Young Mike's 2009 NFL All-Rookie Squad

Young Mike's 2009 NFL All-Rookie Squad
M.D. Wright
12.29.09

AMERICAN FOOTBALL CONFERENCE
OFFENSE

QB:
Pat White - MIAMI
Mark Sanchez - NEW YORK

Comments:
White didn't make the number of mistakes Sanchez did, but Sanchez played more and despite his rookie mistakes, the Jets may indeed be returning to the playoffs.
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RB:
Knowshon Moreno - DENVER
Shonn Greene - NEW YORK
Donald Brown - INDIANAPOLIS

Comments:
Moreno logged the most carries out of the bunch and had a decent season. Denver still employs the zone blocking scheme when rushing the football and their RBs typically average close to 5.0 YPC in that system.

Greene emerged for the Jets when RB Leon Washington (FROM?!?!) went down with a gruesome leg fracture.

Donald Brown filled in nicely when Joseph Addai, and his annual missed games/injury parade got going with his trend.
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WR:
Austin Collie - INDIANAPOLIS
Mohamed Massaquoi - CLEVELAND
Louis Murphy - OAKLAND

Honorable Mention:
Kenny Britt - TENNESSEE
Brian Hartline - MIAMI
Mike Wallace - 60 MINUTES... uhhh PITTSBURGH

Comments:
The Colts were able to answer the question surrounding what they would be able to do without WR Marvin Harrison, ALONG WITH WR Anthony Gonzalez, losing the latter after the very first game of the 2009 season. Collie has been dynamic for the Colts.

Massaquoi is a fantasy gem and if he has a decent QB (no real gimme in Cleveland) he can make plays. As he did wearing #1 at UGa.

Sweet Lou Murphy has my respect, even though he is a UF guy. Real. Tough. Guy.
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TE:
None.

Offensive Line:
These guys usually do not have much of an impact early on in their careers unless they're #1 overall-type picks. Most of the First Round Picks were either injured all season or barely played (outside of Michael Oher).
-------------------------------

DEFENSE
DE:
Larry English - SAN DIEGO
Aaron Maybin - BUFFALO

Comments:
English was an active body for the Bolts. Maybin will be solid.

DT:
None.

OLB:
Brian Cushing - HOUSTON

Comments:
This guy knows how to play BALL.
-----------------------------

CB:
Jairus Byrd - BUFFALO
Vontae Davis - MIAMI

Comments:
Byrd led the NFL in INTs and Davis was all over the place for Miami this year.

S:
None.

K:
Ryan Succop - KANSAS CITY

Comments:
Succop kicks. The end.
--------------------------------------------

NATIONAL FOOTBALL CONFERENCE
OFFENSE

QB:
Matthew Stafford - DETROIT
Josh Freeman - TAMPA BAY

Comments:
Defaults. Stafford actually played pretty well in half his games before injuring his knee. Freeman has shown poise of late.

RB:
LeSean McCoy - PHILADELPHIA
Chris Wells - ARIZONA
Mike Goodson - CAROLINA

Comments:
McCoy filled in admirably while Westbrook missed half the season for the Iggles. Wells helped established a true running game for Arizona and Goodson came on late when Williams was nicked up for the Panthers.

WR:
Hakeem Nicks - NEW YORK
Percy Harvin - MINNESOTA
Johnny Knox - CHICAGO
Jeremy Maclin - PHILADELPHIA

Honorable Mention:
Sammie Stroughter - TAMPA BAY

Comments:
Nicks will be the best long-term WR of this bunch. He has oven mitts for hands and makes plays. Had nearly as many 50+ yard plays from scrimmage as DeSean Jackson and a couple more than young Percy Harvin.

Speaking of Harvin, got out of the gates explosively this year, faded a bit with Favre's lulls and came on with a clutch score in Week 16 to keep Minnesota close in a big game. He's a game changer.

Knox returns kicks and makes plays occasionally for the Bears. Before Aromashadu stepped in, the Bears pretty much had nothing in the way of receivers.

