmatter1]

My Favs

QB-Tom Fn Brady
RB-Corey Dillon
WR-Troy Brown
WR-David Givens
WR-Moss(for 07 alone)
TE-Gronk
TE-Christian Fauria(i don't know why I liked him this much. sneaky good)
OT-Matt Light
OG-Joe Andruzzi
C-Koppen
OG-Stephen Neal
OT-Vollmer



OLB-R. Colvin
ILB-Bruschi
ILB-Seau
OLB-Vrabel
DE-Seymour
NT-Wilfork
DE-Warren
DE/DT-Mike Wright
CB-Law=my favorite pat period.
CB-A.Samuel
CB-E. Hobbs III-i don't care what anyone says, he was a warrior.
SS-R. Harrison
FS-Eugene Wilson(he was awesome for awhile)

K-Vinatieri
P-Mesko-he has finally edged out josh miller
PR-edelman
Kr-hobbs

 

[Patsrock]

2004 New England Patriots is my All time favorite Patriots team

 

[furley]

Off the top of my head, in the past, I really liked Martin, Coates and Harrison. Today, I really like Gronkowski, Welker and Wilfork. The others are players I like as well.


QB - Tom Brady, Drew Bledsoe
RB - Curtis Martin*
WR - Wes Welker
WR - Troy Brown
TE - Ben Coates
TE - Rob Gronkowski
OT - Bruce Armstrong

DL - Vince Wilfork
DL - Chris Slade
DL - Chandler Jones
DL - Rob Ninkovich
LB - Vincent Brown
LB - Mike Vrabel
LB - Jerod Mayo
LB - Dont'a Hightower
DB - Rodney Harrison
DB - Lawyer Milloy

K - Adam Vinatieri
Special Teams - Kevin Faulk

*All-time favorite Patriots player


And my favorite Patriots logo.

 

[everlong]

QB Michael Bishop
RB Cedric Cobbs
WR Hart Lee Dykes
WR Chad Jackson
TE Zeke Mowatt
T Eugene Chung
T Kenyatta Jones
G Damon Denson
G Todd Rucci

DT Ron Brace
NT Mike Ruth
DE Derrick Burgess
DE Shawn Crable
LB Andy Katzenmoyer
LB Chris Singleton
LB Monte Beisel
LB Chad Brown
CB Chris Canty
CB Leonard Myers
S Dexter Reid
S Tony George

K Scott Sisson
P Todd Saurbran

Coach Rod Rust

 

[chris_in_sunnyvale]

QB Michael Bishop
RB Cedric Cobbs
WR Hart Lee Dykes
WR Chad Jackson
TE Zeke Mowatt
T Eugene Chung
T Kenyatta Jones
G Damon Denson
G Todd Rucci

DT Ron Brace
NT Mike Ruth
DE Derrick Burgess
DE Shawn Crable
LB Andy Katzenmoyer
LB Chris Singleton
LB Monte Beisel
LB Chad Brown
CB Chris Canty
CB Leonard Myers
S Dexter Reid
S Tony George

K Scott Sisson
P Todd Saurbran

Coach Rod Rust

You left off "center". May I suggest Trevor Matich?

Regards,
Chris

 

[brdmaverick]

QB Michael Bishop
RB Cedric Cobbs
WR Hart Lee Dykes
WR Chad Jackson
TE Zeke Mowatt
T Eugene Chung
T Kenyatta Jones
G Damon Denson
G Todd Rucci

DT Ron Brace
NT Mike Ruth
DE Derrick Burgess
DE Shawn Crable
LB Andy Katzenmoyer
LB Chris Singleton
LB Monte Beisel
LB Chad Brown
CB Chris Canty
CB Leonard Myers
S Dexter Reid
S Tony George

K Scott Sisson
P Todd Saurbran

Coach Rod Rust

No love for Duane Starks?

 

[everlong]

You left off "center". May I suggest Trevor Matich?

Regards,
Chris

OOOOPS, nice catch. Sounds good.

 

[everlong]

No love for Duane Starks?

He did come to mind but Chris Canty was legendarily bad. Troy Brown still makes fun of him and how he told them he didn't want to practice again him because he wasn't making him any better. Plus the pick after him was Sam Maddison. Image Law and Maddison and imagine not having to face Surtain and Maddison.

Leonard Myers won out by selling his Super Bowl ring.

Starks cost a third which was why I put Burgess on the list so he's definitely deserving.

 

[sly24]

I'm 25 so there won't be too many old guys..

Favorites :

QB - Tom Brady
RB - Kevin Faulk
RB - Curtis Martin
WR - Troy Brown
WR - Wes Welker
TE - Rob Gronkowski
OT - Matt Light
OG - Joe Andruzzi
C - Dan Koppen
OG - Stephen Neal
OT - Brandon Gorin

DE - Willie McGinest
DT - Richard Seymour
DT - Vince Wilfork
DE - Ty Warren
OLB - Mike Vrabel
ILB - Jerod Mayo
ILB - Tedy Bruschi
OLB - Rosevelt Colvin
CB - Asante Samuel
CB - Ty Law
S - Rodney Harrison
S - Lawyer Milloy

P - Zoltan Mesko
K - Adam Vinatieri
PR - Troy Brown
KR - Ellis Hobbs

 

[Lansdowne]

Doing mine strictly on Patriots players I've watched play:

QB - Tom Brady
HB - Curtis Martin
FB - Sam Gash
WR - Randy Moss
TE - Aaron Hernandez
LT - Matt Light
LG - Logan Mankins
C - Dan Koppen
RG - Dan Connolly
RT - Sebastian Vollmer
WR - Wes Welker

LE - Willie McGinest
NT - Vince Wilfork
RE - Richard Seymour
LOLB - Rosevelt Colvin
ILB - Tedy Bruschi
ILB - Junior Seau
ROLB - Mike Vrabel
LCB - Ty Law
FS - Willie Clay
SS - Rodney Harrison
RCB - Ellis Hobbs
K - Adam Vinatieri
P - Zoltan Mesko
LS - Lonie Paxton
KR - Kevin Faulk
PR - Troy Brown

 

[Plunkett2Vataha]

Hmm, I'm a "few years" older than most of you guys. So some of my favorites might seem far off to you.

