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http://www.espn.com/nfl/insider/story/_/id/18566074/best-nfl-active-players-super-bowl-ring
Many great players still may not have won that Super Bowl ring -- just ask Dan Marino or Bruce Smith -- once they reached the big stage, but so many of the game's greats have come close. This is an honoring of those active players who have had stellar careers but have yet to win a championship. We limited our list to players who came to the NFL prior to the 2010 season.
Offense
Quarterback: Tony Romo, Cowboys
The choice was always going to be a quarterback with a last name that begins with an "R." We decided to respect what has been one of the best careers ever for an undrafted player. Romo became the first quarterback in NFL history to have nine consecutive seasons with at least 60 percent completions, 7.0 yards per attempt and a 90.0 passer rating (minimum 200 attempts). From 2006 to 2014, Romo completed 65.2 percent of his passes with 242 touchdowns, 110 interceptions, 7.9 yards per attempt and a 97.6 passer rating. In light of a false reputation for falling apart in crunch time, Romo owns Dallas franchise records with 25 fourth-quarter comebacks and 30 game-winning drives.
Matt Ryan, Falcons; Philip Rivers, Chargers
Running back: Adrian Peterson, Vikings
Peterson was the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2007, has won three rushing titles, a league MVP (2012) and has often been considered the best back in the NFL over the past decade. The No. 16 rusher in NFL history, Peterson still has a shot to finish in the top 10 for rushing yards, even if it ends up happening away from Minnesota.
However, Peterson has only made it to the NFC Championship Game once with Minnesota, back in Brett Favre's dream 2009 season. For all of Peterson's success, his Vikings are just 65-62-1 (.512) in the games that he played, including 1-4 in the playoffs.
Honorable mention: Frank Gore, Colts
Wide receivers: Larry Fitzgerald, Cardinals; Brandon Marshall, Jets
We know all about Fitzgerald's epic postseason performances. In nine playoff games, Fitzgerald has 942 yards and 10 touchdowns. He put his Cardinals ahead with 2:37 left in Super Bowl XLIII before Ben Roethlisberger and Santonio Holmes snatched away his best shot at a ring. Fitzgerald can climb to No. 3 all time in receiving yards next season, and he is already a first-ballot lock for the Hall of Fame.
We have no idea what Marshall would do in the postseason, because none of the four franchises he has played 11 seasons with have reached the playoffs. It is a stunning fact, especially since he has played on multiple 10-6 teams, a 2009 Broncos team that started the season 6-0 and multiple teams that led their division heading into Week 17. Still, despite all of the different quarterbacks he has been stuck with, Marshall has 941 receptions, 12,061 yards and 82 touchdown catches in his career. He'll be 33 years old next season, and hopefully a contender will eventually give him a shot at January football.
Honorable mention: DeSean Jackson, Redskins
Antonio Gates, Chargers
Hey, did you know he played basketball in college? Gates has been a phenom, especially in the red zone, since his breakout season for San Diego back in 2004. Gates has amassed 111 receiving touchdowns, tied with Tony Gonzalez for the most by a tight end in NFL history. Unfortunately, just like Gonzalez and San Diego great Kellen Winslow, Gates has never been to the Super Bowl. His best shot may have been in the 2007 AFC Championship Game in New England, but Rivers tried to play with a torn ACL, and Tomlinson left the game early with an injury of his own.
Honorable mention: Jason Witten, Cowboys
Left tackle: Joe Thomas, Browns
There were several good options for left tackle, but Thomas has been the gold standard at the position for the past decade. It's just too bad that the only winning team he ever played on was in his rookie season when the Browns finished 10-6 with an offense that actually looked competent. Since then, Cleveland has never finished better than 7-9 despite Thomas making 10 Pro Bowls and six first-team All-Pro selections.
Perhaps the most incredible feat for Thomas is that he has never missed a snap in 10 seasons, an iron-man streak that has survived six head coaches, 18 starting quarterbacks and the pain of a ton of losses.
Honorable mentions: Jason Peters, Eagles; Joe Staley, 49ers
Left guard: Richie Incognito, Bills
His name might sound a little sneaky, but Incognito was a very visible troublemaker on and off the field earlier in his career. When he wasn't drawing 15-yard flags for the Rams, he was bullying his teammate in Miami. Through it all, Incognito developed into a good run-blocker and two-time Pro Bowl left guard for the Dolphins and Bills. None of Incognito's teams have ever finished with a winning record, so he's never experienced the postseason in 11 years.
