Which Players of the NE SB Winning Teams (1 Viewer)

[David Yudkin]

Which players from the 01-04 Patriots SB winning teams will end up making the HOF?

Brady is a given. After that it gets pretty murky. Seymour? Law? Harrison? Dillon?

Any other legit candidates? (Belichick is a coach not a player.)

Could it be possible that a 3-time SB champ could only get one HOF inductee?

 

[Luke Skywalker]

Harrison has to be a Hall of Famer. Will probably take a few years because of his reputation but he is IMO one of the top 10 safeties to play. One of only 2 players ever to have 30/30 career interceptions and sacks.

 

[Pip's Invitation]

Matt Light?

 

[ivnabru]

Willie McGinest?

Lawyer Milloy?

 

[David Yudkin]

Harrison has to be a Hall of Famer. Will probably take a few years because of his reputation but he is IMO one of the top 10 safeties to play. One of only 2 players ever to have 30/30 career interceptions and sacks.

In some of the other HOF discussion threads, Harrison and Law were both considered boderline candidates.

 

[jurb26]

Harrison has to be a Hall of Famer. Will probably take a few years because of his reputation but he is IMO one of the top 10 safeties to play. One of only 2 players ever to have 30/30 career interceptions and sacks.

In some of the other HOF discussion threads, Harrison and Law were both considered boderline candidates.

Law in, Harrison out.

 

[money.never.sleeps]

Brady, Harrison, Law are the only clear choices to me. Seymour could be in the disscusion if he can produce consistently till the end of his career for the Raiders I would assume.

EDIT : Vinatieri? (long shot)

 

[bicycle_seat_sniffer]

Only Brady.

 

[jurb26]

Only Brady.

So, without a single other player worthy of the HoF on his team Brady took them to 3 SB titles. Wouldn't this pretty much lock Brady in as the GOAT?I'm not saying I agree with either premise. Just pointing it out as an implication.

 

[Bri]

Vinatieri, Brady, Bledsoe, Harrison, and Law

Light, Bruschi, Faulk, and Brown can go in the team HOF

I don't think McGinest qualifies for either

ETA I'm making some assumptions on Vinatieri continuing to play and kicking for a Peyton led offense

 

[Tau837]

Only Brady.

So, without a single other player worthy of the HoF on his team Brady took them to 3 SB titles. Wouldn't this pretty much lock Brady in as the GOAT?I'm not saying I agree with either premise. Just pointing it out as an implication.

No, you are ignoring Belichick.

 

[Bri]

Only Brady.

So, without a single other player worthy of the HoF on his team Brady took them to 3 SB titles. Wouldn't this pretty much lock Brady in as the GOAT?I'm not saying I agree with either premise. Just pointing it out as an implication.

No, you are ignoring Belichick.

He had a staff of future NFL coaches then so he really doesn't get the credit like Parcells didn't ..lol

 

[Tau837]

IMO Brady is a lock, and Harrison should make it, as I have argued in a number of previous threads.

I don't really know what would justify Law making it. Would like to see someone make a compelling argument for that.

Surprised no one has mentioned Vinatieri, he used to get brought up all the time in these threads... that said, IMO Vinatieri has no chance.

I am not aware of anyone I haven't named who has a legit shot. This is a credit to Brady, but much moreso to Belichick and the front office IMO.

 

[Tau837]

Vinatieri, Brady, Bledsoe, Harrison, and LawLight, Bruschi, Faulk, and Brown can go in the team HOFI don't think McGinest qualifies for eitherETA I'm making some assumptions on Vinatieri continuing to play and kicking for a Peyton led offense

No way Bledsoe or Vinatieri makes it, and I have yet to hear a compelling case for Law (I don't know that there is a compelling case to be made for him.)

 

[Dinsy Ejotuz]

If it were the Hall of Best Players I think it would be only Brady. But it's mostly the Hall of Super Bowl Winners.

Would think Vinitieri gets in for that reason. Probably Harrison too. Harrison was a lot better at his position than Bradshaw and Swann were at theirs (just to pick two easy examples).

 

[bicycle_seat_sniffer]

Only Brady.

