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Who are the top NFL players of the 2000s? Here is our top 10 countdown:
10. Brian Urlacher: the 2000 Defensive Rookie of the Year, Urlacher was a 6x Pro Bowl and 4x All-Pro middle linebacker who also won 2005 Defensive Player of the Year and amassed over 1,000 tackles, 37.5 sacks, and 17 interceptions during the 2000s.
9. Terrell Owens: a 6x Pro Bowl and 5x All-Pro receiver during the decade, Owens had eight 1,000-yard seasons and led the NFL in touchdown catches 3x while amassing nearly 800 receptions for close to 12,000 receiving yards and more than 110 touchdowns.
8. Ed Reed: the 2004 Defensive Player of the Year, Reed was a ballhawking safety who was named to six Pro Bowl and four All-Pro teams and twice led the league in interceptions, totaling over 45 picks (including six touchdown returns) during the 2000s.
7. Champ Bailey: a true shutdown cornerback, Bailey earned nine Pro Bowl and three All-Pro nods during the 2000s, leading the league in interceptions once and totaling 40+ picks over the decade.
6. Tony Gonzalez: the most prolific tight end in NFL history, Gonzalez set a then-single season record at the position with 102 receptions in 2004 and overall, tallied more than 800 catches for nearly receiving 10,000 yards during the decade en route to nine Pro Bowl and four All-Pro selections.
5. Randy Moss: the most electrifying wide receiver of his generation, Moss posted posted 750+ receptions for nearly 12,000 receiving yards (8x 1,000+ yards) en route to four Pro Bowl and three All-Pro selections; he also caught 120 touchdowns (4x league leader) during the decade, including a single-season record 23 touchdowns in 2007.
4. Ray Lewis: an 8x Pro Bowl and 6x All-Pro selection during the 2000s at middle linebacker, Lewis twice won Defensive Player of the Year and led the Baltimore Ravens to a Super Bowl title while racking up almost 1,200 tackles for the decade.
3. LaDainian Tomlinson: the most prolific and consistent running back of the 2000s, Tomlinson was a 5x Pro Bowl and 3x All-Pro selection who rushed for over 12,000 yards (eight straight 1,000-yard seasons and two rushing titles) and scored an astounding 150 touchdowns, including a record 31 touchdowns in his 2006 MVP season.
2. Tom Brady: for the first of his two All-Decade Team selections, Brady made five Pro Bowls and an All-Pro team, and won three Super Bowls with the New England Patriots, twice earning Super Bowl MVP honors; moreover, he led the league in passing yards 3x and passing touchdowns 2x, including a then-record 50 touchdowns in his 2007 MVP season.
1. Peyton Manning: the most prolific passer of the 2000s, Manning was a 9x Pro Bowl and 5x All-Pro selection who won a record four MVP awards, led the league in passing yardage twice (nine 4,000+ yard seasons) and passing touchdowns three times while guiding the Indianapolis Colts to a Super Bowl title.
Agree/Disagree? As always, debate/discuss, and leave your thoughts and comments below.
Note: All statistics as of time of publication.
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Countdown 50: Top 10 NHL Players of the 2000s
