The NFL Hall of Fame Selection Committee announced its Team of the Decades for the 2000s last night during the Pro Bowl. There weren’t a ton of surprises on the list.
Comments at a few sites have made cases for guys like Priest Holmes and Torry Holt. I can see their points but I also have little disagreement with the players that were picked. Theirs seems largely in tune with the one we published a year ago.
Any major disagreements (Real ones, not complaints about the timing of the list being off because of the calendar starting at year one and not year zero)? Guys you think should have been on the list?
2000s ALL-DECADE TEAM
Chosen by the Hall of Fame Selection Committee members.
Offense
Wide Receiver Marvin Harrison
Wide Receiver Torry Holt
Wide Receiver Randy Moss
Wide Receiver Terrell Owens
Tight End Antonio Gates
Tight End Tony Gonzalez
Tackle Walter Jones
Tackle Jonathan Ogden
Tackle Orlando Pace
Tackle William Roaf
Guard Larry Allen
Guard Alan Faneca
Guard Steve Hutchinson
Guard Will Shields
Center Olin Kreutz
Center Kevin Mawae
Quarterback Tom Brady
Quarterback Peyton Manning
Running Back Shaun Alexander
Running Back Jamal Lewis
Running Back Edgerrin James
Running Back LaDainian Tomlinson
Defense
End Dwight Freeney
End Julius Peppers
End Michael Strahan
End Jason Taylor
Tackle La’Roi Glover
Tackle Warren Sapp
Tackle Richard Seymour
Tackle Kevin Williams
Linebacker Derrick Brooks
Linebacker Ray Lewis
Linebacker Joey Porter
Linebacker Zach Thomas
Linebacker Brian Urlacher
Linebacker DeMarcus Ware
Cornerback Ronde Barber
Cornerback Champ Bailey
Cornerback Ty Law
Cornerback Charles Woodson
Safety Brian Dawkins
Safety Troy Polamalu
Safety Ed Reed
Safety Darren Sharper
Specialists
Punter Shane Lechler
Punter Brian Moorman
Kicker David Akers
Kicker Adam Vinatieri
Punt Returner Dante Hall
Punt Returner Devin Hester
Kick Returner Josh Cribbs
Kick Returner Dante Hall
Coach Bill Belichick
Coach Tony Dungy
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Off : Troy Polamula, Joey Porter, Richard Seymour, Julius Peppers, Willie Roaf and Shaun Alexander.
On: John Lynch, Mike Vrabel, Casey Hampton, Jared Allen, Willie Anderson and Tiki Barber.
Biggest gripe is Seymour because he’s NOT a DT.
Seymour was a DT when the Patriots were still playing the 4-3, and he was largely considered one of the best in the game when he was, I believe–he made the Pro Bowl at least once there. Pro-Football-Reference.com has him as DT only one year, but I think he did a lot of switching between DE and DT those first couple years in the league. And 3-4 ends seem to have the reputation of playing like DT…
Given the unlikeliness that a 3-4 DT like Hampton was going to make the team (they never get the credit), and the relative lack of true standout DTs in the decade (Warren Sapp made it with only one great and one good season in the decade–he got 2 All-Pro awards with average seasons), I don’t think Seymour is a terrible pick…
I can’t even remember when the Pats played a 4-3. I guess that’s my problem. :)
Sadly, I think you’re right about Hampton although they do get credit come Pro Bowl time. I don’t know if a NT has ever made the All-Decade Team. I know they have been shut out of the HOF.
No, Seymour is not a bad pick if he was a DT.