Patriots Quarter Century Team

[BobDigital]

Is it either a tiny bit early or half a year late depending on how you want to do it. Personally I will just stick to the 2001-2025 years and kind of ignore 2000... even if you include it i question how much of a difference it makes. As for who should be included, i don't like the idea of 1 year rentals. I think at least 2 years here is needed. Also there is the hot potato of including Hernandez (I did not). With that said i didn't over think this too much. And will leave alternative in ( ), Notes in <>. This is only a 53 man team BTW. Also i think slightly higher importance should be put on how iconic they were in championship runs, those this can't be the end all be all either. Just something that should be considered. In any case here they are, and they are in order.

Offense 25

QB 2 - Brady Maye (No HMs) <But Bledsoe's half of play vs Pitt in 01 is worth pointing out>
TE 3 - Gronk Henry Watson. <I think Henry is just better than Watson even though he's be 0 parts of a championship run>
WR 5 - Moss Edelman Welker Brown Branch
RB 4 - Blount Dillon Faulk White (HMs Vereen, BJGE) <Blount gets the nod over Dillon. Dillon had the best single year, Blount was consistently good longer here and part of 2 runs. Faulk/White for change of pace/3rd down duties is a no brainer>
FB 1 - Develin (No HM)
LT 2 - Light Solder (No HM)
LG 2 - Mankins Thuney (J. Andruzzi deserves an HM)
C 2 - Andrews Koppen (D. Woody gets an HM)
RG 2 -Mason Neal (No HMs IMO)
RT 2 - Vollmer Cannon (HM T. Brown)

Defense 24

DE 4 - McGinest Judon C. Jones. Ninkovich (Flowers HM)
DT 4 - Seymour Wilfork Barmore Warren (Guy HM)
LB 6 - Bruschi Hightower Vrabel Van Noy Mayo Johnson (Colvin with the HM) <Also i was planning to go OLB/ILB... but these guys mixed and matched a bit, and this group works out like that pretty well anyway... though i think i am forgetting someone worth an HM>
CB 4 - Law Gilmore Gonzo Samuel (HMs Butler, Talib L. Ryan) <Butler is a casualty here. Talib was great but not a part of any runs, not here 2 full years and I think Gonzo is better. As for Ryan he played both outside and inside but i don't think he makes it in either>
NCB 2 - J. Jones, M. Jones (HM K. Arrington) <Arrington is perhaps most remembered for being pulled in 2014 for Butler, but he was really good for years before he kind of lost it near the end. J>M for now cause he was also fantastic and part of championship runs>
S 4 - Harrison McCourty Chung Wilson (HM Milloy) <Forgot to put on safeties. Since Milloy is a SS I can't put him on over Harrison/Chung>

STs 4

K - Vinatieri (HM Gost)
P - Allen (HM Baringer)
LS - Cardona
ACE - Slater

KR Brown
PR Edelman (both not counted as an extra spot)

(LOL... didn't mean to post this yet. Was just seeing how it looked in text before saving it.... It is a bit early. Was going to do it at the end of the year if it was still accurate... IDK, could we maybe delete it and bring it up after the year ends?)

 

[Hugepatsfan]

Gonzo probably shouldn’t be here. He’s played one season plus like 4 or 5 games. Revis played one season plus 3 playoff games including a Super Bowl run which you have a lot of weight to in other positons. Or if you want to lean longevity angle, Butler had one 2nd team all pro year himself to go with another pro bowl to go with his iconic INT. He definitely deserves the nod over Gonzo as of right now.

Barmore seems a little early to put on here. Bobby Hamilton, Jarvis Green, Alan Branch, Lawrence Guy (who you have as HM) probably more cumulatively impactful. Barmore has an ok rookie year, injury riddled year 2, breakout year 3 and then a health scare last year. Been good this year. There’s really only 1.5 seasons of high level play which all of those guys exceeded on higher stakes team.

You left safety off. I’d go Rodney/Chung at SS and McCourty/Eugene Wilson at FS.

