Field Gulls
The Legion of Boom makes its presence felt on this list.
We’re in the slowest of slow periods of the NFL offseason, which means getting creative with
ESPN just released an All-NFL roster for the 21st century, which is now a quarter of the way complete. Aaron Schatz and Seth Walder compiled a traditional 53-man roster with a 17-man practice squad (when adding an International Player Pathway exemption). Players who entered the league in the 1990s had eligibility, but only stats from the 2000 season onward would be counted.
There are four Seahawks on the active roster and one semi-snub, which I’ll explain a little later. It doesn’t take too much thinking to know that Richard Sherman and Earl Thomas were included, likewise the still active Bobby Wagner. Who’s that fourth, though? Well, it’s a Hall of Fame offensive lineman from the days when the Seahawks actually had an elite offensive line. He helped lead the way for Shaun Alexander’s MVP season and Seattle’s first Super Bowl appearance.
I am, of course, talking about Steve Hutchinson.
Hutchinson made the Pro Bowl every year from 2003 through 2009 and helped lead the 2005 Seahawks to Super Bowl XL, along with Walter Jones. There were a number of relatively equal, strong left guards to choose from, but we went with Hutchinson over Joel Bitonio, Logan Mankins and Quenton Nelson. His impact on the NFL also stretches past the field, as he was part of a deal that led to a rule change about contracts after the “poison pill” that kept Seattle from matching the contract he signed with Minnesota in 2006. — Schatz
By default, this means Walter Jones was not selected for left tackle. He was placed on the practice squad (alongside Jordan Mailata, who received the international player designation), while Joe Thomas and Trent Williams were placed above him. I don’t want to play the “if he played in a different market” angle with Jones (especially since a Cleveland Brown who literally never played a playoff game is on this list), but it’s remarkable that he’s third in the pecking order with six All-Pro selections, nine Pro Bowl nominations, and a place on the NFL’s 100th Anniversary Team.
I think Trent Williams has been an amazing player for two teams and he’ll be in Canton soon. I’d still take Big Walt over him. This stat should resonate with anyone who ever watched Jones play.
Perhaps the most glaring overall omission across any position is Adrian Peterson, whose final touchdown was scored in a Seahawks uniform. Peterson is 5th all-time on the NFL’s rushing yards list and yet he doesn’t make the All-Quarter Century Team over Christian McCaffrey, Derrick Henry, and... PRIEST HOLMES?! I love Priest Holmes but the face that neither Peterson nor LaDainian Tomlinson can crack this rotation is astonishing. At least LT made the practice squad.
The only other Seahawks “legend” on the 53-man roster is Devin Hester, who is the consensus greatest return specialist in NFL...
