ESPN NFC West Blog

Posted by ESPN.com staff

Arizona Cardinals

• Bob Young of The Arizona Republic takes issue with ESPN The Magazine's Ultimate Standings.
• Revenge Of The Birds offers its pre-camp projections for the Cardinals' defensive ends.
  

San Francisco 49ers

• Matthew Barrows was back at Vernon Davis' old stomping ground and talked with Davis' former coaches about what made him a success at Maryland.
• Barrows also wraps up his analysis for the team's inside linebackers.
  

Seattle Seahawks

• As he settles in with his new team, wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh says "Seattle gives you no excuses. ... The only excuse we can have is 'the team beat us' so the onus is on the players and the coaches to get this thing done because they give you every resource to get it done."
  
• Clare Farnsworth of Seahawks.com continues his position-by-position breakdowns with a look at the wide receivers.

St. Louis Rams

• Sporting News' Dennis Dillon sat down with new Rams coach Steve Spagnuolo. What does Spagnuolo hope to accomplish during training camp? "We need to establish the physicality of this team, and you can only do that with pads," he said. "We need to lay a foundation for the latter part of the season, when you need to win games in late November and December. And we need to come out as a unified team."

Posted by ESPN.com staff

Arizona Cardinals

• Revenge Of The Birds looks at Gregory Toler and his future with the Cardinals.

San Francisco 49ers

• Continuing his position-by-position analysis, Matt Barrows moves to the linebackers, with a focus on the inside backers.
  

Seattle Seahawks

• Fourteen Seahawks training camp practices will be open to the public. Here is the protocol for fans.
• Clare Farnsworth of Seahawks.com on quarterback Matt Hasselbeck: "Hasselbeck is back, and his rehab and recovery are cornerstone reasons for the optimistic outlook as the Seahawks try to, well, bounce back from last year's 4-12 season."
  

St. Louis Rams

• Jeff Gordon of stltoday.com has the details of how former Rams quarterback Trent Green played sportswriter for a day.
• St. Louis Post-Dispatch Rams beat writer Bill Coats answered questions about the team Tuesday in a chat with readers.

Posted by ESPN.com staff

Arizona Cardinals

• Undrafted rookie Michael Ray Garvin, a former Olympic track hopeful, is hoping his speed earns him a spot on the Cardinals' roster.

San Francisco 49ers

• San Francisco Chronicle reporter Kevin Lynch ponders some "ifs" for the upcoming season.
• The Niners are concentrating on "safety first," according to Matt Maiocco.
• The Youngstown Vindicator's Tom Williams wants coach Mike Singletary to focus on choosing a quarterback.

Seattle Seahawks

• The Seattle Times' Danny O'Neill links to an amusing piece by The Onion on what receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh gets when he orders himself at restaurants.

St. Louis Rams

• Meet Derius Swinton: the second-youngest coach in the league and recently-hired quality control/special teams coach for the Rams.
• Rams linebacker Chris Draft is serving as a panelist at the rookie symposium, warning rookies about mistakes to avoid. 

Seahawks tight end John Carlson talks about the 2009 season.

Posted by ESPN.com staff

Smith

Andre Dabagghian desperately didn't want to have that conversation on Aug. 10, 2008. It was nearly 11 p.m. on a Sunday night, and he knew his good friend, San Francisco 49ers quarterback Alex Smith, already had plenty of pressure on him.

Smith was fighting to keep his starting job during training camp. He was enduring tremendous pain in his surgically repaired right shoulder. The last thing Dabagghian wanted to do was drop this bomb: Smith's best friend, David Edwards, had killed himself earlier that day.

The job became that much harder when Smith received Dabagghian's text message and called back a few minutes later. When Dabagghian heard the upbeat tone in Smith's voice, he told his friend to sit down.

It's been nearly 11 months since Alex Smith started what has been the hardest period of his life. He's still finding his way back from that devastating night. He's never been a man who's let people into his life easily, so the death of Edwards was even more painful to accept. But Smith would be the first to say that something blossomed in him shortly after that tragedy. In the wake of the devastation, he's developed a clarity of purpose that might ultimately save his NFL career.

Click here to read Jeffri Chadiha's story in its entirety.

Posted by ESPN.com staff

Arizona Cardinals

• From a fantasy football perspective, Larry Fitzgerald has taken over as the top receiver, according to The Buffalo News' Jay Skurski.
• A quick look at the Cardinals' training camp schedule.
  