I feel like your classifications of DE/DT/LB get a little murky with the 3-4/4-3 differences over the years, but I think you ended up on the right combo. Also, he left on awful terms but Adalius Thomas on 07/08 was actually arguably the best 2 year LB peak we had. He was very good inside in 07 until Colvin got hurt where he beasted on the move back outside to replace him. Great year in 2008 until he broke his arm (which he tried to come back from). His attitude juts fell off a cliff in 2009 when all the vets around him left. Also, Mayo was pretty good too. I think either could go above Ted Johnson of you only consider his 2000s play. For an apples to apples, I’d dab Roman Phifer was better from 01-04 than Johnson was.

 

[Pape]

Is it either a tiny bit early or half a year late depending on how you want to do it. Personally I will just stick to the 2001-2025 years and kind of ignore 2000... even if you include it i question how much of a difference it makes. As for who should be included, i don't like the idea of 1 year rentals. I think at least 2 years here is needed. Also there is the hot potato of including Hernandez (I did not). With that said i didn't over think this too much. And will leave alternative in ( ), Notes in <>. This is only a 53 man team BTW. Also i think slightly higher importance should be put on how iconic they were in championship runs, those this can't be the end all be all either. Just something that should be considered. In any case here they are, and they are in order.

Offense 25

QB 2 - Brady Maye (No HMs) <But Bledsoe's half of play vs Pitt in 01 is worth pointing out>
TE 3 - Gronk Henry Watson. <I think Henry is just better than Watson even though he's be 0 parts of a championship run>
WR 5 - Moss Edelman Welker Brown Branch
RB 4 - Blount Dillon Faulk White (HMs Vereen, BJGE) <Blount gets the nod over Dillon. Dillon had the best single year, Blount was consistently good longer here and part of 2 runs. Faulk/White for change of pace/3rd down duties is a no brainer>
FB 1 - Develin (No HM)
LT 2 - Light Solder (No HM)
LG 2 - Mankins Thuney (J. Andruzzi deserves an HM)
C 2 - Andrews Koppen (D. Woody gets an HM)
RG 2 -Mason Neal (No HMs IMO)
RT 2 - Vollmer Cannon (HM T. Brown)

Defense 24

DE 4 - McGinest Judon C. Jones. Ninkovich (Flowers HM)
DT 4 - Seymour Wilfork Barmore Warren (Guy HM)
LB 6 - Bruschi Hightower Vrabel Van Noy Mayo Johnson (Colvin with the HM) <Also i was planning to go OLB/ILB... but these guys mixed and matched a bit, and this group works out like that pretty well anyway... though i think i am forgetting someone worth an HM>
CB 4 - Law Gilmore Gonzo Samuel (HMs Butler, Talib L. Ryan) <Butler is a casualty here. Talib was great but not a part of any runs, not here 2 full years and I think Gonzo is better. As for Ryan he played both outside and inside but i don't think he makes it in either>
NCB 2 - J. Jones, M. Jones (HM K. Arrington) <Arrington is perhaps most remembered for being pulled in 2024 for Butler, but he was really good for years before he kind of lost it near the end. J>M for now cause he was also fantastic and part of championship runs>

STs 4

K - Vinatieri (HM Gost)
P - Allen (HM Baringer)
LS - Cardona
ACE - Slater

KR Brown
PR Edelman (both not counted as an extra spot)

(LOL... didn't mean to post this yet. Was just seeing how it looked in text before saving it.... It is a bit early. Was going to do it at the end of the year if it was still accurate... IDK, could we maybe delete it and bring it up after the year ends?)

Nice job, not a bad list at all...its not an easy thing to do... some thoughts on a first read through...

C - 1. Koppen 2. Andrews, no HM for Woody... brought in Mike Compton just to handle the shotgun snaps because he wasn't good at it...
LB - Bentley over KVN... life-timer Patriot, he did have half the number of sacks, but in three years running he lead the team with triple digit tackles...

 

[farn]

I’ve always liked those 3rd down backs :
Faulk-Vereen-White

Really hoping Henderson follows in their footsteps. I know many want much more from him - that’s fair - but if he starts becoming what those guys were ar their peak, I’d like it.