So, without a single other player worthy of the HoF on his team Brady took them to 3 SB titles. Wouldn't this pretty much lock Brady in as the GOAT?I'm not saying I agree with either premise. Just pointing it out as an implication.

He's the only plyaer that deserves the HOF.BB does too.The rest of that team is striclty average.As for the GOAT, I think its Peyton, just look at his team without him, 0-16 is a serious posibility. A season without Tom Brady and they go 11-5 with Matt Cassell at QB

 

[cobalt_27]

Vinatieri, Brady, Bledsoe, Harrison, and LawLight, Bruschi, Faulk, and Brown can go in the team HOFI don't think McGinest qualifies for eitherETA I'm making some assumptions on Vinatieri continuing to play and kicking for a Peyton led offense

Bledsoe?! I've seen homerism on this board plenty of times, but this takes the cake.

 

[dgreen]

I have yet to hear a compelling case for Law (I don't know that there is a compelling case to be made for him.)

53 career INTs, led the league in INTs twice, 2-time All Pro, 5 PBs, 6 post-season INTs, and 1 pick-6 in a SB.Not sure what that adds up to.

 

[Chase Stuart]

IMO Brady is a lock, and Harrison should make it, as I have argued in a number of previous threads.I don't really know what would justify Law making it. Would like to see someone make a compelling argument for that.Surprised no one has mentioned Vinatieri, he used to get brought up all the time in these threads... that said, IMO Vinatieri has no chance.I am not aware of anyone I haven't named who has a legit shot. This is a credit to Brady, but much moreso to Belichick and the front office IMO.

A team with a lot of really good players is better than a team with a few excellent players (Manning, Freeney, Harrison, Wayne, Saturday).

 

[David Yudkin]

No love for Seymour?

 

[dgreen]

I have yet to hear a compelling case for Law (I don't know that there is a compelling case to be made for him.)

53 career INTs, led the league in INTs twice, 2-time All Pro, 5 PBs, 6 post-season INTs, and 1 pick-6 in a SB.Not sure what that adds up to.

Looks like that resume isn't significantly better than Asante Samuel.

 

[Time Kibitzer]

Only Brady.

So, without a single other player worthy of the HoF on his team Brady took them to 3 SB titles. Wouldn't this pretty much lock Brady in as the GOAT?I'm not saying I agree with either premise. Just pointing it out as an implication.

It's not a legitimate implication for the reason listed by Chase Stuart a few posts above this one.As for the OP's question, I'd say both Brady and Harrison deserve to get in and both will get in. I'm not entirely confident that Ty Law deserves to get in, but I think he's going to get in.

 

[bicycle_seat_sniffer]

IMO Brady is a lock, and Harrison should make it, as I have argued in a number of previous threads.I don't really know what would justify Law making it. Would like to see someone make a compelling argument for that.Surprised no one has mentioned Vinatieri, he used to get brought up all the time in these threads... that said, IMO Vinatieri has no chance.I am not aware of anyone I haven't named who has a legit shot. This is a credit to Brady, but much moreso to Belichick and the front office IMO.

A team with a lot of really good players is better than a team with a few excellent players (Manning, Freeney, Harrison, Wayne, Saturday).

And a HOF coach.You think Dungy or Jim Caldwell get in the HOF?

 

[Bri]

Vinatieri, Brady, Bledsoe, Harrison, and LawLight, Bruschi, Faulk, and Brown can go in the team HOFI don't think McGinest qualifies for eitherETA I'm making some assumptions on Vinatieri continuing to play and kicking for a Peyton led offense

No way Bledsoe or Vinatieri makes it, and I have yet to hear a compelling case for Law (I don't know that there is a compelling case to be made for him.)

Well there's no way I'm doing all the legwork I did posting Vinatieri versus Elam clutch kicks like I did years ago with you, then you name another and...no no no.Bledsoe's stats get him in IMO, we've done this. Law was a top CB shutting down opposing top WRs for a long time. He did well in big games against top WRs too and quite frankly most top CBs don't shine then and we brush it off.

 

[Time Kibitzer]

Vinatieri, Brady, Bledsoe, Harrison, and Law

Light, Bruschi, Faulk, and Brown can go in the team HOF

I don't think McGinest qualifies for either

ETA I'm making some assumptions on Vinatieri continuing to play and kicking for a Peyton led offense

No way Bledsoe or Vinatieri makes it, and I have yet to hear a compelling case for Law (I don't know that there is a compelling case to be made for him.)