San Francisco 49ers

• Heading into camp, Pro Football Weekly readers give the edge at quarterback to Shaun Hill.
• Matt Barrows continues his analysis of the 49ers' defensive line.
• Ann Killion has some praise for Jed York.
  

Seattle Seahawks

• Associated Press sports writer Gregg Bell shares a few tips for commissioner Roger Goodell and Seahawks head coach Jim Mora, who are getting ready to scale Mount Rainier.
  
• T.J. Houshmandzadeh is already doing what he can to raise expectations in Seattle.
  

St. Louis Rams

• The Rams' new-look defensive line will be something to keep an eye on heading into training camp.
• The Boston Globe's Mike Reiss looks back on the road Steve Spagnuolo took to becoming an NFL head coach.

	ESPN.com Illustration
	Best of the best: Michael Strahan, Peyton Manning, Tom Brady and Randy Moss.

 Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando

Ranking the 25 best NFL players of the decade seemed easy.

AFC West blogger Bill Williamson sent an initial list to me for review. The list appeared strong. I suggested a couple minor tweaks.

All-Decade Honors Monday: Defense Tuesday: Offense Wednesday: Moments Thursday: Team, coach, MVP | Rankings Friday: Top players | Special teams Related Content • Karabell: Decade's top fantasy players • Rank 'Em: Players of the decade • Football Outsiders: Most overrated • Football Outsiders: Most underrated

The hard part came when we considered those who fell just short of the list.

Guard Alan Faneca has gone to eight Pro Bowls this decade. John Lynch and Will Shields went to seven. Brian Dawkins, La'Roi Glover, Kevin Mawae, Olin Kreutz, Matt Birk, Larry Allen, Chris Samuels and Zach Thomas went to six. Ronde Barber, Keith Brooking, Al Wilson, Julian Peterson, Donovan McNabb, Antonio Gates, Jason Witten and Chad Ochocinco were among those with five.

None of them made the top 25 list. Had all of them made it, only six spots would have remained for the 25 players you see in the chart.

We settled on five quarterbacks, four receivers, four offensive linemen, three linebackers, three defensive ends, two running backs, two safeties, one cornerback, one tight end and zero defensive tackles (few dominated consistently for extended periods).

Seven of 10 league MVPs this decade made the top 25. Marshall Faulk, Rich Gannon and 2003 co-MVP Steve McNair were the exceptions.

Ben Roethlisberger made the list despite only one career Pro Bowl appearance. It's not his fault Manning and Brady play in the same conference.

