Thursday, January 28, 2016

Super Bowl 50 All-Time Team (Defense)

I told you that we'd start seeing all kinds of all-time Super Bowl teams during the bye week.  The NFL announced the official one, which was voted on by Hall of Fame voters, today.  And ESPN finished their countdown of the 50 greatest players in Super Bowl history today, too.

As for my Super Bowl all-time team, I revealed the offense yesterday, and I came pretty close to what the NFL had.  The only player I didn't have was Hall of Famer Larry Allen, who I actually had on my original list at guard before cutting him.  On defense, though, I don't quite see eye-to-eye with the Hall of Fame voters.  My linebackers are almost completely different than the quartet of Hall of Famers they came up with (I'm just going ahead and putting Ray Lewis in the Hall of Fame, even though he isn't eligible yet).

Just like the offense worked out nice and evenly with 25 players including the two return men, it's the same thing with the defense.  The defense proper gives us 23, with the kicker and punter getting us to 25.

Defensive End: Charles Haley (49ers-23, 24; Cowboys-27, 28, 30), Harvey Martin (Cowboys-10, 12, 13), Reggie White (Packers-31, 32), L.C. Greenwood (Steelers-9, 10, 13, 14)
Well, this one was really easy.  Charles Haley is famously the only player in history with five Super Bowl rings.  It's why he has a bust in Canton.  And it was his trade to the Cowboys that ended one dynasty and started another.  Harvey Martin was the first Super Bowl MVP to pass away, which means, sadly, he'll be one of the two that won't participate in the pregame ceremony (the other is Peyton Manning, who has a good excuse).  Another late defensive end is Hall of Famer Reggie White.  He sure made the most of his first Super Bowl opportunity, sacking Drew Bledsoe three times.  My love of should-be Hall of Famer L.C. Greenwood and his gold shoes is well known.  I think he was the most overlooked member of that "Steel Curtain" defense that was the first real dynasty of the Super Bowl era.

Defensive Tackle: Joe Greene (Steelers-9, 10, 13, 14), Randy White (Cowboys-10, 12, 13), Leon Lett (Cowboys-27, 28, 30), Vince Wilfork (Patriots-39, 42, 46, 49)
Is it even possible to come up with any sort of football-related list of all-time greats and not include Mean Joe Greene?  White was co-MVP of Super Bowl XII, when the Cowboys forced seven Broncos turnovers (the first of Denver's four losses in orange, hence the white next Sunday).  Leon Lett, unfortunately, is best remembered for having the ball knocked out of his hand by Don Beebe at the end of the Cowboys' rout over the Bills in Super Bowl XXVII.  What we forget is his role in Dallas' absolute dismantling of Buffalo (both that year and the next).  It's a good thing this isn't a real team.  Because it would be expensive to feed both Lett and Vince Wilfork, the defensive version of Tom Brady for the Patriots over the last decade.

Linebacker: Chuck Howley (Cowboys-5, 6), Ray Lewis (Ravens-35, 47), Rod Martin (Raiders-15, 18), Bobby Wagner (Seahawks-48, 49), Tedy Bruschi (Patriots-31, 36, 38, 39, 42), Jack Lambert (Steelers-9, 10, 13, 14), Lawrence Taylor (Giants-21, 25)
The first defensive player and only player from a losing team to win MVP honors, Howley had two interceptions and a fumble recovery in Super Bowl V, then had one of each the next year.  Ray Lewis and the Ravens' defense beat the Giants down a couple times over in Super Bowl XXXV, when he was named MVP.  He then capped his career 12 years later with another title.  Rod Martin: three interceptions in Super Bowl XV, a sack and a fumble recovery in Super Bowl XVIII.  For the first time in three years, Bobby Wagner isn't playing in the Super Bowl.  I guess he can't add to his Super Bowl-record 22 career tackles until next year, then.  Tedy Bruschi was the heart-and-soul of the Patriots long before Tom Brady arrived.  Speaking of heart and soul, that was Jack Lambert and his toothless grin for the Steelers dynasty.  The Giants won two Super Bowls because of their defense.  Lawrence Taylor wasn't just the best player on that defense.  He was arguably the greatest linebacker in NFL history.

Cornerback: Deion Sanders (49ers-29; Cowboys-30), Larry Brown (Cowboys-27, 28, 30), Darrien Gordon (Chargers-29; Broncos-32, 33), Mel Blount (Steelers-9, 10, 13, 14)
How awesome was Deion Sanders?  Wins a title with the 49ers, has an interception in the Super Bowl, then goes to Dallas and wins another the next year.  The other Cowboys cornerback in Super Bowl XXX was Larry Brown.  All he did was intercept two passes and win MVP.  Perhaps the most surprising name on this list is Darrien Gordon.  He played in Denver for two years, won two rings, and had two Super Bowl interceptions.  His 108 interception return yards against the Falcons set a Super Bowl record.  Mel Blount was one of the anchors of the "Steel Curtain.:

Safety: Jake Scott (Dolphins-6, 7, 8), Dwight Smith (Buccaneers-37), Willie Wood (Packers-1,2), Cliff Harris (Cowboys-5, 6, 10, 12, 13)
Why does Dwight Smith make the cut?  Easy.  He had two pick-sixes during the Bucs' rout of the Raiders in Super Bowl XXXVII, when he should've been named MVP instead of teammate Dexter Jackson.  Speaking of interceptions, Miami's "other" No. 13, Jake Scott, was MVP of Super Bowl VII, when his two picks helped clinch the perfect season.  He then had two fumble recoveries in Super Bowl VIII, as the Dolphins defended their title.  Cliff Harris played in five Super Bowls with the Cowboys' "Doomsday" defense.  Hall of Famer Willie Wood broke open Super Bowl I with his interception early in the third quarter of a close game tahat would turn into a Packers blowout.  Ronnie Lott is one of the greatest defensive backs in history, but he played both cornerback and safety, and I can't put him on at one over the other.

Kicker: Adam Vinatieri (Patriots-31, 36, 38, 39; Colts-41)
Duh.  Probably the easiest position to pick of any, which is why it was the only unanimous one among the Hall of Fame voters.  Seriously, who else could it be?  There have been just three game-winning last-second field goals in Super Bowl history.  Vinatieri has two of them.  In a three-year span!

Punter: Ray Guy (Raiders-11, 15, 17, 18)
Seriously, was there any other choice at punter either?  Ray Guy is the best punter ever.  That's why he's in the Hall of Fame.  And if you need convincing that he was actually a "football player" and not just a punter, is this enough proof for you?

So, there it is.  My 50-member all-time Super Bowl team, just in time for Super Bowl 50.  And, if you're keeping track, here's the team-by-team breakdown.  Not surprisingly, there are a lot of Cowboys, Steelers, 49ers and Patriots (if a player appeared in Super Bowls with two different teams, they both count):

Cowboys-12, Steelers-9, 49ers-7, Raiders-6, Patriots-5, Packers-4, Ravens-2, Broncos-2, Dolphins-2, Giants-2, Redskins-2, Colts-1, Chargers-1, Seahawks-1, Buccaneers-1

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