The most underappreciated player during the dynasty era

[rabthepat]

Dan Koppen

 

[PATSNUTme]

Dan Koppen

Kopen came after the first SB vicory.

I agree, he is not recongnized asmuch as he should be - yet.

 

[Seymour93]

If the question included those who've left in the past two years then it would be Roman Phifer.

Kevin Faulk gets a lot of love around here.

 

[rabthepat]

Kopen came after the first SB vicory.

I agree, he is not recongnized asmuch as he should be - yet.

Good point...I forgot he has only been with us since 2003. I change my vote to Faulk then. At times Faulk has really concerned me with fumbles but otherwise he has been a key contributor.

 

[zippo59]

I agree about kevin Faulk. We always talk about, when bringing in new stars (Dillon, Moss, etc) how they can be just as effective as decoys in that opposing team's concern for these players enable other players to shine. Faulk has always, ALWAYS grabbed us key chunks of yards at crucial moments in games by being a counter to those stars. One of the most memorable were the huge gains he made int he final drive in Denver in 2003 (the safety game).

What sticks out to me is the amazing diving catch he made on 3rd and 10 during the divisional playoff game against the Colts. We were in the shadow of our own endzone and it ignited the epic drive that was like 12 minutes long and was the real dagger into the Colts' hearts.

 

[Bertil]

Bobby Grier for selecting Kevin Faulk.

It's got to be Faulk, hands down.

I go with Kevin Faulk also, only because Vrabel has gotten more than his share of pub from all of the SB highlights. Not to discount them, but it makes it difficult to think of him as "underrated".

Kevin is just a player. His cache of "little" plays (2 point conversions against SD and Carolina, weaving first down prior to Givens' TD in Denver and a TON of screen passes come to mind) add up to quite a lot in my book.

 

[PonyExpress]

I don't think any of the 3 time champions have been underappreciated.

Among players who have been here for 2 titles, I would have to say Bobby Hamilton. He was the starting strong side DE on 2 SB champions, a team leader, and mentor to Seymour and Warren, who today anchor the NFL's best D-line.

In second place is Eugene Wilson, whose great contributions to 2 SB titles have been forgotten in some quarters.

 

[DaBruinz]

I'm not sure how Troy Brown doesn't get included in the Poll - While I'd be inclined to go with Vrabel for his key TDs and great D, especially in the 2001 SB that resulted in Ty Law's pick, as much as we love Troy I think he's always been underappreciated.

Look at his receiving stats in 2001 when he pretty much WAS the receiving corps, and even played RB for 11 carried for 8.3 yards a carry that season - not to mention his consistent production averaging about 40 passes a season from 2001-2006... and that's low in part to his willingness to give up stats to fill in the secondary when we needed him...

Not to mention that he actually played pretty well when we absolutely needed him to on Defense... not to mention his clutch third and fourth down plays... not to mention his special teams contributions, including the trusted "sure hands" guy as his speedster days moved behind him... not to mention his role as third string QB last year when we only carried 2 QBs...

And last but not least, keep in mind his stripping of a would be interception in the AFC Championship game against the Colts. If the team held on to win that game (one more first down would have done it) THAT's the play everyone's talking about as making the win possible, and putting us WELL in place to win our 4th SB ring in 6 years, cementing what should be an automatic place of honor for Troy in the Patriots Hall of Fame.

I'm sure there are aspects of Troy's contributions that I've forgotten... I really think without Troy on this team the word Patriots and Dynasty might not be used together. If people don't realize that, then he is SERIOUSLY underappreciated.

I think that people DO realize how improtant Troy Brown has been. And that is why he's not in the group of under-appreciated. Every year there are talks about Brown. How good he's been for this team and such. #80 is definitely a player who is EXTREMELY appreciated by this fan base.

 

[Rob0729]

Bobby Hamilton. I have heard praise go to most of the other guys mentioned in this thread, but Hamilton never really got the praise he deserved while he was here. He led the team in sacks in 2001.

We see how important Ty Warren has been to this team the last few years. Hamilton, although not as talented as Warren or versatile, did much of what Warren does now under the radar. He was a big reason we were so stout against the run in 2003.

 

[dhamz]

Kevin Faulk gets a lot of love around here.

Usually because there are half a dozen long threads per offseason talking about how he is going to be cut.

 

[PATRIOT64]

Larry Izzo is my choice

Where would the organization of our ST be without him as the leader?

As a LB not so good but theres a reason why BB keeps him in that ST position.

 

[PATSNUTme]

I just learned that Stephen Neal was on that SB XXXVI team. He was active for the last 3 regular season games and all post season games.

So that makes 8 players remaining on the current team from the SB XXVI team.

 

[BradfordPatsFan]

I voted for Light for the sole reason that he has been a consistent starter on this team from day one, protecting the franchise's blind side. I may be wrong on this but it seems as if this OL has gotten little to no respect prior to this offseason as a premier unit in the league, and he fits that mold as well.

 

[PATSNUTme]

And now I just found out that Izzo did play on the 2001 team that won the SB

 

[reflexblue]

And now I just found out that Izzo did play on the 2001 team that won the SB

Well that realy messes things up now doesn't it.

 

[Wotan_the_Wanderer]

Other: Antowain Smith

 

[PATSNUTme]

Well that realy messes things up now doesn't it.

It certainly does mess up this thread.

But, the amazing thing is that with only 10 remaining players from that SB team, we are still in contention for another one.:rocker: