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All-Time Best Patriots by Jersey Number

Here, we rank the best Patriots of all-time by jersey number, 1-99. Some, like No. 12, were no-brainers. Others, like No. 28, were not. We'll start with Nos. 1-3 and work our way all the way to No. 99. Enjoy.

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1-3

1 — John Smith, K, 1974-83: Was a Pro Bowler in 1980. Only two other players have worn No. 1.

2 — Doug Flutie, QB, 1987-89, 2005: Made 12 starts for the Pats. Also made a sick drop kick.

3 — Stephen Gostkowski, K, 2006-present: Almost like a Brett Favre/Aaron Rodgers situation. Gostkowski was drafted to replace a legend in Adam Vinatieri. He currently ranks third all-time in field goal accuracy (87.3 percent).

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4-6

4 — Adam Vinatieri, K, 1996-2005: Not as accurate as Gostkowski, but no one in NFL history has delivered more clutch kicks.

5 — Shayne Graham, K, 2010: When Gostkowski suffered a season-ending thigh injury in 2010, the Pats picked up Graham, who went 12-for-12 on field goals in eight games.

6 — Ryan Allen, P, 2013-present: Allen has a career average of 46.1 yards per punt.

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7-9

7 — Hugh Millen, QB, 1991-92: Millen wasn’t particularly good (17 TDs, 28 INTs), but he did at least play. He wins this one practically by default.

8 — Josh Miller, P, 2004-06: Won a Super Bowl in 2004, averaged 42 yards per punt.

9 — Bryan Wagner, P, 1991, 95: Had two unremarkable stints in New England, which is more than anyone else wearing the No. 9 can say.

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10-12

10 — Jabar Gaffney, WR, 2006-08: Perhaps Jimmy Garoppolo is the pick here come Week 5.

11 — Drew Bledsoe, QB, 1993-2001: Julian Edelman might be the best player not on this list. He’ll go down as a legend in New England, but you can’t justify putting him above Bledsoe.

12 — Tom Brady, QB, 2000-present: Tough break for Matt Cavanaugh.

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13-15

13 — R.C. Gamble, RB, 1968-69: Rushed for 346 yards in 27 career games.

14 — Steve Grogan, QB, 1975-90: A career Patriot, Grogan played 16 seasons in New England. He threw a career-best 28 touchdowns in 1979.

15 — Babe Parilli, QB, 1961-67: Put up some modern numbers —3,465 yards, 31 touchdowns and 27 interceptions — in 1964.

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16-18

16 — Jim Plunkett, QB, 1971-75: There is a case to be made for Matt Cassel here because he went 11-5. There’s also a case to be made for Scott Zolak because he’s Scott Zolak.

17 — Mike Taliaferro, QB, 1968-70: Threw for 19 TDs in 1969. Good enough.

18 — Matthew Slater, ST/WR, 2008-present: Slater beats out wide receiver Randy Vataha, who had over 3,000 yards and 23 touchdowns in six seasons with the Pats.

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19-21

19 — Brandon LaFell, WR, 2014-15: Played a significant role on a Super Bowl-winning team, racking up over 1,000 yards and 9 TDs (playoffs included). Other candidates for this spot include Tom Tupa.

20 — Gino Cappelletti, everything, 1960-70: Cappelletti’s No. 20 is retired by the Pats. No one wore it before him, and no one will wear it after him.

21 — Malcolm Butler, CB, 2014-15: Had a three-day tryout, saved a Super Bowl, made a Pro Bowl.

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22-24

22 — Asante Samuel, CB, 2003-07: Led the NFL with 10 INTs in 2006.

23 — Ron Hall, DB, 1961-67: Picked off 11 passes in 1964. That mark still stands as a Patriots record.

24 — Ty Law, CB, 1995-2004: Thirty-six of Law’s 53 career picks came as a member of the Patriots.

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25-27

25 — Rick Sanford, S, 1979-84: Made 60 starts for the Patriots. Intercepted 16 passes.

26 — Raymond Clayborn, CB, 1977-89: A three-time Pro Bowler, Clayborn started 179 career games in New England.

27 — Ron Bolton, CB, 1972-75: Intercepted 18 passes in 45 career starts. Narrowly edges out Ellis Hobbs.

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28-30

28 — Curtis Martin, RB, 1995-97: Toughest decision on the list. Martin had 3,799 yards and 32 touchdowns in three years with the Pats. Corey Dillon had 3,180 yards and 37 touchdowns in three years with the Pats.

29 — LeGarrette Blount, RB, 2013-present: Blount ranks 20th on the Pats all-time rushing list. His 4.65 yards per carry is the best of any back in the top 25 of that list. He beats out receiver Harold Jackson, who had a 1,000-yard year in 1979.

30 — Mosi Tatupu, FB, 1979-90: A mainstay in New England, Tatupu was a fullback, special teamer and fan favorite. He passed away in 2010, and a brain exam revealed that he had suffered from CTE, according to The Boston Globe.

