Here is ESPN.com's All-AFC East Team...So let's debate what's right or wrong. Pats- 9 players (4 O, 3 D, 2 ST) Jets- 8 players (4 O, 4 D) Phins- 5 players (3 O, 1 D, 1 ST) Bills- 4 (4 D) All-AFC East Offense WR Julian Edelman New England Patriots WR Brian Hartline Miami Dolphins WR Mike Wallace Miami Dolphins TE Charles Clay Miami Dolphins LT Nate Solder New England Patriots LG Logan Mankins New England Patriots C Nick Mangold New York Jets RG Willie Colon New York Jets RT Austin Howard New York Jets QB Tom Brady New England Patriots RB Chris Ivory New York Jets All-AFC East Defense DE Chandler Jones New England Patriots DT Kyle Williams Buffalo Bills DT Sheldon Richardson New York Jets DE Mario Williams Buffalo Bills OLB Quinton Coples New York Jets ILB Kiko Alonso Buffalo Bills ILB David Harris New York Jets OLB Calvin Pace New York Jets CB Brent Grimes Miami Dolphins CB Aqib Talib New England Patriots S Devin McCourty New England Patriots S Jairus Byrd Buffalo Bills All-AFC East Specialists P Brandon Fields Miami Dolphins PK Stephen Gostkowski New England Patriots P/KR Julian Edelman New England Patriots Mike Reiss focused on the DE's! Highlighting all those solid defensive ends: No arguments on any of the Patriots' selections. In fact, one could make a case that Jones, even with 11.5 sacks, is a generous pick based on the high level of competition at the position. It's hard for me to imagine this team being comprised without Jets defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson on it. That looks like our biggest omission. Should it be Jones and Wilkerson, with Mario Williams left out? Or is a Wilkerson-Williams combination the right choice, with Jones on the outside looking in? What about Cameron Wake and Olivier Vernon in Miami? Rob Ninkovich in New England is also a top player. That's probably the biggest takeaway from this perspective -- a lot of good defensive ends in this division.
Obviously it's a joke Wilkerson isn't on there, he's the best defensive player in the division but even so called "experts" use stats to judge so they put Mario Williams and Chandler Jones ahead of him. It's comical.
I guess I disagree. I think Edelman is a good choice. He's easily the highest rated return man in the division. If Cribbs had returned more kicks he probably might've been a decent choice. http://espn.go.com/nfl/statistics/player/_/stat/returning/sort/puntReturnYards Gostkowski is a legitimate choice a PK. His numbers are a little better than Folk and Carpenter who had identical excellent seasons. Gostkowski, 38 for 41, 5 for 6 over 50, 11 for 13 40 to 49, perfect inside of 40. Folk, 33 for 36, 3 for 3 over 50, 12 for 14 40 to 49, 18 for 19 under 40. Carpenter, 33 for 36, 4 for 6 over 50, 10 for 11 40 to 49, perfect under 40. http://espn.go.com/nfl/statistics/player/_/stat/kicking And Fields was the best punter in the division http://espn.go.com/nfl/statistics/player/_/stat/punting
how many game winners did Gostkowski have in the final minute or 2 or OT? I guess that would be the separator but I know he had a great year so as great as Folk was I don't have an issue. Just looked it up: GW FGs: Folk: 3 Gostkowski: 2 carpenter: 1
That's the obvious one. Reiss pointed it out. You could make a good argument that Ninkovich could be considered an OLB because he often played the spot in their 3-4 and would be a better pick than Coples.
I'd have no problem w/ that but I'm sure he's happier playing next week than he would have been making the espn all division team.
I was just being a wise aleck. This list is legit, perhaps a little generous for the Jets. Willie Colon and Austin Howard? thats being charitable. And you're probably right about Ninkovich. Solder surprises me, not that I watched a lot of games this year, its just in years past I never thought he looked that good. Pats always seem to get mileage out of their projects. Unlike some other team I know.
I don't have an issue with that, he's the perfect player for non Pats fans to hate. A guy who was a castoff somewhere else and Belli has turned into a really good player. He is a play maker and always seems to be in the right place at the right time. Not sure about his background but he is a really smart player. If he was on your team you love him but he's not but I can accept he's a steal for how they got him. I'd also say it's good to see Austin Howard getting some love, I think he was our best OL this year and a guy who desrves some recognition.
Chris Ivory had a nice year, but so did Spiller and Jackson. Maybe they could have put Richardson on the team at RB?
That's a sad looking WR corps for a divisional all-star team. I know Stevie Johnson had a down year and was hurt but he belongs on this team.
This just shows outside of Brady, how much talent is in the division all together. It's sad we've had to wait, wait, and wait for him to retire just to be legitimate contenders. Also, it's sad that the list is what it is, especially on offense.