Well there's no way I'm doing all the legwork I did posting Vinatieri versus Elam clutch kicks like I did years ago with you, then you name another and...no no no.Bledsoe's stats get him in IMO, we've done this.

Law was a top CB shutting down opposing top WRs for a long time. He did well in big games against top WRs too and quite frankly most top CBs don't shine then and we brush it off.

Seriously? Sub 60% completion percentage in his career, career average yards per attempt of only 6.6, terrible career TD/INT ratio of 1.2, and a poor career QB rating of 77.0. Besides throwing for a lot of yards, nothing Bledsoe did is HOF worthy.

 

[the moops]

As for the GOAT, I think its Peyton, just look at his team without him, 0-16 is a serious posibility. A season without Tom Brady and they go 11-5 with Matt Cassell at QB

Maybe Curtis Painter is just a really, really, ####ty quarterback.

 

[Bad_Mo]

Ross Ventro...ah, cut again....sorry.

 

[Boston]

Brady is the only definite but Harrison should be as well...besides being the badass he was on the field he was one of the best leaders I have seen in sports (the Pats named him Captain about two weeks after he joined them) and he was like Ray Lewis in that he was balls out every play and opponents were very aware where he was on every play...I do think Law is Hall-worthy...besides the stats listed above his 3 int game and physical abuse of Colt WRs in the AFC championship game was one of the better games I've ever seen a CB play...the guy was a shut-down corner who was also a legit playmaker who made plays under the brightest lights...after that the only Patriot with a chance is probably Vinatieri (no need for that arguement because it's been made pro and con ad nauseum)...two guys who won't be Hall-of-famers but played at a H-o-F level for about four years were Tedy Bruschi and Willie McGinest...in many ways McGinest was the biggest difference-maker on their Super Bowl defenses...he was a big guy who had the ability to play DE and LB equally well...he could cover, rush and stop the run equally well and was one of the centerpieces of BB's schemes...I remember an interview with Boomer Esiason when he said he focused on Willie for an entire game and he could never guess whether he was going to rush or cover on any play...the Pats have still not recovered from his departure...Bruschi just got it done...he was the heart and soul on three championship defenses who made a ton of big plays...his strip of Edgerrin James during the playoffs is still one of the best plays I have ever seen...unfortunately for these two they just didn't maintain a level of excellence long enough needed for Canton...they are team Hall-of-Famers but not NFL Hall-of-Famers...

 

[Tau837]

I have yet to hear a compelling case for Law (I don't know that there is a compelling case to be made for him.)

53 career INTs, led the league in INTs twice, 2-time All Pro, 5 PBs, 6 post-season INTs, and 1 pick-6 in a SB.Not sure what that adds up to.

I'm pretty sure 2-time All Pro does not stack up particularly well with current and prospective HOF CBs.

 

[Tau837]

IMO Brady is a lock, and Harrison should make it, as I have argued in a number of previous threads.I don't really know what would justify Law making it. Would like to see someone make a compelling argument for that.Surprised no one has mentioned Vinatieri, he used to get brought up all the time in these threads... that said, IMO Vinatieri has no chance.I am not aware of anyone I haven't named who has a legit shot. This is a credit to Brady, but much moreso to Belichick and the front office IMO.

A team with a lot of really good players is better than a team with a few excellent players (Manning, Freeney, Harrison, Wayne, Saturday).

That's why I said it was more a credit to Belichick and the front office than to Brady.

 

[Tau837]

No love for Seymour?

Based on what? If you think there is a case, make it.

 

[Tau837]

Vinatieri, Brady, Bledsoe, Harrison, and LawLight, Bruschi, Faulk, and Brown can go in the team HOFI don't think McGinest qualifies for eitherETA I'm making some assumptions on Vinatieri continuing to play and kicking for a Peyton led offense

No way Bledsoe or Vinatieri makes it, and I have yet to hear a compelling case for Law (I don't know that there is a compelling case to be made for him.)

