NFL Player of the Decade?

by Bruce Raffel on May 28, 2009 10:30 AM EDT Comment 53 comments

Brad Gagnon of TheScore.com has written a story of the who would make the list of candidates to be named the Player of the Decade. In his story, he breaks it down to a couple of positions, then deletes names that don't meet the criteria to be a finalist. He compares positions and also debates offense versus defense. Finally he narrows the list down to four finalists and comes up with two guys to top the list, thus starting the final debate.

Defensively, you guessed it. Our man of all men from your Baltimore Ravens, the greatest MLB in all of the free (?) world, Ray Lewis gets the nod from Brad as the top defensive player of the decade, narrowly beating out the all time sack leader and recently retired New York Giant, Michael Strahan.

Offensively, it came down to the two All Pro QB's, Peyton Manning and Tom Brady. While Brady has the rings, Manning has the stats that separates them. Therefore, it comes down to Peyton Manning vs. Ray Lewis for the Player of the Decade.

We all know where the Beatdown's readers are going to stand, but it should be more than just us against them. Peyton Manning is arguably the best QB in the game and by the time he retires, he could very well be up there as one of the NFL's best. However, right now he is not in that group, that includes Johnny Unitas, Joe Montana, Dan Marino, Steve Young, among others (?). That, to me, is where the difference lies. Right now, Ray Lewis is already mentioned as one of, if not the best linebacker to ever play the game. He is definitely among the top five that could include Dick Butkus, Mike Singletary, Jack Lambert and Ray Nitschke.

While all of these names are debateable, that point of where they stand now is not, to me at least. At the same time, we are debating who is the Player of the DECADE, and that give credibility to Manning being a very viable argument as such, based on what he's been able to accomplish in the past ten years. It's just that here on the Beatdown, we will give you every argument as to why Ray is the answer to that question.

Clcik here for the entire story.

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I really enjoyed this article. They provided great explanations, and their process of deduction was very logical. They made a great point. When people look back at football during the last decade, they will think Ray Lewis when they think defense. He is/was the most dominate defender in football. He’s become an icon.

by BAL_Hawk on May 28, 2009 2:38 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I will say it once again

Shawn Rogers, player of the decade.

You have to hate losing more than you love winning.

by Mr MaLoR on May 28, 2009 2:52 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

i can’t name another who has done more for a team by himself. from motivation, intimidation, performance, health, taking away large parts of the other teams game plan, making rb’s quit, on field coaching, making average teammates very good, graduating coaches…he’s responsible for a lot of guys resumes both player and coach.

by raven on May 28, 2009 4:40 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Tim Couch

by BradyQuinnisBeast on May 28, 2009 4:49 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Brady Quinn

by raven on May 28, 2009 5:41 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

that will be next decade

by BradyQuinnisBeast on May 29, 2009 7:10 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Have to Ask Yourself

If you were starting a team and had the ability to pick one player in their prime out of the three, who would it be? I believe it would come down to Manning or Lewis and then it would come down to offensive versus defensive philosophy. Point is, I think Ray edges out Brady, rings notwithstanding.

But if I were starting a team and had to choose between Ray and Manning, wow, tuff decision…

by vlad755 on May 29, 2009 11:46 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

In Addition

I have to toss Jon Ogden’s name out there. There are a couple of football theories floating around out there: one is the foundation of your team starts with DB’s; another is the foundation starts with the O-Line. I am a believer in the latter. I might actually start my team with JO before a Manning or Ray.

Jo is is/was arguably the greatest at his position; from ’98 to ’06 (nine straight seasons) the Ravens never had to worry about the blindside rush; never had to use a RB or TE to chip or help the LT -JO dominated his position. I think he averaged maybe two or three holding penalties a year; maybe one sack allowed a year.

I still contend that the most important decision this franchise has ever made was to draft JO in ’96; it only rates after the decision to move to Baltimore in importance.

by vlad755 on May 29, 2009 2:57 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

i’ll ask Dwight Freely and get back to you….lol.