ESPN.com's Top 25 Players of the Decade Rk Player Pos. Team Pro Bowls This Decade Analysis 1 Tom Brady QB NE 4 The NFL's Horatio Alger hero in cleats was drafted in the sixth round and became one of the greatest quarterbacks of a generation. The four-time Pro Bowler played in four Super Bowls this decade, winning three and being named MVP of two. (TG) 2 Peyton Manning QB IND 8 The three-time MVP made eight Pro Bowls, was first-team All-Pro four times and won a Super Bowl this decade. Widely regarded as the league's most irreplaceable player. (PK) 3 LaDainian Tomlinson RB SD 5 Without a doubt, Tomlinson is the best non-quarterback to play in this decade. He has gained at least 1,000 yards in each of his eight NFL seasons. One of the most consistent running backs ever to play. (BW) 4 Walter Jones T SEA 8 Mike Holmgren called Jones the best offensive player he ever coached. That's saying something. (MS) 5 Jason Taylor DE MIA 6 Few defenders can match Taylor's résumé. The NFL's active career sacks leader was chosen for six Pro Bowls this decade. Taylor was named the league's defensive player of the year in 2006 and the Walter Payton Man of the Year in 2007 for his community service. (TG) 6 Champ Bailey CB DEN 8 The gold standard of cornerbacks this decade. Bailey is a complete player who shut down the left side of the field nearly all decade. (BW) 7 Marvin Harrison WR IND 7 Seven straight Pro Bowls, two first-team All-Pro selections and a Super Bowl win this decade. His 143 receptions in 2002 stand as the single-season record and he's got a 20-catch cushion on the next closest player. (PK) 8 Michael Strahan DE NYG 4 One of the most prolific pass-rushers in history of the league. He was relentless and he helped lead the way to a world title in 2007. (MM) 9 Ray Lewis LB BAL 7 Lewis is the top-rated linebacker of this decade with a Super Bowl victory and seven Pro Bowls since 2000. But No. 9 still seems a little low for the future Hall of Famer and one of the most dominant defenders ever to play the game. (JW) 10 Tony Gonzalez TE ATL 9 The best receiving tight end ever to play in the NFL. If you don't think so, look at the top of every important receiving record for NFL tight ends. You'll see Gonzalez's name on every list. (BW) 11 Jonathan Ogden T BAL 8 As the most consistent player on Baltimore's usually inconsistent offense, Ogden will probably never get as much credit as he deserved. But his football journey will land him in Canton soon. (JW) 12 Ed Reed S BAL 5 In a decade when mostly hard-hitting safeties ruled the NFL, Reed brought "ball-hawking" back to the position. His hands, anticipation and knack for the spectacular play are as good as any safety in NFL history. (JW) 13 Torry Holt WR JAC 7 Seven Pro Bowls, one first-team All-Pro selection, two Super Bowl appearances and a Super Bowl win this decade with the St. Louis Rams. A major component of an out-of-nowhere team that became "The Greatest Show on Turf." (PK) 14 Randy Moss WR NE 4 He was edged out by Torry Holt for the all-decade team, but Moss is one of the league's all-time greats. He has gone to four Pro Bowls this decade, averaging 77 catches for 1,164 yards and 12 touchdowns. (TG) 15 Derrick Brooks LB TB 8 Best player in Tampa Bay's history. Most important building block in Bucs going from laughingstock to Super Bowl champions. Brooks was a leader on the field and in the community. (PY) 16 Orlando Pace T CHI 6 At the height of his career, Pace was the most dominant left tackle in the game. No one could get around him as the St. Louis Rams set a series of offensive records. Injuries have slowed him down recently, but he hopes to finish his career strongly in Chicago. (KS) 17 Kurt Warner QB ARI 3 Took two franchises to the Super Bowl this decade and had three total appearances (one following the 1999 season). Still going strong. (MS) 18 Shaun Alexander RB SEA 3 The only player in NFL history to score 15 touchdowns in five consecutive seasons. Averaged 1,501 yards rushing and 17.4 rushing touchdowns per season over a five-year period. (MS) 19 Troy Polamalu S PIT 5 Polamalu is just approaching his prime, but already has two Super Bowl wins and five Pro Bowls in six seasons. He has the potential to make the next decade's list as well. (JW) 20 Richard Seymour DE NE 5 The Patriots defensive end has been All-Pro three times and a Pro Bowler five times. He's strong against the run and can create havoc in the pocket, collecting 39 sacks in eight seasons. (TG) 21 Ben Roethlisberger QB PIT 1 "Big Ben" joins Tom Brady as the only quarterbacks to win multiple Super Bowls in this decade. Despite joining the NFL in 2004, that was enough for Roethlisberger to make the cut. (JW) 22 Steve Hutchinson G MIN 6 Considered the best guard in the game since shortly after Seattle drafted him in 2001. Has helped Minnesota rank in the NFL's top five in rushing twice in three seasons with the Vikings. (KS) 23 Brett Favre QB -- 5 Finished last season atop the NFL's list for all-time passing yardage and touchdowns. (Interceptions, too.) Named to his 10th Pro Bowl at age 39. (KS) 24 Terrell Owens WR BUF 6 He has put up Hall of Fame-worthy numbers and he continues to be a dangerous receiver into his mid-30s. (MM) 25 Brian Urlacher LB CHI 6 The NFL's best defensive rookie in 2000, the best defensive player in 2005 and the captain of a team that went to the Super Bowl in 2006. A quasi-defensive back in college, Urlacher is a perfect fit for the Tampa 2 scheme that requires the middle linebacker to cover the deep third of the field. (KS)

Glossary TG -- Tim Graham (AFC East); JW -- James Walker (AFC North); PK -- Paul Kuharsky (AFC South); BW -- Bill Williamson (AFC West); MM -- Matt Mosley (NFC East); KS -- Kevin Seifert (NFC North); PY -- Pat Yasinskas (NFC South); MS -- Mike Sando (NFC West)

Posted by ESPN.com staff

Arizona Cardinals

• Revenge Of The Birds looks at some of the overrated and underrated stories regarding the Cardinals this offseason.

