Since we still have what seems like an eternity to go until the game, let's take a trip down memory lane and work out what are the top 3 players at each position in the BB/Brady era. Let's say we get the peak performance of the player while they are with the Pats, so that brings short timers like Martellus Bennett and Revis in play.
I'm going to start with Special Teams, as there are fewer players to contend with. I'm sure these will be revised a lot as we go.
Kicker
1. Vinatieri
2. Gostkowski
3. Shayne Graham
I think these are the only three options. Adam and Stephen are 1a and 1b. Ghost has a better kickoff leg. We remember that Ghost had costly misses in the playoffs. Adam missed in the Carolina SB, but made up for it at the end. Shayne Graham filled in briefly while Ghost I think was hurt.
Punter
1. Ryan Allen
2. Zoltan Mesko
3. Josh Miller
In straight Y/P, that's the order for regular punters. We all hated Ken Walter when he was here, but he was good at pinning the team from midfield and uncorked a great punt in the Rams SB. I don't even remember the Chris Hanson era, which lasted 3 seasons.
Kick Returner
1. Ellis Hobbs
2. LeGarrette Blount
3. Kevin Faulk
Blount is actually the franchise leader in yds/return among those with more than 5 attempts! Hobbs is the best in terms of average for those with more than 80 attempts and with 3 TDs. I think of Troy Brown as the iconic kick returner of the early years but Faulk had twice as many attempts and a better average.
Punt Returner
1. Julian Edelman
2. Troy Brown
3. Wes Welker
Edelman has a slightly better average, and 4 TDs to Troy's 3. Welker was replaced by Edelman as Belichick warned him in 2009.
Special Teams Ace
1. Matt Slater
2. Larry Izzo
3. Matt Chatham
These are the ones that stick out in my memory. I may have missed some in the middle.
Long Snapper
1. Lonnie Paxton
2. Joe Cardona
3. Danny Aiken
I had to look up Aiken as I didn't remember who snapped between Paxton and Cardona. Props to Brian Kinchen, who we pulled in from teaching grade school I think to snap in the Carolina Super Bowl under adverse circumstances to do his job in the end.
I'm going to start with Special Teams, as there are fewer players to contend with. I'm sure these will be revised a lot as we go.
Kicker
1. Vinatieri
2. Gostkowski
3. Shayne Graham
I think these are the only three options. Adam and Stephen are 1a and 1b. Ghost has a better kickoff leg. We remember that Ghost had costly misses in the playoffs. Adam missed in the Carolina SB, but made up for it at the end. Shayne Graham filled in briefly while Ghost I think was hurt.
Punter
1. Ryan Allen
2. Zoltan Mesko
3. Josh Miller
In straight Y/P, that's the order for regular punters. We all hated Ken Walter when he was here, but he was good at pinning the team from midfield and uncorked a great punt in the Rams SB. I don't even remember the Chris Hanson era, which lasted 3 seasons.
Kick Returner
1. Ellis Hobbs
2. LeGarrette Blount
3. Kevin Faulk
Blount is actually the franchise leader in yds/return among those with more than 5 attempts! Hobbs is the best in terms of average for those with more than 80 attempts and with 3 TDs. I think of Troy Brown as the iconic kick returner of the early years but Faulk had twice as many attempts and a better average.
Punt Returner
1. Julian Edelman
2. Troy Brown
3. Wes Welker
Edelman has a slightly better average, and 4 TDs to Troy's 3. Welker was replaced by Edelman as Belichick warned him in 2009.
Special Teams Ace
1. Matt Slater
2. Larry Izzo
3. Matt Chatham
These are the ones that stick out in my memory. I may have missed some in the middle.
Long Snapper
1. Lonnie Paxton
2. Joe Cardona
3. Danny Aiken
I had to look up Aiken as I didn't remember who snapped between Paxton and Cardona. Props to Brian Kinchen, who we pulled in from teaching grade school I think to snap in the Carolina Super Bowl under adverse circumstances to do his job in the end.
