The Perfect NFL Team

Watching the playoffs this week got me thinking. What would be the perfect NFL team? What players would it consist of? Well I figured out that it wouldn't just be the best players at each position to date. Alot of factors would have to be considered. Of course, talent is most important. However, age, durability, salary, skill set, role that the player would play on the team, are also very important when compromising a team, because as the Dallas Cowboys have shown, a team of all superstars don't always win championships. So, here's my team.

Coach: John Harbaugh

With football in his blood (both his dad and brother were NFL players, and head coaches at the college level), Harbaugh has a tremendous football background. He's young, so he understands the way football is played now, and has a distinct knowledge of quarterback and special teams play, the two things that if done right, will win you games in the NFL

QB: Jay Cutler (Backup: Brian Greise)

Cutler is young (24 years old), and quite frankly, has the tools to become one of the greats in the game. He has a rocket arm, good size, great football IQ, and already has one pro-bowl under his belt. His 2.3 million salary is a steal with the skills that Cutler possesses. With good coaching from Harbaugh, Cutler will learn that quarterback play is done best on the field, not through the media. Griese is a good backup who is older than Cutler, but the two have similar traits in their tendencies of throwing the ball downfield, and the offensive playbook would go on without a hitch if Cutler were to be hurt and Greise was put in.

RB: DeAngelo Williams (Backup: Derrick Ward)

After rushing for over 1,500 yards and 20 TD's this season, Williams can be considered one of the premiere backs in this league. What's even better is that he's only 25 years old, and every year that he's been in Carolina, he's split carries with another running back, so injuries are not a concern. The best, he's only being paid a shade over 2 million a year. Ward is a great backup to Williams because they both have contrasting styles, and Ward is my team's thunder as Williams is my team's lightning, not to mention Ward rushed for over 1,000 yards this year as a backup.

WR: Anquan Boldin, Greg Jennings, Wes Welker

These three wide receivers are all extremely talented, and each bring something different to the table when compromising a team.  Well, first of all, they are all young, each of them under the age of 30. Secondly, each are relatively cheap, with Welker and Boldin earning about 4 million a year, and Jennings being an incredible bargain at about 750,000 dollars per year. Last but not least, the combination of their skill sets makes them a dangerous group. Boldin is the definition of a possession receiver with great run-after-the-catch ability, Jennings is one of the league's best deep threats, and Welker has found his true calling as the leagues' best slot receiver. 

TE: Owen Daniels (Backup: Kevin Boss)

An incredible bargain at less than a million dollars per year. Daniels ranked 4th amongst NFL TE's in receiving  yards behind Tony Gonzalez, Jason Witten, and Dallas Clark. The difference is the three players above Daniels are both older than him and are being paid 4 times as much. Boss is a great backup to Daniels because of what Daniels lacks in the blocking department, Boss makes up for with his offensive lineman presence at 6'5 265 pounds.

OL: David Diehl, Alex Barron, Jamal Jackson, Steve Hutchinson, Flozell Adams

A line that has youth, experience, strength and finesse all in one. Barron and Diehl are tremendously talented and both under the age of 27, and for their age and skill-level (Diehl is a pro-bowler) just over 2 million for each isn't very bad.  Adams is a pro-bowl caliber player who is experienced, and is being paid like a veteran, reserve offensive lineman (3 million a year). Basically, Hutchinson is the best at his respective position in the league, so it's hard not to takehim. Jackson is a young an up and coming Center, and his 1.5 million dollar salary is downright cheap.

DL: Justin Tuck, Darnell Dockett, Kevin Williams, Lamarr Woodley

Year after year, Williams is a pro-bowler, and is only 28 years old with no injury history. He is also making just a shade over 3 million dollars a year, the same amount as Darnell Dockett, who is 4 years younger and just had his first impact season, being a pro-bowl reserve. Tuck is 25 years old, and just had 12.0 sacks this year. His 2.5 million makes him almost as much of a bargain as Lamarr Woodley at his 800,000 thousand dollars a year. Woodley, a second year pro, had 11.0 sacks this year, and made tremendous strides in becoming a full-time starter in this league.

LB: James Harrison, Stewart Bradley, DaMarcus Ware

Harrison and Ware were #1 and #2 in the defensive player of the year voting, Harrison won, but both are under 30 years old, and are being paid less than 3 million dollars a year. Bradley, a second year pro,  was a full-time starter for the first time this season, and anchored an Eagles defense that ranked 3rd in the league by leading the team in tackles, while only making a mere 500,00o dollars a year.

CB: Antonio Cromartie, Brandon Mcdonald (Nickel Corner: DeAngelo Hall)

When people read this, they may think "Who the hell is Brandon Mcdonald?". Well, for all Eagles fans, he was the Cleveland Browns CB who snagged a Donavan Mcnabb pass intended for Hank Baskett in the end zone one handed, ran the ball back 96 yards, only to get caught by Baskett on the five yard line. Mcdonald had 7 INT's this year, which is good for 4th in the league, and is only making 500,000 dollars a year. Cromartie, on the other hand, most of all football fans know with his acrobatic interceptions, and his 10 INT pro-bowl season last year in his rookie season. That makes him a good deal at 1.7 millon a year. A humbled, but still young and talented DeAngelo Hall is a great deal for what the Redskins signed him at this year at just over 800,000.

S: Nick Collins, Ed Reed

If you read my last post, you understand my selection for Reed. As I said before, he is the best safety in the league right now, maybe of all time. He's 28, and his 3.5 million a year ranks 14th among safeties in the league. Sounds like a good deal to me. Collins is a poor-man's Ed Reed. Well, it's good that being a poor-man's Reed will send you to the pro-bowl. Collins had 7 INT's this year, 3 of them returned for touchdowns (see why I make the comparison to Reed), and his youth (he's only 24) and cheap price (900,000), he is a great selection.

K: Rod Bironas

Bironas has been an example of solid kicking in his 3 years as a starter, making over 84% of his field goals, and going to the pro-bowl once. Kickers don't have to be young, and his 700,000 dollars is relatively cheap for a kicker, not to mention one of his caliber.

P: Sav Rocca

I might be a fan, but honestly, I don't follow punters as much as I hope. I know a few, but the few I know are good, and get paid that way (Hunter Smith, Brian Moorman, Shane Lechler, Mike Scifres). Rocca, I know because he's on the Eagles, and is a decent punter. He also makes the veterans minimum at just about 400,000 dollars a year. 

Kick and Punt Returner: Leon Washington 

Washington along with Darren Sproles are the two most electrifying players outside of Devin Hester in the league. Washington is 25, has breakout special teams skills, running back potential, and is a relative bargain at 550,000 dollars.

So, to let you know how this all works out. The NFL salary cap is 116 million dollars per team. Most teams hover around the 90 million dollar mark to account for draft picks in the upcoming season. That is for the 53-man roster, and the 7 players on the practice squad. That means 60 players have to be accounted for. For the 30 players I mentioned, they accounted for 53,052,000 dollars. That means, to be at the 90 million dollar mark, I would have to pay an average of 1,233,333 dollars for each of my 30 other reserves that I did not mention. Reserves don't cost that much, so I think I did pretty good with that. 

Let me know what you all think about this, and if you have any changes, let me know by posting a comment.