PatsPropaganda

Four Patriots make the list from Bruschi:

Ninkovich:

How many times does the seven-year veteran have to make plays to be recognized as a star? He’s played outside linebacker in the 34, defensive end in the 43 and also shows up on special teams at times, and while Jerod Mayo and Vince Wilfork receive a lot of the attention, Ninkovich has emerged as a clutch performer who delivers when his team needs it most. When the Patriots signed him a few days into 2009 training camp, he had just been cut by the Saints as a long snapper but he’s developed into much more than that for the Patriots.

Woodhead:

How can you not get fired up watching him play? At 5-foot-8 and 200 pounds, he’s one of the smaller players in the NFL, and yet he still breaks tackles and comes up big when his team needs it most. He’ll produce in different ways. Run between the tackles? Done. Get a first down on third-and-17? Done. Beat a ‘backer in man to man coverage? Done. He is a football player. Period. He may be this team’s captain.

Wendell:

He just finds a way to get the job done despite being undersized (6-2, 300), a bit slow, and not overpowering. You look at him and ask, “How has he managed to stay in the NFL?” He’s crafty, a little bit nasty, and he plays with a lot of spunk. He’ll block his man by any means necessary, and like Brandon Moore, has come up the hard way as an undrafted free agent out of Fresno State.

Slater:

One of the true professionals in the game, he’s already made two Pro Bowls, so it’s more his journey that lands him on this team. It’s about hard work, faith and professionalism. He’s grown into one of the best in the business, with Bill Belichick drawing a comparison to perennial Pro Bowler Larry Izzo.