The New England Patriots have won six Super Bowls and 11 AFC championships. Although most of those dynastic years came during the era of one starting quarterback, Tom Brady, there were many great players who supported their winning runs along the way.
Before Brady emerged as the clear greatest Patriot of all time, New England had its fair share of legends, from its AFL birth in Boston to its rising NFL glory in Foxborough.
The Sporting News ranks the 18 best players in Patriots history, from their current head coach, Mike Vrabel, to his former teammate and TD pass thrower, Brady.
Players were ranked based on a points system made up of nine categories. Points from a scale of 1-10 were assigned based on each player's strength in a particular category and added up for a final score.
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18. Bruce Armstrong (1987-2000)
Accolades: 14 seasons, 6 Pro Bowls
Why he made SN's list: Bruce Armstrong was the classic rock of a left tackle for many seasons before the Brady era, known mostly as Drew Bledsoe's reliable blindside blocker. He started all 212 games in which played.
Place in Patriots history: Armstrong, a first-rounder who delivered from Louisville, gets the nod as the best tackle New England has ever had over Matt Light and others, honoring the AFC championship run under Bill Parcells.
| Category | Points |
| Number of seasons | 10 |
| Stats | N/A |
| Awards | 5 |
| Playoff success | 7 |
| Best 3-5 year stretch | 7 |
| Health | 8 |
| Franchise records | 7 |
| Cultural impact | 4 |
| Retirement honors | 4 |
| Total | 52 |
