Vriesman's Team

QB
Tom Brady $14,626,720 *
Jay Cutler $2,325,000

WR
Lee Evans $3,130,334 *
Devin Hester $795,000
T.J. Houshmand.. $3,687,500 *
DJ Hackett $1,217,500
Marques Colston $458,960 *
Muhsin Muhammad $1,256,240

RB
Adrian Peterson $2,431,360 *
Maurice Jones-Drew $685,000
L. Tomlinson $7,822,786 *

OL
Jake Long $2,000,000 *
Tony Ugoh $786,666
Nick Kaczur $1,398,720 *
Ryan Cook $751,360
Steve Hutchinson $6,500,000 *
Marcus McNeill $757,120
Logan Mankins $1,406,720 *
Artis Hicks $981,360
Matt Birk $6,012,076 *
Jeromey Clary $376,120

TE
Alge Crumpler $2,056,720 *

DE
Jevon Kearse $2,600,000 *
LaMarr Woodley $726,720
Osi Umenyiora $4,987,500 *
James Hall $1,655,760

DT
Tommie Harris $1,645,470 *
Tank Johnson $825,000
Kevin Williams $4,209,249 *
Shaun Cody $1,120,000

LB
Shawne Merriman $2,643,620 *
Victor Hobson $491,720
Lance Briggs $5,471,666 *
Zach Thomas $1,250,000
AJ Hawk $4,827,970 *
Boss Bailey $1,565,000

CB
Antonio Cromarte $1,731,120 *
Chris Gamble $1,983,740
CB DeAngelo Hall $2,168,106 *
Leon Hall $1,562,500

FS
Ed Reed $3,411,720 *
Chris Crocker $1,090,000

SS
Darren Sharper $4,300,000 *
Terrence Holt $485,000

K
Mason Crosby $399,727 *
Nick Folk $397,000

P
Andy Lee $997,666 *
Ryan Plackemeier $455,500

Returner Joshua Cribbs $1,045,000 *

Total: $114,111,296


I looked long and hard at the NFL, the players, and the salary cap for this monumental occasion. And this is what I came up with after a few grueling hours of reflection and investigation.
Obviously this team is built around Tom Brady, not only because he is the best quarterback in the NFL, but because he makes his team better, expecially is wide receivers. This is why I could substitute Randy Moss and his 6 Mill contract for Lee Evans, who is a speedy receiver who will get downfield and had great numbers even when JP Losman was throwing him the ball. He would immediately become a fantasy god. I could then add Colston and Houshmanzedah to the list because they are amazing receivers who will make this offense move. Who remembers Wes Welker and company before last year? Add Houshmanzedah and Colston (who is vastly underpaid I found out) to the list and you have an amazing wide receiving corps alongside Evans.

This team is also loaded at the running back position. Peterson and Tomlinson in the same backfield will create havoc on the entire league. I would implement the wishbone offense with two running backs and three wide receivers in most circumstances, which would mean that the aformentioned receivers would be backed up with Tomlinson and Peterson running out of the backfield (or catching passes in the flat) and would create havoc with any play action set. Allowing the running back to hit a hole on the right or left side without warning is extremely dangerous, and the defense will not be able to load either side to compensate. And with Maurice Jones-Drew, who is another extremely underpaid player, coming in to make plays as well, this backfield is almost a dream. Allowing any of the three running backs to hit the holes on either side of the offensive line, and not allowing the defense to adjust one way or the other is devastating, along with the possiblity of this offense to turn into a 5 wide set with Tomlinson and Peterson running from either side into open field.

The receivers will have time to run their routes and Peterson and Tomlinson will have abundant holes to run through since Birk, Hutchinson, and Long anchor this offensive line. Not only will Brady have time to throw to his talented wideouts, the running backs (who finished 1-2 last year in yards mind you) will have ample holes to run through and gain yards from the left or right, or to catch passes on their respective sidelines. Not to mention bringing in Alge Crumpler in certain occasions when a tight end is called for.

The defense is anchored with the surprising Tommie Harris and big Kevin Williams clogging the middle. Supplementing this with the "Freak" Jevon Kearse and Umenyiora makes this defensive line something to be reckoned with, whether the offense wants to run or pass. Merriman, Briggs, and Hawk bring pass defense and shutting down the run to a whole new level, demolishing any who would get past this HOF defensive line. And the DBs and safetys, who picked off and extraordinary amount of passes last year, will have a field day with the many pressured and erratic throws coming from an unsuspecting and harried QB.

I also dare you to investigate the kind of years Mason Crosby, Nick Folk, Andy Lee, Ryan Plackemeier, and Joshua Cribbs had last year. The special teams is anchored by the best two placekickers in the NFL, and whenever this team doesn't get into field goal range, will place the opponent within their own 20 yard line in more regulatory fashion than any other team. Not to mention Cribbs, who led the league last year in return yards while fielding kickoffs and punt returns.

Not to mentino the backups could start for most other teams, consider most of them actually DO. And Hester being a backup wide receiver and also the backup returner is just a bonus.

My head coach would obviously be Bill Belichick, since he has coached Tom Brady and can make this offense the most feared in the NFL. Along with Tom Moore, the best offensive coordinator in the NFL of the Indianapolis Colts, who could make the offensive talent on this team unstoppable. And oh, let's not forget Dom Capers, the defensive coordinator who made the New England Patriots look tame. He would make this D into the best unit there is on the field. Hey, if Bill Parcells likes him...............