San Francisco 49ers

• Matt Maiocco goes behind the scenes to answer a few questions about the 49ers' decision-making process.
  

Seattle Seahawks

• Fullback Owen Schmitt issued a statement following his arrest last Saturday night for suspicion of driving under the influence.
• Samuel Lam of examiner.com offers his analysis of the Seahawks' 2009 schedule.
  

St. Louis Rams

• Who is the greatest running back in team history? Turf Show Times opens the discussion.
  
• A look back on the pre-NFL days of former Rams running back Marshall Faulk, who was recently selected for induction into the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame.

Posted by ESPN.com staff

In case you missed it, the "Madden NFL 10" player ratings for the NFC West were released this week. 

• Rams
• Cardinals
• 49ers
• Seahawks

Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando

The Patriots have won more regular-season, playoff and Super Bowl games than any NFL team since the 2000 season. That made them an easy choice for team of the decade.

Ranking the 31 other teams took a little more work.

All-Decade Honors Monday: Defense Tuesday: Offense Wednesday: Moments Thursday: Team, coach, MVP | Rankings Friday: Top players | Special teams Related Content • Karabell: Decade's top fantasy players • Rank 'Em: Players of the decade • Football Outsiders: Most overrated • Football Outsiders: Most underrated

I settled on a formula with five key variables: regular-season victories, playoff appearances, playoff victories, Super Bowl victories and Super Bowl defeats. The formula added the following five numbers to create a power ranking for the decade:

• Winning percentage times nine
• Playoff appearances divided by nine
• Playoff victories divided by nine
• Super Bowl victories divided by nine
• Super Bowl defeats divided by 18

The formula, adjusted for the Texans to account for their shorter history, ranked the top eight teams as you see them in the chart. I then made a few adjustments after consulting with our other seven divisional bloggers.

Rank Team Wins Win Pct. Playoff Appear- ances Playoff Wins Playoff Win Pct. Super Bowl Wins Super Bowl Losses 1 Patriots 102 .708 6 14 .824 3 1 2 Colts 101 .701 8 7 .500 1 0 3 Steelers 94 .653 6 10 .714 2 0 4 Eagles 92 .639 7 10 .588 0 1 5 Ravens 83 .576 5 7 .636 1 0 6 Giants 80 .556 6 6 .545 1 1 7 Packers 84 .583 5 3 .375 0 0 8 Titans 83 .576 5 2 .286 0 0 9 Bucs 76 .528 5 3 .429 1 0 10 Seahawks 77 .535 5 4 .444 0 1 11 Broncos 85 .590 4 1 .200 0 0 12 Bears 74 .514 3 2 .400 0 1 13 Panthers 71 .493 3 5 .625 0 1 14 Chargers 72 .500 4 3 .429 0 0 15 Rams 70 .486 4 3 .429 0 1 16 Jets 71 .493 4 2 .333 0 0 17 Vikings 72 .500 3 2 .400 0 0 18 Dolphins 72 .500 3 1 .250 0 0 19 Saints 70 .486 2 2 .500 0 0 20 Cowboys 71 .493 3 0 .000 0 0 21 Falcons 66 .458 3 2 .400 0 0 22 Jaguars 69 .479 2 1 .333 0 0 23 Redskins 66 .458 2 1 .333 0 0 24 Raiders 57 .396 3 4 .571 0 1 25 Chiefs 66 .458 2 0 .000 0 0 26 Cardinals 52 .361 1 3 .750 0 1 27 49ers 60 .417 2 1 .333 0 0 28 Bills 60 .417 0 0 N/A 0 0 29 Bengals 58 .403 1 0 .000 0 0 30 Browns 52 .361 1 0 .000 0 0 31 Texans 40 .357 0 0 N/A 0 0 32 Lions 40 .278 0 0 N/A 0 0

Three teams -- Tampa Bay, Chicago and Arizona -- moved up two spots higher than the formula ranked them. The rationale:

• Bucs: We agreed to move Tampa Bay into the ninth spot, leapfrogging Seattle and Denver, by valuing the Bucs' Super Bowl victory over the Seahawks' one additional postseason victory and the playoff-faltering Broncos' superior regular-season record.
  
