Team Building and All-Pro Football 2K8

[Boffo97]

With some of the recent talk lately about who you would take on a custom team, I thought it might be kind of fun to look at the choices that the game All-Pro Football 2K8 (which attempted to get past EA Sport's NFL exclusivity by licensing with retired players directly) provided its players to do just that. Here's the catch: The players you can choose from are divided into 3 lists... Gold, Silver and Bronze. You can take just 2 players from the Gold list, 3 players from the Silver list, and 6 players from the Bronze list. The rest of your team are Just A Guys.

So who do you pick?

Here are the lists from the game, along with the qualities the game ascribes to them (for offense players only). Lists are restricted to only players who were retired before 2008 and who made a deal with Sega:

Gold List: (Remember, only 2 from all these players)

Quarterbacks - Gold
-------------------
Dan Marino - Pocket Presence, Quick Release, 4th Qtr, Laser Arm, Rocket Arm
Joe Montana - Scrambler, Clutch, Signal Steal, Leadership, Laser Arm
John Elway - Cadence, 4th Qtr, Scrambler, Speed Burner, Rocker Arm
John Unitus - Pocket Presence, Tough as Nails, Clutch, Signal Steal, Laser Arm
Otto Graham - Scrambler, Clutch, Leadership, Stamina
Roger Staubach - 4th Qtr, Tough as Nails, Scrambler, Leadership
Sammy Baugh - Signal Steal, Laser Arm, Rocket Arm
Steve Young - Tough as Nails, Scrambler, Quick Feet, Speed Burner, Laser Arm
Troy Aikmen - Pocket Presence, Signal Stealer, Leadership
Warren Moon - Pocket Presence, Pass Threat, Signal Stealer, Rocket Arm

Half Backs - Gold
-----------------
Barry Sanders - Branching Tackles, Cutback, Quick Feet, Speed Burner, Finesse
Earl Cambell - Branchin Tackles, Workhorse, Stamina, Power
Emmitt Smith - Arm of Steel, Branchin Tackles, Workhorse, Durability, Goaline
Gale Saylers - Return Spec, Break Away, Quick Feet, Speed Burner, Finesse
Leroy Kelly - Return Spec, Durability, Soft Hands
Marcus Allen - Clutch, Branching Tackles, Cutback, Soft Hands, Goalline.
O.J. Simpson - Break Away, Quick Feet, Speed Burner, Finesse
Pual Hornung - Clutch, Leadership, Soft Hands
Thurman Thomas - Arm of Steel, Stop on a Dime, Soft Hands, Finesse
Walter Payton - Leadership, Durability, Goalline, Scissors, Finesse and Power

Fullbacks - Gold
----------------
Joe Perry - Cutback, Speed Burner

Wide Receivers - Gold
---------------------
Fred Biletnikoff - Deep Threat, Clutch, Durability, Soft Hands
James Lofton - Deep Threat, Durability, Speed Burner
Jerry Rice - Route God, Clutch, Break Away, Leadership, Soft Hands
Raymond Berry - Route God, Bumper, Tough in Middle, Possession Rec, Secure Ball

Tight Ends - Gold
-----------------
Jackie Smith - Bulldozer, Durability, Soft Hands
John Mackey - Return Spec, Break Away, Durability, Speed Burner
Mike Ditka - Tough in Middle, Leadership, Bulldozer, Durability, Strength
Shannon Sharpe - Route God, Speed Burner

Centers - Gold
--------------
Dwight Stephenson - Stonewall, Brick Wall, Qucik Feet, Speed Burner
Jim Otto - Leadership, Bulldozer, Durability

Guards - Gold
-------------
Larry Little - Leadership, Brick Wall, Bulldozer, Quick Feet, Speed Burner
Russ Grimm - Bulldozer, Speed Burner, Strength
Stan Jones - Leadership, Brick Wall, Quick Feet, Strength

Tackles - Gold
--------------
Anthony Munoz - Stonewall, Bulldozer, Quick Feet, Strength
Bob Brown - Stonewall, Brick Wall, Quick Feet, Strength
Jim Parker - Stonewall, Brick Wall, Strength
Ron Mix - Speed Burner, Stamina, Strength
Rossevelt Brown - Clutch, Brick Wall, Speed Burner

Defensive Tackles - Gold
------------------------
Art Donovan
Bob Lilly
Randy White

Defensive Ends - Gold
---------------------
Deacon Jones
Gino Marchetti
Lee Roy Selmon
Reggie White