Maclin was nicked a bit, but provided solid playmaking for the Iggles opposite dynamo DeSean Jackson.

------------------------------

TE:
Brandon Pettigrew - DETROIT
Travis Beckum - NEW YORK

Comments:
Not many teams utilize TEs, especially not rookies, but Pettigrew actually had a very good season for the Lions, all things considered. Beckum served mostly as a backup to Elisha Manning safety net Kevin Boss.

Offensive Line:
T: Jason Smith - ST. LOUIS
T: Will Beatty - NEW YORK
T: TJ Lang - GREEN BAY

Comments:
Smith was drafted to be a cornerstone, Beatty was pressed into action due to injuries to Pro Bowler Kareem McKenzie and Lang played decently for Green Bay for most of the season.

DL:
DE: Brian Orakpo - WASHINGTON
DT: BJ Raji - GREEN BAY

Comments:
Orakpo was by far the best defense lineman taken in the 2009 Draft and he proved why. Everette Brown again showing how far Florida State has fallen, drafted high, output LOW. No mention. Raji was a stud for Green Bay at times.

LB:
Jasper Brinkley - MINNESOTA
Clay Matthews - GREEN BAY

Honorable Mention:
Clint Sintim - NEW YORK

Comments:
Jasper has ants in his pants. They're going to need him with EJ Henderson out. Matthews has the NFL genes and those USC guys sure proved to be legit (albeit the one who had the most touting put out the least this year no homo).

Clint Sintim should have played much more for the Giants. He was active and made plays when he did get on the field, and the LB/part-time DE rotation at RE was so dire that he shouldn't played more and would've been better than anyone who saw the field for the Giants.

CB:
Malcolm Jenkins - NEW ORLEANS
Captain Munnerlyn - CAROLINA

Comments:
Jenkins was as good as advertised. CAPTAIN MUNNERLYN, because I like the name Captain. I'm going to name one of my sons Captain.

S:
Louis Delmas - DETROIT

Comments:
My son YOUNG LOU in a class all by himself. He's going to be All-Madden before it's all over.

K:
Graham Gano - WASHINGTON

Comments:
Because he went to Florida State and Skins fans are glad SUISHAM is gone.

2010 NFL Pro Bowl Rosters

2010 NFL Pro Bowl Rosters
M.D. Wright
12.29.09

***EDITOR'S NOTE: Changes may be made due to potential for injuries, but these are the results of all the voting.

AFC
OFFENSE

* - First Player Listed Is STARTER

QB:
*Peyton Manning - INDIANAPOLIS
Tom Brady - NEW ENGLAND
Philip Rivers - SAN DIEGO

Comments:
Switch Rivers and Brady. Otherwise, this was indeed the top three in QBs in the AFC.

RB:
*Chris Johnson - TENNESSEE
*Maurice Jones-Drew - JACKSONVILLE
Ray Rice - BALTIMORE

Comments:
I don't care HOW MANY touchdowns Jones-Drew had, THOMAS JONES was the 2nd best RB in the AFC this year. The way the New York teams (actually more so the Giants, since the Jets' offensive line received acclaim) got slighted this year is beyond disgusting. Ray Rice deserves his spot 100%. Cedric Benson was probably the sole reason the Bengals are 10-5 and not 6-9 right now. Carson Palmer has had a disgustingly average to below average season (save for a couple of clutch moments late in a couple of games) and their defense bends but doesn't break, but isn't great. What was the Bengals' main problem last year offensively? RUNNING THE FOOTBALL. Cedric Benson should definitely be the Most Improved Player in the AFC.

FB:
*Le'Ron McClain - BALTIMORE

Comments:
Only other worthwhile mention was Tony Richardson.