Well there's no way I'm doing all the legwork I did posting Vinatieri versus Elam clutch kicks like I did years ago with you, then you name another and...no no no.Bledsoe's stats get him in IMO, we've done this. Law was a top CB shutting down opposing top WRs for a long time. He did well in big games against top WRs too and quite frankly most top CBs don't shine then and we brush it off.

With all due respect, this is about as far off as a response to my post could be.You're right, we've covered Vinatieri before, and he absolutely will not get in.You're right, we've covered Bledsoe before, and he absolutely will not get in.Law hasn't been discussed around here as much, but I think it's pretty safe to say he won't make it. I'll try to look up some comparables later.Here is an interesting exercise. Since the semifinalists for the next HOF class were recently named, take a look at that group and tell me if you think there is any chance that guys like Bledsoe, Vinatieri, or Law would deserve to get in among the top 5 of that group. Just look at all of the more deserving candidates in that group, which is generally regarded as a weak group as HOF classes go. The answer is obvious IMO.

 

[David Yudkin]

No love for Seymour?

Based on what? If you think there is a case, make it.

6 Pro Bowls, 3 All Pros selections, 3 rings and another SB appearance. His on field stats aren't awe inspiring, but has what he's done so far to merit anything?

 

[Tau837]

No love for Seymour?

Based on what? If you think there is a case, make it.

6 Pro Bowls, 3 All Pros selections, 3 rings and another SB appearance. His on field stats aren't awe inspiring, but has what he's done so far to merit anything?

How does he compare to recent DL candidates? How does he compare to Randle, Sapp, Strahan, Dent, Cortez Kennedy, Jason Taylor, etc.? My sense is that he does not compare favorably, but I haven't looked into it.

 

[Chase Stuart]

No love for Seymour?

Based on what? If you think there is a case, make it.

6 Pro Bowls, 3 All Pros selections, 3 rings and another SB appearance. His on field stats aren't awe inspiring, but has what he's done so far to merit anything?

How does he compare to recent DL candidates? How does he compare to Randle, Sapp, Strahan, Dent, Cortez Kennedy, Jason Taylor, etc.? My sense is that he does not compare favorably, but I haven't looked into it.

Seymour and Aaron Smith were pretty clearly the dominant two 3-4 defensive ends of the last 15 years. That said, 3-4 DE is not a glamour position and there weren't that many 3-4 DEs in the timeframe.I'm also not really sure if Seymour was better than Smith, although he was always more popular. But I think it's pretty safe to say that no one is championing Aaron Smith for the HOF.

 

[Hipple Long Ware & Peete]

Ty Law has to be included imho. I could see syemour too. Polly Harisson too. It's so hard to tell as NFL careers are so relatively short.

 

[aposulli]

I have yet to hear a compelling case for Law (I don't know that there is a compelling case to be made for him.)

53 career INTs, led the league in INTs twice, 2-time All Pro, 5 PBs, 6 post-season INTs, and 1 pick-6 in a SB.Not sure what that adds up to.

I'm pretty sure 2-time All Pro does not stack up particularly well with current and prospective HOF CBs.

Darrell Green was on 1 all-pro team

 

[aposulli]

I have yet to hear a compelling case for Law (I don't know that there is a compelling case to be made for him.)

53 career INTs, led the league in INTs twice, 2-time All Pro, 5 PBs, 6 post-season INTs, and 1 pick-6 in a SB.Not sure what that adds up to.

I'm pretty sure 2-time All Pro does not stack up particularly well with current and prospective HOF CBs.

Darrell Green was on 1 all-pro team

A few things of note before opening up any discussion involving rating cornerbacks in the NFL1) It is reasonable to believe that if a true cover-corner is doing his job, and has earned the respect of opposing offensive coordinators, the ball would not be thrown in said defenders' direction. Fewer opportunities for big plays. Lower INT numbers. Less media attention.

2) There is lack of reliable on-the-field statistics that can be used to measure a CB's overall effectiveness. INTs are frequently the result of poor decision-making and lucky bounces, and are more than likely not a result of excellent CB play. Yet, this is the first statistic mentioned in any discussion, simply because there is no quantifiable method to judge consistent/excellent CB play.