• Bears: Chicago moved past Carolina and San Diego because the Chargers never reached a Super Bowl and the Panthers' regular-season record was below .500.
  
• Cardinals: Arizona moved up two spots, past the 49ers and Bills, based on the Cardinals' three postseason victories and Super Bowl appearance last season.

The formula helped cut through perceptions. For example:

• The Raiders are routinely derided for their ongoing run of futility, but they own three playoff appearances, four playoff victories and a Super Bowl appearance during the decade. Only six teams have a higher playoff winning percentage in the decade.
• The Cowboys are a high-profile franchise, but they're below .500 during the regular season this decade. They are one of only seven teams without a playoff victory during that time.
• The Redskins are another high-profile franchise, but only eight teams have a lower winning percentage during the decade. Washington owns two playoff appearances and one playoff victory during the decade.

The Bills, Texans and Lions are the only teams without a playoff appearance during the decade. The Texans and Lions also owned the lowest regular-season winning percentages. That made them easy choices as the two worst teams in the rankings.

Also: Click here to download a spreadsheet ranking each team by regular-season wins, losses, ties, winning percentage, playoff appearances, playoff wins, playoff losses, playoff winning percentage, Super Bowl wins and Super Bowl losses. The spreadsheet also shows the difference between the formula's rankings and the actual rankings.

Posted by ESPN.com staff

Arizona Cardinals

• Samuel Lam of examiner.com offers his analysis of the Cardinals' 2009 schedule.

San Francisco 49ers

• While he hasn't passed Shaun Hill on the quarterback depth chart, The Sacramento Bee's Matthew Barrows says Alex Smith has "beaten out Alex Smith of June 2008."
• Kevin Lynch of Niner Insider: "The 49ers have a roster full of solid, good players, and that may be enough to get them into the playoffs this year if they stay healthy and get lucky. But how far will they go even if they sneak in?"
  

Seattle Seahawks

• Linebacker David Hawthorne is back in his hometown this week and spent Wednesday at the Boys & Girls Club. Hawthorne: "Sometimes, I just step back and look at everything I've done, through college and my Masters degree, and the NFL. It's all a dream come true."
• Field Gulls piggybacks off an examiner.com item from earlier this week wondering whether nine wins will be enough to win the division. With that as the backdrop, what is a realistic number of wins to expect from the Seahawks in 2009?
  

St. Louis Rams

• Long-term planning is key -- in football and health care -- writes Z. Dwight Billingsly in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
  

Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando

I'm on vacation. The next NFC West chat is set for July 9.

Look for an all-decade power rankings post here later in the day. I prepared the item in advance as part of our ongoing all-decade package. Hope you enjoy.

Posted by ESPN.com staff

Arizona Cardinals

• Dan Bickley of The Arizona Republic writes how the Cardinals turned a desperate situation into a positive one when they signed defensive lineman Bryan Robinson off the street last season.
• Former Cardinals fullback Femi Ayanbadejo talks about how supplements got him suspended from the NFL and how manufacturers of supplements need to be more transparent in how they label products.

San Francisco 49ers

• Samuel Lam of examiner.com asks the following question: How high should expectations be for the 49ers in 2009?
• Who knew it took Vernon Davis an hour to get dressed -- "because I have to make sure what I have on really reflects my personal style" -- and that he carries a "murse?"
• Matt Maiocco says the days of the 49ers fighting to create salary-cap space are over.

Seattle Seahawks

• The Seattle Times' Danny O'Neil has Matt Hasselbeck atop his Seahawks power rankings.
  

St. Louis Rams

• According to a report in the Memphis Commercial Appeal, FedEx founder and CEO Frederick W. Smith is not interested in buying a majority share of the Rams.

Posted by ESPN.com staff

Arizona Cardinals

• Darren Urban of azcardinals.com projects what Arizona's starting offense will look like on opening day.

San Francisco 49ers

• Samuel Lam of examiner.com breaks down the battle for starting spots at guard.
• Was Mike Martz right about tight end Vernon Davis? Niner Insider hashes it out.
  

Seattle Seahawks

• Is it possible that nine victories will be good enough to (again) win the NFC West?
• Seattle Times columnist Steve Kelley provides his top-12 list of the biggest lightning rods in the Seattle sports scene.
  

