All-Decade Team features some easy choices, many hard
All-Decade teams are a dicey proposition. Some all-time greats never made such a team because of, basically, bad timing.
Maybe they broke into the NFL in mid-decade, such as Curtis Martin in 1995 or Fred Dean 20 years earlier. Both are Hall of Famers without ever making an All-Decade squad.
Others happened to play in an era jam-packed with stars at their positions. Some had injuryinterrupted careers. They also made it into the Canton shrine without All-Decade recognition.
Next Monday, the Hall of Fame and the NFL will announce the roster for the 201019 span. Voters were asked to select a first-team and a secondteam as follows: six players for each squad at linebacker; four at running back, wide receiver, tackle, guard, defensive end and defensive tackle; three at safety and cornerback; two at quarterback, center, defensive back (a nod to nickel backs), placekicker, punter, kick returner and punt returner; and one offensive flex player (a nod to versatility).
Here’s how one voter filled out the ballot — with lots of alterations during the process. Starting, naturally, with quarterback, which in the past decade became the focal point of every NFL franchise.
QUARTERBACK
If Tom Brady isn’t a unanimous selection, it will be a bigger upset than the Jets over the Colts in Super Bowl 3. Three Super Bowl rings in the decade cements his place.
The other QB considerations all own championships as well: Drew Brees, Aaron Rodgers and Russell Wilson. Brees’ overwhelming statistics get the nod, though Wilson is a personal favorite, the most exciting offensive player of the decade.
RUNNINGBACK
The difficult part here is finding eight names for both teams. Indeed, only one running back is truly a shoo-in, Adrian Peterson, the only non-quarterback to be voted league MVP in the decade.
Joining him are Le’Veon Bell, Jamaal Charles and Le Sean McCoy.
WIDERECEIVER
Not so easy here keeping Michael Thomas, Calvin Johnson or Julian Edelman off the first team. Still, there’s plenty of comfort with first-teamers Julio Jones, DeAndre Hopkins, Larry Fitzgerald and, gulp, Antonio Brown.
TIGHTEND
With only two slots, they goto Zach Ertz and Travis Kelce, relegating Rob Gronkowskito second team because of his unavailability for too many stretch es. Jason Witten also is a tough one to leave off the first team.
FLEX
In a shout-out to fullbacks, Vonta Leach is the choice. Many voters are likely to vote for Tyreek Hill or Christian McCaffrey, which is fine.
TACKLE
No problem at all here: Joe Thomas, who soon will be in the Hall of Fame, would make any All-Decade compilation. Trent Williams, Andrew Whitworth and Tyron Smith are the other selections.
GUARD
Only one slam-dunk at this position: the recently retired Marshal Yanda. A good argument could be made for maybe a dozen others, with the picks being Josh Sitton, Zack Martin and David DeCastro.
CENTER
Four centers deserve nods: Jason Kelce and Nick Mangold, our first-teamers, plus Maurkice Pouncey and Alex Mack, our second-teamers.
DEFENSIVEEND
Them os tim pactful defender of the decade is J.J. Watt, who won three Defensive Player of the Year awards and, had injuries not interfered, might own a few more.
Calais Campbell, Khalil Mack and Cam Jordan deserve to join Watt.
DEFENSIVETACKLE
Aaron Donald almost measures up to Watt as a dominating presence. No one would want to go up against an inside front line that also includes Geno Atkins, Fletcher Cox and recently traded Jurrell Casey.
LINEBACKER
Luke Kuechly, who retired after last season, Von Miller and Bobby Wagner absolutely define the best, whether they play inside or outside. Asked to select six, there is no way of leaving off Terrell Suggs, Patrick Willis and DeMarcus Ware.
CORNERBACK
Another spot where there’s hefty competition, though three guys stand out: Darrelle Revis, Richard Sherman and Patrick Peterson — all with potential busts in Canton.
Yes, that pushes Stephon Gilmore and Aqib Talib to the second team. We’re OK with that.
SAFETY
The Triple-E squad here: Earl Thomas, by far the top safety of the 10-year period, Eric Weddle and Eric Berry. Malcolm Jenkins just falls short of first-team selection.
DEFENSIVE BACK
No sweat here selecting Chris Harris Jr., and Devin McCourty, the perfect examples of do-everything DBs.