3) The rules regarding where, what, and how a defensive back is allowed to defend wide receivers have changed a handful of times, even in just the past 30 years... including as recently as 2003 (I believe) after Polian was bemoaning Law's physical play against Colts' WRs. Nowadays, a physical cornerback such as Law is not the ideal type of player that coaches are looking for at the position.

 

[gandalas]

I have yet to hear a compelling case for Law (I don't know that there is a compelling case to be made for him.)

53 career INTs, led the league in INTs twice, 2-time All Pro, 5 PBs, 6 post-season INTs, and 1 pick-6 in a SB.Not sure what that adds up to.

I'm pretty sure 2-time All Pro does not stack up particularly well with current and prospective HOF CBs.

I am pretty sure that the 53 Interceptions DO stack up particularly well against pretty much any DB in NFL history.#24 on the all-time list in that category - the only active player with more is Ed Reed, with 57. That alone should merit serious consideration.

 

[aposulli]

I have yet to hear a compelling case for Law (I don't know that there is a compelling case to be made for him.)

53 career INTs, led the league in INTs twice, 2-time All Pro, 5 PBs, 6 post-season INTs, and 1 pick-6 in a SB.Not sure what that adds up to.

I'm pretty sure 2-time All Pro does not stack up particularly well with current and prospective HOF CBs.

Darrell Green was on 1 all-pro team

A few things of note before opening up any discussion involving rating cornerbacks in the NFL1) It is reasonable to believe that if a true cover-corner is doing his job, and has earned the respect of opposing offensive coordinators, the ball would not be thrown in said defenders' direction. Fewer opportunities for big plays. Lower INT numbers. Less media attention.

2) There is lack of reliable on-the-field statistics that can be used to measure a CB's overall effectiveness. INTs are frequently the result of poor decision-making and lucky bounces, and are more than likely not a result of excellent CB play. Yet, this is the first statistic mentioned in any discussion, simply because there is no quantifiable method to judge consistent/excellent CB play.

3) The rules regarding where, what, and how a defensive back is allowed to defend wide receivers have changed a handful of times, even in just the past 30 years... including as recently as 2003 (I believe) after Polian was bemoaning Law's physical play against Colts' WRs. Nowadays, a physical cornerback such as Law is not the ideal type of player that coaches are looking for at the position.

With minimul research, I have gathered a small list of what I believe are the top CBs from the past 25 years. Does Law rank in the top 10? He's damn close IMO, but I'm biased.

Rod Woodson

Deion Sanders

Champ Bailey

Darrel Green

Aeneas Williams

Charles Woodson

Nnamdi Asomugha

Darrelle Revis

Ronde Barber

Antoine Winfield

Asante Samuel

Eric Allen

Troy Vincent

Albert Lewis

Yes, I omitted Ronnie Lott... simply because he did not play CB in the past 25 years.

 

[aposulli]

I have yet to hear a compelling case for Law (I don't know that there is a compelling case to be made for him.)

53 career INTs, led the league in INTs twice, 2-time All Pro, 5 PBs, 6 post-season INTs, and 1 pick-6 in a SB.Not sure what that adds up to.

I'm pretty sure 2-time All Pro does not stack up particularly well with current and prospective HOF CBs.

Darrell Green was on 1 all-pro team

A few things of note before opening up any discussion involving rating cornerbacks in the NFL1) It is reasonable to believe that if a true cover-corner is doing his job, and has earned the respect of opposing offensive coordinators, the ball would not be thrown in said defenders' direction. Fewer opportunities for big plays. Lower INT numbers. Less media attention.

2) There is lack of reliable on-the-field statistics that can be used to measure a CB's overall effectiveness. INTs are frequently the result of poor decision-making and lucky bounces, and are more than likely not a result of excellent CB play. Yet, this is the first statistic mentioned in any discussion, simply because there is no quantifiable method to judge consistent/excellent CB play.

3) The rules regarding where, what, and how a defensive back is allowed to defend wide receivers have changed a handful of times, even in just the past 30 years... including as recently as 2003 (I believe) after Polian was bemoaning Law's physical play against Colts' WRs. Nowadays, a physical cornerback such as Law is not the ideal type of player that coaches are looking for at the position.

With minimul research, I have gathered a small list of what I believe are the top CBs from the past 25 years. Does Law rank in the top 10? He's damn close IMO, but I'm biased.