It is a testament to the ravens for recovering pretty well after JO left. look what happened to Jacksonville when Boselli retired. JO played the game like Stan goes about business in The Office. Did I Studder! i think JO would make a super coach.

by raven on May 29, 2009 3:38 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

It is a testament to the ravens for recovering pretty well after JO left.

It is a testament to Jared Gaither… and Ozzie Newsome for finding him in the supplemental draft.

by BAL_Hawk on May 29, 2009 4:58 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Dwight Freeney

Caught JO at end of his career. A year earlier and JO would have swatted him away like the mosquito he is. It was obvious that during JO’s last year that he was injured or had lost a step or both; and that a speed rusher, such a Freeney, could exploit that weakness of JO. And he did to great success for the Colts.

by vlad755 on Jun 2, 2009 10:42 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Half the time

Freeney had his way and the rest of the time JO made him invisible. Even draw.

Bruce Raffel

by Bruce Raffel on Jun 6, 2009 2:19 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I’d take Peyton. A LB circus doesn’t screw a team as much as a QB carousel.

by raven on May 29, 2009 3:40 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Good point!

Besides, a “Peyton Manning” doesn’t come along every draft clas, but a great LT always seems to be there. Looking around the league, there are a lot of very good LT’s but only one Peyton. I’d take him first and then look to either upgrade or draft a LT the second year. At the same time, since I don’t think Matthew Stafford is any Manning, I’d have taken the LT with the first overall pik and thengrabbed one of the USC LB’s with their other first round pick. Next year you’ll have Texas’ Colt McCoy, Oklahoma’s Sam Bradford (the best of them) and Florida’s Tim Tebow coming out. To me, I’d take any of them over Stafford and you’d know Detroit would be drafting up high in the 2010 draft. Oh well, too late now. We’ll see how good Detroit is when they come here for a little revenge for that stupid ref throwing flags al over the place to piss Suggs and all of us off in the worst officiated game in Ravens history EVER!

Bruce Raffel

by Bruce Raffel on May 30, 2009 9:46 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Really?

but a great LT always seems to be there.

You have to hate losing more than you love winning.

by Mr MaLoR on May 30, 2009 1:00 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yes, realy

Look around the league and you could name a bunch of LT’s that could easily take over for Gaither and do just as good. He’s not over rated by any means and could be one of the best in the game in a couple of years, but right now I could name a bunch of teams whose LT is as good as him.

Philly, Dallas, Cleveland, Seattle, Minnesota, , Miami, ….

Bruce Raffel

by Bruce Raffel on May 31, 2009 9:29 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

That’s the first positive thing about Cleveland I’ve heard on this site.

by BradyQuinnisBeast on Jun 1, 2009 10:52 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

That there are so many good LT’s in the league, even Cleveland managed to dig one up? You’re welcome.

Water covers 2/3 of the Earth's surface. Ed Reed covers the rest.

by Ampallang on Jun 1, 2009 11:11 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I doubt you all will ever find a LT as good as Thomas

by BradyQuinnisBeast on Jun 2, 2009 6:05 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I doubt Thomas could play one-armed as well as Gaither did.

Water covers 2/3 of the Earth's surface. Ed Reed covers the rest.

by Ampallang on Jun 2, 2009 8:06 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

what?

by BradyQuinnisBeast on Jun 2, 2009 10:02 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Gaither played a good chunk of the 2008 season one-armed because of a shoulder (or something) injury. He still performed very, very well. While Thomas is good now, Gaither has a ton of upside.

Water covers 2/3 of the Earth's surface. Ed Reed covers the rest.

by Ampallang on Jun 2, 2009 10:30 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

And Thomas doesn’t? They were picked the same year.

by BradyQuinnisBeast on Jun 3, 2009 4:43 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yes… but the Browns used their third overall pick in the 2007 draft. Thomas needs to be good.

Ozzie Newsome selected Gaither in the fifth round of the supplemental draft. The fact that we are comparing a first rounder with a supplemental fifth rounder says alot about the Ravens front office and drafting talent.

by BAL_Hawk on Jun 6, 2009 12:14 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Is it just me

Or does every pro bowl lineman always a first round choice when they were drafted?

