Brady’s bunch dominates Patriots All-Time team roster

Brady’s bunch dominates Patriots All-Time team roster

The recent success of the New England Patriots franchise is because they have talented players at almost all positions on the field. Although stars from the past are scattered throughout the roster, most of the All-Time team spots are taken by players who have made their mark since 2000.

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Coach: I’m not sure which choice is more obvious, here or at quarterback. Bill Belichick overcame his subpar stint as coach of the Browns and the dubious way he joined the Patriots and has turned the franchise into a perennial Super Bowl contender. Under his leadership, New England has amassed a 225-79 record in 19 seasons. The team has won 10 or more games 17 times and made the playoffs in 16 seasons. The Patriots have won 10 straight division titles, played in eight straight AFC Championship Games and have gone 6-2 in the Super Bowl. Others of note: Raymond Berry led New England to its first Super Bowl after the 1985 season and went 48-39 in five seasons. Mike Holovak had a 52-46-9 record and led the Patriots to the AFL Championship Game in 1963, which was the only playoff appearance in their first 16 years of existence. Chuck Fairbanks went 46-39 and made the playoffs twice in six years. Finally, Bill Parcells only had a 32-32 record in four seasons, but he guided New England to the Super Bowl after the 1996 season.

Quarterback: The only question here should be where Tom Brady ranks all-time at the position because he is clearly the starter on this team. He is a six-time Super Bowl champion and in four of those wins, he has been the Most Valuable Player. He has been the NFL MVP three times, won two Offensive Player of the Year Awards, has been selected to 14 Pro Bowls and three All-Pro teams. His 70,514 passing yards are fourth on the all-time list and his 517 touchdowns rank third. The man Brady supplanted after injury, Drew Bledsoe, is the primary backup. Bledsoe led the Pats to Super Bowl XXXI, was selected to three Pro Bowls and threw for 29,657 yards, including a league-leading 4,555 in 1994. Steve Grogan was under center for three playoff teams and his 182 touchdown passes are second in team history. Vito “Babe” Parrilli led the Patriots to the AFL Championship Game in 1963, was a three-time Pro Bowler and an All-Pro in 1964.

Running Back: Hall of Famer Curtis Martin spent only three seasons in New England, but he ran for more than 1,100 yards in all of them. He was the Offensive Rookie of the Year in 1995 and made two Pro Bowls. His 3,799 yards and 32 touchdowns both rank fourth in team history. Tony Collins ranks third with 4,647 yards, and he was a part of three playoff teams, including Super Bowl XX. His 1,049 rushing yards in 1983 earned him a Pro Bowl selection. Corey Dillon made the Pro Bowl in 2004 and helped the team win its third Super Bowl. His 37 touchdowns ranks third in team history. John Stephens took over for Collins and ran for 1,168 yards and a Pro Bowl selection in 1988. Kevin Faulk was a jack-of-all-trades on five Super Bowl teams in 12 years. He had more than 3,500 yards both rushing and receiving, and his 4,098 kickoff return yards are the most in team history. Don Calhoun was an undervalued runner who played on two playoff teams in the late 1970s.

Fullback: Jim Nance is second in team history with 5,323 yards, and his 45 touchdowns tops the list. He ran for more than 2,600 yards in 1963 and ’64, earning both Pro Bowl and All-Pro selections in both seasons. Sam Cunningham’s 5,453 yards is the most ever by a Patriot, and his 43 touchdowns ranks second. He earned a Pro Bowl nod in 1978.

Wide Receiver: Stanley Morgan holds a team record with 10,352 yards. His 67 touchdowns rank second and his 534 receptions are fourth. He played in Super Bowl XX and was selected to the Pro Bowl four times. Brady’s favorite target, Wes Welker, caught a team-record 672 passes, and his 7,459 yards are third. He is a five-time Pro Bowl and two-time All-Pro selection. Hall of Famer Randy Moss is tied for third with 50 touchdowns, including 23 in the 2007 season. Others on the team include Irving Fryar, who had 5,726 yards and 38 touchdowns in nine seasons; Jim Colclough, who amassed 5,001 yards and made the Pro Bowl in 1962; Troy Brown, who played in five Super Bowls and made the Pro Bowl in 1999; Julian Edelman, a sure-handed slot receiver with nearly 500 receptions for three Super Bowl winners; Deion Branch, the Super Bowl XXXIX MVP; and Terry Glenn, who made the Pro Bowl in 1999.

Tight End: Rob Gronkowski is one of the most dangerous weapons in this offense with 521 catches, 7,861 catches, and a team-record 79 touchdowns. He has played in five Super Bowls (winning three), and he was a five-time Pro Bowler and a four-time All-Pro selection. Ben Coates’ 50 touchdowns are tied with Moss for third on the team’s all-time list. He made five Pro Bowls, two All-Pro teams and played in Super Bowl XXXI. Russ Francis was Grogan’s safety valve, catching 28 scoring passes and making three Pro Bowls.