 

[JoeSixPat]

Is it either a tiny bit early or half a year late depending on how you want to do it. Personally I will just stick to the 2001-2025 years and kind of ignore 2000... even if you include it i question how much of a difference it makes. As for who should be included, i don't like the idea of 1 year rentals. I think at least 2 years here is needed. Also there is the hot potato of including Hernandez (I did not). With that said i didn't over think this too much. And will leave alternative in ( ), Notes in <>. This is only a 53 man team BTW. Also i think slightly higher importance should be put on how iconic they were in championship runs, those this can't be the end all be all either. Just something that should be considered. In any case here they are, and they are in order.

Offense 25

QB 2 - Brady Maye (No HMs) <But Bledsoe's half of play vs Pitt in 01 is worth pointing out>
TE 3 - Gronk Henry Watson. <I think Henry is just better than Watson even though he's be 0 parts of a championship run>
WR 5 - Moss Edelman Welker Brown Branch
RB 4 - Blount Dillon Faulk White (HMs Vereen, BJGE) <Blount gets the nod over Dillon. Dillon had the best single year, Blount was consistently good longer here and part of 2 runs. Faulk/White for change of pace/3rd down duties is a no brainer>
FB 1 - Develin (No HM)
LT 2 - Light Solder (No HM)
LG 2 - Mankins Thuney (J. Andruzzi deserves an HM)
C 2 - Andrews Koppen (D. Woody gets an HM)
RG 2 -Mason Neal (No HMs IMO)
RT 2 - Vollmer Cannon (HM T. Brown)

Defense 24

DE 4 - McGinest Judon C. Jones. Ninkovich (Flowers HM)
DT 4 - Seymour Wilfork Barmore Warren (Guy HM)
LB 6 - Bruschi Hightower Vrabel Van Noy Mayo Johnson (Colvin with the HM) <Also i was planning to go OLB/ILB... but these guys mixed and matched a bit, and this group works out like that pretty well anyway... though i think i am forgetting someone worth an HM>
CB 4 - Law Gilmore Gonzo Samuel (HMs Butler, Talib L. Ryan) <Butler is a casualty here. Talib was great but not a part of any runs, not here 2 full years and I think Gonzo is better. As for Ryan he played both outside and inside but i don't think he makes it in either>
NCB 2 - J. Jones, M. Jones (HM K. Arrington) <Arrington is perhaps most remembered for being pulled in 2014 for Butler, but he was really good for years before he kind of lost it near the end. J>M for now cause he was also fantastic and part of championship runs>
S 4 - Harrison McCourty Chung Wilson (HM Milloy) <Forgot to put on safeties. Since Milloy is a SS I can't put him on over Harrison/Chung>

STs 4

K - Vinatieri (HM Gost)
P - Allen (HM Baringer)
LS - Cardona
ACE - Slater

KR Brown
PR Edelman (both not counted as an extra spot)

(LOL... didn't mean to post this yet. Was just seeing how it looked in text before saving it.... It is a bit early. Was going to do it at the end of the year if it was still accurate... IDK, could we maybe delete it and bring it up after the year ends?)

Our Honorable Mentions would dominate every other team's First String

 

[TheRainMaker]

This is basically the best team of the BB years then? This would be the best Pats lineup:

QB: Brady, Bledsoe (HM I'm not ready to put Maye over Bledsoe yet)
RB: Dillon, Ridley, Lewis, Faulk (HM White, Blount, Antowain Smith)
FB: Develin (HM Marc Edwards)
WR: Moss, Cooks, Branch, Welker, Edelman (HM Givens).
TE: Gronk, Hernandez, Bennett, (HM Watson, Graham)
LT: Armstrong, Brown (Light HM)
LG: Mankins, Thuney
C: Koppen, Andrews
RG: Waters, Andruzzi
RT: Vollmer, Cannon

3-4
DE: Seymour, Green
DT: Washington, Wilfork
DE: Warren, Flowers
OLB: McGinest, Thomas (HM Vrabel)
ILB: Bruschi, Collins (HM Spikes would've made the list, but I already have too many thumpers. His hitting ability was underrated)
ILB: Johnson, Mayo
OLB: Judon, Hightower (HM Colvin)