Outside Linebackers - Gold
--------------------------
Dave Wilcox
Derrick Thomas

Inside Linebackers - Gold
-------------------------
Dick Butkus
Jack Lambert
Joe Schmidt
Mike Singletary

Cornerbacks - Gold
------------------
Mike Haynes
Night Train Lane
Rod Woodson
Willie Brown

Free Safetys - Gold
-------------------
Cliff Harris
Ronnie Lott
Willie Wood

=========================================================
OK, now 3 players from the Silver List:

Quarterbacks - Silver
---------------------
Archie Manning - Tough as Nails, Durability
Bart Starr - Clutch, Signal Steal, Leadership
Joe Theisemann - Leadership, Laser Arm
Ken Stabler - Deception, Scrambler, Clutch, Leadership
Len Dawson - Play Fake, Clutch, Laser Arm
Randall Cunningham - Scrambler, Quick Feet, Speed Burner, Rocket Arm, QB Evade

Half Backs - Silver
-------------------
Abner Haynes - Soft Hands
Billy Sims - Break Away Burst, Finesse
Charley Trippi - Quick Feet
Chris Warren - Workhorse
Chuck Forman - Ankle Breaker, Soft Hands
Chuck Muncie - Arm of Steel, Branching Tackles
Curt Warner - Battering Ram, Stop on a Dime, Workhorse
Hugh McElhenny - Return Specialist, Cutback Ability
Matt Snell - Battering Ram, Brick Wall, Bulldozer
Otis Anderson - Battering Ram, Workhorse, Secure Ball
Ricky Walters - Possession Recevier, Cyclone, Soft Hands
Roger Craig - Mr. 3rd Down, Possession Receiver, Cyclone, Soft Hands
Tony Canadeo - Return Specialist

Full Backs - Silver
-------------------
Daryl Johnston - Brick Wall, Bulldozer, Soft Hands
Ickey Woods - Power

Wide Receivers - Silver
-----------------------
Andre Reed - Tough in Middle, Mr. 3rd Down, Possession, Break Away, Quick Feet
Bobby Mitchell - Deep Threat, Return Spec, Ankle Breaker, Speed Burner
Charley Taylor - Bumper, Return Spec, Ankle Breaker, Cutback, Quick Feet
Dante Levelli - Route God, Bumper, Soft Hands
Don Maynard - Route God, Bumper, Tough in Middle, Deep Threat, Soft Hands
Drew Pearson - Deep Threat, Clutch, Speed Burner
Gray Clark - Tough in Middle, Break Away, Quick Feet
Henry Ellard - Return Spec, Hops
Herman Moore - Bumper, Acrobatic Catches, Mr 3rd Down, Magic Feet, Possession
Irving Fryar - Tough in Middle, Possession, Return Spec, Soft Hands
John Jefferson - Acrobatic Catches
Lenny Moore - Ankle Breaker
Pete Pihos - Bumper, Tough in Middle, Battering Ram, Stamina

Tight Ends - Silver
-------------------
Ben Coates - Break Away, Soft Hands, Strength
Billy Joe Dupree - Bulldozer
Brent Jones - Mr 3rd Down, Possession
Jay Novacek - Tough in Middle, Possession
Keith Jackson - Bulldozer
Todd Christensen - Route God, Magic Feet, Break Away

Centers - Silver
----------------
Dermontti Dawson - Bulldozer, Durability, Strength
Jim Langer - Bulldozer, Durability, Quick Feet, Strength

Guards - Silver
---------------
Joe DeLamielleure - Stonewall, Bulldozer, Speed Burner
Randall McDaniel - Strength
Tom Mack - Leadership, Durability

Tackles - Silver
----------------
Bob St. Clair - Brick Wall, Bulldozer, Speed Burner, Strength
Jim Lachey - Brick Wall
Lou Creekmur - Brick Wall, Bulldozer, Durability
Mike Munchak - Special Team Demon, Brick Wall, Strength
Rayfield Wright - Quick Feet, Speed Burner
Richmond Webb - Brick Wall
Ron Yary - Durability, Quick Feet

Kickers - Silver
----------------
Jan Stenerud - Clutch, Kick Accuracy, Kick Power

Defensive Tackles - Silver
--------------------------
Dan Hampton
Jerome Brown
Keith Millard

Defensive Ends - Silver
-----------------------
Chris Doleman
Elvin Bethea
Jack Youngblood
L.C. Greenwood
Leslie O'Neal
Too Tall Jones

Outside Linebackers - Silver
----------------------------
Chuck Bednarik
Greg Lloyde