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31-33

31 — Fred Marion, FS, 1982-91: Played his entire career in New England, starting 113 games. Registered 29 career interceptions.

32 — Devin McCourty, FS, 2010-present: McCourty beats out running back Andy Johnson, who compiled 3,824 yards from scrimmage in his eight-year career with the Pats.

33 — Kevin Faulk, RB, 1999-2011: As Bill Belichick said on the day of Faulk’s retirement, “"The bigger the situation or the play, the more you could count on him.”

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34-36

34 — Shane Vereen, RB, 2011-2014: Another difficult one. Vereen’s 11-catch Super Bowl gives him the slightest of advantages over Pro Bowl corner Chuck Shonta, safety Tebucky Jones, defensive back Prentice McCray and running back Sammy Morris.

35 — Jim Nance, FB, 1965-71: A two-time All-Pro back, Nance rushed for 1,458 yards and 11 touchdowns in 1966.

36 — Lawyer Milloy, SS, 1996-2002: No contest here. Milloy was a four-time Pro Bowler and a Super Bowl champ.

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37-39

37 — Rodney Harrison, SS, 2003-08: His best years were with the Chargers, but Harrison was the enforcer in the secondary for some excellent New England defenses.

38 — Roland James, SS, 1980-90: Spent his entire career in New England. Had 29 interceptions.

39 — Sam Cunningham, RB, 1973-79, 81-82: Remains the Pats’ all-time leading rusher with 5,453 yards.

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40-42

40 — Mike Haynes, CB, 1976-82: Played seven years in New England. Made the Pro Bowl in six of them.

41 — Leroy Mitchell, CB, 1967-68: Picked off 10 passes in 28 games with the Pats.

42 — Ronnie Lippett, CB, 1983-91: Made 111 starts and intercepted 24 balls. Spent his entire career with the Patriots.

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43-45

43 — Ernest Gibson, DB, 1984-88: Made only 14 starts in five years, but beats out Nate Ebner and James Ihedigbo,

44 — John Stephens, RB, 1988-92: Topped 1,000 yards from scrimmage in each of his first two seasons. Made his lone Pro Bowl appearance as a rookie.

45 — Otis Smith, CB, 1996, 2000-02: Smith won a Super Bowl as a 36-year-old corner in New England.

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46-48

46 — James Develin, FB, 2012-present: On several occasions, Tom Brady has called Develin the best fullback in the game.

47 — Robert Edwards, RB, 1998: As a rookie, Edwards racked up over 1,400 yards from scrimmage and 12 touchdowns. He then tore all four knee ligaments during the NFL Rookie Beach Bowl, an injury from which he could never bounce back.

48 — Tim Fox, FS, 1976-81: A Pro Bowler in 1980, Fox made 91 starts with the Pats.

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49-51

49 — Ralph Anderson, FS, 1973: Started 11 games. The runner-up here is probably Joe Cardona.

50 — Mike Vrabel, LB, 2001-08: Tough break for Rob Ninkovich, who is better than 70 percent of the players on this list.

51 — Jerod Mayo, LB, 2008-15: Bill Belichick hit big on both of his top 10 picks with the Patriots (Richard Seymour was the other). Mayo, drafted 10th in 2008, was the leader of the New England defense for years. Injuries cut his career short at age 29.

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52-54

52 — Ted Johnson, LB, 1995-2004: Played 10 years for the Patriots and none for any other teams. Collected 527 career tackles.

53 — Tom Addison, LB, 1960-67: Addison was a four-time Pro Bowler and an All-Pro selection in 1961.

54 — Tedy Bruschi, LB, 1996-2008: A three-time Super Bowl champ, Bruschi is the no-brainer selection here.

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55-57

55 — Willie McGinest, LB, 1994-2005: Had 78 sacks in 12 years with the Pats.

56 — Andre Tippett, LB, 1982-93: Had 100 sacks in his career, including 18.5 in 1984.

57 — Steve Nelson, LB, 1974-87: Started 171 games at inside linebacker. Never played for another NFL team.

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58-60

58 — Pete Brock, OL, 1976-87: The first-round pick spent his entire career in New England.

59 — Vincent Brown, LB, 1988-95: Made 737 career tackles. Edges out Rosevelt Colvin for this spot.

60 — Garin Veris, DE, 1985-91: Tallied 21 combined sacks in his first two seasons.

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61-63

61 — Steve Neal, G, 2002-10: One of Bill Belichick’s all-time favorites (based on how often his name is dropped at Belichick press conferences). Neal beats out guard Sam Adams, who played for the Pats in the 70s.

62 — Ryan Wendell, OL, 2011-15: Played center and guard. Won a Super Bowl in 2014.

63 — Joe Andruzzi, G, 2000-2004: Started all 16 games in each of the three Super Bowl years (2001, 2003, 2004). Beats out Dan Connolly.

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64-66

64 — Richard Bishop, DL 1976-81: Made 50 starts at defensive end and defensive tackle.

