01/26/2007
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Okay, so you led your team to the playoffs. Whoopee. You're on your way to Miami and Super Bowl XLI? Congrats. You’re an MVP? Fantastic, but who really cares? How about the other 1,060 NFL players that busted their butts all season only to be watching you come January? Yeah, we’re talking to you Brady, Urlacher and Tomlinson! You guys have gotten enough press this postseason.
So instead of handing even more hardware to the usual group of superstar candidates, we’ve assembled our own squad of NFL elite, but with one caveat: the players we selected all packed up their lockers and went home when the playoffs started. That’s right, you won’t find Peyton Manning, Tiki Barber or Antonio Gates anywhere on our list. What you will find are guys who had outstanding individual years, but were nonetheless reduced to innocent bystanders when the postseason began.
Below is Bullz-Eye.com’s first annual NFL All-Spectator team. All 11 positions on offense and defense are represented, as well as a kicker, punter and return specialists. The criteria for how we selected each player were rather simple: how good would that player’s respective team have been without him this season? In other words, do the Tennessee Titans sniff .500 without the play of rookie quarterback Vince Young? Take Jason Taylor and Zach Thomas off the Dolphins and is Miami’s defense even half of what it was in’06? And since there were a lot of close calls, we also included honorable mentions for each position.
Honorable Mention: Skill positions
Quarterback: Marc Bulger (StL)
(4301 yards, 24 TD, 8 INT)
Sure, Bulger’s stats are a quite a bit better than Young’s, but he also had a lot more help. Put him on the Titans and there’s no way the team sniffs eight wins.
Running Back: Steven Jackson (StL)
(1528 rushingl yards, 13 TD; 90 receptions, 806 rec yards, 3 TD)
Jackson did his best Marshall Faulk impersonation, catching 90 passes for 806 yards, and became one of the most dangerous dual-threats in the league. With this kind of production at running back, it’s amazing the Rams didn’t make the postseason in the mediocre NFC.
Fullback: Zach Crockett (Oak)
(39 carries, 163 rushing yards)
Crockett isn’t as versatile as Griffith is in the receiving game, but the 13-year vet added stability to the Raiders ever so inconsistent offensive backfield this year.
Wide Receiver: Torry Holt (StL)
(93 receptions, 1188 yards, 10 TD)
Noticing a trend here? We love Holt, but he had Steven Jackson pulling linebackers and safeties out of his passing lanes while Marc Bulger threw him the ball. This made his life pretty easy when compared to what Donald Driver and Lee Evans had to work with.
Wide Receiver: Chad Johnson (Cin)
(87 receptions, 1369 yards, 7 TD)
“Ocho Cinco” regressed a tad in 2006, and desiite being a part of a great offense, he (and the underachieving Bengals) failed to make the postseason. After a slow start, he rattled off 765 yards and five TDs during a five-game span in the middle of the season, flashing his incredible talent and earning this honorable mention.
Tight End: Alge Crumpler (Atl)
(56 receptions, 780, 8 TD)
Even though he only caught 56 passes, Crumpler was second among all tight ends in scores and fourth in receiving yards. Though he’s easily Michael Vick’s favorite target, he’s still a bit inconsistent.