Inside Linebackers - Silver
---------------------------
Harry Carson
Jessie Tuggle
Karl Mecklenburg
Nick Buoniconti

Cornerbacks - Silver
--------------------
Lem Barney
Lester Hayes
Mel Renfro
Roger Wehrli

Strong Safetys - Silver
-----------------------
Dick Anderson
George McAfee
Joey Browner
Leroy Butler

Free Safetys - Silver
---------------------
Deron Cherry
Eric Tuner
Jack Tatum

===================================
And finally, the bronze list. You get 6 guys from here to round out the team, and everyone else is a JAG:

Quarterbacks - Bronze
---------------------
Andre Ware - Pass Threat
Bernie Kosar - Pocket Pressence, Signal Stealer, Laser Arm
Bill Wade - Scrambler
Bobby Hebert - Rocket Arm
Bubby Brister -
Dave Krieg - Scrambler, Laser Arm
Greg Landry - Scrambler, Quick Feet
Jeff Hostetler - Scrambler
Jim Harbaugh - 4th Qtr, Laser Arm
Jim Hart - 4th Qtr
Jim Zorn - Scrambler
John Brodie - Leadership
Ken O’Brien - Pocket Pressence, Signal Stealer
Lynn Dickey - Play Fake
Mark Rypien - Rocket Arm
Neil O’Donnell - Signal Stealer, Leadership
Steve Bartowski - Signal Stealer, Strength, Rocket Arm
Steve Grogan - Tough As Nails, Scrambler, Quick Feet
Tommy Kramer - 4th Qtr, Quick Feet

Half Backs - Bronze
-------------------
Barry Foster - Battering Ram
Christian Okoye - Battering Ram, Branching Tackles, Workhorse, Strength
Dalton Hillard - Cyclone
Dave Meggett - Return Spec, Ankle Breaker, Stop on a Dime, Soft Hands
Eric Bieniemy - Return Spec, Cyclone, Soft Hands
Floyd Little - Return Spec, Cutback
Freeman McNeil - Ankle Breaker, Cutback
Greg Bell - Arm of Steel
Mike Rozier - Arm of Steel
Natrone Means - Battering Ram, Workhorse
Reggie Cobb -
Ronnie Bull - Soft Hands
Tony Nathan - Soft Hands

Fullbacks - Bronze
------------------
Merril Hoge - Arm of Steel, Soft Hands
Tom Rathman - Brick Wall, Soft Hands

Wide Receivers - Bronze
-----------------------
Alvin Harper - Acrobatic, Deep Threat, Speed Burner
Anthony Carter - Acrobactic Soft Hands
Cliff Branch - Acrobactic, Deep Threat, Speed Burner
Dwight Clark - Magic Feet, Clutch, Soft Hands
Eric Martin - Bump Buster
Earnest Givins - Hops, Quick Feet
John Taylor - Return Spec, Ankle Breaker, Soft Hands, Strength
Mark Carrier - Acrobatic Catches, Magic Feet
Rick Upchurch - Return Spec
Ricky Sanders - Return Spec, Quick Feet, Soft Hands
Bob Moore - Tough in Middle, Acrobatic Catches, Possession, Soft Hands
Rocket Ismail - Return Spec, Speed Burner
Steve Tasker - Special Team Demon, Big Hit, Strength
Tony Martin - Deep Threat
Wesley Walker - Magic Feet, Deep Threat, Return Spec, Stamina
Willie Gault - Deep Threat, Speed Burner
Yancey Thigpen - Soft Hands

Tight Ends - Bronze
-------------------
Eric Green - Bulldozer
Pete Metzelaars - Tough in Middle, Possession
Troy Drayton -

Centers - Bronze
----------------
Bill Cury - Leadership
Jesse Sapolu - Durability, Strength
Mick Tingelhoff - Bulldozer, Durability

Guard - Bronze
--------------
Bill Fralic - Strength
Guy McIntyre - Brick Wall
Randy Cross - Brick Wall
Steve Wisniewski - Leader

Tackles - Bronze
----------------
Bubba Paris - Strength
Joe Jacoby - Bulldozer, Strength
Korey Stringer - Brick Wall, Strength
Tony Boselli - Brick Wall

Kickers - Bronze
----------------
Al Del Greco - Kick Accuracy, Kick Power
Eddie Murray - Kick Accuracy
Garo Yepremian - Kick Accuracy
Jeff Jaegar - Kick Accuracy, Kick Power, Strength
Jim Bakken - Clutch, Durability
Lou Groza - Stamina

