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Adam Vinatieri #11 – This was a tough one, but it is what it is. While there has been no greater impact player in the three Super Bowl games, it was tough for me to allow a kicker to break the top ten. So that said, I have Adam at #11 on the fifty all time great list with a bit more information than all the others.

Vinatieri was originally recruited to kick for Army and attended West Point for two weeks in 1991 before deciding to return home to South Dakota. He was a four-year letterman at South Dakota State University as a placekicker and punter. He received a tryout for the World League of American Football (later rebranded as NFL Europe), now defunct, and earned a roster position with the Amsterdam Admirals as a placekicker and punter. In that season the Admirals lost the World Bowl III against Frankfurt Galaxy.

Vinatieri is the first kicker ever to play in six Super Bowls and win four Super Bowl rings. In 1996, Vinatieri was signed by the Patriots as an undrafted free agent to be a place kicker. He played in New England for the first 10 years of his NFL career, during which he played in four Super Bowls, winning three. In my opinion one of the greatest field goals in NFL history took place in the 2001 playoffs, during a blizzard against the Oakland Raiders in the final game at Foxboro Stadium, Vinatieri kicked a 45-yard field goal to tie the game 13-13 and send it into overtime. The Patriots won the game on another field goal of 23 yards by Vinatieri. This game is better known as the “Tuck Rule” game. By the time Vinatieri finished his final season with the Patriots in 2005, he had kicked 18 game-winning field goals with less than one minute remaining. His best game of the season came against the St. Louis Rams, against whom he scored 16 points (4 field goals, 4 PATs), and threw a 4-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Troy Brown on a fake field goal attempt (that pass gives him a career passer rating of 122.9). Vinatieri finished his 10 seasons with the Patriots as the team's all time leading scorer with 1,156 points. The Patriots have not re-issued Vinatieri's #4 since he left the team. Adam left the New England Patriots after the 2005 season when he signed as a free agent with the Indianapolis Colts.

Asante Samuel #27 – Asante was drafted 120th overall in the fourth round of the 2003 draft. He played a significant role in the Patriots three Super Bowl seasons. In 2006, Samuel was part of a Patriots secondary that allowed just 10 touchdown passes by opponents, a mark that led the NFL and stands as the fewest allowed in team history for a single season. As part of the deal, he signed his tag contract for 2006 with the stipulation that he would not be tagged at the end of the 2007 season. This came about as Asante left the team and went to the Philadelphia Eagles after the 2007 season as a free agent. He will be remembered as a corner that will take chances by jumping routes for interceptions.

Congradulations to the six New England Patriots that were selected to this year Pro Bowl. The team will have three starters. Tom Brady, quarterback, Vince Wilfork, defensive lineman, and Logan Mankins, offensive guard. This is quite and honor. The boys deserve. Also added the pro bowl team in a reserve role were, Jarad Mayo, linebacker, Devon McCourty, connerback, and Brandon Meriweather, safety. This was Jarad and Devons first pro bowl. Even more impressive is the fact tha Devon is a rookie!

The Pro Bowl is played the weekend before the super bowl, so I am hoping that none of them play in the game. Any players that are in the super bowl will not be able to participate as they will be getting ready to play in the big one. With six members from the Patriots, on the Atlanta Falcons had more with seven. It has been quite a year.