Honorable mention: Andy Levitre, Falcons
Alex Mack, Falcons
Much like his former teammate Thomas, Mack was stuck protecting nothing of quality in the backfield in Cleveland. He still made three Pro Bowls in that span, but after freeing himself to Atlanta this season, he helped improve that offense to the best in the league and is making his first trip to the Super Bowl. Now he'll just have to hope his sprained ankle does not deter him from beating the Patriots.
Honorable mentions: Nick Mangold, Jets; Ryan Kalil, Panthers
Right guard: Chris Chester, Falcons
The pickings were very slim here with standouts such as Jahri Evans, Marshal Yanda and T.J. Lang each already owning a ring. Chester was a second-round pick for the Ravens in 2006, but he only reached the AFC Championship Game once with that team (2008 loss in Pittsburgh) before moving on to Washington. That was where he first played for offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan, who came with him to Atlanta a year ago. With 143 starts in the regular season, Chester is an important veteran presence in Atlanta's offense and will look to win his first Super Bowl ring against the Patriots.
Honorable mention: John Greco, Browns
Right tackle: Doug Free, Cowboys
This may come as a shock to Dallas fans, but consider that the only other veteran right tackle to play at least 250 snaps this season was Eric Winston. So while Free has had his share of struggles and was permanently moved to right tackle in 2012, he has also been a part of some really solid offenses in Dallas during his 114 starts. He is also one-fifth of what has widely been considered the best offensive line the past few years. If anything, his inclusion is just a way to point out how lacking the veteran right tackle market is in the NFL right now. Quarterbacks still need protection from that angle, too.
Honorable mention: Eric Winston, Bengals
Defense
Defensive ends: Julius Peppers, Packers; Mario Williams, Dolphins
Peppers was the No. 2 pick in the 2002 draft and an instant success with 12 sacks, winning the Defensive Rookie of the Year award. He helped Carolina to the Super Bowl a year later but was just edged out by the Patriots in a 32-29 loss. Peppers reached the NFC Championship Game three more times with his three teams but never got back to the big game. His 143.5 sacks rank fifth since sacks have become an official stat, and he should be a lock for Canton.
Williams was a somewhat controversial No. 1 pick in 2006 because of the availability of college superstars Reggie Bush and Vince Young, but he was still probably the right pick for Houston. Though the past two seasons have been down years for Williams, he has 97.5 career sacks and was named to his only All-Pro team in 2014 with Buffalo. He was injured in 2011 when Houston made its first playoff appearance, and he only made his playoff debut this month in a wild-card loss at Pittsburgh.
Honorable mention: Cameron Wake, Dolphins
Kyle Williams, Bills; Calais Campbell, Cardinals
Williams would clean up on any "most underrated players of this era" list. Just a fifth-round pick in 2006, Williams has started 146 games and made four Pro Bowls for Buffalo. He notched a career-high 10.5 sacks in 2013. Of course, by playing for Buffalo, that means Williams has never made the playoffs in his career. He'll never get any Hall of Fame consideration, but he has been one of the better defensive tackles of his era.
Campbell technically gets listed at defensive end, but he also plays inside a lot for the Cardinals. He was just a backup in 2008 when Arizona nearly beat Pittsburgh in Super Bowl XLIII, but Campbell has turned into one of the best linemen of his era. He made his second Pro Bowl in 2015, but Arizona lost at Carolina in the NFC Championship Game. Campbell's voice has the texture of an old Hollywood legend despite being 30 years old.
Honorable mention: Glenn Dorsey, 49ers
Elvis Dumervil, Ravens; Tamba Hali, Chiefs
Dumervil was thought to be too small for the NFL, so he fell to the fourth round despite his huge sack production at Louisville (20 sacks in 2005). All he has done in the NFL is rack up 99 career sacks to go along with five Pro Bowls and two first-team All-Pro seasons. Unfortunately, some bad timing has led to Dumervil never getting past the divisional round of the playoffs. As a member of the Broncos, he lost to the 2012 Ravens at home in an overtime classic. After a free agency fax fiasco, he ended up with the Ravens in 2013 after they had already won the Super Bowl. Meanwhile, Denver went on to two more Super Bowls without him, while Dumervil has only made the playoffs once in Baltimore.