Punters - Bronze
----------------
Ray Guy - Coffin Corner, Clutch, Kick Accuracy, Kick Power

Defensive Tackles - Bronze
--------------------------
Dan Slaeumua
Dave Butz
Greg Kragen
Leon Lett
Marty Lyons
Mike Golic
William Perry

Defensive Ends - Bronze
-----------------------
Clyde Simmons
Dexter Manley
Harvey Martin
Jim Marshall
Rulon Jones
Tony Tolbert

Outside Linebackers - Bronze
----------------------------
Brad Van Pelt
Bryce Paup
Carl Banks
John Anderson
Lamar Lathon
Otis Wilson
Robert Brazile

Inside Linebackers - Bronze
---------------------------
Brian Bosworth
Brian Jones
Chris Spielman
Chuck Noil
Gray Plummer
John Offerdahl
Ken Norton Jr.
Pepper Johnson
Scott Studwell

Cornerbacks - Bronze
--------------------
Albert Lewis
Terry McDaniel
Tom Brookshier

Strong Safetys - Bronze
-----------------------
Charlie Walters

Free Safetys - Bronze
---------------------
Eugene Robinson
Fred Marion
Nolan Cromwell
Soloman Wilcots

=====

Again, 2 from the Gold List, 3 from the Silver List, 6 from the Bronze List, and JAGs round out your team. Lots of names to go through, I know. But who do you pick?

Lists courtesy of: http://www.gamefaqs.com/ps3/938066-all-pro-football-2k8/faqs/49569

 

[Memento]

Gold List: Dan Marino (QB) and James Lofton (WR).
Silver List: Lou Creekmur (OT), Todd Christiansen (TE), and Andre Reed (WR).
Bronze List: Korey Stringer (OT), Guy McIntyre (OG), Steve Wisniewski (OG), Mick Tingelhoff (OC), Christian Okoye (RB), and Dave Meggett (RB).

Try to stop this offense.

 

[Boffo97]

Gold List: Dan Marino (QB) and James Lofton (WR).
Silver List: Lou Creekmur (OT), Todd Christiansen (TE), and Andre Reed (WR).
Bronze List: Korey Stringer (OT), Guy McIntyre (OG), Steve Wisniewski (OG), Mick Tingelhoff (OC), Christian Okoye (RB), and Dave Meggett (RB).

Try to stop this offense.

Counting on winning shootouts, I see?

 

[Wonderboy]

Gold List: Dan Marino (QB) and James Lofton (WR).
Silver List: Lou Creekmur (OT), Todd Christiansen (TE), and Andre Reed (WR).
Bronze List: Korey Stringer (OT), Guy McIntyre (OG), Steve Wisniewski (OG), Mick Tingelhoff (OC), Christian Okoye (RB), and Dave Meggett (RB).

Try to stop this offense.

Wow, Lofton over Rice? That would be tough to do!

 

[Memento]

Wow, Lofton over Rice? That would be tough to do!

Didn't want to choose a Forty-Whiner on this team. I'm fairly certain that Lofton never wore the hated red and gold.

 

[Mick]

No Dickerson....toss that game in the trash without Dickerson.

 

[Boffo97]

No Dickerson....toss that game in the trash without Dickerson.

Dickerson is definitely a huge leave-out. And definitely the gold star class.

I also think Jack Youngblood should have been gold star class, but I'm biased. He was my Rams hero growing up.

 

[Memento]

Dickerson is definitely a huge leave-out. And definitely the gold star class.

I also think Jack Youngblood should have been gold star class, but I'm biased. He was my Rams hero growing up.

Nobody was a bigger leave-out than Merlin Olsen.

 

[Boffo97]

Nobody was a bigger leave-out than Merlin Olsen.

Agreed again. It was likely a case of just how much was budgeted for rights, and when they signed enough people for each category, they stopped trying.

Some of the dudes in Bronze really belong nowhere near an "All-Star" game.

 

[The Rammer]

No Dickerson....toss that game in the trash without Dickerson.

Dickerson is definitely a huge leave-out. And definitely the gold star class.

I also think Jack Youngblood should have been gold star class, but I'm biased. He was my Rams hero growing up.

Nobody was a bigger leave-out than Merlin Olsen.

My exact thoughts looking at gold lists!

