AP All Pro team

[BamaJets]

text from NFL.com ; Jets receiving votes: Mangold (2), Cro (3), Landry (1)

Offense

Quarterbacks: Peyton Manning (first team), Aaron Rodgers

Manning received 43 votes to only four Rodgers and three for Tom Brady. I'm a little stunned Rodgers got more votes than Brady considering how great the Patriots offense was. The gap in the voting shows that the MVP race is truly a two-man race between Manning and Adrian Peterson.

Running backs: Adrian Peterson, Marshawn Lynch (first team), Alfred Morris, Jamaal Charles

Peterson was a unanimous selection. Lynch was clearly the second best running back in the league, but "only" got 24 votes. His power is second to none. It's great to see Charles' recovery from ACL surgery and Morris' outstanding rookie season recognized here.

Fullback: Vonta Leach (first team), Jerome Felton

Leach helped Ray Rice and Bernard Pierce develop into one of the best 1-2 combinations in the league for the Ravens. It's too bad Marcel Reese of the Raiders didn't get any love, but it's hard to argue with these two.

Tight end: Tony Gonzalez (first team), Jason Witten

So much for the new generation of tight ends. Gonzalez's numbers exceeded any other season he had in Atlanta. Witten set his career high in receptions. Rob Gronkowski's injury cost him a spot here; I can't argue with that.

Wide receivers: Calvin Johnson, Brandon Marshall (first team), A.J. Green, Andre Johnson

Megatron got 49 of 50 votes. I want to know the writer that didn't vote for him. These four receivers stood out as the best this year, no one else got more than one vote. Green may be a better player than Marshall, but the Chicago Bear had the better season.

Tackles: Duane Brown, Ryan Clady (first team), Joe Thomas, Joe Staley

Brown has established himself as the best left tackle in football. This is why we like All Pro teams. All these picks make sense. Staley came on strong after a rough Week 1 against Clay Matthews.

Guards: Mike Iupati, Jahri Evans (first team), Marshal Yanda, Logan Mankins

Deserving starters. Iupati had a breakout year as a mauler for the 49ers. This is probably the position where us writers are just guessing the most. Mankins really did not have a great year, but coasted on his name. Really, how many writers are breaking down coach's film for interior linemen? We should let coaches choose this position.

Center: Max Unger (first team), Maurkice Pouncey

Mike Pouncey, Maurkice's brother on the Miami Dolphins, was overlooked here. Unger is a worthy choice for a sneaky good Seattle offensive line. Also: No Jeff Saturday.

Defense

Defensive end: J.J. Watt, Cameron Wake (first team), Justin Smith, Julius Peppers

Watt was a unanimous selection and Wake easily got the other spot. Very well deserved honor for Wake. Easy picks. Peppers snuck on to the second team in a down because there really wasn't another obvious four end.

Defensive tackles: Geno Atkins, Vince Wilfork (first team), Justin Smith, Haloti Ngata, Ndamukong Suh

Atkins could have been a Defensive Player of the Year candidate in most seasons. Smith is so good he made the second team at two positions. Ngata did not have a good season. Anyone that voted for him wasn't paying attention. Suh quietly had his best pro season despite the lack of hype. Guys like Henry Melton and Gerald McCoy got votes and would have been better picks than Ngata.

Outside linebackers: Von Miller, Aldon Smith (first team), Chad Greenway, Ahmad Brooks, Clay Matthews, DeMarcus Ware

The second team was bigger because the last three names tied with one vote. Miller, Smith, and Watt figure to be among the best defensive players in the league for the next decade. I'm surprised Ware received so little love, but the top two picks here were easy.

Inside linebackers: Patrick Willis, NaVorro Bowman (first team), Daryl Washington, London Fletcher

Bowman just edged out Washington for the second first team spot. I liked Washington a little better this year because of his blitzing, but Bowman is worthy.

Cornerbacks: Richard Sherman, Charles Tillman (first team), Champ Bailey, Tim Jennings

Sherman said the All-Pro team mattered more than the Pro Bowl, and that he would make the first team. He proved correct. Writers judged him only on his excellent play on the field. Sherman and Tillman were easily ahead of the pack at the position. It's insane that Patrick Peterson made the Pro Bowl team ahead of him.