You have to hate losing more than you love winning.

by Mr MaLoR on Jun 6, 2009 12:23 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Gaither's selection

as a 5th round supplementl pick makes him look even better, as most of the other good LT’s were just that – first round selections. Makes Ozzie look like that Wizard again!

Bruce Raffel

by Bruce Raffel on Jun 6, 2009 2:21 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Still doesnt make him near as good as Thomas

by BradyQuinnisBeast on Jun 8, 2009 10:41 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Gaither was better than Thomas last season.

by BAL_Hawk on Jun 8, 2009 10:53 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

OH NO YOU DIDN'T!

You have to hate losing more than you love winning.

by Mr MaLoR on Jun 9, 2009 2:05 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

by BradyQuinnisBeast on Jun 9, 2009 9:01 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Your logic is unassailable.

Water covers 2/3 of the Earth's surface. Ed Reed covers the rest.

by Ampallang on Jun 10, 2009 12:34 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

You can join the argument about Thomas and Gaither on the 'Ask a ravens fan' fanpost on DBN

by BradyQuinnisBeast on Jun 10, 2009 7:16 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I wish I could join

Shall I make 4th name? Na, too lazy.

You have to hate losing more than you love winning.

by Mr MaLoR on Jun 10, 2009 7:35 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

This is why BaltimoreBeatdown is the worst blog on SBN, and Rexx should be fired.

www.lowbrowsophisticate.com

by kwoog on Jun 11, 2009 11:49 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I win again!

by BAL_Hawk on Jun 10, 2009 8:14 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

What did you win?

by BradyQuinnisBeast on Jun 11, 2009 10:42 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yes.

by BAL_Hawk on Jun 10, 2009 2:32 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I Have to Respectfully Disagree

There are plenty of good LT’s in the league: Gaither plus the others you mentioned; however, truly great ones come along once in a Blue Moon: JO, Anthony Muñoz, et al.

I believe the ability to put someone out there and have to never “help” or “chip” or use a TE to block on that side (unless planned a la “jumbo”) or worry about losing your QB to a blind side hit is huge. Just a theory, but I happen to believe it is one of, if not the most important part of the offense, outside of the QB itself. And even then one might be able to make the argument it is even more important than QB by using the 2000 Ravens as an example with Dilfer. Dilfer? C’mon, winning a SuperBowl? Are you kidding me? But he did have Ogden guarding his blindside. It may not be a completely valid example as the Ravens all-universe defense was the other major independent variable that lead to so much of the Raven’s success that year.

by vlad755 on Jun 2, 2009 10:51 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Hard to compare and relate

JO was a good LT for the first part of his career and became a great one aftr years of consistncy. That’s the measure of the difference of the two. After doing what he did last year for 8-10 years, Gaither could easily be compared to JO if he does it over the course of his career. That’s the only difference.

Bruce Raffel

by Bruce Raffel on Jun 6, 2009 2:23 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yes

I thought the whole time that Detroit should have worked on their O-Line and Defense. Culpepper is going to win more games for that team then some pretty boy rookie from Georgia.

Stafford I don’t think has the drive to win like Tebow or any of those guys do.

You have to hate losing more than you love winning.

by Mr MaLoR on May 30, 2009 1:03 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

never draft a qb in the first..especially is your a team with many needs like detroit. they should have traded that pick for 1/2 dozen players…this kid is doomed.

by raven on Jun 5, 2009 3:44 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

+1

Agreed. They should have grabbed the LT and then a DE or one of the USC LB’s. Then they could have waited until next year to grab one of the better QB’s coming out.

Bruce Raffel

by Bruce Raffel on Jun 6, 2009 2:23 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Ryan looked pretty good last year.

And I doubt Detroit would have got half a dozen players cuz no one wants the first pick.

by BradyQuinnisBeast on Jun 8, 2009 10:42 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

an average or little below average 5 year veteran will probably be better than any top rated rookie qb over the course of the next 3 or 4 years. at the end of that time your not even sure the rookie you just spent tons of money, draft picks and time on will even stay with you or be any good. not a good investment.

by raven on Jun 5, 2009 3:53 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs