After reading the thread title, I immediately thought "Welker". Wes forever changed perceptions of the game, what a quality WR looks like, became the model for a new generation of small shift receivers. Self made man. Tragic that he never got a ring, especially the 16-0 season where he was a big part of it.
Then, reading the poll, my response was "WTH Mankins didn't get his ring in 2004?"-- to which it seems the answer is no, he didn't.
So, got to choose Mankins over Welker. Guy was the heart and soul of the OL for his entire career, the best Olineman the franchise has ever had. Played emergency LT. Played with broken bones. Utterly reliable. Embodiment of the blue collar idea of the Patriots Way.
Strange that his tenure exactly matches the drought period. Must be a coincidence, I assume?