WR:
*Andre Johnson - HOUSTON
*Reggie Wayne - INDIANAPOLIS
Brandon Marshall - DENVER
Wes Welker - NEW ENGLAND

Comments:
Marshall's numbers are inflated. 1/4 of his catches came in ONE GAME. He didn't do anything impressive at all otherwise. Andre Johnson is THE best WR in football. Wayne and Welker are debatable, but the Colts are better than the Patriots, so.

TE:
*Dallas Clark - INDIANAPOLIS
Antonio Gates - SAN DIEGO

Comments:
None.

C:
*Nick Mangold - NEW YORK
Jeff Saturday - INDIANAPOLIS

Comments:
None.

G:
*Alan Faneca - NEW YORK
*Logan Mankins - NEW ENGLAND
Kris Dielman - SAN DIEGO
Comment:

T:
*Ryan Clady - DENVER
*Jake Long - MIAMI
Joe Thomas - CLEVELAND

Comment:
This is a joke. Clady holds more defensive ends than R&B Crooners hold women during and after a concert.

AFC
DEFENSE

DE:
*Dwight Freeney - INDIANAPOLIS
*Robert Mathis - INDIANAPOLIS
Mario Williams - HOUSTON

Comment:
Hard to dispute Freeney. Mathis and Williams could have been flip-flopped, but that's splitting hairs.

DT/NT:
*Haloti Ngata - BALTIMORE
*Vince Wilfork - NEW ENGLAND
Casey Hampton - PITTSBURGH

Comments:
Ngata is one of the most agile big men I've ever seen and he doesn't have hands of stone like most defensive linemen. That's basically the edge he gets over Wilfork, who has been a problem at DT since he entered the league from The U. Hampton does not belong on this list DEAR GOD.

MLB:
*Ray Lewis - BALTIMORE
DeMeco Ryans - HOUSTON

Comments:
For what Lewis has lost in speed, he has gained in anticipation and guile. He still hits as hard as ever. Ryans is a PLAYER.

OLB:
*Elvis Dumervil - DENVER
*James Harrison - PITTSBURGH
Brian Cushing - HOUSTON

Comments:
Dumervil flourished when Denver moved him to OLB from DE this year. Led the AFC in sacks. JAMES HARRISON DOES NOT BELONG ON THIS LIST GOOD HEAVENS WHO VOTED FOR THESE SQUADS???
Cushing surprised me, because he has made a seamless transition from USC to the NFL. He's going to be great. And he's JUST A ROOKIE.

CB:
*Nnamdi Asomugha - OAKLAND
*Darrelle Revis - NEW YORK
Champ Bailey - DENVER

Comments:
Ahhhh MY old position. Nnamdi finally getting league-wide acclaim, but Revis is the ABSOLUTE best Cornerback in the NFL. Let's not be confused here.

SS:
*Brian Dawkins - DENVER

Comments:
Dawkins looks slow nowadays. I know that was the main reason Philadelphia cut him, but there are other guys who could have had this spot. Guys getting in on past laurels?

(Sidebar Conversation)
Noot-Noot: "WHERE DEY DO DET ET?"
Ace: "THE NFL DAWG!"
Noot-Noot: "Oh."

FS:
*Ed Reed - BALTIMORE
Jairus Byrd - BUFFALO

Comments:
Another joke. Reed would blush. He had an off season by his standards and Byrd led the NFL in INTs if I'm not mistaken -- as I kept up with that stat when it originally jumped off the page at me 5 or 6 weeks ago.

AFC
SPECIALISTS

P:
*Shane Lechler - OAKLAND

Comments:
RAY GUY, JR. NFL PURISTS KNOW THERE NEEDS TO BE NO MORE SAID.

KR:
*Joshua Cribbs - CLEVELAND

Comments:
Best in the game. BY FAR. If Cleveland is smart, they'll keep him there and not screw up their return game/wide receiving corp/salary cap in one failed swoop like the Bears did with KR/WR/CB/Whatever Devin Hester.

PK:
*Nate Kaeding - SAN DIEGO

Comments:
Most accurate kicker in NFL history with over 100 FGs made. Charger fans, both full-time and part-time (me) still gulp whenever he kicks with the game on the line, however.

