SI.com's Peter King is out with the NFL Team of the Decade, and I have just one thing to say. Aaron Smith over Michael Strahan at defensive end? Peter, you have got to be kidding!
Aaron Smith? Give me a break!
Now, Smith is a fine player and it's nice that his defensive coordinator, Dick Lebeau, told King "he can't be blocked."
But is a mostly anonymous 3-4 defensive end really worthy of a spot on this team over Strahan? Sorry, I fail to see how you can justify that.
I know comparing 3-4 defensive ends to 4-3 defensive ends is like comparing apples to oranges because the responsibilites, and in many cases, the stats they compile will be different. But, still. I don't get it.
Strahan was the 2001 Defensive Player of the Year when he broke the single-season sack record with 22.5 (thank you, Brett Favre!). In this decade Strahan went to four Pro Bowls, was named All-Pro twice, played in two Super Bowls with one championship, recorded 88 of his career 141 sacks and had more than 60 tackles three times.
Smith? One Pro Bowl appearance (2004), 44 career sacks and only one season of more than 50 tackles (55 in 2002).
Your thoughts?
(E-mail Ed at bigblueview@gmail.com)