4-3
DE: Jones, Andre Carter
DT: Washington, Wilfork
DT: Seymour, Barmore (may swap for Williams by season's end)
DE: McGinest, Mark Anderson
OLB: Judon, Thomas (HM Ninkovich)
MLB: Bruschi, Johnson (HM Mayo, Spikes)
OLB: Hightower, Collins

Secondary
CB: Law, Samuel
CB: Gilmore, Revis (HM JC Jackson)
FS: McCourty, Merriweather (HM Eugene Wilson)
SS: Harrison, Milloy
NB: Jonathon Jones, Arrington

Special Teams:
K: Ghostkowski (HM Adam Vinatieri. Everyone loved Adam, but Ghost blew him out of water statistically)
P: Bailey
KR/PR: Marcus Jones, Ellis Hobbs (HM Troy Brown, Cordarelle Patterson
ACE: Slater

 

[Triumph]

Rodney Harrison made the 52 man cut for the 2026 NFL HOF.

Kraft, Adam V, Wilfork, Mankins, Assante Samuel too.

 

[p8ryts]

Rodney Harrison made the 52 man cut for the 2026 NFL HOF.

Kraft, Adam V, Wilfork, Mankins, Assante Samuel too.

I'll pick 6 for no particular reason. Brees, Fitzgerald, Witten, Wilfork and I really like the Oline, I'll go with Anderson and Mangold but I like them all.

 

[Ring 6]

This is basically the best team of the BB years then? This would be the best Pats lineup:

QB: Brady, Bledsoe (HM I'm not ready to put Maye over Bledsoe yet)
RB: Dillon, Ridley, Lewis, Faulk (HM White, Blount, Antowain Smith)
FB: Develin (HM Marc Edwards)
WR: Moss, Cooks, Branch, Welker, Edelman (HM Givens).
TE: Gronk, Bennett, Watson (HM Graham)
LT: Brown, Light
LG: Mankins, Thuney
C: Koppen, Andrews
RG: Waters, Andruzzi
RT: Vollmer, Cannon

3-4
DE: Seymour, Green
DT: Washington, Wilfork
DE: Warren, Flowers
OLB: McGinest, Thomas (HM Vrabel)
ILB: Bruschi, Collins (HM Spikes would've made the list, but I already have too many thumpers. His hitting ability was underrated)
ILB: Johnson, Mayo
OLB: Judon, Hightower (HM Colvin)

4-3
DE: Jones, Andre Carter
DT: Washington, Wilfork
DT: Seymour, Barmore (may swap for Williams by season's end)
DE: McGinest, Mark Anderson
OLB: Judon, Thomas (HM Ninkovich)
MLB: Bruschi, Johnson (HM Mayo, Spikes)
OLB: Hightower, Collins

Secondary
CB: Law, Samuel
CB: Gilmore, Revis (HM JC Jackson)
FS: McCourty, Merriweather (HM Eugene Wilson)
SS: Harrison, Milloy
NB: Jonathon Jones, Arrington

Special Teams:
K: Ghostkowski (HM Adam Vinatieri. Everyone loved Adam, but Ghost blew him out of water statistically)
P: Bailey
KR/PR: Marcus Jones, Ellis Hobbs (HM Troy Brown, Cordarelle Patterson
ACE: Slater

I stopped reading when you put Bledsoe ahead of Maye.

 

[TheRainMaker]

I stopped reading when you put Bledsoe ahead of Maye.

No you didn't. But anyways, Bledsoe as a starter had 2 division titles, 3 playoff appearances, 2 divisional round appearances, 1 AFCCG appearance and 1 Super Bowl appearance and a 4X Pro Bowler. He also came in relief to help get the Pats back the Super Bowl again. But hey, let's completely disrespect Bledsoe who made the Pats relevant in the 90's.