Hali has been another standout member of the 2006 draft class, playing all 11 of his seasons for Kansas City. Sadly, that also means he has never gotten past the second round of the playoffs, as the Chiefs are just 1-5 in the postseason in that time. Hali made five straight Pro Bowls from 2011 to 2015 but took a reduced role this past season (career-low 34 tackles) at age 33. He has 89.5 career sacks to go along with 32 forced fumbles.
Honorable mention: Thomas Davis, Panthers
Inside linebackers: Derrick Johnson, Chiefs; Karlos Dansby, Bengals
Here we go with another long-time Kansas City linebacker. Johnson was a first-round pick in 2005 and has made four Pro Bowls as well as an All-Pro selection in 2011. He tore his Achilles in Week 14 against Oakland and was unable to play against the Steelers in the playoffs -- definitely a blow to what was a very promising season for the Chiefs.
Can you tell that Arizona and Kansas City have not won a Super Bowl despite some really talented players? The Cardinals drafted Dansby in the second round in 2004, and he was a 16-game starter for the first time on the 2008 Super Bowl team that nearly won. Dansby has since played for Miami, Arizona again and the two Ohio teams, but has not made the playoffs since the 2009 season. He has been a versatile defender with 42 sacks, 19 interceptions (six touchdowns), 18 forced fumbles and 999 solo tackles.
Honorable mention: David Harris, Jets
Cornerbacks: Antonio Cromartie, Colts; Vontae Davis, Colts
Both played for the Colts this season, but Cromartie was released after four games. At the start of his career with San Diego in 2006, he looked like the next big thing. He intercepted 10 passes in 2007, an All-Pro season, but like the other great Chargers players on this list, he couldn't get past the Patriots in the AFC Championship Game that season. Cromartie helped the Jets get past New England to reach the 2010 AFC Championship Game but fell in Pittsburgh. The four-time Pro Bowler has not played in a postseason win since then.
Davis was famously traded from the Dolphins to the Colts on an episode of HBO's "Hard Knocks" in 2012. He became the team's best defender, helping the Colts reach the AFC Championship Game in 2014. Injury slowed him a bit in 2016, but Davis still ranked 19th in coverage success rate, according to Sports Info Solutions charting (subscription required).
Honorable mention: Terence Newman, Vikings; Brent Grimes, Buccaneers
Eric Weddle, Ravens; Reggie Nelson, Raiders
Look, another longtime San Diego standout. Weddle made a one-handed interception of a Peyton Manning pass as a rookie in the playoffs, but lost in his only AFC Championship Game appearance in New England the following week. Weddle has made three Pro Bowls with two All-Pro seasons, all with the Chargers, before he joined Baltimore this past season.
Nelson has always had a good eye for the ball. He has 35 interceptions since Jacksonville made him a first-round pick in 2007, and he has made the Pro Bowl in each of the past two seasons for the Bengals and Raiders. Unfortunately, Nelson has watched his teams lose seven straight playoff games. Despite his 13 interceptions over the past two seasons, his teams had to start AJ McCarron and Connor Cook in the playoffs because of late-season injuries to Andy Dalton and Derek Carr. Chalk this up to some bad luck.
Honorable mention: Jairus Byrd, Saints
Special teams
Kicker: Matt Bryant, Falcons
Bryant finally made his first Pro Bowl at age 41, but he has been a great kicker for a long time. As a rookie on the 2002 Giants, Bryant had a chance at a game-winning field goal in a wild-card playoff game in San Francisco, but New York infamously botched the snap, denying Bryant a shot. He has been money in the clutch though. On field goals in the fourth quarter or overtime that can tie the game or take the lead, Bryant is 35-of-40 (87.5 percent) in his career. Bryant will make his first Super Bowl appearance against the Patriots in a game that could come down to his leg.
Honorable mention: Robbie Gould, Giants
Pat McAfee, Colts
He can crush a punt, kick the ball through the end zone for a touchback, squib an onside kick, complete a pass and do stand-up comedy. McAfee was a Pro Bowl punter again this season after being an All-Pro for the Colts in 2014. However, his best shot at a ring came in his rookie season when the 2009 Colts lost to the Saints in Super Bowl XLIV.
Honorable mention: Shane Lechler, Texans
Return specialist: Darren Sproles, Eagles
A great receiving back too, Sproles ranks seventh in NFL history in combined return yardage on kickoffs and punts with 11,132 yards. He has seven punt-return touchdowns and two kick-return touchdowns in his career. Sproles was on those very talented San Diego teams that failed to reach the Super Bowl, and he joined the Saints two years after their Super Bowl win.