Rod Woodson

Deion Sanders

Champ Bailey

Darrel Green

Aeneas Williams

Charles Woodson

Nnamdi Asomugha

Darrelle Revis

Ronde Barber

Antoine Winfield

Asante Samuel

Eric Allen

Troy Vincent

Albert Lewis

Yes, I omitted Ronnie Lott... simply because he did not play CB in the past 25 years.

Aaron Glenn belongs too, though he'll never be a HOF finalist.

 

[sharptongued1]

Only Brady.

So, without a single other player worthy of the HoF on his team Brady took them to 3 SB titles. Wouldn't this pretty much lock Brady in as the GOAT?

No, but it's something that anyone from the Patriots A/V department during that time can proudly staple to their résumé.

 

[Bri]

JWB, I've written something along these lines several times re-Vinatieri- I don't know how he gets in. If it's not written by many writers and highly visible to the HOF committee then his clutch kicks will simply be a FG made and that's an absolute shame. You almost never come across any site or newspaper listing clutch kicks or game winning kicks as a stat.

Re-NFL history and memory...

In the late 80s, for other reason Parcells was a media darling leading the Gmen to two Supe victories. He cut kickers, brought em' back, and had the oddest trend I can recall of any coach ever with kickers. If they missed they could get cut. Oddly enough they won their Supe on a missed kick by the other team.

I felt like fans were more particular about their kickers after Norwood missed. I believe this may be the biggest kick in NFL history based on hearing what folks talk about. There's no other kick that everyone seems to remember so vividly.

Martin Grammatica was nicknamed "Automatica" which was fun for maybe half a season til he started missing. On these very boards, fans were calling a few different kickers "automatica" when they made kicks. It's not normal that people felt they had to fill a void on a silly nickname, but we did it.

Personal-Years ago, I have had my ex-wife or my father bugging me it's time to go etc and left before he kicked it, feeling I knew the Pats won and he made the kick. I've never seen a kicker make any fans so confident in him.

From where I wrote "NFL history and memory" til this point, I believe that stuff or some combo of it helped Adam VInatieri become a household name like no kicker before him. He was on commercials and I can't think of any K on commercials before or since. It was odd and he was fortunate to be in the public spotlight.

Do you know how pathetic it is for Adam Vinatieri or Jason Elam that I (who constantly cruise the web for football info) can't think of a site or newspaper that runs a chart of game winning kicks? I'm thinking "Akers was third or was it Kaeding?" and that's so pathetic.

I do remember someone(you?) astutely pointing out that Vinatieri was in a position to make game winning kicks and that wasn't necessarily something that other kickers had the chance to do as often. That's correct and maybe we don't know if Shayne Graham or Neil Rackers or whomever would be a clutch kicker because they weren't in that position as often. Adam was though.

IMO the kicker love died off sometime in the mid-late 2000s. The Jets were trying an Australian kicker and that's when I noticed. 8? years before, that would have fascinated people. At that time it was interesting over a bowl of cereal and that's it. BB convinced the world that K was one of the most important positions and Adam got paid a truckload of $ and we even discussed a holdout...about a kicker. It was a different time.

Vinatieri may not get in, but he should IMO. I don't see how it's possible that a K will ever be as popular with the fans and make as many clutch kicks as he did.

I'm confident in saying us 30 somethings are going to be arguing 20 years from now "Vinatieri was better" when some K is doing well.

 

[Bri]

I have yet to hear a compelling case for Law (I don't know that there is a compelling case to be made for him.)

53 career INTs, led the league in INTs twice, 2-time All Pro, 5 PBs, 6 post-season INTs, and 1 pick-6 in a SB.Not sure what that adds up to.

I'm pretty sure 2-time All Pro does not stack up particularly well with current and prospective HOF CBs.

Darrell Green was on 1 all-pro team

A few things of note before opening up any discussion involving rating cornerbacks in the NFL1) It is reasonable to believe that if a true cover-corner is doing his job, and has earned the respect of opposing offensive coordinators, the ball would not be thrown in said defenders' direction. Fewer opportunities for big plays. Lower INT numbers. Less media attention.

