Poll: 2010s Patriots Mount Rushmore

[Ice_Ice_Brady]

You can choose up to four players who belong on the Patriots Mt. Rushmore for the 2010s. The criteria is that any player is eligible provided he has at least one year with the Patriots. The poll allows for 10 slots, so I've used the first nine for most likely votes (that was difficult in itself, so put a premium on longevity) and the 10th as a write-in, which you can designate in your post. Please note that not everyone on this list is here because they have a realistic shot at being top-4...some are just to recognize their contributions to this decade's unbelievable success.

This for players who had a notable impact with the Patriots in the 2010s, even if their career extends prior to that (and you can count their entire career). Wilfork, Welker, and Mankins are the only ones where this really matters. Welker was included, though he is the most difficult to separate between 2000s and 2010s. Mankins is probably a better fit for 2000s, though he would qualify for both.

Tom Brady is not included on Mt. Rushmore because he’s the deity in the background of Mt. Rushmore. This is for mortals only, and it’s a waste of time to put him on the list, as he is too obvious, and his inclusion on the list will just change the conversation, which is to recognize the most important players who aren't universally recognized as the greatest of all-time. There would be too many single votes for Brady as a statement vote. So, please, no snarky write-ins for Tom.

This is your own criteria...who belongs on the four-person Mt. Rushmore is totally subjective to your own opinion.

Super Bowl counts are based on being on the roster during that season.
No distinction between 1st and 2nd team All-Pro. Both mean the player was very dominant.

Danny Amendola, 2013-17
2X Super Bowl Champion, 3X AFC Champion

LeGarrette Blount, 2014-16
2X Super Bowl Champion

Malcolm Butler, 2014-17
2X Super Bowl Champion
1X All-Pro, 1X Pro Bowl

Marcus Cannon, 2011-Present
3X Super Bowl Champion, 5X AFC Champion
1X All-Pro

Patrick Chung, 2009-12, 2014-present
3X Super Bowl Champion, 5X AFC Champion

James Develin, 2012-present
3X Super Bowl Champion, 4X AFC Champion
1X Pro Bowl

Julian Edelman, 2009-present
3X Super Bowl Champion, 5X AFC Champion
Super Bowl 53 MVP

Trey Flowers, 2015-present
2X Super Bowl Champion, 3X AFC Champion

Stephon Gilmore, 2017-present
1X Super Bowl Champion, 2X AFC Champion
1X All-Pro, 1X Pro Bowl

Stephen Gostkowski, 2007-present
3X Super Bowl Champion, 6X AFC Champion
3X All-Pro, 4X Pro Bowl

Rob Gronkowski, 2010-present
3X Super Bowl Champion, 5X AFC Champion
4X All-Pro, 5X Pro Bowl, 2014 CPOY

Dont'a Hightower, 2012-present
3X Super Bowl Champion, 4X AFC Champion
1X All-Pro, 1X Pro Bowl

Dion Lewis, 2015-17
1X Super Bowl Champion, 2X AFC Champion

Logan Mankins, 2005-13
2X AFC Champion
6X All-Pro, 7X Pro Bowl

Jerod Mayo, 2008-15
1X Super Bowl Champion, 2X AFC Champion
1X All-Pro, 2x Pro Bowl, 2008 DROY

Shaq Mason, 2015-present
2X Super Bowl Champion, 3X AFC Champion

Devin McCourty, 2010-present
3X Super Bowl Champion, 5X AFC Champion
3X All-Pro, 2X Pro Bowl

Darrelle Revis, 2014
1X Super Bowl Champion, 1X AFC Champion
1X All-Pro, 1X Pro Bowl

Matthew Slater, 2008-present
3X Super Bowl Champion, 5X AFC Champion
5X All-Pro, 3X Pro Bowl

Nate Solder, 2011-17
2X Super Bowl Champion, 4X AFC Champion

Kyle Van Noy, 2016-present
2X Super Bowl Champion, 3X AFC Champion

Wes Welker, 2007-12
2X AFC Champion
4X All-Pro, 5X Pro Bowl

James White, 2014-present
3X Super Bowl Champion, 4X AFC Champion

Vince Wilfork, 2004-14
2X Super Bowl Champion, 4X AFC Champion
4X All-Pro, 5X Pro Bowl

 

[Dexter]

Jules, Gronk, High, Devin.

 

[Dingleberry]

Edelman, Gronk, Hightower were easy. Went with McCourty over Slater for the 4th choice

 

[Brick27]

Voted Gronk, Edelman, McCourty, and Slater. Debated Hightower over Slater or McCourty, but used the fact the latter two have played every year of the 2010s as the decider.

 

[lancerman]

If you don't allow Tom Brady it pretty much HAS to be

Gronkowski, Edelman, Hightower and McCourty.'

Honorable mentions are Slater and Butler.

 

[Froob]

Gronk and Edelman are locks, then McCourty and I’ll go Wilfork who is a tough pick over Hightower.

 

[patfanken]

I added Pat Chung to the usual suspects. I think Chung has been the real unsung player of this era. I know Bill LOVES him. He is a great story. Almost biblical. He was prodigal son released from the family only to come home to achieve long standing success as a KEY member in so many wins.

His play often gets lost in all the commentary about Gilmore, Butler, McCourty, etc But safety play is critical in today's game. Having a guy like Chung who can play one BOTH the 2nd and 3rd levels is a huge advantage. '

Because of Chung the Pats can play their safeties interchangably as well as use him as a traditional SS. Most SS's can't cover TE's or RB's well in man to man. Chung can, at least as well as anyone. PLUS his durability has been fantastic and can't be undervalued.

So while he might not have any "signature" plays, personally I'd like to see Patrick get more recognition of his contribution to this run of excellence

 

[TBR]

Blount, Lewis, Develin, Revis

 

[farn]

Really wanted to put Slater & James White, but it seems like #11, #87 on O and HT /DMac on D was the right call.

 

[Zuma]

Gronkowski, Edelman, Hightower, McCourty

 

[Kdo5]

Brady/Gronk/Edelman/McCourty/HT

 

[Ice_Ice_Brady]

Thinking I should have made this a top 5 or top 6. While I thought Gronk and Edelman were locks, I didn't realize McCourty and Hightower would be so obvious (although that was my top 4 also.)

 

[Wheelman]

Matthew Slater, Nate Ebner, Ryan Allen, Stephen Gostkowski

 

[Ice_Ice_Brady]

Matthew Slater, Nate Ebner, Ryan Allen, Stephen Gostkowski

Zoltan Mesko says hi.

 

[LJRomanoff]

No love for this guy?

 

[Wheelman]

Zoltan Mesko says hi.

 

[chris_in_sunnyvale]

Easy picks were Gronk, Edelman and McCourty: Here the whole time as key cogs. Tough call between HT and Chung. Went with HT due to his huge plays in 3 titles, but just barely.

Big Vince, Butler and Flowers miss out due to really being here only half the time. While I love Slater and Gost who meet the same criteria as my top 3, I just cant give a Mt. Rushmore spot to a special teamer unless they do something epic a la Vinatieri (Snowbowl) or Troy Brown (01 AFCCG).

Regards,
Chris

 

[TennisBallHead]

Lex Hilliard

 

[Wheelman]

Lex Hilliard

Troll, don't you have anything else to do?

 

[maust]

Zoltan Mesko says hi.