Does Joe Haden Deserve to be on the NFL’s All-Decade Team?
Another day in quarantine and not much sports news has been rolling around. But this morning, the NFL decided to release its “All-Decade Team” from the 2010’s.
The NFL announced their all-decade team for the 2010’s. Eight players were chosen as unanimous selections. pic.twitter.com/EuwO8Gc5JZ
— NFL Update (@MySportsUpdate) April 6, 2020
First of all, a congratulations is in order for all of those that made the team. But secondly, whenever a list / team like this is released, the first thing that typically comes to the forefront of conversation is who was left out. It happens with all-star teams every single year. That really isn’t the case for the NFL’s Pro Bowl, but there was certainly debate surrounding their All-100 Team.
When it comes to this team, the NFL did a good job. There are some notables that were left off (Jason Kelce being the biggest in my opinion), but it is hard to fit everyone on a team with limited room.
Jason Kelce and the outrageous all-decade snub: https://t.co/kcD36jud8h
— Reuben Frank (@RoobNBCS) April 6, 2020
I’m sure the NFL would’ve been able to add more players to the team, but that waters down the “greatness” of this achievement. Still, that doesn’t mean everyone has to be satisfied with who the NFL decided to pick. For instance, Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Joe Haden had a gripe with the fact that he was left off of the team.
Chris Harris
20 picks
89 PBU
2011-2019
Pat Peterson
25 picks
83 PBU
2011-2019Richard Sherman
35 picks
114 PBU
2011-2019Darrelle Revis
15 picks
67 PBU
2010-2017Joe Haden
27 PICKS
137 PBU
2010-2019Im on My All-Decade team.
— Joe Haden (@joehaden23) April 6, 2020
Haden does make a compelling argument for why he should be on the team. But using statistics like picks and pass break-ups can be a little misleading. If you look at this Haden compiled, you see Darrelle Revis with 67 PBU compared to Haden’s 137. Without trying to discredit Haden, one could argue the reason Revis didn’t have a chance to break up any passes was because quarterbacks knew not to throw his way.
Darrelle Revis turns 34.
– 29 interceptions, 139 passes defended
– 7x Pro Bowl selection
– 4x 1st-Team All-Pro
– Won Super Bowl XLIX with PatriotsRevis Island was no joke 🔓 (via @NFL)pic.twitter.com/r8VvJhWR7Q
— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) July 15, 2019
Those stats Haden complied also vary in years played, so what he did really isn’t an effective way in preaching to the choir why he should’ve gotten his due.
But with all that being said, Haden should have been on the team. He has been a shutdown corner for nearly every year of his career since being drafted in 2010 (excluding an injury-ruined 2015). It isn’t his fault that he didn’t get the national attention of someone like Richard Sherman.
Sherman (who also deserves to be on this list) played for great Seattle Seahawks teams: he had a platform. Haden did not get that same opportunity wasting the best years of his career with the the ever terrible Cleveland Browns. During his tenure with Cleveland, they posted a record of 29 – 83.
If anything, playing for the Browns should boost Haden’s argument. Haden was able to shutdown the opposing team’s number one wideout despite being surrounded by, for the most part, bums on defense. He had little to almost no help on that side of the football. The former Florida Gator can not be penalized for that.
Either way, the NFL messed up leaving Joe Haden (one of the decades best corners) off of the All-Decade Team.
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-Jarrod Ribaudo (@Jribs53)