Sports Then and Now

Peyton Manning passed for more more than 42,000 yards in the decade while leading the Colts to double digit victories nine times.

It was a banner decade for the NFL with many franchises building new stadiums and posting record attendance. The caliber of the play on the field was arguably the greatest of all time with many superstars putting their stamp on the decade.

Unlike previous decades where a Super Bowl blowout was a common occurrence, the 2000’s saw six Super Bowls decided by a touchdown or less, including dramatic endings to the final two Super Bowls played in the decade.

Offenses generally ruled the roost with high-powered attacks lighting up scoreboards across the league. However, defense was still an important component of most championship teams.

Because NFL careers are often short, selecting the top 10 players of the decade is a challenge because many of the best players at the end of the decade were not even in the league when the decade started.

Most of the players on this list were key performers on teams that achieved playoff and often Super Bowl greatness. Please feel free to share your thoughts on who else you think is deserving of being considered among the best of the decade.

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Below is our list of the top players of the decade:
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As Deion Sanders said about Josh Cribbs, "Pay the Man!"

Being a Browns fan since the late 80’s, there hasn’t been a whole lot to cheer about.

Cleveland lost to Denver in the ’86, ’87, and ’89 AFC Championships, all in heartbreaking fashion.

Art Modell stole the franchise and moved them to Baltimore in ’95.

Since the team’s rebirth in 1999, the good memories have been few and far between.

The team has had only one playoff appearance in 2002 which resulted in an epic collapse against the hated Steelers.

The Browns made another run at the playoffs in 2007, but fell short with a 10-6 record.

There has been one lone bright spot over the last few fruitless seasons in Cleveland.

His name is Josh Cribbs.

Cribbs has been nothing short of electrifying.

Devin Hester who?

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Through the years, my friend and I always had the Browns-Steelers Rivalry.

Certain things remind you of your friends and the great times you have shared with them.

A concert.

A party.

A trip.

Your favorite watering hole.

For me and one of my best friends, it was and still is the Cleveland Browns-Pittsburgh Steelers rivalry.

Everyone has ups and downs in their lives. However, there are always constants that stay the same.

For me and MM, it’s the Browns and Steelers.

I have known MM for almost 20 years now (where has the time gone?).  He is a mutual friend of my long time friend, Rich.

We instantly connected because of our love for 80’s hair metal and sports. We both loved the Bruins, but football is where the lines in the sand were drawn.

I have always been a Patriots fan, but I had a football mistress on the side.

The Cleveland Browns.

I began following them during their glory years in the mid to late 80’s. They were always the brides maids when they lost to Denver in the AFC Championship in ’86, ’87, and ’89.

I loved Bernie Kosar, Clay Matthews, and the Dawg Pound.

I was probably the only kid in New England to have a Browns hat and jacket. I wore it with pride.

My buddy, MM, was a die-hard Steelers fan since birth I think. He owned a Bubby Brister jersey (still asking myself why) and later Hines Ward.

He ate, drank, and breathed Steelers.

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Aaron Rodgers threw 348 yards and 3 touchdowns on Turkey Day.

Yes Fantasy Football ruined my Turkey Day.

My opponent didn’t give me any thanks at all. I guess that’s what happens when you go against Donald Driver, Aaron Rodgers, Ryan Grant, and Miles Austin when they play the pathetic Lions and lowly Raiders.

No favorable matchups for me!

After a painful loss last week by 2.3 points, I am now only 1 game up in the division at 7-4 after losing 2 out of 3 games.

Thanks to Kris Brown for botching his tying field goal versus the Titans. If you made it, I would have won and could have enjoyed my holiday more.

Kickers even ruin fantasy football when they miss a kick!

Thanks for nothing!

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Football has been a Thanksgiving tradition for more than a century.

Ever since the first professional football league was formed in the early 1900s, football has been as much a part of Thanksgiving Day as pumpkin pie, turkey and dinner at Grandma’s.

Upon creation of the NFL in 1920, the league initially played multiple games on Thanksgiving Day.

In 1920 there were a total of six games played on Thanksgiving. Included during that first season were matchups between the Canton Bulldogs and Akron Pros, Daytona Triangles against the Detroit Heralds, and the Elyria Athletics against the Columbus Panhandles.

The first matchup between two current NFL franchises was in 1922 when the Chicago Cardinals defeated the Chicago Bears 6-0. The first regular Thanksgiving rivalry, the Cardinals and Bears met every year between 1922 and 1933.

The following year, the Cardinals played the Green Bay Packers on Thanksgiving Day while the Bears faced the Detroit Lions.

From 1934-1938 the Bears and Lions played annually on Turkey Day.In 1939 and 1940 the only Thanksgiving Day game was played between the Philadelphia Eagles and Pittsburgh Steelers.

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First and foremost, I am a Patriots fan and season ticket holder of 15 years. To say

It's all about respect between the Patriots and Colts.

the least, I am a die hard Patriots, but I DO NOT HATE the Colts.

I HATE the Steelers and Jets.

I want to BEAT the Colts.

There is a difference between hating a team and wanting to beat a team.

If you hate a team, you hate every player on the team and you hope they have a horrible season.

They may trash talk you and never can back it up.

Then there are teams you want to BEAT.

They don’t trash talk and they back it up on the field.

They are true professionals.

You want them to be competitive, so you have to bring you’re A game to beat them.

You don’t hate their players, you respect them.

You have to beat the best to be the best.

Because they are very similar to you.

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