Willie Anderson (Cin)
Anderson is a veteran of 11 years and he seems to get better every season. The most stable of the Cincinnati offensive linemen, Anderson mauls defenders with his exceptional technique and fundamentals. Although he displays excellent fundamentals and finesse, Anderson also has no problem pancaking defensive linemen with his 300-plus pound frame. When most players start thinking about retirement once they hit their mid-30s, Anderson seems to still be in his prime. |
Chris Samuels (Was)
While it’s true that Samuels gets a ton of help from fellow tackle Jon Jansen, it’s no surprise that Samuels is heading to his fourth Pro Bowl in just seven seasons. Samuels was a critical component to the Redskins ranking fifth in fewest sacks allowed per pass play and seventh in yards per carry. Washington was the only team in the league ranked in the top seven in both categories and that goes a long way in supporting how big of an impact Samuels had for the disappointing Redskins this season. |
Eric Steinbach (Cin)
Quick, name the only Cincinnati offensive lineman that was among the nine Bengal arrests this season. If you guessed Steinbach, give yourself a pat on the back. Steinbach was arrested for “boating under the influence” in August. Despite the legal run-in, Steinbach is looking to make it big in the free agency market after a nice ‘06 campaign. Versatility is the name of the game for most of our squad, and Steinbach fits nicely into that category as well since he can play all five o-line positions, is consistent and partners up well with Willie Anderson. |
Brad Meester (Jax)
The strength of the Jaguar offense is in the line and Meester is at the center of it all. Meester led a Jacksonville unit that set a franchise record for rushing yards in a season with 2,541 and opened plenty of holes for running backs Fred Taylor and rookie Maurice Jones-Drew. Meester rebounded well from a bicep tear that cost him the final four games of the 2005 season. He’s in the prime of his career, explodes well at the point of attack and rarely gets pushed back when facing nose tackles. |
Alan Faneca (Pit)
For the fifth time in his nine-year career, Faneca was voted to the Pro Bowl in Honolulu. Along with teammate Kendall Simmons, Faneca is the anchor of Pittsburgh’s offensive line. He has displayed an amazing work ethic year in and year out as well as being the ultimate road grater for tailback Willie Parker. There might not be a better pulling guard in the game today. |
Honorable Mention: Offensive line
Tackle: Jason Peters (Buf)
Peters is a young pup with only three years of service, but he already is regarded as the Bills’ best lineman. He showed his flexibility by moving from the right to left tackle spot in October when Buffalo was struggling. Peters is extremely quick and keeps defenders in front of him with his long arms, but he’s young and still makes some costly mistakes.
Guard: Steve Hutchinson (Min)
Hutchinson is a very determined blocker who is also extremely intelligent and agile. He was definitely worth the dough the Vikings shelled out to acquire his services from Seattle in the offseason. However, he wasn’t as overpowering this year as he was last season during the Seahawks’ Super Bowl run.
Center: Tom Nalen (Den)
Nalen is tough as nails and is the leader of a veteran line. True, he doesn’t allow his teammates to talk to the media, which can cause animosity toward the Denver line, but he also keeps the younger players focused and determined. Although Meester gets the starting nod over him, Nalen is still one of the best centers in the NFL.
Honorable Mention: Front seven
Defensive End: Julius Peppers, (Car)
(58 tackles, 13 sacks, 3 FF)
Peppers’ sacks and tackle numbers were right in line with Jason Taylor’s, but Julius didn’t take over games like Taylor did this season so he’ll have to settle for an honorable mention nod. That’s not to take anything away from what Peppers accomplished this season, however. His numbers were impressive, especially considering he was probably on the most underachieving defensive line of the year.
Defensive End: Leonard Little (StL)
(60 tackles, 13 sacks, 7 FF)
Little seemed to be the only Rams defensive lineman to apply pressure on the quarterback this season. While many say he’s just a one-dimensional player in the mold of Simeon Rice, Little’s 60 tackles this year should squash that criticism. Just like Peppers, Little is certainly worthy of a starting nod on this team, but loses out to the amazing seasons Taylor and Kampman delivered.
Defensive Tackle: Kevin Williams (Min)
(44 tackles, 1 sack, 1 FF)
Kevin Williams loses the nod to his teammate Pat Williams because he was less versatile. Kevin was a stud against the run, but added next to nothing in getting after the quarterback.
Defensive Tackle: John Henderson (Jax)
(51 tackles, 3.5 sacks, 1 FF)
Henderson wasn’t as dominate this season as he has been in years past, but he still is one of the best interior defensive linemen in the NFL. Losing tag team partner Marcus Stroud to injury for six weeks likely hampered Henderson’s production.
Outside Linebacker: Derrick Brooks (TB)
(121 tackles, 3 INT)
Brooks’ stats weren’t as flashy as they have been in years past, but he still led the Bucs in tackles with 121 and continues to be the master of the “Tampa 2” coverage. Brooks is the best outside linebacker to ever play the Tampa 2 because his phenomenal instincts often lead to pass breakups and interceptions. His internal clock is always on par with the quarterback’s, which is just one of the reasons Brooks still competes at a high level despite being 33 years old.
