Professional Football Researchers Association Forum

Who, in your opinions, are the best players at each position on offense, defense, punter and kicker who ever played for the Tuna (strictly) when he was their head coach (front office stints don't count). To pick from, we got G-men '83 thru '90, Pats '93 thru '96, Jets '97 thru '99, and finally Cowboys from '03 thru '06. And of course the players are to be judged strictly by how they played while Parcells was their HC, and not before or after which leaves Romo out being we have just 2006 to judge him on. Of course there are the beyond-obvious starters like LT and Curtis Martin. It'll probably kill Phil Simms and Mark Bavaro-fans to have to, instead, pencil in Drew Bledsoe and Jason Whitten for QB and TE respectively. Quite a few great linemen will sadly be boxed-out and so on.

So, what's your all-time Tuna starting lineup?

ROLB Lawrence Taylor

(Thought I'd get that one out of the way)

JuggernautJ wrote:ROLB Lawrence Taylor

(Thought I'd get that one out of the way)

Larry Allen, Guard 2003-05
Mo Lewis, LOLB 1997-99

QB- Drew Bledsoe
RB- Curtis Martin
FB- Maurice Carthon
TE- Mark Bavaro
WRs- Keyshawn Johnson, Terry Glenn
LT- Bruce Armstrong
LG- Allen
C- Kevin Mawae had his first All Pro season under Parcells.
RG- Bob Kratch ?
RT- Marc Colombo

DE- Willie McGinest
NT- Erik Howard
DE- Leonard Marshall
LBs- Taylor, Carson, Johnson, Banks
CBs- Aaron Glenn, and Mark Collins?
SS- Roy Williams
FS- Terry Kinnard

K- Raul Allegre
P- Sean Landeta
KR/PR- Dave Meggett

conace21 wrote:QB- Drew Bledsoe
RB- Curtis Martin
FB- Maurice Carthon
TE- Mark Bavaro
WRs- Keyshawn Johnson, Terry Glenn
LT- Bruce Armstrong
LG- Allen
C- Kevin Mawae had his first All Pro season under Parcells.
RG- Bob Kratch ?
RT- Marc Colombo

DE- Willie McGinest
NT- Erik Howard
DE- Leonard Marshall
LBs- Taylor, Carson, Johnson, Banks
CBs- Aaron Glenn, and Mark Collins?
SS- Roy Williams
FS- Terry Kinnard

K- Raul Allegre
P- Sean Landeta
KR/PR- Dave Meggett

Good lineup! Jim Burt could also be your NT; he or Howard a toss-up I guess. Make it a four-man D-front and you'd have to pencil in La'Roi Glover at DT. Bruce Armstrong at LT...yeah, looks like he's got Flozell boxed-out. How about Rob Carpenter for your blocking back? Respect your Bavaro TE choice, I hate not starting him as well, but I can't overlook Whitten. Ben Coates, I'm afraid, I'd have to place above Mark as well. Would like to give that return spot to Phil McConkey but know that I got to keep Meggett in there instead. Dat Nguyen is a personal fave of mine as well. I'm tempted to start Chrebet over Keyshawn, lol.

How could I forget Ben Coates? He and Bavaro both had two AP 1st Team All Pro selections playing under Parcells. Coates also made the Pro Bowl in 1996; Bavaro never made another Pro Bowl. I'd place Witten 3rd with the criteria given. He never gained 1,000 yards or made 1st Team All Pro under Parcells.

74_75_78_79_ wrote: Of course there are the beyond-obvious starters like LT and Curtis Martin.

Joe Morris' 1985-1986 seasons were better than anything Curtis Martin did under Parcells. Leads the NFL in TDs in 1985...first team all-pro in 1986. It's not really even close.

Bryan wrote:

74_75_78_79_ wrote: Of course there are the beyond-obvious starters like LT and Curtis Martin.

Joe Morris' 1985-1986 seasons were better than anything Curtis Martin did under Parcells. Leads the NFL in TDs in 1985...first team all-pro in 1986. It's not really even close.

I wouldn't say that. Martin's rookie season under Parcells was 1487 yards and 30 receptions

1999 with the Jets was 1464 with 45 receptions.

To me it's an absolute toss up.

sheajets wrote:

Bryan wrote:

74_75_78_79_ wrote: Of course there are the beyond-obvious starters like LT and Curtis Martin.

Joe Morris' 1985-1986 seasons were better than anything Curtis Martin did under Parcells. Leads the NFL in TDs in 1985...first team all-pro in 1986. It's not really even close.

I wouldn't say that. Martin's rookie season under Parcells was 1487 yards and 30 receptions

1999 with the Jets was 1464 with 45 receptions.

To me it's an absolute toss up.

They're close, I would give Martin a slight edge, on the basis of his being more of a receiving threat, and for his performance in postseason games under the Tuna. A total of eight TD's in five playoff games with the 1996 Jets and 1998 Pats, 166 yards and 3 rushing TD's which led the way as the Pats took out Pittsburgh 28-3 in 1996. He also had 124 yards and two TD's against Jacksonville as the Jets won 34-24 in the 1998 Divisional game. Morris did have a big game, rushing for 159 yards and two TD's in the 49-3 destruction of the 49ers in the 1986 playoffs, and had a total of four TD's in the 86 postseason. In career totals, Morris had 553 yards rushing, 11 receptions and four TD's in seven games to 405 yards , 18 receptions and eight TD's in five games under Parcells in 1996 and 1998.

sheajets wrote:I wouldn't say that. Martin's rookie season under Parcells was 1487 yards and 30 receptions

1999 with the Jets was 1464 with 45 receptions.

To me it's an absolute toss up.

Martin obviously had the better career, but I think Morris was more impactful during his short run at the top. Morris' 1985 and 1986 seasons were better than Martin's rookie season (1995) and 1999 seasons. Martin's 45 receptions in 1999 resulted in 5.8 yards per catch, more of a 'dump-off' than a 'weapon', and he ended up with 5 TDs in 412 touches. Not sure how that would be superior to Morris earning 1st team All Pro in 1986, or a Morris in 1985 that averaged a full half-yard more per rushing attempt (4.5 vs. 4.0) and more than quadrupled Martin's TD total (21 vs. 5) in nearly 100 fewer touches (316 vs. 412).

Morris 1985-86 season average: 318 carries, 1426 yards, 4.5 avg, 17 TDs...22 receptions, 223 yards, 10.1 avg, 1 TD

Martin 1995 & 1999 season average: 368 carries, 1476 yards, 4.0 avg, 9 TDs...38 receptions, 260 yards, 6.8 avg, 1 TD

Morris was 2 PB 1 All Pro, Martin was 1 PB. To me, Martin's 50 additional rushing yards and 37 additional receiving yards doesn't off-set Morris gaining a half-yard more per carry and nearly doubling Martin's TD total. Morris was more productive in fewer touches.