St. Louis Rams

• After 13 seasons in the NFL, La'Roi Glover has decided to call it quits.
• The Rams have announced their plans to retire the No. 75 worn by Hall of Famer Deacon Jones.
  

	ESPN.com Illustration
	The ESPN.com all-decade defense is stacked with Pro Bowlers.

Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando

All-Decade Defense DE: Michael Strahan, N.Y. Giants, DT: Warren Sapp, Tampa Bay/Oakland DT: Kris Jenkins, Carolina/N.Y. Jets DE: Jason Taylor, Miami/Washington LB: Derrick Brooks, Tampa Bay LB: Ray Lewis, Baltimore LB: Brian Urlacher, Chicago CB: Champ Bailey, Washington/Denver CB: Troy Vincent: Phil./Mia./Buff./Wash. S: Ed Reed, Baltimore S: Troy Polamalu, Pittsburgh All-Decade Honors Monday: Defense Tuesday: Offense Wednesday: Moments Thursday: Team, coach, MVP | Rankings Friday: Top players | Special teams Related Content • Karabell: Decade's top fantasy players • Rank 'Em: Players of the decade • Football Outsiders: Most overrated • Football Outsiders: Most underrated • Pasquarelli: Brooks wants to play on

The choice between Michael Strahan and Jason Taylor was simple when ESPN.com selected its all-decade defense.

We took both.

Warren Sapp and Kris Jenkins prevailed at defensive tackle. Ray Lewis, Derrick Brooks and Brian Urlacher made the cut at linebacker, edging Zach Thomas.

Champ Bailey was an easy choice opposite Troy Vincent at cornerback. Ed Reed and Troy Polamalu beat out a strong field of safeties.

"It's a great group to be associated with," Taylor told ESPN.com's Tim Graham. "Derrick Brooks, Mr. Consistency and Class. Ray Lewis, everybody fears. And Urlacher came in and took the game to another level at that position.

"The two big guys inside -- Jenkins doesn't get a whole lot of credit, but we all know what kind of player he is. Sapp is Sapp. We know he's good. He knows he's good. He's going to tell you he's good.

"And to be associated with 'Stray,' he's the best of our generation."

Taylor, back with Miami after a season with the Redskins, and Strahan combined for 189.5 sacks over the first eight years of the decade. Strahan, who retired in 2008 after a 15-year career with the Giants, had 22.5 in 2001. Taylor had 18.5 in 2002.

"No. 1, [Strahan] really loved playing the game," Giants general manager Jerry Reese said. "No. 2, he's well known for rushing the passer, but he's one of the best run-playing defensive ends of all time."

Taylor and Strahan combined for 10 Pro Bowl appearances this decade. Overall, our 11-man squad combined for 60 Pro Bowl appearances in the first nine years of the decade. They wouldn't need much coaching.

"I'd probably tell them, 'Take care of yourself, give me a call during the week at some point so I know you're alive and I'll see you Sunday,'" Taylor said. "Then just turn them loose."

With training camps beginning next month for the final year of the decade, we thought we had sufficient evidence to determine our all-decade teams. ESPN.com began the evaluation process by ranking players according to most Pro Bowl appearances since the 2000 season (tight end Tony Gonzalez was the only player with nine).

General managers, scouts, coaches and players shaped the selections from that list. I consulted with several of them on background while selecting the defensive line and linebackers. NFC North blogger Kevin Seifert did the same in selecting cornerbacks. NFC East blogger Matt Mosley handled the safeties.

Brooks, Lewis and Bailey were consensus choices. Lewis' ferocity gives this defense a menacing edge.

"Ray deserves this honor, without a doubt," Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome said. "There is no question that he plays at a Hall of Fame level year in and year out. He's as smart and as instinctive a defensive player as I've ever seen. He plays hard every play -- every single play."

Newsome was new to the Ravens in 1996 when he asked the team's then-coach, Ted Marchibroda, what he wanted from a player.

"Ted said, 'Give me a player with a 'football temperament,' meaning a player who loves every part of the game -- the preparation, the practices, the long offseason workouts, the physicality, the games," Newsome said. "Ray embodies that definition. There is no player who enjoys preparing, competing and playing as much as Ray. There is only one Ray Lewis, and the Ravens have the good fortune of having him for his entire career."

Taylor felt strongly that his longtime teammate, Thomas, deserved inclusion.