ST:
*Kassim Osgood - SAN DIEGO

Comments:
Total toss-up. In my opinion, every team has a standout special teams guy. He's just always around the ball, even if he's not making the tackle. Exposure counts, huh?

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NFC
OFFENSE

QB:
*Drew Brees - NEW ORLEANS
Brett Favre - MINNESOTA
Aaron Rodgers - GREEN BAY

Comments:
Always said if Rodgers had time, he would do work. Said it last year, he delivered, said it this year -- and once they got it corrected, he delivered again. This guy almost won me a fantasy football championship last year. Favre only got up there because of his name -- I don't care what his stats are, Eli deserved to go. Brees has stumbled 4 out of the last 5 games. Questionable. Argument can be made that Rodgers should've gotten the nod outright.

RB:
*Adrian Peterson - MINNESOTA
Steven Jackson - ST. LOUIS
DeAngelo Williams - CAROLINA

Comments:
Williams missed too many games, but managed to have good enough numbers since all the other teams split carries between 2 or 3 RBs. Peterson sure does fumble a lot (<<<) that's my son and all, but...
Jackson was an absolute HOSS all season. Deserved it.

FB:
*Leonard Weaver - PHILADELPHIA

Comments:
God I hate this guy. Where did he come from??? And why was he running over, around and past guys like he's Chris Johnson this year? No one else really uses a FB as no one else really runs a true West Coast system other than Philadelphia.

WR:
*Larry Fitzgerald - ARIZONA
*DeSean Jackson - PHILADELPHIA
Miles Austin - DALLAS
Sidney Rice - MINNESOTA

Comments:
No argument against Fitzgerald and Jackson, however:

BOTH STEVE SMITHS BELONG HERE.

Sidney Rice is more "Most Improved Player" material than Pro Bowl. Steve Smith (NYG) is going to have 105 catches and nearly 3/4 of them for first downs DEAR GOD. Countless Giants' drives were kept alive as he served as Manning's safety blanket. Miles Austin is a nice story, but stop it 5. The Dallas fanbase had something to do with this -- as Giants fanbase, typically not braggarts, don't OD stuff the ballot box for their favorite players. Steve Smith (CAR) is the toughest WR in the NFL. Had his arm broken by Giants' FS Michael Johnson, broke away, still scored and almost nets 1,000 yards despite having the absolute worst QB in the NFL and being double-teamed ALL GAME, EVERY GAME (even though Cutler had more INTs, he wasn't as bad as Delhomme and everyone knows this).

TE:
*Vernon Davis - SAN FRANCISCO
Jason Witten - DALLAS

Comments:
Romo didn't totally KEY IN on Witten all year this year, so his stats were down. However, SF's QBs DID use Davis as a safety blanket all season since they don't have a WR to speak of. Kevin Boss deserves honorable mention as well.

C:
*Andre Gurode - DALLAS
Shaun O'Hara - NEW YORK

Comments:
O'Hara was the only consistent performer for the Giants' offensive line, which had previously been the best in football the past 4 seasons. He and Dave Diehl were the only ones who seemed to come to play every week. And that said, Gurode, who was steady, but not spectacular, should be the backup to O'Hara.

G:
*Jahri Evans - NEW ORLEANS
*Steve Hutchinson - MINNESOTA
Leonard Davis - DALLAS

Comments:
WHO DAT? No, seriously -- WHO DAT? That boy should not be starting (Evans). HOUSE DAVIS paved the way for many a Felix Jones breakaway run this year. HE should be starting at RG this Pro Bowl. Hutchinson is the only reason more Adrian Peterson runs didn't get stopped for loss and Favre didn't get sacked more, because Bryant McKinnie absolutely sucked rectum this year.