65 — Houston Antwine, DL, 1961-71: Inducted into the Patriots Hall of Fame this past summer, Antwine led the Pats in sacks from 1967-69.

66 — Paul Fairchild, G, 1984-90: Started 38 career games in New England. Edges out longtime longsnapper Lonie Paxton.

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67-69

67 — Dan Koppen, C, 2003-11: Made the Pro Bowl in 2007. Won two Super Bowls at the beginning of his career.

68 — Max Lane, OL, 1994-2000: Played in 100 career games and was a starter for four seasons.

69 — Julius Adams, DL, 1971-87: Kind of a cop out here. Adams wore No. 69 for two seasons —his rookie year and his last year. He wore No. 85 in all other seasons, as did linebacker Nick Buoniconti, a four-time first-team All-Pro.

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70-72

70 — Logan Mankins, G, 2005-13: A beast. Played the entire 2011 season after reportedly tearing his ACL in the opener.

71 — Ray Hamilton, DL, 1973-81: Made 117 starts in nine years with the Pats.

72 — Matt Light, OT, 2001-11: Three-time champ, franchise tackle.Not much of a debate here.

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73-75

73 — John Hannah, G, 1973-85: The first New England Patriot to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

74 — Shelby Jordan, OT, 1975-82: Made 87 starts at right tackle.

75 — Vince Wilfork, DT, 2004-14: Still going strong in Houston.

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76-78

76 — Brian Holloway, OT, 1981-86: Made Pro Bowls in 1983, 84 and 85. Beats out Sebastian Vollmer and Charley Long, who played for the Patriots in the 1960s.

77 — Tom Neville, OL, 1965-77: Longevity gives Neville the nod over other tackles like Nate Solder.

78 — Bruce Armstrong, OT, 1987-2000: Made six Pro Bowls, played in three decades. Pretty ridiculous.

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79-81

79 — Jim Lee Hunt, DT, 1960-70: His number was retired by the Patriots. Passed away from a heart attack just five years after his playing career ended.

80 — Troy Brown, WR, 1993-2007: How many 1,000-yard seasons did Brown have? Only one, surprisingly.

81 — Randy Moss, WR, 2007-10: Passing numbers continue to inflate, but nobody has touched Moss’ single-season record of 23 touchdown catches. Rob Gronkowski once had 17. Calvin Johnson, Jimmy Graham and Dez Bryant each had 16.

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82-84

82 — Vincent Brisby, WR, 1993-99: Had 900+ yards in two of his first three seasons.

83 — Wes Welker, WR, 2007-12: The team’s all-time leading receiver with 672 receptions. A measure of his dominance: In six years with the Pats, Welker had 7,459 yards. In six years with the Pats, Rob Gronkowski has 5,555 yards.

84 — Deion Branch, WR, 2002-05, 2011-12: The MVP of Super Bowl XXXIX, Branch gets the nod over Shawn Jefferson.

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85-87

85 — Nick Buoniconti, LB, 1962-68: Would have been a tough call between Buoniconti and Julius Adams. Fortunately, Adams briefly wore No. 69, enabling me to put them both on this list.

86 — Stanley Morgan, WR, 1977-89: Morgan’s mark of 10,352 receiving yards — best in Patriots history—may never be touched. Gronk is barely halfway there.

87 — Rob Gronkowski, TE, 2010-present: Tough one for Ben Coates, who didn’t have the foresight to wear No. 82 or something.

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88-90

88 — Terry Glenn, WR, 1996-2001: When healthy, Glenn was terrific in New England, helping the Pats reach the Super Bowl as a rookie.

89 — Bob Dee, DL, 1960-67: Easy one. Dee is the only Patriot to ever wear No. 89. He had his jersey retired by the team.

90 — Toby Williams, DL, 1983-88: Toss up between Williams and Chad Eaton. Williams gets the nod because he started 12 more games with the Pats.

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91-93

91 — Jamie Collins, LB, 2013-present: Already owns a Super Bowl ring and a Pro Bowl appearance. Collins is entering the final year of his contract, and he’ll command big money.

92 — Ray Agnew, DL, 1990-94: Not a ton of history here with No. 92.

93 — Richard Seymour, DE, 2001-08: Another gimme. Three times Seymour made first team All-Pro.

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94-96

94 — Ty Warren, DL, 2003-10: A two-time Super Bowl champ and an All-Pro selection in 2007.

95 — Roman Phifer, LB, 2001-04: Came to New England as a 33-year-old, but remained productive in three Super Bowl runs. Edges out Chandler Jones.

96 — Brent Williams, DE, 1986-93: Had 43.5 sacks in eight seasons with the Pats.

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97-99

97 — Jarvis Green, DE, 2002-09: Spent his entire career with the Pats, totaling 28 sacks.

98 — Dennis Owens, DT, 1982-86: Played on three playoff teams. Made 44 career starts.

99 — Mike Wright, DL, 2005-11: An undrafted free agent who stuck in New England for seven seasons.