2) There is lack of reliable on-the-field statistics that can be used to measure a CB's overall effectiveness. INTs are frequently the result of poor decision-making and lucky bounces, and are more than likely not a result of excellent CB play. Yet, this is the first statistic mentioned in any discussion, simply because there is no quantifiable method to judge consistent/excellent CB play.

3) The rules regarding where, what, and how a defensive back is allowed to defend wide receivers have changed a handful of times, even in just the past 30 years... including as recently as 2003 (I believe) after Polian was bemoaning Law's physical play against Colts' WRs. Nowadays, a physical cornerback such as Law is not the ideal type of player that coaches are looking for at the position.

With minimul research, I have gathered a small list of what I believe are the top CBs from the past 25 years. Does Law rank in the top 10? He's damn close IMO, but I'm biased.

Rod Woodson

Deion Sanders

Champ Bailey

Darrel Green

Aeneas Williams

Charles Woodson

Nnamdi Asomugha

Darrelle Revis

Ronde Barber

Antoine Winfield

Asante Samuel

Eric Allen

Troy Vincent

Albert Lewis

Yes, I omitted Ronnie Lott... simply because he did not play CB in the past 25 years.

I think this is a bad list. It's not 25 years, but largely based on the last ten and there's a bunch of glaring omissions. Eric Allen and Albert Lewis simply aren't worthy at all.

If we're talking DBs Carnell Lake is the most useful in the history of the NFL. I think he made the pro bowl as a Safety and as a CB, pretty sure he played LBer in spots too. He had these hits though where he rung a WRs bell and he crushed some RBs and...Lake was the real deal. Unfortunately in the HOF threads, he's not the best CB or the best S ever and it seems he won't make the hall. Maybe if he just played one spot? Who knows. Can't undo history. Lake was better than Vincent, Allen, Winfield, and Lewis so get em' off this list. I think we can at least use Lake as some barometer.

Rod Woodson and Lake were part OLB. Not sure how to explain it. CBs don't shuck FBs and blow up WRs in today's NFL. I can't remember the last time I saw a CB hold up a WR then dive and get the feet of a RB either. We go off on these tangents of shut down corners and gloss over this far too many times. I've never seen anyone as complete a CB as Lake and Rod Woodson.

 

[DoubleG]

Only Brady.

So, without a single other player worthy of the HoF on his team Brady took them to 3 SB titles. Wouldn't this pretty much lock Brady in as the GOAT?

No. The Patriots are the quintesential "team". A group of many above average players (but not many quite HOF worthy but many on the cusp) who played well together as group - in part because of a HOF coach. As has already been mentioned, the fact that the same team went 11-5 with Cassel (who has proven since then that the 11-5 had nothing to do with his play at QB either), fairly clearly indicates that the Patriots were a very good team - but not one made so by a handful of excellent players, but by a larger group of very good players.Think of the current Packers. (I can't beleive I'm using this as an example). How many other than Rodgers would go to the HOF? At this point, you'd be hard pressed to come up with others - even if they win a few more Super Bowls.

 

[Steelers4Life]

Tom Brady and the video taping guy.

 

[cvnpoka]

troy brown should make it but wont.

 

[David Yudkin]

troy brown should make it but wont.

Was Brown even remotely close to one of the best receivers at any time? He deserves a pot on the all versatile and all time team player teams . . . but I doubt that gets him HOF skills and abilities.

 

[David Yudkin]

As far as Seymour goes, I went back 15 years in terms of pro bowl and all pro selections for defensive linemen in that time. Here were all the players with multiple all pro selections . . .

Player PB APReggie White 13 8Bruce Smith 11 8John Randle 7 6Kevin Williams 6 5Michael Strahan 7 4Warren Sapp 7 4Cortez Kennedy 8 3Richard Seymour 6 3Dwight Freeney 6 3Julius Peppers 6 3Jason Taylor 6 3Jared Allen 3 3M. D. Perry 6 2Kris Jenkins 4 2John Abraham 4 2Jamal Williams 3 2A. Haynesworth 2 2
I am not sure how much weight 3 rings and a SB loss will factor in to things.

 

[cvnpoka]

troy brown was mr clutch. did whatever it took to win. punt returns, blocking, safety, cornerback, special teams.