With all of the success of the teams, this was obviously a difficult decision process. Not as hard as LeBron's decision, sure, but to cut it down to just 10 players who meant the most to this city over the past 10 years? Easier said than done.
In constructing this list, I took several criterion into account. Winning, obviously, held the most value. Tenure with the team was also important, although in some cases the impact brought over just a 2-3 year span could have meant just as much as playing all 10 years here. Personal statistics also factored in greatly to the list, which made it difficult to include players such as offensive linemen (sorry, Matt Light. Actually, isn't he the one who got man-handled by the Giants D-Line in Super Bowl XLII. Moving on....).
Anyways, those three traits were given the most consideration when constructing the list. So with out further ado, the list:
10. Randy Moss and Wes Welker, WR, Patriots
How can you have one without the other? Two totally different receivers in the way they play the game, but both equally important to the success of Tom Brady and the record-setting Patriots offense of 2007. Moss set an NFL record with 23 touchdown receptions during that campaign, and through the end of the 2009 season had reeled in 148 touchdown catches. That's good enough for 2nd on the all-time list, behind only former 49ers great Jerry Rice.
Welker's contributions have not come so much in the end zone, but he was every bit as important to the Patriots explosive offense in 2007. Cast aside as too small early in his career, in 2007 Welker had the first of three consecutive 100+ reception seasons, becoming the first Patriot to have 3 in a row in the process. In 2009, Welker caught 123 passes overall, 2nd most in NFL history in a single season (Marvin Harrison, 143, 2002).
Welker and Moss are the only players on this list without a ring, which is remarkable in a number of ways. Hopefully someday they'll get to hoist Vince along with the rest of the Patriots.
9. Pedro Martinez, Pitcher, Red Sox
"Wake up the Bambino, I'll drill him in the ass". There have been few pitchers in the history of baseball quite like Pedro Martinez, and it may be some time before we see one again. His fearlessness on the mound, his ability to throw inside and take control of the plate, and a don't-fuck-with-me-or-you'll-be-sorry attitude are only part of what made him so special. His finest work came in 2000, when he won his 2nd consecutive Cy Young award with the Sox (3rd overall) with an 18-6, 1.74 ERA, 284 strikeout line. Martinez was never again quite as dominant as he was in that 2000 season, but he left Sox fans with several more fond memories, most notably throwing Yankees bench coach Don Zimmer to the ground during an altercation in the 2003 ALCS. Martinez also won Game 3 of the 2004 World Series for the Red Sox, which would prove to be his final start in a Red Sox uniform.
8. Kevin Garnett, Power Forward, Celtics
Look at his statistical contributions to the Green, and you may not find much. But as is often the case, statistics can often be deceiving in judging a player's impact, both in a positive and negative manner. To truly appreciate KG, you had to watch him play. You had to watch him anchor a relentless Celtics defense en route to the 2008 NBA title to get a real idea of just how much he meant to the entire Celtics franchise. In many ways, it always had been and still was Paul Pierce's team. But Kevin Garnett was the driving force behind the basketball renaissance in Boston, leading the Celtics to their 17th NBA title but their first since 1986. Unfortunately, KG's knees have failed to cooperate with him since that magical run, and he missed the entire 2009 postseason title defense. But the fact are the facts: With a healthy Kevin Garnett in the lineup, the Celtics are 7-1 in postseason series.
7. Richard Seymour, DL, Patriots
Picked in the 1st round, 6th overall by Bill Belichick in the 2001 NFL draft, Seymour instantly became one of the NFL's premier defensive lineman. From early in his career playing on the inside, to later on shifting to defensive end to accommodate the Patriots switch to the 3-4 defense, Seymour was equally effective against both the run and the pass. He accumulated 39 sacks during his 8 years in New England, which came to a stunning end a week before the start of the regular season in 2009, when he was sent to hell traded to Oakland for a 1st round pick in 2011.
6. Rodney Harrison, Safety, Patriots
One of the most ferocious hitters in NFL history, Harrison has at times garnered the reputation of a dirty player. The critics can say what they want, but once Belichick swooped Harrison off the waiver-wire prior to the 2003 season, he became one of the staples on the heralded Patriots D that was so essential to winning those 3 championships in 4 seasons. Harrison is the only player in NFL history to record both 30 sacks as well as 30 interceptions, which is a tribute to how versatile he was out there for the Patriots. Harrison is likely best remembered for intercepting Eagles QB Donovan McNabb to clinch Super Bowl XXXIX, proceeding to "fly like an eagle" as part of his celebration.
