Everything 2000s Part II

So in my last post I named my all-decade teams for the NBA, NHL, and women's college basketball. Now I'll do Major League Baseball and the NFL. Again, all stats are from the 2000s only (1990s stats are ignored).

NFL: QB - Peyton Manning (Indianapolis): Him and Tom Brady are 1 and 1a on this list. I'll give Peyton nod, though, because no person was more valuable to their team than #18. The Colts won more games this decade than any other team ever, and did so with a shaky defense for 9 years. Brady had a heck of a D on his side to go along with his Hall of Fame skills. Manning won 3 MVPs, was 1st team All-Pro 4 times, made the Pro Bowl every year except 2001, and won Super Bowl XLI, where he was MVP. With 2 minutes to go, he's automatic. Even Bill Belichick fears him (See here). And clearly, after Sunday's game, when Manning isn't under center, the Colts are mediocre at best. With him, they're almost unstoppable. Other considerations: Tom Brady

RB - LaDainian Tomlinson (San Diego): In his prime, LT2 (respect to Lawrence Taylor, the real LT) was the most exciting player on the field. His 2006 season, where he rushed for 1800 yards and had a record 31 TDs (the 28 rushing TDs is also a record), was one of the best ever. He holds the record for most consecutive seasons with 10+ TDS (9), 11+ TDS (8), 17+ TDs (5) and 18+ TDs (4). And he surpassed 1100 yards rushing every year except this season. 3rd on the all-time TD list, he's a sure-fire Hall of Famer. Other considerations: Priest Holmes, Shaun Alexander

FB - Mike Alstott (Tampa Bay): He didn't make a Pro Bowl after 2002, but his production and continuity can't be ignored. A major part of the 2003 Buccaneers team that won SB XXXVII, he was of a dying breed of fullbacks that carried the ball regularly. Lorenzo Neal was a close second, but he was a journeyman, playing for 4 teams this decade, and never won a Super Bowl.

WR - Randy Moss (Minnesota, Oakland, New England): Forgetting the two years in Oakland, Moss's numbers were legendary. He had 8 1000-yard seasons, passed 1200 yards 6 times, and had seasons of 1437, 1493, and 1632 yards. His 23 TDs in 2007 with the Patriots is a record, and he is 4th on the all-time TD list.

WR - Marvin Harrison (Indianapolis): Him and Manning are the greatest 1-2 combo in NFL history. From 2000-09 the two combined for 95 TDs. He caught 100 passes three times, including his record 143 receptions in 2002, where he compiled 1700 yards. Because of his subdued nature, especially with the media, he never became a full-fledged superstar, but he had the numbers of a legend. Other considerations: Terrell Owens, Hines Ward, Torry Holt

TE - Tony Gonzalez (Kansas City, Atlanta): The greatest tight end ever, hands down. He made 9 Pro Bowls, was a 1st team All-Pro 5 times, and in the few years before leaving KC, was the reason to watch the otherwise dreadful Chiefs. He has more receptions, yards, and touchdowns than any other tight end in history. No Super Bowl, but he didn't have the weapons on either side of the ball for most of his career. Other considerations: Dallas Clark, Antonio Gates

OT - Jonathan Ogden (Baltimore): The first draft pick in Baltimore Ravens history turned out to be a good one. 8 Pro Bowls this decade (11 total) and a 5x 1st team All-Pro is good enough for Canton.

OT: Orlando Pace (St. Louis, Chicago): In the early part of the decade, only Ogden was more dominant. 4 1st team All-Pro selections, Pro Bowl appearances from 2000-05. Another #1 overall draft pick heading to Canton. Other considerations: Walter Jones

OG - Alan Faneca (Pittsburgh, NY Jets): This 5x All-Pro 1st teamer made 9 straight Pro Bowls from '01-'09.

OG - Will Shields (Kansas City): Made 7 straight Pro Bowls to start the decade, was an All-Pro from '01-'06. Had he not retired after the 2006 season, he would have surely extended both of those streaks. Other considerations: Steve Hutchinson, Larry Allen

C: Kevin Mawae (NY Jets, Tennessee): Helped Travis Henry, and LenDale White, two average RBs, register 1000 yard seasons in Tennessee. In New York he anchored the line that blocked for Curtis Martin. 6 Pro Bowls and 2 All-Pro selections from '00-'09. Other considerations: Olin Kreutz, Jeff Saturday

DE - Michael Strahan (NY Giants): 89 of his 141.5 career sacks came in this decade, including his record 22.5 in 2001, where he also forced 6 fumbles. When he played a full season, he didn't record fewer than 45 tackles. 4 Pro Bowls and 4 All-Pro selections. I'll forgive him for "Brothers."

