The New England Patriots All-Time Team

Patriots Top Ten players

10. Ben Coates, TE - Drafted by the Pats in 1991 out of Livingstone College. He would remain with Patriots until the year 1999. Coates was selected to 5 Pro Bowls as a Patriot in 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, and 1998. Coates’ career stats with the Patriots totaled to 490 receptions, 5,471 yards, and 50 TDs. He is ranked 4 th on the all time receiving list for TEs and 3 rd on the Patriots for all time receptions.

9. Troy Brown, WR - Troy Brown was drafted by the New England Patriots in 1993, and stayed with the teamthroughout his entire career, which ended in 2007. Brown is the second longest tenured player in Patriots history staying with the team for 15 years. He is the Patriots leader in punt returns with 252 returns for 2,625 yards. He also is atop the Patriots all time lists in receptions with 557 and second for receiving yards with 6,366. Brown was effective playing on all three squads for the Patriots, offense, defense, and special teams. Considering how Troy Brown was picked 198 th overall in the 1993 draft, I’d say the Patriots got a steal.

8. Kevin Faulk, RB - Drafted in 1999 by the Pats, Faulk hasn’t put up the stats you would expect from a second round pick and LSU superman. He has only amassed 16 rushing TDs and 15 receiving TDs thus far in his career. Yet, every time there is a key conversion situation, or pressure play, Faulk shows up. I have grown up loving this player. His respect for the team and the game are unmatched. Also, he is fourth on the career receptions list for the Patriots. People will argue he shouldn’t be in the Top 10 All-time Patriots, but for me, he’s right where he belongs.

7. Stanley Morgan, WR - Now, Morgan is the just the first of the Top 10 Patriots who was before my time, but I have read so much about him. He finished his career with 557 receptions for 10,716 yards and 72 touchdowns. His 10,716 receiving yards are a Patriots franchise record. He also ranks fifth in punt return yards and punt returns for the Patriots franchise.

6. Andre Tippett, LB - Tippett is a member of the NFL’s 1980s all-decade team and was selected to five Pro Bowls in his career, earning votes in five straight seasons from 1984–88. From 1984–85, Tippett recorded the highest two-season sack total by a linebacker in NFL history, totaling 35.0 sacks during the two seasons. His 18.5 sacks in 1984 are the third most by any linebacker in a single season, while his 16.5 sacks in 1985 are tied for the sixth most by any linebacker in NFL history.Tippett holds the Patriots’ franchise record with 100.0 career sacks. He ranked seventh on the all-time sacks list.

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5. Adam Vinatieri, K - Vinatieri holds multiple NFL records including, most postseason points scored, 177, total points in a single postseason, 49, and most postseason field goals in a career. He has won three Super Bowls with the Patriots, and has been a the reason for the Patriots dynasty ever beginning. He kicked the game tying and game winning field goal against the Oakland Raiders in “The Tuck-Rule Game”. He also kicked two game winning field goals as time expired in Super Bowls XXXVI and XXXVIII.

4. Ty Law, CB - Law was one of the most electrifying DBs in the NFL, early on in his career. He helped lead the Patriots to three Super Bowl titles. Law’s tough and physical play prompted rule changes n the NFL, making the illegal contact penalty more significant. Law leads the Patriots with 36 interceptions for the team all time. He also has 6 returned for TDs. Law’s play was a huge part of Belichick’s Super Bowl defenses.

3. Gino Cappelletti, WR, K - If there were ever a “jack of all trades”, Gino would be it. He played for the Patriots while they were still an AFL team from 1960-1969. When the Patriots merged into the NFL, he played one season in 1970. Gino’s versatility as a WR and place-kicker was invaluable. He is the all-time leading scorer in the American Football League. Cappelletti’s name can be found among the top ten lists of the AFL’s recievers in recpetions and receiving yards. Gino was awarded the AFL’s MVP award in 1964. Early in his career, Gino was a DB, PR, K, and WR.

2. Bill Belichick, HC - Bill Belichick was named New England Patriots head coach in 2000. Belichick has won three Super Bowls as head coach as the Patriots. Enough said right? He completely deserves a Top 3 spot on this list. People undermine his work as a head coach due to the “Spygate” scandal. He blew away the doubters by leading the team to a perfect regular season and an 18-1 overall record. This could have been 19-0, if the players executed more effectively, but that is a different argument.

1. Tom Brady, QB - Tom Terrific, once a back up Qb at the Univeristy of Michigan serving Gatorade to Brian Greise, is now an NFL icon. His legacy began with the Tuck- Rule Game and continued from there. He is the proud owner of three Super Bowl rings, two Super Bowl MVPs, and a NFL MVP award. He holds the record for most TD passes in a season with 50. He is known for his composure in pressure situations and is known as Captain Comeback. Brady ahs been a leader for the team and his talent was evident from his first starts. He set an NFL record for most completions to start a career without an interception with 162 attempts. Brady is one of the best Qbs to ever play the game and has earned the #1 spot on this All Time list.

By: Matt Williams
Pro Football New England Patriots Correspondent