5. Paul Pierce, Forward, Celtics
"Truth" be told, there isn't much Paul Pierce hasn't seen in his days as a Celtic. The constant losing early on. His near fatal stabbing at a night club in 2000. The surprising run to the conference finals in 2002 with running mate Antoine Walker. The fun 2005 team with rookies Al Jefferson, Tony Allen, and Delonte West that also featured Gary Payton and the return of 'Toine. The 24-58 campaign of 2007 in which the Celtics lost 18 in a row at one point, and it appeared as though Pierce may be on his way out of town. But in the summer of '07, Pierce's fortunes took a turn for the better, when the Celtics acquired Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett to assist Pierce in returning the Celtics to glory. It all culminated with Pierce being named MVP of the 2008 finals. Not bad for someone who just a year earlier had been contemplating finishing his career elsewhere. Through it all, Pierce has established himself as one of the all-time Celtic greats, no easy task considering the history of the team. He is currently third on the Celtics all-time scoring list, trailing only John Havlicek and Larry Bird. Pierce has averaged 22.5 points per game for his career, starting in 881 out of the 884 contests he has played in. He is also a remarkable 3-point shooter, knocking down almost 37% of his shots from downtown. No questions asked, Paul Pierce has been the best Celtic since Larry Legend's retirement.
4. Manny Ramirez, LF, Red Sox
3. Tedy Bruschi and Mike Vrabel, LB, Patriots
Much like Moss and Welker, you can't have one without the other. Bruschi and Vrabel were the leaders of the Patriots defense that won Super Bowls in 2001, 2003, and 2004. From a statistical standpoint, obviously, they both excelled. Vrabel was a top pass-rusher in the league, while Bruschi was more a stay at home linebacker who was great in pass coverage. Vrabel was also known for his versatility in goal line situations--on offense. In his Patriots career, he caught 10 passes while lining up in a goal line set-and all 10 went for touchdowns. This included 2 such plays in the Super Bowl, in XXXVIII and again the following year in XXXIX. Bruschi draws lots of inspiration for his comeback from a stroke following the Super Bowl against the Eagles, which nearly left him paralyzed, and made it back in time to play 9 games the following season. After the 2008 season, Vrabel was traded to the Chiefs and Bruschi retired, leaving a huge void in the Patriots linebacking corps. No matter who steps up and ultimately fills those shoes, good luck trying to establish the pedigree of Vrabel and Brushchi.
2. David Ortiz, DH, Red Sox
Back in the winter of 2003, Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein was new on the job. As he filled out the roster, he took a flier on several veteran free agents who hadn't been garnering much interest elsewhere. Jeremy Giambi, Kevin Millar, Bill Mueller, and David Ortiz, most notably. With all due respect to Millar and Mueller, has there ever been a better scrap-heap pick up than Big Papi? Since becoming a full-time player midway through the 2003 season, Ortiz has clubbed 291 home runs and driven in 932 runs, all while batting .286 with a .958 OPS. In 2006, he became the Red Sox single-season home run leader (54), breaking Jimmie Foxx's record of 50 set way back in 1938. But more than anything else, Ortiz is remembered for his post-season heroics in 2004. During the ALCS, when the Red Sox were trailing 3-0 to the Yankees, Ortiz's walk-off hits ended both Games 4 and 5, injecting life back into the Red Sox and enabling them to complete the greatest comeback in baseball history.
1. Tom Brady, QB, Patriots
On an early fall evening late in September 2001, the Patriots, along with the rest of NFL, were participating in the first game action since the September 11 attacks of earlier in the month. Late in the game, with the Patriots losing 10-3 to the Jets, quarterback Drew Bledsoe was flushed from the pocket while trying to lead a Patriots comeback. As he scrambled towards the sideline, he was layed out maliciously by New York linebacker Mo Lewis. Bledsoe would leave the game, and entered Tom Brady. The Patriots wound up losing the game by the score of 10-3, dropping to 0-2. Brady, the 6th round pick in 2000 out of Michigan, would have to guide the Patriots in Bledsoe's absence. Seems impossible, right? The Pats finished the regular season 11-5, including winning their final 6 in a row, to earn the AFC East crown. From there, they would sweep their 3 playoff games, winning Super Bowl XXXVI on the final drive of the game in which Brady lead the Patriots into field goal range, where Adam Vinatieri took care of business.
And from there, Brady has gone on win two more super bowls, including two super bowl MVP honors, win the 2007 MVP award (in which he threw for a league record 50 touchdown passes) and become a lock for the pro football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio. Not bad for the 6th round pick, 199th overall, right? Brady is 97-30 as a starter in the NFL, not to mention a 14-4 mark in the postseason. He has thrown for 233 touchdown passes in his career (19th all-time), amassing 31,602 yards (28th all-time) during that span. He had spend the majority of his career with average-to-below average receivers to throw to, until the additions of Moss and Welker in 2007, making his passing numbers look even more impressive. No.12 Shouldn't be stepping away anytime soon, either, recently signing a new contract that will keep him a Patriot through 2014.
Ranking Brady #1 was by far the easiest decision on this list, anyone with half a brain could've come to that conclusion. And with that, the list is completed. Let the debating begin....
Honorable Mentions: Ray Allen, Guard, Celtics; Zdeno Chara, D, Bruins; Curt Schilling, P, Red Sox; Kevin Youkilis, 1B, Red Sox; Troy Brown, WR, Patriots; Adam Vinatieri, K, Patriots.
Maybe Next Decade: Dustin Pedroia, 2B, Red Sox; Tyler Seguin, C, Bruins; Aaron Hernandez, TE, Patriots; Rajon Rondo, PG, Celtics.
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