DE - Jason Taylor (Miami, Washington): The 2006 Defensive Player of the Year, Taylor made it to 6 Pro Bowls and was a 4x All-Pro selection. In 2002 he had 18.5 sacks, 69 tackles, and 7 forced fumbles. Followed that up with a 13-sack year in 2003.

DT - Warren Sapp (Tampa Bay, Oakland): Not a force after he left Tampa, but when he was on the Bucs, he helped lead one of the most stacked defenses ever to Super Bowl XXXVII. 3 All-Pro selections and 4 Pro Bowls.

DT - Richard Seymour (New England, Oakland): From 2003-05 he was the game's best defensive tackle. All-Pro and Pro Bowl selections each year, plus two other appearances in Honalulu. Not to mention, he won 3 rings. Other considerations: Albert Haynsworth, Kris Jenkins

OLB - Derrick Brooks (Tampa Bay): Quietly one of the best linebackers for years. He wasn't flashy. Instead he was solid, consistent, and talented. Going back to '97, he made 11 Pro Bowls in 12 years, made 5 All-Pro teams this decade, was Defensive Player of the Year in 2002, and anchored Tampa's lethal defense that won SB XXXVII. As good as they come.

OLB - Julian Peterson (San Francisco, Seattle, Detroit): The dark horse on this list. Has made 713 total tackles, 534 solo, with 3 small market, usually mediocre, teams. Recorded 19.5 sacks in '06 and '07. This year he's forced 5 fumbles, 21 for his career. Other considerations: Joey Porter

ILB - Ray Lewis (Baltimore): The most obvious choice on this list. He's crazy. 2x Defensive Player of the Year, 8 Pro Bowls, 5 All-Pro selections, and a Super Bowl MVP award, all this decade. With the exception of 2002 and 2005 (injuries), he averaged 133 tackles a season. The face of an always smackdown Ravens D.

ILB - Brian Urlacher (Chicago): 2000 Defensive Rookie of the Year, 2005 Defensive Player of the Year, a Pro Bowl constant, Urlacher was about as easy a pick as Lewis. Led the Bears to Super Bowl XLI against Indy... sorry Rex Grossman, it wasn't you... and is one of the most intense players on the field.

CB - Champ Bailey (Washington, Denver): In his prime the fastest player in the league. Recorded 47 picks, made 547 tackles, which is a lot for an NFL corner, and was selected to 9 straight Pro Bowls and 6 All-Pro teams. Still a lockdown corner today at age 31.

CB - Ronde Barber (Tampa Bay): Again, like longtime teammate Brooks, he doesn't get much attention, but he's as complete a cornerback as there has ever been. He's the only corner to have 20+ sacks and 20+ INTs in a career, was an All-Pro selection 5 times, and went to 5 Pro Bowls. The better of the two Barbers, plus he keeps his mouth shut. Other considerations: Ty Law, Asante Samuel

S - Brian Dawkins (Philadelphia, Denver): Few have ever played with more passion and enthusiasm than Weapon X. At a diminutive 6'0", 210 lbs, he's one of the NFL's hardest hitters. 7 Pro Bowls and 4 All-Pro 1st team selections. Everything he does is meticulously planned and thought out. Even his pre-game routine.

S - Ed Reed (Baltimore): Okay, I'll admit it. I respect Ed Reed. I'm a Steelers fan (who, by the way, are the defending Super Bowl champs, in case you forgot), and I respect Reed. I very badly wanted to put John Lynch here, but I just couldn't. The Defensive Player of the Year in 2004, Reed has the instincts of a tiger. He can burst through a hole and pound you into next week, or he can come out of nowhere and pick off any pass. Just to knock him down a peg, though, he got knocked the heck out by Hines Ward a few years ago :-) Other considerations: Lynch, Troy Polamalu

K - Adam Vinatieri (New England, Indianapolis): He kicked 3 of the greatest field goals ever. The 45-yarder in the snow against Oakland in the 2001 playoffs. The 48-yarder in Super Bowl XXXVI to shock St. Louis and give the Pats their 1st Super Bowl win. Then the 41-yarder in Super Bowl XXXVIII against Carolina to give the Pats another Lombardi Trophy. In all, he's 21-22 in clutch situations for his career. Other considerations: The clutch kicking of Mike Vanderjagt (kidding)

Team: New England Patriots - 3 Super Bowls (2001, 2003, 2004), a perfect regular season, and an Asante Samuel drop away from 19-0. Time and time again they won the big game, usually over Indy, and a certain guy named Brady emerged as a star.

