Jay C. Brandriet

7/27/18

This is the goal. I need to pick 53 NFL players to fill out a roster. I have to get ten guys for a practice squad. The pool of athletes I’m choosing from is from 1980 to 2018. Let’s say they are playing a season for me, and the stakes couldn’t be higher. This is not a list of the 63 best players I’ve seen. I’m trying to build a team. Here are the NFL player’s I’d trust the most.

 

OFFENSE

 

QUARTERBACKS

Tom Brady/Joe Montana/Aaron Rodgers/Steve Young

I rank Elway higher than Young all time. In this case I’m mixing it up with a lefty, and a beyond scrimmage runner like Steve Young. Rodgers can be my “hail mary” guy. I would have used John there as well.

 

RUNNING BACKS/FULLBACKS

Walter Payton/Marshall Faulk/Terrell Davis/LaDainian Tomlinson/Marcus Allen

Payton is the best football player on this team. T.D. and L.T. can carry the load. Faulk stretches the field and will excel in the slot. Marcus Allen can play full back and gets it done in short yardage.

 

 

 

 

 

 

WIDE RECEIVERS

Jerry Rice/Randy Moss/Calvin Johnson/Michael Irvin/Larry Fitzgerald

The first three are the best I’ve seen do it. Irvin is the groups motivator. Fitzgerald beat out Cris Carter by an inch.

 

TIGHT ENDS

Tony Gonzalez/Rob Gronkowski/Jason Witten 

Witten will also help make up for not having a traditional full back.

 

OFFENSIVE LINE 

Larry Allen/John Hannah/Anthony Munoz/Bruce Matthews/Jonathan Ogden/Gary Zimmerman/Randall McDaniel/Dermontti Dawson

 

SPECIALISTS

Devin Hester/Mark Kelso/Adam Vinatieri/Shane Lechler

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

COACHES

Bill Parcells/Bill Walsh/Bill Belichick/Jimmy Johnson

 

DEFENSE

 

DEFENSIVE LINE

Reggie White/J.J. Watt/Warren Sapp/Bruce Smith/Randy White/Aaron Donald/Michael Strahan/Julius Peppers/Ted Washington

Peppers will block your field goal attempt. I needed a classic plugger, and thought of going with Vince Wilfork. Ted Washington will provide that instead at 6’5″, 365 lbs.

 

LINEBACKERS

Ray Lewis/Lawrence Taylor/Derrick Brooks/DeMarcus Ware/Patrick Willis/Luke Kuechly

Lewis and Brooks can play that rugged middle role. Taylor and Ware will kill it off the edge. Willis and Kuechly give me the modern mobile backers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DEFENSIVE BACKS

Deion Sanders/Darrelle Revis/Champ Bailey/Aeneas Williams/Ronde Barber

Ronnie Lott/Ed Reed/Troy Polamalu/Rod Woodson

These dudes are impressive. They can all play the entire defensive backfield. Most versatile unit on this trust squad. They can block and tackle on special teams. Some can play running back and receiver. If Reed touches the ball, he’s magic. Barber can cover the Welker types. Lott and Polamalu can play spot linebacker duty, and a couple can throw.

 

 

 

 

 

 

PRACTICE SQUAD

Peyton Manning/Sterling Sharpe/Tony Boselli/Mark Bavaro

 Derrick Thomas/Darrell Green/Mike Singletary/Charles Woodson

Von Miller/Morten Anderson 

I need Green’s speed and Singletary’s voice. Woodson is All-Pro at everything. Bavaro is just a brawler you want on your side.

I’m curious which players you would trust.

 

Jay C. Brandriet