Honorable mention: Ted Ginn Jr., Panthers
Many great players still may not have won that Super Bowl ring -- just ask Dan Marino or Bruce Smith -- once they reached the big stage, but so many of the game's greats have come close. This is an honoring of those active players who have had stellar careers but have yet to win a championship. We limited our list to players who came to the NFL prior to the 2010 season.
Offense
Quarterback: Tony Romo, Cowboys
The choice was always going to be a quarterback with a last name that begins with an "R." We decided to respect what has been one of the best careers ever for an undrafted player. Romo became the first quarterback in NFL history to have nine consecutive seasons with at least 60 percent completions, 7.0 yards per attempt and a 90.0 passer rating (minimum 200 attempts). From 2006 to 2014, Romo completed 65.2 percent of his passes with 242 touchdowns, 110 interceptions, 7.9 yards per attempt and a 97.6 passer rating. In light of a false reputation for falling apart in crunch time, Romo owns Dallas franchise records with 25 fourth-quarter comebacks and 30 game-winning drives.
Matt Ryan, Falcons; Philip Rivers, Chargers
Running back: Adrian Peterson, Vikings
Peterson was the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2007, has won three rushing titles, a league MVP (2012) and has often been considered the best back in the NFL over the past decade. The No. 16 rusher in NFL history, Peterson still has a shot to finish in the top 10 for rushing yards, even if it ends up happening away from Minnesota.
However, Peterson has only made it to the NFC Championship Game once with Minnesota, back in Brett Favre's dream 2009 season. For all of Peterson's success, his Vikings are just 65-62-1 (.512) in the games that he played, including 1-4 in the playoffs.
Honorable mention: Frank Gore, Colts
Wide receivers: Larry Fitzgerald, Cardinals; Brandon Marshall, Jets
We know all about Fitzgerald's epic postseason performances. In nine playoff games, Fitzgerald has 942 yards and 10 touchdowns. He put his Cardinals ahead with 2:37 left in Super Bowl XLIII before Ben Roethlisberger and Santonio Holmes snatched away his best shot at a ring. Fitzgerald can climb to No. 3 all time in receiving yards next season, and he is already a first-ballot lock for the Hall of Fame.
We have no idea what Marshall would do in the postseason, because none of the four franchises he has played 11 seasons with have reached the playoffs. It is a stunning fact, especially since he has played on multiple 10-6 teams, a 2009 Broncos team that started the season 6-0 and multiple teams that led their division heading into Week 17. Still, despite all of the different quarterbacks he has been stuck with, Marshall has 941 receptions, 12,061 yards and 82 touchdown catches in his career. He'll be 33 years old next season, and hopefully a contender will eventually give him a shot at January football.
Honorable mention: DeSean Jackson, Redskins
Antonio Gates, Chargers
Hey, did you know he played basketball in college? Gates has been a phenom, especially in the red zone, since his breakout season for San Diego back in 2004. Gates has amassed 111 receiving touchdowns, tied with Tony Gonzalez for the most by a tight end in NFL history. Unfortunately, just like Gonzalez and San Diego great Kellen Winslow, Gates has never been to the Super Bowl. His best shot may have been in the 2007 AFC Championship Game in New England, but Rivers tried to play with a torn ACL, and Tomlinson left the game early with an injury of his own.
Honorable mention: Jason Witten, Cowboys
Left tackle: Joe Thomas, Browns
There were several good options for left tackle, but Thomas has been the gold standard at the position for the past decade. It's just too bad that the only winning team he ever played on was in his rookie season when the Browns finished 10-6 with an offense that actually looked competent. Since then, Cleveland has never finished better than 7-9 despite Thomas making 10 Pro Bowls and six first-team All-Pro selections.
Perhaps the most incredible feat for Thomas is that he has never missed a snap in 10 seasons, an iron-man streak that has survived six head coaches, 18 starting quarterbacks and the pain of a ton of losses.
Honorable mentions: Jason Peters, Eagles; Joe Staley, 49ers
Left guard: Richie Incognito, Bills
His name might sound a little sneaky, but Incognito was a very visible troublemaker on and off the field earlier in his career. When he wasn't drawing 15-yard flags for the Rams, he was bullying his teammate in Miami. Through it all, Incognito developed into a good run-blocker and two-time Pro Bowl left guard for the Dolphins and Bills. None of Incognito's teams have ever finished with a winning record, so he's never experienced the postseason in 11 years.