Outside Linebacker: Michael Boley (Atl)
(87 tackles, 3 sacks, 1 FF, 2 INT)
Give Boley – who just completed his second NFL season – another year before he starts making yearly trips to Honolulu. Boley is fast, a sure-tackler and a true playmaker. While he doesn’t display the usual mean streak you find in most NFL linebackers, that doesn’t mean Boley doesn’t come with the same intensity and fire every game.
Inside Linebacker: DeMeco Ryans (Hou)
(156 tackles, 3.5 sacks, 1 FF, 1 INT)
Ryans is only a rookie, so we're curious to see if the former second rounder can avoid the dreaded sophomore slump. It’s amazing to think that the Texans had a bonafide Defensive Rookie of the Year candidate this year, but it wasn’t first overall draft pick Mario Williams.
Inside Linebacker: London Fletcher-Baker (Buf)
(146, 2 sacks, 4 INT)
Go ahead and give recognition to Ryans and not Fletcher-Baker, or vice versa, but we won’t do it. Fletcher-Baker is 31, but still has plenty left in the tank. He finished third in the NFL behind Thomas and Ryans with 146 total tackles and led Buffalo in team tackles. Fletcher-Baker had seven games this season of 10-plus tackles and never missed a contest.
Champ Bailey (Den)
86 tackles, 1 sack, 10 INT There is no better all-around corner in the NFL than Bailey. As quite possibly the only true shutdown corner left in the league, Bailey makes opposing quarterbacks think twice before throwing in his direction. How many times this season did an opposing offense put together an impressive drive only to be turned away by a Bailey interception in the end zone? That’s why his return yardage was so low – because he made the pick when it killed teams the most. Bailey simply shuts down one side of the field with both his interception-making ability and sure tackling. |
Walt Harris (SF)
63 tackles, 1 sack, 4 FF, 8 INT Harris was completely overlooked for the Pro Bowl and loses a lot of press to his younger cross-bay rival Nnamdi Asomugha of the Raiders. Not only did Harris face stiffer competition than Asomugha in Torry Holt, Isaac Bruce, Darrell Jackson, Deion Branch, Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald in the NFC West, but he also was the most stable defensive back in the 49ers' inconsistent secondary. Harris led all cornerbacks with four forced fumbles and finished tied for second in interceptions with eight. |
Adrian Wilson (Ari)
85 tackles, 5 sacks, 4 FF, 4 INT The Denny Green-led Cardinals were mostly a collection of overpaid underachievers. While it’s true that ‘Zona did play hard for almost half a year in ’06, Wilson played hard throughout the full 16 game season. No play summed up Wilson’s season more than the one he made against Michael Vick and the Falcons in Week 4. With the Falcons up 9-3 and driving for an apparent touchdown early in the second quarter, Wilson watched from his strong safety position as Vick rolled out to his right. Thinking he had a receiver wide open, Vick flung a laser into the end zone only to have Wilson step in at the last second and snag it out of thin air. But rather than kneeling down for a touchback, Wilson broke two tackles and raced 99 yards for an Arizona touchdown. There’s just never any quit in the smart and distinctive Wilson. |
Chris Hope (Ten)
121 tackles, 5 INT In the offseason, Hope was regarded as the best free safety available on the free agent market. He wanted to remain a member of the defending world champion Pittsburgh Steelers, but his former team thought Hope's asking price was too high. Fair enough, Hope went to Tennessee where he played in all 16 games, finished second on the team in tackles with 121 and led the team in interceptions with five. He also brought veteran leadership to a youthful secondary and got the ear of former troublemaker Pac Man Jones, who subsequently started to fly straight under Hope’s direction and finished out a nice ’06 season. The Steelers, on the other hand, lost their centerfielder and complement to strong safety Troy Polamalu. Polamalu suffered a rash of injuries this season and the secondary looked disastrous at times. Sometimes it’s better to just pony up. |
Honorable Mention: Secondary
Cornerback: Rashean Mathis (Jax)
(63 tackles, 8 INT)
Rashean Mathis had a superb year, but his overall team value comes down a bit with so many playmakers on Jacksonville’s stout defense. Unfair? We know.
