The NFL released its 2000s All-Decade Team Sunday before the Pro Bowl (see list below). It’s an interesting exercise, but one that eventually devolves into controversy and becomes a curious black mark upon the people who create the lists.
Virtually every offensive player in All-Decade Team history has found his way into the Hall of Fame. Not so much on defense. Numerous defenders pegged the best at their position over an entire decade are quickly forgotten by Hall of Fame voters in their effort to hand borderline Hall of Famers like Dan Fouts or Warren Moon an express ticket to Canton.
Look at
the 1980s All Decade team: 18 of the 22 offensive players on it are also in the Hall of Fame. But just 11 of the 24 defensive members of the All Decade Team have found their way into the Hall of Fame.
You might be inclined to say, "hey, dem's da breaks." But dem ain't da breaks. Here's why: the All Decade teams are compiled by the very same committee that selects players for the Hall of Fame.
Even a breakdown within positions displays the Hall of Fame committee's many biases that you'd expect out of average fans, but not out of those charged with handing out football immortality. For example, look back at that 1980s All-Decade team: the four offensive players who've failed to make Canton? Yup. All of them offensive linemen (Jimbo Covert, Joe Jacoby, Russ Grimm, Bill Fralic). The receivers, running backs and quarterbacks are all in.
On the other side of the ball, all four defensive ends on the 1980s All Decade Team are in the Hall. But only one of the four defensive tackles (Dan Hampton) have found their way there.
We're not saying a player deserves a free pass to the Hall of Fame just because he's on the All-Decade Team. That's not the case. But a little more consistency would be nice.
With all that said, the 2000s All Decade team is rock solid. There are some quibbles here and there: Hell, Dwight Freeney might not even be the best defensive end on his team – hello Robert Mathis. But in most cases it’s hard to argue.
The Super Bowl, meanwhile, will give a showcase to three members of the 2000s All-Decade Team: Freeney, his Colts teammate Peyton Manning (guy who plays quarterback … you might have heard of him), and Saints safety Darren Sharper, a guy who secured his place in the Hall of Fame with his MVP-caliber effort in 2009.
Of course, if history is any indication, the All-Decade Team might be as far as it goes for Sharper.