Honorable mention: Andy Levitre, Falcons
Alex Mack, Falcons
Much like his former teammate Thomas, Mack was stuck protecting nothing of quality in the backfield in Cleveland. He still made three Pro Bowls in that span, but after freeing himself to Atlanta this season, he helped improve that offense to the best in the league and is making his first trip to the Super Bowl. Now he'll just have to hope his sprained ankle does not deter him from beating the Patriots.
Honorable mentions: Nick Mangold, Jets; Ryan Kalil, Panthers
Right guard: Chris Chester, Falcons
The pickings were very slim here with standouts such as Jahri Evans, Marshal Yanda and T.J. Lang each already owning a ring. Chester was a second-round pick for the Ravens in 2006, but he only reached the AFC Championship Game once with that team (2008 loss in Pittsburgh) before moving on to Washington. That was where he first played for offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan, who came with him to Atlanta a year ago. With 143 starts in the regular season, Chester is an important veteran presence in Atlanta's offense and will look to win his first Super Bowl ring against the Patriots.
Honorable mention: John Greco, Browns
Right tackle: Doug Free, Cowboys
This may come as a shock to Dallas fans, but consider that the only other veteran right tackle to play at least 250 snaps this season was Eric Winston. So while Free has had his share of struggles and was permanently moved to right tackle in 2012, he has also been a part of some really solid offenses in Dallas during his 114 starts. He is also one-fifth of what has widely been considered the best offensive line the past few years. If anything, his inclusion is just a way to point out how lacking the veteran right tackle market is in the NFL right now. Quarterbacks still need protection from that angle, too.
Honorable mention: Eric Winston, Bengals
Defense
Defensive ends: Julius Peppers, Packers; Mario Williams, Dolphins
Peppers was the No. 2 pick in the 2002 draft and an instant success with 12 sacks, winning the Defensive Rookie of the Year award. He helped Carolina to the Super Bowl a year later but was just edged out by the Patriots in a 32-29 loss. Peppers reached the NFC Championship Game three more times with his three teams but never got back to the big game. His 143.5 sacks rank fifth since sacks have become an official stat, and he should be a lock for Canton.
Williams was a somewhat controversial No. 1 pick in 2006 because of the availability of college superstars Reggie Bush and Vince Young, but he was still probably the right pick for Houston. Though the past two seasons have been down years for Williams, he has 97.5 career sacks and was named to his only All-Pro team in 2014 with Buffalo. He was injured in 2011 when Houston made its first playoff appearance, and he only made his playoff debut this month in a wild-card loss at Pittsburgh.
Honorable mention: Cameron Wake, Dolphins
Kyle Williams, Bills; Calais Campbell, Cardinals
Williams would clean up on any "most underrated players of this era" list. Just a fifth-round pick in 2006, Williams has started 146 games and made four Pro Bowls for Buffalo. He notched a career-high 10.5 sacks in 2013. Of course, by playing for Buffalo, that means Williams has never made the playoffs in his career. He'll never get any Hall of Fame consideration, but he has been one of the better defensive tackles of his era.
Campbell technically gets listed at defensive end, but he also plays inside a lot for the Cardinals. He was just a backup in 2008 when Arizona nearly beat Pittsburgh in Super Bowl XLIII, but Campbell has turned into one of the best linemen of his era. He made his second Pro Bowl in 2015, but Arizona lost at Carolina in the NFC Championship Game. Campbell's voice has the texture of an old Hollywood legend despite being 30 years old.
Honorable mention: Glenn Dorsey, 49ers
Elvis Dumervil, Ravens; Tamba Hali, Chiefs
Dumervil was thought to be too small for the NFL, so he fell to the fourth round despite his huge sack production at Louisville (20 sacks in 2005). All he has done in the NFL is rack up 99 career sacks to go along with five Pro Bowls and two first-team All-Pro seasons. Unfortunately, some bad timing has led to Dumervil never getting past the divisional round of the playoffs. As a member of the Broncos, he lost to the 2012 Ravens at home in an overtime classic. After a free agency fax fiasco, he ended up with the Ravens in 2013 after they had already won the Super Bowl. Meanwhile, Denver went on to two more Super Bowls without him, while Dumervil has only made the playoffs once in Baltimore.
Hali has been another standout member of the 2006 draft class, playing all 11 of his seasons for Kansas City. Sadly, that also means he has never gotten past the second round of the playoffs, as the Chiefs are just 1-5 in the postseason in that time. Hali made five straight Pro Bowls from 2011 to 2015 but took a reduced role this past season (career-low 34 tackles) at age 33. He has 89.5 career sacks to go along with 32 forced fumbles.