 

[-X-]

Dan Marino
Barry Sanders

Herman Moore
Jack Youngblood
Lester Hayes

Tom Rathman (lol, can you even imagine Rathman blocking for Sanders?)
Willie Gault
Nolan Cromwell
Chris Spielman
The Fridge
Bryce Paup (I named my son after him)

 

[Ramrasta]

John Elway
Deacon Jones

Jack Youngblood
Otis Anderson
Bobby Mitchell

Korey Stringer
Nolan Cromwell
Brian Bosworth
Albert Lewis
Randy Cross
Eric Green

I went with a balanced squad. Jones and Youngblood would be a powerful duo on defense.

 

[Mojo Ram]

Gold
John Elway QB
Reggie White DE

Silver
Gary Clarke WR
John Jefferson WR
Lester Hayes DB

Bronze
Natrone Means "business" RB
William Perry DT
Nolan Cromwell DB
Carl Banks LB
Tony Boselli LT
Tom Rathman FB

 

[Memphis Ram]

Gold
QB John Elway
DL Reggie White

Silver
DE Chris Doleman & his 150 Sacks
OC Dermontti Dawson
CB Lem Barney

Bronze
OT Tony Boselli
OG Bill Fralic
OG Steve Wisniewski
WR John Taylor
LB Carl Banks
CB Albert Lewis

 

[Thordaddy]

Dan Marino
Barry Sanders

Herman Moore
Jack Youngblood
Lester Hayes

Tom Rathman (lol, can you even imagine Rathman blocking for Sanders?)
Willie Gault
Nolan Cromwell
Chris Spielman
The Fridge
Bryce Paup (I named my son after him)

I can't imagine wanting to block for Sanders ,much rather block for a guy like Emmitt who never left you in second and 14,went where the play was designed to go. Sanders is to me the Mike Vick of RBs. turned what is supposed to be a team effort into individual accomplishment w/o the team often enough that people tended to not have faith that the play being called was the one that would be run.
Don't know how many times I saw the Lions give Barry the ball he puts them in 2nd and 12 because he reverses and runs into a traling DE, they get sacked on second down and it's third and 20 and then they give Barry the ball on a draw and the announcers nod stupidly and erroneously BK Barry was just as likely when the worst QB they probably ever had threw twice as many 20 yard passes as Barry had 20 yard runs and had a better YPA than Barry.
Loved his tallent amazing athlete but he never took teams as far as less flashy more conventional backs and the above is why IMO.

 

[Boffo97]

Gold
QB John Elway
DL Reggie White

Silver
DE Chris Doleman & his 150 Sacks
OC Dermontti Dawson
CB Lem Barney

Bronze
OT Tony Boselli
OG Bill Fralic
OG Steve Wisniewski
WR John Taylor
LB Carl Banks
CB Albert Lewis

Great QB, great OL, killer defense... no HB is a little puzzling. Your team vs. Memento's would be a really good game.

 

[LosAngelesRams]

Gold
Decon Jones - DE
Night Train Lane - CB

Silver
Jack Youngblood - DE
Dick Anderson - SS
Deron Cherry - FS

Bronze
Dave Butz - DT
Leon Lett - DT
Brad Van Pelt - OLB
Chris Spielman - MLB
Bryce Paup - OLB
Albert Lewis - CB

 

[Memphis Ram]

Great QB, great OL, killer defense... no HB is a little puzzling. Your team vs. Memento's would be a really good game.

I could win with Kenneth Darby as my feature back with my Oline.

 

[Boffo97]

Gold
Decon Jones - DE
Night Train Lane - CB

Silver
Jack Youngblood - DE
Dick Anderson - SS
Deron Cherry - FS

Bronze
Dave Butz - DT
Leon Lett - DT
Brad Van Pelt - OLB
Chris Spielman - MLB
Bryce Paup - OLB
Albert Lewis - CB

I take it back. I want YOUR team against Memento's team.

 

[-X-]

I can't imagine wanting to block for Sanders ,much rather block for a guy like Emmitt who never left you in second and 14,went where the play was designed to go. Sanders is to me the Mike Vick of RBs. turned what is supposed to be a team effort into individual accomplishment w/o the team often enough that people tended to not have faith that the play being called was the one that would be run.
Don't know how many times I saw the Lions give Barry the ball he puts them in 2nd and 12 because he reverses and runs into a traling DE, they get sacked on second down and it's third and 20 and then they give Barry the ball on a draw and the announcers nod stupidly and erroneously BK Barry was just as likely when the worst QB they probably ever had threw twice as many 20 yard passes as Barry had 20 yard runs and had a better YPA than Barry.
Loved his tallent amazing athlete but he never took teams as far as less flashy more conventional backs and the above is why IMO.

Well, I'll still take a 5.0 YPC and 100 yards per game RB (career) for my team.
You can have Emmitt.