And one veteran offensive lineman I consulted said he would "line up against Sapp every day before I'd go against La'Roi Glover" simply because Glover could beat an opponent in more ways.

"Sapp had one move and he was good at it," the lineman said. "He lined up so wide and it was so much different than all the other three-technique guys. Glover would butt you in the chin and run over your ass, but he was so quick, he could take a side-angle on you. He had a move and a counter and a counter off that one."

Thomas, Glover (who announced his retirement Monday) and other victims of this high-stakes numbers game could fill out a dominant defense of their own. The list of near-misses also includes Richard Seymour, Dwight Freeney, Julius Peppers, Bryant Young, Kevin Williams, Casey Hampton, Keith Brooking, Ty Law, Ronde Barber, Brian Dawkins and John Lynch. Seymour seemed particularly worthy, but not at the expense of Taylor or Strahan.

Only Bailey and Brooks have more Pro Bowl appearances this decade -- eight apiece -- than Lynch (seven) among defensive players. Six defensive players have six Pro Bowl appearances in the decade. Three of them -- Dawkins, Thomas and Glover -- fell just short.

A position-by-position look at the all-decade defense:

Strahan

Taylor

Defensive ends Michael Strahan and Jason Taylor: "Stray's a left end and I'm a right end, so it works perfect," Taylor said. "You let the two big boys do what they want inside. Let's hit it and get it."

Bucs defensive coordinator Jim Bates was with the Dolphins during Taylor's most dominant years.

"The biggest thing that has made Jason special over the years is to not only have God-given ability, but intelligence," Bates said. "He did a great job studying the opponent. He was very effective with several different moves he used on his pass rush. He's not only fast, but he's explosive. When he put together the power move with his speed, he had it all."

Jenkins

Sapp

Defensive tackles Kris Jenkins and Warren Sapp: No players dominated at the position for the full period in question.

Jenkins, at his best, disrupted opposing offensive lines to a degree that might have exceeded the problems his peers created. I had a hard time leaving off Glover based on what offensive linemen told me, but Sapp enjoyed broad support and was also worthy.

Linebackers Derrick Brooks, Ray Lewis and Brian Urlacher: Brooks has started 16 games in each of the last 13 seasons. He has 17

Brooks

Lewis

Urlacher

interceptions this decade. Brooks, released by Tampa Bay in the offseason, brought exceptional quickness to the position even late in his career.

Lewis and Chicago's Urlacher are sluggers by comparison.

At his best, the 260-pound Urlacher was athletic enough to play the deep middle in coverage, yet strong enough to punish receivers and running backs on underneath plays.

Bailey

Vincent

Cornerbacks Champ Bailey and Troy Vincent: Shutdown cover corners with height are a rarity, but Vincent and the Broncos' Bailey qualify.

Smarts, range and playmaking ability set them apart from Barber and other candidates, although the Raiders' Nnamdi Asomugha is making a strong run late in the decade.

"You want to talk about an all-around corner, that's Troy Vincent," said former Eagles secondary coach Leslie Frazier, now the Vikings' defensive coordinator, told Seifert. "He could cover as well as any guy out there in the league, but he wasn't one-dimensional by any means. He could hit. He could support the run. He was a sure tackler. Total package, as far as I'm concerned."

Vincent played for the Eagles, Bills and Redskins during this decade.

Polamalu

Reed

Safeties Troy Polamalu and Ed Reed: Lynch (seven) and Dawkins (six) have more Pro Bowls this decade, but the Steelers' Polamalu and Ravens' Reed stood apart in overall athletic ability and their flair for the spectacular play.

"I love watching [Polamalu] play," Cowboys Ring of Honor member Cliff Harris told Mosley. "They give him a lot of freedom and he's able to make a lot of plays. I think I'd love playing in that defense -- even though it's the Steelers. I'm biased, but I still think it's one of the most important positions on the field. And no one can match Reed and Polamalu right now."

Reed's production -- 43 interceptions in seven NFL seasons, compared to 34 picks in 13 seasons for Dawkins -- separates him from all challengers.

Lynch spent four seasons with Denver and four with Tampa this decade. And while he kept racking up Pro Bowl appearances, his best years were probably with the Bucs.

The Colts' Bob Sanders might have challenged if injuries hadn't limited him to two seasons with more than six games played.

Tim Hasselbeck and Michael Smith break down the all-decade defense.