T:
*Bryant McKinnie - MINNESOTA
*Jason Peters - PHILADELPHIA
Jon Stinchcomb - NEW ORLEANS

Comments:
Neither of the "starters" should be starting. Even fans of their teams will tell you that. Stinchcomb protected Brees superbly in all but one game this year. He deserves it. Dave Diehl should be a backup.

NFC
DEFENSE

DE:
*Jared Allen - MINNESOTA
*Julius Peppers - CAROLINA
Trent Cole - PHILADELPHIA

Comments:
Jared Allen: "HERE!"
Trent Cole (should be starting): "PRESENT!"
Justin Tuck: "...." JUSTIN TUCK: ".............."
Julius Peppers: "Oh, I decided to start playing when the games meant nothing and I could spoil other teams' playoff chances and seedings and now GMs are watching so I can get paid as a UFA".

What a joke this voting is. Peppers didn't do a thing 4/5 of the season.

Even Ray Edwards and Adewale Ogunleye (Staten Island native) played better.

DT/NT:
*Darnell Dockett - ARIZONA
*Kevin Williams - MINNESOTA
Jay Ratliff - DALLAS

Comments:
The voters ALMOST got this right. The correct THREE players, but Ratliff is the best DT in the NFC. The man has been downfield covering WIDE RECEIVERS this year and makes plays sideline to sideline like a MLB. Dockett is the best DT in the trenches. To me, Kevin Williams is a bit overrated. Pat Williams eats up two gaps (no pun intended) and Jared Allen gets doubled a ton.

Ratliff plays in a 3-4, has two-gap assignments and does everything I mentioned above ALONG WITH THAT.

So does Dockett in the same alignment.

MLB:
*Patrick Willis - SAN FRANCISCO
Jonathan Vilma - NEW ORLEANS

Comments:
No real arguments here. Pat Willis is a tackling machine. I would like to see London Fletcher make a Pro Bowl, even IF he is dirty. Show some love for Jon Beason also, please.

OLB:
*Lance Briggs - CHICAGO
*DeMarcus Ware - DALLAS
Brian Orakpo - WASHINGTON

Comments:
I have Orakpo personally listed as a DE. But whatever. He could've made Pro Bowl at DE over Peppers. That's how laughable the vote of Peppers is. Briggs was good, not great. Ware started slowly and didn't dominate this year. I dunno about this vote. Where's young Clay Matthews? Thomas Davis?

CB:
*Asante Samuel - PHILADELPHIA
*Charles Woodson - GREEN BAY
Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie - ARIZONA

Comments:
No arguments here. All these guys deserve it. Woodson will win the Defensive Player of the Year, actually. Samuel gambles a lot, but like OMW, hits .725 on those gambles.

SS:
*Adrian Wilson - ARIZONA

Comments:
Adrian Wilson FROM?!?!?! HIGH POINT. Still doing it at age 30 and getting better with age.

FS:
*Darren Sharper - NEW ORLEANS
Nick Collins - GREEN BAY

Comments:
Sharper faded late. He's getting by on smarts and awareness. He's lost 3 steps since leaving Green Bay. Collins is good, but can YOUNG LOU DELMAS GET SOME LOVE?

NFC
SPECIALISTS

P:
Andy Lee - SAN FRANCISCO

Comments:
Puts in more work than your average (lying) rapper. However, Jeff Feagles is still the DEAN of Punting.

KR:
DeSean Jackson - PHILADELPHIA

Comments:
Tons of plays over 50+ yards in the kicking game alone. Only guy challenging Cribbs.

PK:
David Akers - PHILADELPHIA

Comments:
Kickers aren't worth arguing over, but Law Tynes and Neil Rackers deserve mention.

ST:
Heath Farwell - MINNESOTA

Comments:
WHO.

Chase Blackburn, Courtney Roby, Micheal Spurlock. Who even knows who Farwell is outside of Minnesota? These other guys either have returned kicks AND get tackles (both Spurlock and Roby) or contribute on another unit as well (Blackburn).

We love to argue over Pro Bowl rosters every year don't we?
(c) SINCE 1986.

DISCUSS.