3 Ravens Make USA Today's NFL All-Decade Team

by Bruce Raffel on Jan 22, 2010 9:59 AM EST

Led by Ray Lewis, three Baltimore Ravens were selected as the best in their positions by USA Today for their NFL All-Decade Team. The three had plenty of competition at their respective positions, as USA Today listed the four other guys at each position that were under consideration for the honors.

Ray was tabbed as the best inside linebacker, ahead of such other greats as Chicago's Brian Urlacher, Miami's Zach Thomas, NYJ/Pittsburgh's James Farrior and Denver's Al Wilson. Surprisingly, former Raven and now NY Jet Bart Scott actually received one vote to be on this list.

Ed Reed, not surprisingly either, was put at the head of the safety class, a solid group that also looked at Philadelphia's Brian Dawkins (now Denver) Pittsburgh's Troy Polamalu, New Orleans/Minnesota/Green Bay's Darren Sharper and Tampa Bay/Denver's John Lynch. NE's Rodney Harrison finished just off the top five.

Finally, left tackle Jonathan Ogden got the top honor amongst a beast of a group of offensive tackles this decade. He was followed in the voting by Seattle's Walter Jones, St. Louis' Orlando Pace, Dallas' Flozell Adams, and New Orleans/KC's Willie Roaf. Former Ravens and Bengals OT Willie Anderson finished just behind Roaf.

In other positions, Terrell Suggs received three votes in the outside linebacker position, finishing out of the top five, which was led by Tampa Bay's Derrick Brooks. Chris McAlister finished tied for 6th place (with NE's Troy Vincent) in the cornerback position, led by Denver's Champ Bailey. Former Ravens and now Colts kicker Matt Stover finished a solid second in the placekicker positon, ironically led by former Patriots and now sidelined Colts' Adam Vinatieri. Current Ravens and former Vikings center Matt Birk, finished out of the top five in the interior lineman (guard/center) voting, but did receive five votes to finish tied for 7th at that spot.

Kick/punt returners, tight ends, running backs, wide receivers and finally quarterbacks will be named as their positions come up in future editions of the USA Today over the next two weeks. I wouldn't be surprised to see former Ravens RB Jamal Lewis somewhere on the running back list, based on his record setting season that included what was the all time single game rushing record as well as his 2,000+ yard season.

See the current listing here.

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Comments

Bart Scott?

Maybe they gave him a vote.

by Gregory O on Jan 22, 2010 2:00 PM EST reply actions

Haha yeah

ONE vote. LOL

The night is darkest right before the dawn

by Zachary Beard on Jan 23, 2010 9:25 AM EST up reply actions

Exactly one

(which is better than none).

by Psychropod on Jan 22, 2010 3:09 PM EST reply actions

Random Comment but

If any of you get bored in the off-season there’s a great website called GoalLineBlitz.com it is a Football RPG that lets you make a player and work your way up the ranks. But if you do decide to register, please register at http://goallineblitz.com/game/signup.pl?ref=34554501, it gives me bonus points too.

by Zachary Beard on Jan 22, 2010 8:05 PM EST reply actions

i was voted best water boy

by sam_ravens on Jan 23, 2010 3:43 AM EST reply actions

nice

You have to hate losing more than you love winning.

by Mr MaLoR on Jan 23, 2010 3:43 AM EST up reply actions

Thats what she said

The night is darkest right before the dawn

by Zachary Beard on Jan 23, 2010 9:26 AM EST up reply actions

Bobby Bouche

The night is darkest right before the dawn

by Zachary Beard on Jan 23, 2010 9:25 AM EST up reply actions

former ravens

>> I wouldn’t be surprised to see former Ravens RB Jamal Lewis somewhere on the running back list

Also former raven Priest Holmes and possibly one time Ravens FB Lorenzo Neal (if they have that category) +/- Brandon Stokely.

by NFL Sage on Jan 23, 2010 12:15 PM EST reply actions

Poor Jamal. All the QB’s and sorry receivers kept him from loftier stats.

by raven on Jan 23, 2010 5:23 PM EST reply actions

100 more yards he would beaten the all time

sigh….

The night is darkest right before the dawn

by Zachary Beard on Jan 23, 2010 5:29 PM EST up reply actions

People forget

that in that record setting Cleveland game, he also scored on a 65 yard TD run but had it called back due to a holding call (surprise!?). That would have been 65 more yards for that game and the season and perhaps then they would have kept getting him the ball and the record.

aka 'Rexx'

by Bruce Raffel on Jan 24, 2010 11:22 AM EST up reply actions

But, by losing that 65 yard run other plays were called that may have sprung him for another long run…..If he got that run maybe he doesn’t get another like that.

It’s like saying the guy who struck out before a guy hit a home run would have scored if he got on. No, because the pitcher would have used a whole different pitch selection and the HR may never of happened. Anyway………

by raven on Jan 24, 2010 7:36 PM EST up reply actions

thats on billick..don’t get me started!

by raven on Jan 23, 2010 7:39 PM EST reply actions

Take him out for half the game the week before we play the Steelers then run him the hole time in the last game of the season. Typical Billick brain fart.

You have to hate losing more than you love winning.

by Mr MaLoR on Jan 23, 2010 9:05 PM EST up reply actions

AAAARARRRRRGGGH. An the Pitt game was meaningless at that point!!1 He held him out of the second half the week before because he didn’t want him hurt or worn out for the playoffs and then he runs him the whole Pitt game that meant nothing. It only meant something to Billick who saw a chance to beat a Pitt. team that was playing 1/2 ass. He could put that on his resume. Gee.

by raven on Jan 24, 2010 7:32 PM EST reply actions

Todd Heap finished 6th

in the TE category, easily won by Tony Gonzalez.. Gates, Witten, Shockey, Crumpler. Surprisingly, Heap finished ahead of Dallas Clark, probably due to the 2 Pro Bowl selections earlier this decade (’02, ’03).

aka 'Rexx'

by Bruce Raffel on Jan 26, 2010 4:19 PM EST reply actions