ESPNs Top 25 Players of the Decade

Post #1 » by **Da Schwab** » Fri Jun 26, 2009 7:03 pm

Let the debate begin!

http://myespn.go.com/blogs/nfcwest/0-9- ... ecade.html

1. Tom Brady
2. Peyton Manning
3. LaDanian Tomlinson
4. Walter Jones
5. Jason Taylor
6. Champ Bailey
7. Marvin Harrison
8. Michael Strahan
9. Ray Lewis
10. Tony Gonzalez
11. Jonathan Ogden
12. Ed Reed
13. Torry Holt
14. Randy Moss
15. Derrick Brooks
16. Orlando Pace
17. Kurt Warner
18. Shaun Alexander
19. Troy Polamalu
20. Richard Seymour
21. Ben Roethlisberger
22. Steve Hutchinson
23. Brett Favre
24. Terrell Owens
25. Brian Urlacher

Just missed the cut: Alan Faneca, John Lynch, Will Shields, Brian Dawkins, La'Roi Glover, Kevin Mawae, Olin Kreutz, Matt Birk, Larry Allen, Chris Samuels, Zach Thomas, Ronde Barber, Keith Brooking, Al Wilson, Julian Peterson, Donovan McNabb, Antonio Gates, Jason Witten, Chad Ochocinco

Post #2 » by **Da Schwab** » Fri Jun 26, 2009 7:12 pm

My qualms with the list:

- Switch Peyton and Brady. I know the Golden Boy has more rings, but Peyton Manning has been the pinnacle of consistent since the year 2000, not to mention he's been to seven straight Pro Bowls.

- Tony Gonzalez should be in the top five. He defined his position in this decade. There have been challengers to the throne (Shockey, Gates, Witten), but Gonzo has always performed even with his advancing age.

- Randy Moss should be in the top 10, probably between 8-10. Sure, he had those two dismal years in Oakland, where the bitching never stopped, but this is one of the most dominant players of all time at his position.

- Same goes for Terrell Owens. I'd put him at #17, just below Pace. Another one of those receivers who consistently amazes and dominates. The reason he probably is slotted at #24 is due to his behavior.

- Ben Roethlisberger being anywhere close to this list, let alone the top 25, is a travesty.

Post #3 » by **Icness** » Fri Jun 26, 2009 11:03 pm

Top of the head snap judgments:
--Jason Taylor seems high
--Ed Reed seems low. Other than his one off season he's been the most impactful defensive back in the league his entire career
--Ogden continues to be horribly overappreciated. The guy was a very good player but Pace and Jones were definitively superior overall LTs. His last 2.5 seasons he was below average
--Alan Faneca should have made the cut
--I agree with Schwab about Randy Moss

Post #4 » by **Celtics_Champs** » Sat Jun 27, 2009 12:26 am

Ray Lewis > Jason Taylor

Ticket_Stub · Post #5 » by **Ticket_Stub** » Sat Jun 27, 2009 10:04 pm

I think the list is pretty good, but the order is messed up...

Post #6 » by **Latrell** » Fri Jul 3, 2009 4:16 am

Edgerrin James and Dwight Freeney don't even get honorable mentions?

Post #7 » by **Latrell** » Fri Jul 3, 2009 4:35 am

They have Alexander at #18 and no mention of James at all?

James: 12112 career rushing yards
8 times with at least 1000 yards in a season
4 times with at least 1,500 yards in a season
1 SB appearance (L to the Steelers)

Alexander: 9453 career rushing yards
5 times with at least 1000 yards in a season
3 times with at least 1,500 yards in a season
1 SB appearance (L to the Steelers)

Alexander's prime was a little better but also very short lived.

Post #8 » by **Da Schwab** » Fri Jul 3, 2009 6:14 am

I honestly didn't even think of Edge.

travis minor · Post #9 » by **travis minor** » Sat Jul 4, 2009 5:09 pm

Richard Seymour is a really good player, i don't think top 25 though

I know hes a 3-4 DE usually, but this decade

JT: 104 sacks
Strahan: 89 sacks (he had like 42 more sacks in the nineties)
Seymour: 39 sacks

of course Strahan and JT are higher on the list, but they are the only other passrushers on it, and that is who he has to be compared to

I just don't think he can be on the list, mostly due to his position,

travis minor · Post #10 » by **travis minor** » Sat Jul 4, 2009 5:12 pm

ZT:1175 tackles this decade
Urlacher:1055 tackles this decade

Zach one more pass defended,9 more forced fumbles, same amount of interceptions

just saying

Post #11 » by **Da Schwab** » Sat Jul 4, 2009 8:24 pm

Zach T should be ahead of Urlacher.