 

[fnordcircle]

No you didn't. But anyways, Bledsoe as a starter had 2 division titles, 3 playoff appearances, 2 divisional round appearances, 1 AFCCG appearance and 1 Super Bowl appearance and a 4X Pro Bowler. He also came in relief to help get the Pats back the Super Bowl again. But hey, let's completely disrespect Bledsoe who made the Pats relevant in the 90's.

Yeah but if it's specifically about 2001-current play Bledsoe doesn't even get an HM.

If we're talking alltime he's obviously the #2 all time Pats' QB to anyone without recency bias brain but my suspicion is that's because Raymond Berry was a ****ing moron who chased off Doug Flutie.

Definitely looks like Maye will overtake Bledsoe but the dude hasn't even played a full season yet so no way we can tap him as #2. Hell, for some games Mac looked like he might challenge Bledsoe for that and look how that turned out...

 

[Ring 6]

No you didn't. But anyways, Bledsoe as a starter had 2 division titles, 3 playoff appearances, 2 divisional round appearances, 1 AFCCG appearance and 1 Super Bowl appearance and a 4X Pro Bowler. He also came in relief to help get the Pats back the Super Bowl again. But hey, let's completely disrespect Bledsoe who made the Pats relevant in the 90's.

I did.
Bledsoe in the last quarter century was zero.

 

[Zuma]

This is basically the best team of the BB years then? This would be the best Pats lineup:

QB: Brady, Bledsoe (HM I'm not ready to put Maye over Bledsoe yet)
RB: Dillon, Ridley, Lewis, Faulk (HM White, Blount, Antowain Smith)

Lewis? Really? I'm missing something here...I have to be. Faulk, White, Blount, Smith hell yeah should all be before Lewis. Heck...even Stevenson and Harris. I liked Lewis but I just don't see the impact.

 

[maust]

Is it either a tiny bit early or half a year late depending on how you want to do it. Personally I will just stick to the 2001-2025 years and kind of ignore 2000... even if you include it i question how much of a difference it makes.

It makes a hella difference. Including 2000 allows the quarter century team to have Bruce Armstrong at LT 1

 

[TheRainMaker]

Lewis? Really? I'm missing something here...I have to be. Faulk, White, Blount, Smith hell yeah should all be before Lewis. Heck...even Stevenson and Harris. I liked Lewis but I just don't see the impact.

I have two "runners" and two "receiving type backs". This was why I left off Blount, Smith, Harris and especially Stevenson as "runners" and White as "receivers".

Watch games from the 2015 season and you'll see what I'm talking about regarding Lewis. He was by far the most talented dual threat back the Pats have had. When he played a full season for the Pats in 2017, he had 1,100 all purpose yards and 9 TD's. Also had 570 kick return yards and a TD. There was a reason Lewis played ahead of White for 2 years.

 

[Zuma]

I have two "runners" and two "receiving type backs". This was why I left off Blount, Smith, Harris and especially Stevenson as "runners" and White as "receivers".

I didn’t see that…I made a bad. So at least it’s reasonable now. I would probably go with White instead but I dig.

 

[TheRainMaker]

I didn’t see that…I made a bad. So at least it’s reasonable now. I would probably go with White instead but I dig.

Most people remember James White because he was here longer and is the most recent, but Lewis is superior and it's not even close. Had Lewis not been injury prone, White hardly ever sees the field. Also, had White and other stayed healthy in 2015, Pats don't lose more than 1 game that season. 16-0 was a real possibility that year.

 

[Zuma]

Most people remember James White because he was here longer and is the most recent, but Lewis is superior and it's not even close. Had Lewis not been injury prone, White hardly ever sees the field.

Something can be said for longevity…but I don’t know what that is.

 

[TheRainMaker]

Something can be said for longevity…but I don’t know what that is.

My list is based off who I'd want if I'm playing a game tomorrow.

 

[jmt57]

It makes a hella difference. Including 2000 allows the quarter century team to have Bruce Armstrong at LT 1

Not really, because then you are including Armstrong for just one season, at the age of 35, his final year in the NFL, correct?

Whether it is 2000-2025 or 2001-2025 shouldn't really matter.