QB: Tom Brady (though Grogan is definitely a sentimental favorite).
RB: Jim Nance (one of the best running backs in the AFL)
RB: Sam Cunningham (honorable mention to Andy Johnson)
WR: Stanley Morgan (what a smooth receiver)
WR: Wes Welker (the little man puts many bigger players to shame)
WR: Randy Vataha
TE: Russ Francis (could have put up Gronk numbers, but the offense was run heavy in his prime)
TE: Rob Gronkowski
C: Bill Lenkaitis (also like Pete Brock)
G: John Hannah (the best I ever saw, would have bulked up in today's NFL and still been the best)
G: Stephen Neal (very underrated)
OT: Matt Light
OT: Leon Gray (great pairing on the left side with Hannah)
KR: Mack Herron (drugs wrecked his career)
PK: Adam Vinatieri
WR/PK: Gino Capelletti (I had to put him in some category!!)
Also accounted for playing with three WR or two TE

DE: Richard Seymour
DT: Houston Antwine
DT: Vince Wilfork
DE: Larry Eisenhauer
LB: Andre Tippett
LB: Steve Nelson
LB: Mike Vrable
LB: Teddy Bruschi
CB: Raymond Clayborn
CB: Mike Haynes
S: Rodney Harrison
S: Fred Marion
P: Mesko
I know I have one more defensive player, but I did both 3-4 and 4-3.

Toughest omissions: Steve Grogan, Don Calhoun, Curtis Martin, Harold Jackson, Ty Law, Don Blackmon, Clayton Weisuhn (really was good before knee injury), Sugar Bear Hamilton)

 

[pazrul72]

I'm only 30 so I'll also only go with players I have seen play... well with a few noted exceptions, and I'll pick one offense and defense to play.

QB - Tom Brady (though Bledsoe was a lot of fun to watch back in the day)
RB - Correy Dillion (Clock killin Dillion was amazing in 2004)
TE - GRONK
TE - Ben Coates
WR - Stanley Morgan
WR - Wes Welker
OT - Matt Light
OG - John Hannah
C - Dan Koppen
OG - Logan Mankins
OT - Bruce Armstrong

DE - Richard Seymour
NT - Vince Wilfork
DE - Ty Warren (not sold on this.... I know I'm missing someone better)
OLB - Mike Vrabel
ILB - Tedy Bruschi
ILB - Jerod Mayo
OLB - Vincent Undertaker Brown
CB - Ty Law
S - Rodney Harrison
S - Devin McCourty
CB - Mike Haynes

Love the run pass options with GRONK and Coates, plus with morgan going deep defenses could not load up the middle. On D two elite corners let Devon roam and play center field using his speed to make plays while Rodney puts the fear of god in anyone dumb enough to go over the middle.

 

[bagwell368]

Lots of good choices. Not enough mention of Jim Nance IMO (led league in rushes, Yds/G, Yds, and TD's - Dillon did not).

Also, I'd like a special TE hero designation for Bob Windsor.

Here is the wiki if you don't know who this is:

Windsor is best known for a winning touchdown play while with the Patriots that he made in a regular season game in 1974 against the Minnesota Vikings. Both teams had 5-1 records going into the game. The Vikings had been to Super Bowl VIII the season before, while the upstart Patriots were coming off seven consecutive losing seasons and off to their best start since 1966. The Patriots won the game 17-14, and Windsor scored the winning touchdown with no time left on the clock by taking a short pass from Jim Plunkett and breaking several tackles before dragging a tackler into the Vikings end zone who had a hold of his left leg. Windsor severely injured his left knee on the play and was out for the season. He never was the same player after that and played only one more season with the Patriots before retiring.

 

[IcyPatriot]

QB - Steve Grogan (I was Grogan during neighborhood games ... can't leave him off the list LOL)
RB - Sam 'Bam' Cunningham
RB - Jim Nance
RB - Kevin Faulk
WR - Troy Brown
WR - Irving Fryar
WR - Stanley Morgan
TE - Russ Francis
OT - Matt Light (Not the best but so invaluable in that clubhouse)
OG - John Hannah
C - Jon Morris
OG - Logan mankins
OT - Bruce Armstrong

DE - Willie McGinest
DT - Richard Seymour
DT - Vince Wilfork
DE - Julius Adams
OLB - Andre Tippett
ILB - Steve Nelson
ILB - Nick Buoniconti
OLB - Don Blackmon / Mike Vrabel ... tough call.
CB - Raymond Clayborn
CB - Mike Haynes
S - Rodney Harrison
S - Fred Marion (hate leaving tim fox out)

P - Rich Camarillo
K - Adam Vinatieri
PR - Troy Brown
KR - Kevin faulk