NFL Decade Superlatives
Written by Brian Clarke
Best Team: New England Patriots
4 Superbowl Appearances, 3 wins (would've been four if Richard Seymour would've just held onto Eli Manning just a little bit longer).
Best Team: 2003 New England Patriots.
I would consider throwing the Ravens in here as well as the 2007 Patriots Squad, but I won't for two reasons. I'm not sure if the Ravens championship team really qualifies, because they're quarterback was named Trent Dilfer and they beat a team in the Superbowl quarterbacked by Kerry Collins. The 2007 Patriots Squad was the best team ever assembled. Except they didn't win it all. In order to be the best, you have to beat the best and the Giants did, which made them the best and not the Patriots. Speaking of...
Best Game: Giants vs. Patriots Superbowl XLII.
(Honorable Mention: Steelers vs. Cardinals Superbowl XLIII)
In addition, the Patriots played some pretty memorable games during their perfect regular season run. The Ravens played them well as did the Colts
Defensive Player of the decade: Ray Lewis
I'm going with the safe pick here. I find it hard to vote Shawn Merriman or Brian Urlacher, due the fact both missed significant time due to injury, while not being nearly as successful as Ray Lewis (meaning winning a Superbowl) for as long. In addition, Ray Lewis' impact changes the way offenses approach the Ravens. Even in his 14th season, he's still clocking 100+ tackles.
Bad Call of the decade: Matt Millen keeping his job as President of the Lions, also the worst team of the decade by far.
Not to be outdone - “Tuck Rule”. One of the worst calls in the history of the game and cost the Raiders what seemed to be an easy road to the Superbowl championship.
Lived up to the hype: Adrian Peterson. Without a doubt the most exciting player in football for the past 2 or 3 years.
Biggest Disappointment: Michael Vick/ David Carr.
David Carr for more conventional reasons. He was brought in as the quarterback of the future. He continues to have all the tools, but unfortunately for him, he was sacked more times than any other QB in his first three seasons. That doesn't bold well for the future. Michael Vick, well most of the blame for the hype of Michael Vick being the Jordan esq. Figure for football in his early years can go to us, the fans. We wanted someone to revolutionize the stoic nature of the quarterback position. In his first few years, Vick dazzled defenders, making most of them look like junior varsity athletes. Forget that he never had any good receiving talent around him, he was a one man show, the ticket you had to buy. Unfortunately, even before he trained Lassie into a coldblooded killer, he wasn't a very good quarterback. Ya know, the position he played. Soon enough, he was exposed. By the time he was cornered and jailed by dogfighting, teams realized you can beat Vick by merely forcing him to throw the ball.
Most Disappointing Team: Redskins/Cowboys
Sounds like some NFC East hatred, but let's examine these two teams for a second. Both are home to two of the most powerful, rich and meddling owners: Dan Snyder and Jerry Jones. The value of these teams have been in the top 5 throughout the entire decade. Not a year has passed where experts look at both the Cowboys or the Redskins and say “this is the year they go deep in the playoffs”. The result? 1 playoff win between the two teams in the decade. They've failed over and over, but not for lack of trying. Snyder and Jones were able to legendary coaches back to fix their respective teams. Bill Parcells made Dallas and playoff team, but nothing further than that. Joe Gibbs did the same, even winning a game, however it was clear that the game had passed him by in his decade long hiatus from the sport. Both teams, spent and spent on talent only to be grossly disappointed by the end of the year. It was the first time since the decade of the 60s where neither the Cowboys or the Redskins appeared in a Superbowl. At least the Cowboys have an obnoxiously large new stadium. Much like that guy who buys a Hummer, the Cowboys are clearly overcompensating for something. Maybe next decade...
Most Creative way to get suspended:
Plaxico Burress.
Shooting himself in the leg. The end.
Bizarre Moments and News stories:
-Randy Moss "mooning"
- T.O. signing ball, suicide watch/ anything to do with Terrell Owens
- Spygate
Most inappropriate comment: Rush Limbaugh
“McNabb is overrated ... what we have here is a little social concern in the NFL. The media has been very desirous that a black quarterback can do well—black coaches and black quarterbacks doing well. There's a little hope invested in McNabb, and he got a lot of credit for the performance of his team that he didn't deserve.”
Now I hate McNabb as much as the next guy, mainly for breaking my heart as a Giants fan, but overrated? Not as much as you as an intellectual.
Funniest Unreal story: Ethan Albright Madden 2007 letter.
If you haven't seen it and need a laugh
The Next Decade: I can guarantee that Brett Favre won't be a part of most of it. John Madden will only show up on the cover of video games and not on our television providing the most precise rhetorical commentary anyone has ever heard. Roger Goddell has to find a way to keep his players out of strip clubs, jails and most seriously out of body bags. The Patriots dynasty seems to be fading a way a bit, while the debate over the 2004 draft will finally be solidified. Who was the best player that came out of the draft? Fitzgerald, Manning, Roethlisberger or Rivers? The running quarterback question will be brought up again, hopefully not involving arguments about race. Will the Wide-Recievers of the league continue to be the most obnoxious position, probably. But one thing can be
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