By Tim Graham
A countdown of my top 25 AFC East players continues, one weekday at a time ...
The choice
New England Patriots right tackle Sebastian Vollmer earned second-team All-Pro honors in 2010, his second season in the NFL but his first as a full-time starter. He allowed only one sack for a 6-yard loss, according to STATS Inc.
Vollmer's followup season was ravaged by back and ankle injuries that limited him to only six regular-season games. But his importance to the Patriots was underscored by coach Bill Belichick's decision to insert him into the starting lineup for the Super Bowl after missing all of December and January.
ProFootballFocus.com still rated Vollmer the NFL's seventh-best right tackle last season.
Fast fact
Vollmer is a native German who didn't start playing football until he was 14, didn't start playing tackle full-time until his junior year of college and wasn't invited to the NFL combine.
How acquired
Selected in the second round (58th overall) of the 2009 draft.
Hint about No. 20
It'll either be the first Miami Dolphin to appear on the list or Tim Tebow.
Picks to date
21. Sebastian Vollmer, Patriots right tackle
22. Aaron Hernandez, Patriots tight end
23. Marcell Dareus, Bills defensive tackle
24. Antonio Cromartie, Jets cornerback
25. Eric Wood, Bills center
