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All-Decade Team a dicey proposition, other than a few stars
Barry Wilner, AP Pro Football Writer
Updated 4:11 pm EDT, Monday, March 30,
2020
All-Decade teams are a dicey proposition. Some all-time greats
never made such a team because of, basically, bad timing.
Maybe
they broke into the NFL in mid-decade, such as Curtis Martin in 1995 or Fred
Dean 20 years earlier. Both are Hall of Famers without ever making an
All-Decade squad.
Others happened to play in an era jam-packed with stars at their
positions. Some had injury-interrupted careers. They also made it into the
Canton shrine without All-Decade recognition.
Next Monday, the Hall of Fame and the NFL will announce the roster
for the 2010-19 span. Voters were asked to select a first-team and a
second-team as follows: six players for each squad at linebacker; four at
running back, wide receiver, tackle, guard, defensive end and defensive tackle;
three at safety and cornerback; two at quarterback, center, defensive back (a
nod to nickel backs), placekicker, punter, kick returner and punt returner; and
one offensive flex player (a nod to versatility).
Here's how one voter filled out the ballot — with lots of
alterations during the process.
GUARD
Only one slam-dunk at this
position: the recently retired Marshal Yanda. A good argument could be made for
maybe a dozen others, with the picks being Josh Sitton, Zack Martin and David
DeCastro.
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