Tackle: Bruce Armstrong was as solid as a left tackle could be. He played in six Pro Bowls and started 212 games in 14 seasons, including every game over his final eight seasons. On the right side, Tom Neville made six straight Pro Bowls and was an All-Pro in 1963. The backups are Matt Light, a three-time Pro Bowler, and 2007 All-Pro and Shelby Jordan, a starter on three playoff teams in the late ‘70s and early ‘80s.

Guard: Hall of Famer John Hannah is an easy call on the left side. He made nine Pro Bowls (including eight straight), to go along with seven All-Pro selections. His final game was Super Bowl XX. On the right is Len St. Jean, who played 10 seasons with the Patriots and made the Pro Bowl in 1966. Behind them are six-time Pro Bowler and 2010 All-Pro Logan Mankins, three-time Pro Bowler and 2007 All-Pro Matt Light and Sam Adams, a starter on two playoff teams.

Center: Jon Morris made seven straight Pro Bowls and was an All-Pro in 1966. Backing him up will be Dan Koppen, a two-time champion and 2007 Pro Bowler, and Bill Lenkaitis, a stalwart in the 1970s.

Defensive End: Rob Ninkovich was an edge rusher on three Super Bowl teams. His 46 career sacks include eight each in 2012-14. Willie McGinest starts on the other end. He played in four Super Bowls and two Pro Bowls and had 78 sacks, including four seasons with nine or more. Behind them are five-time Pro Bowler, three-time All-Pro and three-time Super Bowl champion Richard Seymour, along with Larry Eisenhauer, who made four Pro Bowls and three All-Pro teams in the 1960s, Julius Adams, a 1980 Pro Bowler and Brent Williams, a 1986 All-Rookie Team selection.

Defensive Tackle: The Patriots have been success using both the 3-4 and 4-3 defensive fronts, but there are quite a few stellar linebackers so for this list, we will go with a 3-4. Jim Lee Hunt and Houston Antwine were both stars in the 1960s, with Antwine making six straight Pro Bowls and being named an All-Pro in 1963 on the right side and Hunt being named to four Pro Bowls on the left. However, the starter will be Vince Wilfork, a road-grader who made five Pro Bowls, was an All-Pro in 2012 and appeared in four Super Bowls.

Outside Linebacker: Two NFL greats will start here. Hall of Famer Andre Tippett mans the left side. He appeared in five straight Pro Bowls, was named an All-Pro twice, and his team-record 100 sacks includes 18.5 in 1984 and 16.5 the following year. Tedy Bruschi played in five Super Bowls, was a Pro Bowler in 2004 and registered 100 or more tackles five times. Behind them are Tom Addison, a four-time Pro Bowler and 1961 All-Pro; Chris Slade, who made the 1997 Pro Bowl and had 51 sacks; and Larry McGrew, a starter in Super Bowl XX.

Inside Linebacker: Mike Vrabel played in four Super Bowls and was both a Pro Bowler and All-Pro in 2007 after registering 12.5 sacks. Ted Johnson started four Super Bowls and had four seasons with 90 or more tackles. The backups include Hall of Famer Nick Buoniconti, who was a five-time Pro Bowler and four-time All-Pro with 24 interceptions in Boston; Steve Nelson started for five playoff teams and made three Pro Bowls, and Vincent Brown made 100 or more tackles five times in eight seasons.

Cornerback: The team record of 36 interceptions is held by both starters at this spot. Hall of Famer Ty Law played in four Super Bowls and four Pro Bowls and was a two-time All-Pro. Raymond Clayborn was named to three Pro Bowls. Maurice Hurst had 27 interceptions and made the All-Rookie Team in 1989; Hall of Famer Mike Haynes made five straight Pro Bowls and was the 1976 Defensive Rookie of the Year; Ronnie Lippett had eight of his 24 interceptions in 1986, and Don Webb made the Pro Bowl in 1969.

Safety: Lawyer Milloy is a strong safety. He played in two Super Bowls and four Pro Bowls and was an All-Pro in 1999. The free safety is Fred Marion, who played in both the Pro Bowl and Super Bowl XX after the 1985 season and had 29 interceptions. The backups include Ron Hall, who made the Pro Bowl in 1963, then was an All-Pro the following season after picking off 11 passes, and Roland James, who had three or more interceptions five times during the 1980s.

Kicker: Stephen Gostkowski has played in six Super Bowls and was selected to four Pro Bowls and two All-Pro teams. His 1,743 points include 12 seasons with 100 or more and five times leading the league. Adam Vinatieri has 10 seasons with 100 or more points as part of his 1,158 in total. He played in four Super Bowls and was a three-time Pro Bowler and a two-time All-Pro. Gino Cappelletti was a five-time Pro Bowler, led the AFL in scoring five times and was also a star receiver in the 1960s.

Punter: Rich Camarillo has a 42.6-yard average over seven seasons and made the Pro Bowl in 1983. Ryan Allen needs one more good season to occupy this spot.

Returners: Faulk is the main kick returner, with 1996 Pro Bowl selection David Meggett capable on both kickoffs and punts. Edelman returned four punts for touchdowns and Brown and Fryar each had three scores.

Special Teams: Matthew Slater made seven straight Pro Bowls, played in five Super Bowls and was an All-Pro in 2016.

-By: Kevin Rakas