CentralQB5 · Post #12 » by **CentralQB5** » Tue Jul 7, 2009 4:40 am

hows Jason Taylor ahead of Ray Lewis?
thats my only prob with it

MartyConlonOnTheRun · Post #13 » by **MartyConlonOnTheRun** » Tue Jul 7, 2009 3:14 pm

I'm shocked Favre is 23. Not that he should be higher, but that ESPN didn't put him higher.

JustBlaze · Post #14 » by **JustBlaze** » Tue Jul 7, 2009 5:12 pm

I agree that Edge should be ahead of Shaun Alexander. I can't believe that Chad Ochocinco got an honorable mention over James

sh00n · Post #15 » by **sh00n** » Tue Jul 14, 2009 2:58 am

Honestly, not just in light of his death, I'd have McNair on there. Over Ben at least, anyways.

Wizards2Lottery · Post #16 » by **Wizards2Lottery** » Tue Jul 14, 2009 4:37 am

Champ Bailey at 6? Are you freakin kidding me? I would take a great player at every other position over a great corner. Do you think a Viking or a Samoan Warrior would want to play freaking corner back? CORNERBACK? In the totem pole of manliness, cornerback is Ryan Seacrest and Middle Linebacker or Running Back is Shaka Zulu. So ESPN basically thinks Ryan Seacrest is better than Shaka Zulu. Really ESPN? REALLY?

Please, get Champ out of that list. Ronde Barber and Olin Kreutz in the honorable mention? Your telling me Olin Kreutz has been a better player in than Clinton Portis? Your putting Olin Kreutz in the same breath as Larry Allen? When did ESPN let idiots from bleacher report right articles for them?

Post #17 » by **Da Schwab** » Wed Jul 15, 2009 6:29 am

Uhh... no.

Post #18 » by **Latrell** » Fri Jul 17, 2009 3:28 am

Champ deserves to be on the list IMO. 1 DPOY award and easily the best CB of the deacde. Id say Rashean Mathis is a distant second. I don't care if people dont value CB's as much as other positions, but in his prime, Champ was a great player.

That said, #6 on that list is way too high.

Elway=GOAT · Post #19 » by **Elway=GOAT** » Sun Jul 19, 2009 3:34 am

Gilbert0Arenas wrote:Champ Bailey at 6? Are you freakin kidding me? I would take a great player at every other position over a great corner. Do you think a Viking or a Samoan Warrior would want to play freaking corner back? CORNERBACK? In the totem pole of manliness, cornerback is Ryan Seacrest and Middle Linebacker or Running Back is Shaka Zulu. So ESPN basically thinks Ryan Seacrest is better than Shaka Zulu. Really ESPN? REALLY?

Please, get Champ out of that list. Ronde Barber and Olin Kreutz in the honorable mention? Your telling me Olin Kreutz has been a better player in than Clinton Portis? Your putting Olin Kreutz in the same breath as Larry Allen? When did ESPN let idiots from bleacher report right articles for them?

Still bitter about the trade? If Champ remained a skin you would be singing his praisies. Champ Bailey is the most complete corner ever. Its epic how much you hate on the guy. Yes, we screwed you and that is why you are still bitter after all these years. Most complete corner ever>injury prone running back who never regained his Denver form. In your face.

Wizards2Lottery · Post #20 » by **Wizards2Lottery** » Sun Jul 19, 2009 5:59 pm

Elway=GOAT wrote:
Gilbert0Arenas wrote:Champ Bailey at 6? Are you freakin kidding me? I would take a great player at every other position over a great corner. Do you think a Viking or a Samoan Warrior would want to play freaking corner back? CORNERBACK? In the totem pole of manliness, cornerback is Ryan Seacrest and Middle Linebacker or Running Back is Shaka Zulu. So ESPN basically thinks Ryan Seacrest is better than Shaka Zulu. Really ESPN? REALLY?

Please, get Champ out of that list. Ronde Barber and Olin Kreutz in the honorable mention? Your telling me Olin Kreutz has been a better player in than Clinton Portis? Your putting Olin Kreutz in the same breath as Larry Allen? When did ESPN let idiots from bleacher report right articles for them?

Still bitter about the trade? If Champ remained a skin you would be singing his praisies. Champ Bailey is the most complete corner ever. Its epic how much you hate on the guy. Yes, we screwed you and that is why you are still bitter after all these years. Most complete corner ever>injury prone running back who never regained his Denver form. In your face.

lol at most complete corner. Your defense was crap with Champ and still is. Champ isn't even the third best corner in Redskins history. With Portis, the Skins have had a top NFL rushing game every season. By the way, Champ has missed nine games for Denver. Portis has missed nine games for Washington. Who's injury prone? :lol:

Nice try clown.

btw Jay Cutler says hi. Brandon Marshall does too. Enjoy a craptacular season.