GoldandBlack.com: NFL Boilers: Ranking the best of '09

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (GoldandBlack.com) - There've been few NFL seasons like 2009 for former Boilermakers.

Purdue had two starters at quarterback, plus a third as a backup, with all three teams starting the year with matching 6-0 seasons. One of them, Drew Brees, guided New Orleans to a Super Bowl win in its first-ever appearance, and became the game's MVP afterward.

Drew Brees tosses out beads at the Saints' celebration parade.
Several others, like Anthony Spencer, Ray Edwards and Dustin Keller had breakout seasons that would lead many to believe that even greater days are ahead. And Bernard Pollard gained some redemption this season after latching on with a new organization.

Below, GoldandBlack.com takes a look back at 2009, ranking the top-seven NFL Boilers.

1. Drew Brees • Quarterback • New Orleans
2009 Season Stats: 363-514 (70.6%) for 4,388 yards, 34 TDs / 11 int., 109.6 QB rating in 15 games (15 starts)
Playoff Stats: 72-102 (70.6%) for 732 yards, 8 TDs / 0 int., 117.0 QB rating in three games (three starts)
Reason For The Ranking: Duh.

After leading the Saints to their first-ever Super Bowl win, and being named MVP after tossing for 288 yards and two touchdowns against Indianapolis, Brees might be No. 1 on a league-wide poll right now, let alone on one featuring only former Boilers.

Brees, who was named to the Pro Bowl for the fourth time (his second as a starter, although he did not participate) and was honored as the FedEx Air Player-of-the-Year, set an NFL record with a 70.6 completion percentage.

He has vaulted himself into the conversation as one of the top quarterbacks in the league, and deservedly so. During the last four seasons, he ranks statistically above Indianapolis' Peyton Manning and New England's Tom Brady in nearly all passing categories, and now has a ring (like those two) to show for it as well.

Plus, Brees captivated a national audience on Super Bowl Sunday, showing emotional seldom seen from athletes while hoisting his son, Baylen, high into the sky during the trophy presentation. One might guess that ensuing appearances on Dave Letterman, Ellen and Oprah might be only the start of more regular national appearances for Purdue's favorite son.

2. Bernard Pollard • Strong Safety • Houston
2009 Season Stats: 102 tackles, 1.5 sacks, four int., seven passes defensed, one forced fumble (FF) in 13 games (13 starts)
Playoff Stats: None
Reason For The Ranking: Pollard's season began with about as big a thud as a player could imagine, as the former Kansas City starter was cut by the Chiefs near the end of training camp.

But a change of scenery worked out well for the former Boiler, as he landed in Houston in Week 4 and quickly established himself as a force in the Texans' secondary and became a fan favorite as well.

Although angered by Kansas City's decision to let him go, and its allegedly private comments that his attitude was a detriment, perhaps it served as a wake-up call. Pollard, though previously to be vulnerable against the pass, shored up in that area, finishing the season with a career-high four interceptions, plus seven other breakups.

Anthony Spencer had six regular-season sacks, including this one on Brees.
3. Anthony Spencer • Outside Linebacker • Dallas
2009 Season Stats: 67 tackles, six sacks, seven passes defensed, one int., two FF in 16 games (16 starts)
Playoff Stats: 12 tackles, two sacks, one pass defensed in two games (two starts)
Reason For The Ranking: Had a poll been taken mid-way through the season, there's no way Spencer would have come close to the top-seven. But he turned it on in the second half, becoming the player the Cowboys thought they drafted with their first-round selection a few years ago.

All six of Spencer's sacks came in the last six weeks of the regular-season, as the first-year full-time starter finally looked acclimated to his position switch; he had been a defensive end at Purdue. Plus, he collected two more sacks in the playoffs, teaming with DeMarcus Ware to give Dallas one of the best sets of outside linebackers in the league.

If Spencer keeps up the pace next season - provided he stays healthy, which was a concern during his first two seasons - then he could be looking at an All-Pro-type year.

4. Ray Edwards • Defensive End • Minnesota
2009 Season Stats: 51 tackles, 8.5 sacks, two passes defensed, one FF in 16 games (16 starts)
Playoff Stats: Eight tackles, four sacks, two FF in two games (two starts)
Reason For The Ranking: The lesser of Minnesota's starting defensive ends - Jared Allen has the No. 1 spot - Edwards came into his own this season.

Two years removed now from his suspension for using a banned substance, the fourth-year pro recorded a career-high in sacks, then added four more during the playoffs, including three in a little more than a half vs. Dallas, for good measure.

The outspoken Edwards might not be the most popular of former Boilermakers, due to his unceremonious departure from the University following his junior season,