Cornerback: Nnamdi Asomugha (Oak)
(Asomugha: 50 tackles, 1 sack, 1 FF, 8 INT)
The above explanation on giving the nod to Walt Harris over Asomugha was not in anyway a dig at Asomugha. One of the true bright spots on a hideous Oakland team, Asomugha made fantastic plays in an upset over Pittsburgh and a 27-10 loss to Cincinnati. If teams knew they had to throw the ball more to beat the Raiders, Asomugha would probably have been better than honorable mention, but nevertheless, he is an excellent young talent.
Strong Safety: Sean Jones (Cle)
(111 tackles, 5 INT)
It’s tough being a Cleveland Browns fan these days and even tougher to be a Browns defensive back. Nickel back Daylon McCutcheon missed the season following knee surgery, starting cornerback Leigh Bodden only played in nine games because of ankle injuries and somehow, someway, expensive free agent Gary Baxter blew out both of his knees on the same play while trying to cover Denver’s Javon Walker. Yikes. The lone bright spot was Sean Jones, who earned the starting strong safety spot over former 2005 second-round pick Brodney Pool. Jones led the Browns in tackles with 111 and tied ex-Bear Daven Holly for the team lead in interceptions with five. Assuming he doesn’t succumb to a freak injury like the rest of Cleveland’s defensive backs, Jones might become one of the finest young safeties in the league.
Free Safety: Kevin Kaesviharn (Cin)
(64 tackles, 4 sacks, 6 INT)
When the Bengals acquired safety Dexter Jackson from the Saints before the start of the regular season, Kaesviharn lost his starting spot. Injuries cost Jackson five games, though, and Kaesviharn stepped in more than admirably. He led all safeties in interceptions with six and had season-high 11 tackles and 1.5 sacks in a win at New Orleans. His signature play in ’06 came on a goal line interception of Carolina’s Jake Delhomme, preserving the Bengals' 17-14 victory. In a full starting role, Kaesviharn might have had more of an impact than Chris Hope did.
Jason Elam (Den)
27/29 FG, 115 points It took a while for Elam to get going, but once Jay Cutler took over at QB, his field goal attempts rose. He has always had a very strong leg, but this season Elam set a personal best for field goal accuracy (93.1%), which was good for third-best in the league. |
Brian Moorman (Buf)
43.6 yards/punt, 7.4 per return, 39.2 net average We’re not going to sit here and bore you with punter details. Just know that Moorman continues to be one of the biggest reasons the Bills rank first in special teams every season. And punting in the gusty winds of Buffalo eight times a year isn’t like the friendly confines of a dome. His 39.2 net average was outstanding. |
Terrence McGee (Buf)
1355 yards, 26.1 return average While the Bears’ rookie stud Devin Hester stole a lot of the headlines this year in the return game, the Bills’ McGee quietly had a solid year. For the amount of returns McGee had this season (52), his 26.1 return average was fantastic, ranking him sixth in the entire NFL. Rookie Maurice Jones-Drew had a nice return season too, but his numbers take a bit of a hit compared to McGee seeing as how Jones only had 31 attempts and averaged just a yard better per return. |
Adam "Pac Man" Jones (Ten)
440 yards, 12.9 return average, 3 TD It is an amazing concept...staying out of trouble that is. Jones has been quite a pain in the Titans' side since being the sixth overall pick in the 2005 NFL Draft, but now Tennessee is starting to see a return on its investment. Pac Man led the NFL in punt return average and also tied Devin Hester for the league lead in punt returns for touchdowns with three. To top it all off, Pac-Man is quickly developing into one of the top young corners in the game. |
Honorable Mention: Special teams
Kicker: Jeff Wilkins (StL)
(32/37 FG, 131 points)
As he cleaned up after the Rams’ high-octane offense, Wilkins had a ton of attempts and tied Robbie Gould with 32 made field goals, the best in the league.
Punter: Shane Lechler (Oak)
(47.5 yards/punt, 12.9 per return, 36.9 net average)
Lechler’s 12.9 punt per return average is way higher than Moorman’s 7.4, but that has a lot to do with Oakland’s shoddy coverage teams. Lechler can boom with the best of them and if the Raiders’ gunners were better at getting down the field and making a play, his net average would more closely resemble Moorman’s.