MLB: C - Ivan Rodriguez (Texas, Florida, Detroit, NY Yankees, Houston): Pudge was a bigger star in the '90s, but his emergence as more than a big bat and a quick glove came out this decade. He was named NLCS MVP in '03 with Florida, who beat the Yankees in the World Series. He joined a Tigers club that lost 100 games the prior season and helped turn them into AL champs. Other considerations: Joe Mauer, Jorge Posada

1B - Albert Pujols (St. Louis): He has loads of power. His swing is a thing of beauty. He can hit to all fields. He is a defensive gem. He is not fast, but an incredibly smart base runner. He has won 3 MVP awards. And he's not even 30 yet. Is Albert Pujols the perfect baseball player? He's close, that's for sure. Other considerations: Todd Helton, Derrek Lee

2B - Chase Utley (Philadelphia): This was a tough one. Utley was the best from 2006 on. Jeff Kent was the best before that. Did I want old or new? In this case, new. Because Utley has a ring, it makes up for the fact that the two each have one MVP award, 4 Silver Slugger Awards, and Kent's 5 All-Stars to Utley's 4.

SS - Derek Jeter (NY Yankees): The consummate professional, playing in the biggest market, with the most eyes watching, yet all Jeter does is win. A .317 average this decade, 2 rings, nearly 2000 hits, and by the time he's done, he could challenge Pete Rose for most hits all-time. Oh, and no sex scandals, steroid accusations, or arrests. Only wins. Other considerations: Miguel Tejada

3B - Alex Rodriguez (Seattle, Texas, NY Yankees): Although he didn't move to third until 2004, there was no room over at short to put A-Rod on the list. He won MVP awards in '03, '05, and '07, and at this rate, he'll be the home run king until Pujols comes and shatters the record. Some call him the greatest ever... at least they did before his PED use. Other considerations: Chipper Jones

OF - Ichiro Suzuki (Seattle): 9 years, 9 All-Star games, 9 Gold Gloves, 9 200-hit seasons. An MVP award in his rookie season. A career .333 average, with 2050 hits. A no doubter here. Too bad he's only played on one good team.

OF - Barry Bonds (San Francisco): Forget the steroid allegations and the perjury charges for a minute. Fact is, from 2001-2004, he was the best hitter anyone had ever seen. 73 homers in '01, 411 bases in 473 at-bats. 46 homers compared to just 47 K's in '02. 45 HRs to 41 K's in '04. Plus he was walked more than 1/5 of the time he went to the plate. Amid all the controversy, steroids or not, was greatness.

OF - Lance Berkman (Houston): Where's some love for the Big Puma? He averaged 30 HRs, 100 RBIs, 150 hits, and 96 runs per season in the decade. Amazing consistency and durability, with only one season under 130 games played, plus personal success in the playoffs (34 hits, 26 RBIs in 29 games) gets him on this obviously prestigious list. Other considerations: Manny Ramirez, Carlos Beltran, Vladimir Guerrero

RHP - Roy Halladay (Toronto): As old school as they get. "Pitch count" is an alien idea to this guy, and I love it. He won more games than any other right hander with 139, and had 47 complete games. In a modern sport where starters last 7 innings at best, Halladay goes against the grain. Other considerations: Roy Oswalt, Pedro Martinez

LHP - Randy Johnson (Arizona, NY Yankees, San Francisco): The Big Unit won 3 Cy Young awards and won 3 games in the 2001 World Series against the Yankees. He won Games 2 and 6, then in relief won Game 7. These accomplishments alone give him the nod over Johan Santana.

Closer - Mariano Rivera (NY Yankees): Enter sandman, exit any chance for a victory. Get your starter to the 7th inning, give Mo the ball, and win. That's how easy it would be to manage the Yankees in the postseason, because that's how automatic Mo is. 397 saves in the decade, a 2.03 earned run average, and an 0.74 ERA in the postseason makes him the greatest ever. Other considerations: Trevor Hoffman

Team: New York Yankees: World Series titles in 2000 and 2009, the Bronx Bombers flat out won. With the exception of 2008, they made the playoffs every season. They made it to 2 other World Series (losses to Arizona and Florida), and were an epic choke away from making it to another one in 2004. But just in case you don't know why they didn't make it, they blew a 3-0 series lead to the Red Sox, the worst choking job in major league history. The Sox would go on to Reverse the Curse and stomp on the Cardinals.