New Orleans Saints: Four players make NFL 2010s All-Decade Team

The National Football League has released its version of its 2010s All-Decade Team. Which four members of the New Orleans Saints made it, and which ones were left off?

The NFL and the Pro Football Hall of Fame compiled a list of 52 players and two head coaches for their 2010s All-Decade Team.

Some unanimous choices for this squad were quarterback Tom Brady, head coach Bill Belichick, and linebacker Von Miller, but some other choices included four players who donned the Black and Gold in the Big Easy for some time.

Current Saints defensive end Cameron Jordan made the cut, as he was drafted in 2011 as a first-round pick and has posted 87.0 career sacks and five Pro Bowl appearances under his belt in nine seasons.

Two former running backs made this list as well, with Adrian Peterson making the team as an All-Pro with the Minnesota Vikings and making four Pro Bowls before playing for three other teams in the New Orleans Saints, Arizona Cardinals and Washington Redskins.

Darren Sproles was chosen in two positions, flex and punt returner, to go along with his three Pro Bowl nods and Super Bowl LII championship title, elevating his case for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

The final member of the Saints to make it was on the offensive side of the team, but not future Hall of Fame quarterback Drew Brees.

Offensive guard Jahri Evans, a member of the Super Bowl XLIV champion team, got to be a part of the All-Decade squad after earning five Pro Bowl nods as a Saint, surely boosting his case for the Hall as well.

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Now, three of the biggest discrepancies from the NFL’s list were quarterback Drew Brees, wide receiver Michael Thomas and even punter Thomas Morstead.

The clearest snub belongs to Brees, who was right behind Tom Brady in elite status, Pro Bowl selections and productivity.

Aaron Rodgers was the controversial pick on this team, even though Brees made nine Pro Bowls while Rodgers made seven, and Brees set all-time NFL records in completions, passing yards, touchdowns, completions in a game, season and career, consecutive games with a touchdown pass, most 5,000 yard passing seasons and tied for most touchdown passes in a game.

Next, Michael Thomas didn’t make the list despite posting three straight Pro Bowl bids, an NFL offensive Player of the Year Award and the most receptions in a season in NFL history.

Wideouts Antonio Brown, Larry Fitzgerald, Calvin Johnson, and Julio Jones made the team, leaving Thomas on the outside looking in simply because he didn’t enter the league until 2016 as a second-round selection.

Even Thomas Morstead failed to make the team, even though he made a Pro Bowl and is recognized as one of the league’s premier punters, he was passed over for players with more Pro Bowls in Johnny Hekker and Shane Lechler.

Another mention is tight end Jimmy Graham, who got to play in five Pro Bowls, with three of them coming in New Orleans, but Rob Gronkowski and Travis Kelce won the recognition because of their Super Bowl rings.

Gronkowski and Kelce made five Pro Bowls just like Graham, but Gronkowski won three Super Bowls and Kelce won Super Bowl LIV, leaving Graham with no contest in ring-counting.

Some members of the Saints should arguably be on that list, but there’s always the chance for younger players in New Orleans to make their mark by winning a Super Bowl and trying to get on the 2020s squad next decade.