The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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62 THE WOLVERINE JANUARY 2020 BY RYAN TICE S ome choices are easier than others, and it was no surprise that when The Athletic named its All-Decade Team for the NFL in the 2010s that for- mer Michigan and current New Eng- land Patriots signal-caller Tom Brady was the pick at quarterback. He was one of three unanimous choices on the squad's offense and one of four on offense or defense (each of the five special teams players were unanimous selections). Brady was listed atop all six ballots to beat out a stacked field that included Aaron Rodgers of the Green Bay Pack- ers, Drew Brees of the New Orleans Saints and Russell Wilson of the Seattle Seahawks, among others. "Five Super Bowl appearances and three titles during the first nine years of the 2010s set apart Brady," Mike Sando wrote. "New England won its division in all nine of those seasons. Brady has won nearly 80 percent of his starts dur- ing the decade without missing a game to injury." "Brady was the clear No. 1 quarter- back to me," Dan Pompei, a Hall of Fame voter who has covered the NFL for more than three decades, chimed in. "I could understand how cases could be made for Aaron Rodgers, Russell Wilson and Drew Brees. Rodg- ers would have been my No. 2 because I believe he had a greater impact on more victories than anyone but Brady." Pompei even took it a step further and noted Brady is the No. 1 player at the most important position in his time covering and writing about the league, beating out Peyton Manning and Dan Marino, respectively. FORMER WOLVERINES ON NFL ROSTERS Through Dec. 16 • QB Tom Brady (Played at U-M from 1996-99), New England Patriots: Started all 14 games for the 11-3 Patriots and completed 331 of 551 pass attempts (60.1 percent) for 3,565 yards with 21 touchdowns and seven interceptions … Has rushed for three scores and boasts a passer rating of 86.5 … Ranked ninth in the NFL in passing yards and tied for 12th in scoring throws. • LB Devin Bush Jr. (2016-18), Pitts- burgh Steelers: Has opened 13 of 14 games and notched 92 tackles, one sack, four passes broken up, two interceptions, one forced fumble and a fumble recovery he ran back nine yards for a touchdown … Second on the 8-6 Steelers in tackles and ranks 41st in the league for that cat- egory … Among rookies, he is second in tackles, tied for third in picks and 11th in passes defended (six). • DE Taco Charlton (2013-16), Miami Dolphins: Started in five of 10 appear- ances he has made for the 3-11 Dolphins and logged 21 tackles, five sacks and two forced fumbles. • DE Frank Clark (2011-14), Kansas City Chiefs: Played in 12 of the 10-4 Chiefs' first 14 games with nine starts … Totaled 34 tackles with six sacks, three passes defended, one interception he returned five yards and three forced fum- bles … Tied for 47th in the league in sacks and tied for 11th in forced fumbles. • OL Mason Cole (2014-17), Arizona Cardinals: Saw action in all 14 of the 4-9-1 Cardinals' games, but has only started twice. • CB Blake Countess (2011-14/fin- ished career at Auburn), New York Jets: Has played in six games for the 5-9 Jets, but has not recorded any statistics. • WR Devin Funchess (2012-14), India- napolis Colts: Was ruled out for the rest of the year in early December … Played in only the season opener and hauled in three passes for 32 yards before breaking his collarbone. • LB Rashan Gary (2016-18), Green Bay Packers: Came off the bench in all 14 games for the 11-3 Packers and notched 20 stops with two sacks. • LB Ben Gedeon (2014-16), Minne- sota Vikings: Is on injured reserve after suffering his second concussion of the year, but started in five of his eight ap- pearances and finished with 13 tackles. • TE Zach Gentry (2016-18), Pitts- burgh Steelers: Played in four games as a reserve for the 8-6 Steelers … He caught a four-yard pass and also recov- ered a fumble. • OL Graham Glasgow (2012-15), De- MICHIGAN IN THE PROS Tom Brady Is A Unanimous Pick To NFL's All-Decade Team Brady was listed as the top quarterback of the 2010s on all six ballots compiled by The Athletic for its All-Decade Team. PHOTO BY DAVID SILVERMAN/NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS