Leagues Best Defensive Tackle?

[Aztecs]

Bastian Lano was arguably the best defensive tackle in the league, yet was snubbed for All-FWL honors.  Look at his stats.

Lano- 38 tackels, 14 sacks

Compare those to the two All-FWL DTs:

Brown- 29 tackels, 8 sacks
Ward- 43 tackels, 11 sacks

[Paul-London]

Statistically speaking Lano was the better player but stats dont always mean that theyre the best player.

Joe Montana didnt retire #1 in yards or touchdowns.  Dan Marino did at the time and he had no Superbowl rings, does that mean hes the best player ?

As for All-Pro teams in the last few years the #1 WR who led the league in receptions doesnt instantly go to the All Pro game

In 1997 Jeff George of the Raiders was one of the top passers in the AFC, threw for 3,900 yards, 29 td's and 9 ints.  GREAT statistics for a QB in the NFL, but because the Raiders defense was one of the worst in the league (and ever in Raiders history) and the Raiders were 4-12 mainly because of that defense George didnt make the All-Pro team which was criminal.

Lano did have a great year but for a non-playoff team, i think he was one of the top defensive players in the AFC (Deke Cooper i know played for a losing side but thats very rare to get an award on a losing team) but you could say DT Brown was so great that teams avoided running at him or double teamed him so his stats didnt look great.

Forget Lano though how about...

WR Scott McReady (Rhein) Led all WR's with 117 catches, no All-FWL mention
TE Todd Winston (Amsterdam) Best year EVER by a TE, didnt make the All-FWL team

[Aztecs]

Yes, I know there is always controversy about the awards.  This is just my turn to whine.

Lano was actually my #2 DTat the start of the season.  He played half the season at DT1 when Otis Grant went down with a serious injury.  During that time he had a very young Nick Eason playing next to him on the line and had to shoulder a huge load.  He came thru with flying colors.

[Paul-London]

Well Lano certainly was a strange pick.

He was picked in the 7th round by SA at the end of Season 5 ( http://www.fwl.org.uk/drafteos5.htm )

Sat on the bench all year in SA, then a few years with Mexico....

S6   SA    0t     0.0    0f
S7   MEX  0t     0.0    0f
S8   MEX  0t     0.0    0f
S9   MEX  1t     0.0    0f
S10 MEX  1t     1.0    0f
S11 MEX 42t   11.0    0f
S12 MEX 22t     5.0    2f
S13 MEX 38t   14.0    0f

Last few years hes been outstanding, proves at times that if you keep a young player, give them a few training camps they can turn out to be a star.  I always think teams should keep their lower round picks and draft a few 'projects' if they can.  Too many teams get rid of the lower round picks, these are the rounds the sleepers are in also.

Also remember DE James Roscoe ? He was our first ever holdout (Dont do those anymore now), hes now turned into a great player in Frankfurt

[Aztecs]

Yeah, I remember Roscoe. I drafted him for Mexico. I got pissed off when he held out and traded him. But I think he went to training camp that year because he was traded.