The Bills pass rush in the 2000s has been much-maligned and justifiably so. Still, we need a second defensive end on our All-Decade Team, and we have a few options to choose from.
Phil Hansen
Beloved by many Bills fans, Phil Hansen was drafted in the 1991 NFL draft from North Dakota State. Hansen most certainly would be opposite of Hall of Famer Bruce Smith on the 1990s All-Decade team, but he also started 20 games in the 2000s. He had five sacks, an interception, three batted balls, and a fumble recovery in those two seasons to go along with his 38 tackles. He might win this fan voting, but during his two final seasons in Buffalo, he was clearly on the down slope of his career and missed twelve games. As much as I love Hansen, I should probably remind you to vote for only what he did this decade.
Marcellus Wiley
Wiley makes the list for one stat: 10.5 sacks. He only made 15 starts in the decade for Buffalo, but that sack total, more than the rest of his Bills career combined, gets him a spot on the list. It's the most in one season by any Bill remaining on this list. He also forced three fumbles, recovered one, and made 41 tackles in his lone season in Buffalo in the decade.
Ryan Denney
Denney was the Bills' second-round pick in 2002. In 2003, Denney started 13 games for the Bills at defensive end opposite Schobel, and many thought the Bills might have their long-term answer at bookends of the defensive line. Unfortunately for Denney, though, he only started 7 games over the next four years before making 11 starts for the injured Schobel in 2008. In his 111 games, he had 23.5 sacks, 20 pass knock downs, six forced fumbles, and three recoveries, along with his 190 tackles. He is number one on this list in games played and sacks in the 2000s. A neat fact about Denney is he has caught two touchdowns passes from Brian Moorman on fake field goals, and has a blistering 22 yards per reception, which would lead the team in the decade if it qualified.
Chris Kelsay
Kelsay was the Bills' second-round pick in 2003. With that, the pattern of the Bills selecting DEs in the second round was over after three straight years (Schobel, Denney, Kelsay). He has 22 career sacks and his 210 tackles and 88 starts over his seven years in a Bills uniform are the most of the remaining DEs. He has knocked down 16 passes, picked off three passes returning one for a touchdown (perhaps the greatest play I've ever seen live), forced five fumbles, and recovered six. He also recorded a safety in 2007.
Leave your voting rationale in the comments section. The outside linebackers are on deck.
Previous Installments: QB, RB 1, RB 2, WR 1, WR 2, TE, OT 1, OT 2, OG 1, OG 2, OC, P/K, DT 1, DT 2, DE 1