Honorable mention: Thomas Davis, Panthers
Inside linebackers: Derrick Johnson, Chiefs; Karlos Dansby, Bengals
Here we go with another long-time Kansas City linebacker. Johnson was a first-round pick in 2005 and has made four Pro Bowls as well as an All-Pro selection in 2011. He tore his Achilles in Week 14 against Oakland and was unable to play against the Steelers in the playoffs -- definitely a blow to what was a very promising season for the Chiefs.
Can you tell that Arizona and Kansas City have not won a Super Bowl despite some really talented players? The Cardinals drafted Dansby in the second round in 2004, and he was a 16-game starter for the first time on the 2008 Super Bowl team that nearly won. Dansby has since played for Miami, Arizona again and the two Ohio teams, but has not made the playoffs since the 2009 season. He has been a versatile defender with 42 sacks, 19 interceptions (six touchdowns), 18 forced fumbles and 999 solo tackles.
Honorable mention: David Harris, Jets
Cornerbacks: Antonio Cromartie, Colts; Vontae Davis, Colts
Both played for the Colts this season, but Cromartie was released after four games. At the start of his career with San Diego in 2006, he looked like the next big thing. He intercepted 10 passes in 2007, an All-Pro season, but like the other great Chargers players on this list, he couldn't get past the Patriots in the AFC Championship Game that season. Cromartie helped the Jets get past New England to reach the 2010 AFC Championship Game but fell in Pittsburgh. The four-time Pro Bowler has not played in a postseason win since then.
Davis was famously traded from the Dolphins to the Colts on an episode of HBO's "Hard Knocks" in 2012. He became the team's best defender, helping the Colts reach the AFC Championship Game in 2014. Injury slowed him a bit in 2016, but Davis still ranked 19th in coverage success rate, according to Sports Info Solutions charting (subscription required).
Honorable mention: Terence Newman, Vikings; Brent Grimes, Buccaneers
Eric Weddle, Ravens; Reggie Nelson, Raiders
Look, another longtime San Diego standout. Weddle made a one-handed interception of a Peyton Manning pass as a rookie in the playoffs, but lost in his only AFC Championship Game appearance in New England the following week. Weddle has made three Pro Bowls with two All-Pro seasons, all with the Chargers, before he joined Baltimore this past season.
Nelson has always had a good eye for the ball. He has 35 interceptions since Jacksonville made him a first-round pick in 2007, and he has made the Pro Bowl in each of the past two seasons for the Bengals and Raiders. Unfortunately, Nelson has watched his teams lose seven straight playoff games. Despite his 13 interceptions over the past two seasons, his teams had to start AJ McCarron and Connor Cook in the playoffs because of late-season injuries to Andy Dalton and Derek Carr. Chalk this up to some bad luck.
Honorable mention: Jairus Byrd, Saints
Special teams
Kicker: Matt Bryant, Falcons
Bryant finally made his first Pro Bowl at age 41, but he has been a great kicker for a long time. As a rookie on the 2002 Giants, Bryant had a chance at a game-winning field goal in a wild-card playoff game in San Francisco, but New York infamously botched the snap, denying Bryant a shot. He has been money in the clutch though. On field goals in the fourth quarter or overtime that can tie the game or take the lead, Bryant is 35-of-40 (87.5 percent) in his career. Bryant will make his first Super Bowl appearance against the Patriots in a game that could come down to his leg.
Honorable mention: Robbie Gould, Giants
Pat McAfee, Colts
He can crush a punt, kick the ball through the end zone for a touchback, squib an onside kick, complete a pass and do stand-up comedy. McAfee was a Pro Bowl punter again this season after being an All-Pro for the Colts in 2014. However, his best shot at a ring came in his rookie season when the 2009 Colts lost to the Saints in Super Bowl XLIV.
Honorable mention: Shane Lechler, Texans
Return specialist: Darren Sproles, Eagles
A great receiving back too, Sproles ranks seventh in NFL history in combined return yardage on kickoffs and punts with 11,132 yards. He has seven punt-return touchdowns and two kick-return touchdowns in his career. Sproles was on those very talented San Diego teams that failed to reach the Super Bowl, and he joined the Saints two years after their Super Bowl win.
Honorable mention: Ted Ginn Jr., Panthers
