Agree. The list was meant to be controversial and was very superficial, as most lists are. Basically, the list included:
- non-defensive coaches (assuming Belichick knows nothing about offense and special teams, and that his defensive coordinators are just taking orders from Belichick)
- owner
- mo lewis
- passing game skill position players including kickers
- linebackers
Frankly I'm shocked they included the linebackers, given the overall superficial treatment. But a list of 15 most influential Patriots during this dynasty that doesn't include Richard Seymour? Come on.
Let's do this better. Let's change the rules slightly: still a list of 15, but it excludes all non-player personnel, all non-Patriot players, and excludes Brady so we can get 15 other players recognized. Here's a stab, with an emphasis on long-term players versus short-term bursts:
1: Gronk. Despite all his injuries, he still ranks up with Mark Bavaro as among the most complete TEs in the NFL ever. It says something about the talent on the 2016 team that they won without him.
2: Seymour. Inexcusable to not have him on the initial list. Took years to fully rebuild the defensive line once he was traded.
3: Bruschi. If Belichick calls him the perfect player, how can he be much lower on the list?
4. Troy Brown. For the reasons Bruins29 articulates.
5. Vinitieri. I hate having a kicker so high, but this guy earned it with his clutch postseason performances.
6. Ty Law. Article captured him well although he should have been ranked much higher.
7. Wilfork. He was Ted Washington but for 8 seasons (2005-2012), excluding 2004 when he was still learning and his competitive but not star quality years after the tendon tear. He's the reason the line didn't completely fall apart after the Seymour trade, and was the key cog that dragged the 2011 defense to the Super Bowl.
8. Matt Light. Article praised Scar, which is fine, but Light was the consistent star at the left tackle position on 5 Super Bowl teams, playing through Crohn's disease on top of that. Completely and consistently shut down Dwight Freeney of the team's main rivals. I think it's insulting to give all the credit to Scar while ignoring the actual production of the players.
9. Rodney Harrison. Somehow the article ignored him, and I do understand all of his injuries, but he was another clutch machine from 2003-2008. It's too bad he was the victim of the Tyree catch because he did everything right on that play except actually knock it out of his hands, and as mentioned he was completely clutch in every other moment.
10. Jules. I think they got this ranking about right, but they also forgot about his Troy Brown-lite performance as a DB in 2011. Clutch.
11. Dont'a. Pleasantly surprised to see that he got the love in this article.
12. Kevin Faulk. Completely unsung and underappreciated, and therefore it makes sense they forgot about him too. Another 5-time Super Bowl player. Who was the key cog in the Snow Bowl? Who caught the last pass to set up the field goal versus the Rams? Who consistently kept Brady upright and allowed them to play shotgun so much even before 2007 (I'm thinking of the Vikings 2006 game)? He deserves some love.
13. Willie McGinest. Article was spot on here.
14. Mike Vrabel. Another "Mr. Clutch". Lots of discussions about him recently in light of Ninko's retirement, but let's just say that for as much as I liked Nink, Vrabel was the clearly superior player - more versatile (Nink at ILB?), more clutch.
15. Wes Welker. Yes, I put him above Moss. He was here twice as long, and frankly defined a position in the NFL (obviously it existed, but his work made it an essential role instead of a niche role). Obviously the drop in 46 is a huge blackmark, but I think the drop against the Ravens in the 2012 AFC title game is blown out of proportion based on what happened afterwards and by people ready to turn on him. He very likely was Super Bowl 42 MVP if the Tyree/Plaxico situations don't happen.
Honorable mentions that I hate leaving out: McCourty, Moss, Nink, Logan Mankins (his performance in 42 and 46 kicked him out of the list, even though I know he was playing on a torn ACL in 46), Deion Branch.
Other honorable mentions: Pat Chung, Matthew Slater, Larry Izzo (for a coach that preaches complete football, we need Slater and Izzo in there), Asante Samuel, Lawyer Milloy, Ted Washington, Corey Dillon (for the latter 3, their impact was short-lived, but at their best, what an impact), David Givens and Danny Amendola (for their post-season performances).
