Best Players of the Past Decade

New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady has been named the best player of the past decade by ESPN.com.  The decision for the top spot came between Brady and rival quarterback Peyton Manning of the Indianapolis Colts.  “The NFL’s Horatio Alger hero in cleats was drafted in the sixth round and became one of the greatest quarterbacks of a generation,” wrote Mike Sando of Brady.  ”The four-time Pro Bowler played in four Super Bowls this decade, winning three and being named MVP of two.”  Manning had to settle for the runner-up spot.  “The three-time MVP made eight Pro Bowls, was first-team All-Pro four times and won a Super Bowl this decade,” Sando wrote.  ”Widely regarded as the league’s most irreplaceable player.”

The list of the 25 best players of the past decade included five quarterbacks, four receivers, four offensive linemen, three linebackers, three defensive ends, two running backs, two safeties, one cornerback and one tight end.  Household names like LaDainian Tomlinson, Brett Favre, Michael Strahan, Ray Lewis, Randy Moss and more were all over the list, but some generally underrated guys like Richard Seymour, Derrick Brooks and Ed Reed made the cut as well.  Three names that struck me as somewhat surprising were Ben Roethlisberger, Terrell Owens and Shaun Alexander.

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