Safeties: Earl Thomas, Dashon Goldson (first team), Eric Weddle, Jairus Byrd

I'd flip the first team and second team here, but at least Weddle and Byrd were recognized after missing the Pro Bowl.

Special teams

Kicker: Blair Walsh (first team), Phil Dawson

As a rookie, Walsh had one of the greatest kicking seasons in NFL history.

Kick returner: Jacoby Jones (first team), David Wilson

Jones made the Houston Texans miss him. His celebrations were All-Pro caliber, too.

Punter: Andy Lee first team, Thomas Morstead

Lee is excellent year-after-year.


Complete voting (position-by-position):

Quarterbacks: Peyton Manning, Denver, 43; Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay, 4; Tom Brady, New England, 3.

Running backs: Adrian Peterson, Minnesota, 50; Marshawn Lynch, Seattle, 24; Alfred Morris, Washington, 14; Jamaal Charles, Kansas City, 7; Arian Foster, Houston, 3.

Fullbacks: Vonta Leach, Baltimore, 26; Jerome Felton, Minnesota, 12; Marcel Reece, Oakland, 4; Michael Robinson, Seattle, 3; Mike Tolbert, Carolina, 2; Bruce Miller, San Francisco, 1; John Kuhn, Green Bay, 1.

Tight ends: Tony Gonzalez, Atlanta, 24; Jason Witten, Dallas, 19; Rob Gronkowski, New England, 4; Jimmy Graham, New Orleans, 2; Heath Miller, Pittsburgh, 1.

Wide receivers: Calvin Johnson, Detroit, 49; Brandon Marshall, Chicago, 23; A.J. Green, Cincinnati, 16 ½; Andre Johnson, Houston, 8 ½; Demaryius Thomas, Denver, 1; Wes Welker, New England, 1; Julio Jones, Atlanta, 1.

Offensive tackles: Duane Brown, Houston, 27; Ryan Clady, Denver, 19; Joe Thomas, Cleveland, 17; Joe Staley, San Francisco, 11; Russell Okung, Seattle, 6; Andre Smith, Cincinnati, 5; Trent Williams, Washington, 5; Anthony Davis, San Francisco, 3; Tyson Clabo, Atlanta, 2; Phil Loadholt, Minnesota, 2; Eric Winston, Kansas City, 1; Matt Kalil, Minnesota, 1; Sebastian Vollmer, New England, 1.

Guards: Mike Iupati, San Francisco, 38; Jahri Evans, New Orleans, 23; Marshal Yanda, Baltimore, 17; Logan Mankins, New England, 7; Evan Mathis, Philadelphia, 5; Josh Sitton, Green Bay, 5; Alex Boone, San Francisco, 2; Chris Snee, New York Giants, 2; Wade Smith, Houston, 1.

Centers: Max Unger, Seattle, 16; Maurkice Pouncey, Pittsburgh, 10; Chris Myers, Houston, 7; John Sullivan, Minnesota, 7; Mike Pouncey, Miami, 7; Nick Mangold, New York Jets, 2; Eric Wood, Buffalo, 1.

Placekickers: Blair Walsh, Minnesota, 42; Phil Dawson, Cleveland, 4; Sebastian Janikowski, Oakland, 3; Dan Bailey, Dallas, 1.

Kick returners: Jacoby Jones, Baltimore, 37 ½; David Wilson, New York Giants, 3; Leodis McKelvin, Buffalo, 2 ½; Leon Washington, Seattle, 2; Darius Reynaud, Tennessee, 2; Randall Cobb, Green Bay, 1; Marcus Thigpen, Miami, 1; Josh Cribbs, Cleveland, 1.

Defensive ends: J.J. Watt, Houston, 50; Cameron Wake, Miami, 28; Justin Smith, San Francisco, 6; Julius Peppers, Chicago, 5; Chris Clemons, Seattle, 4; Jared Allen, Minnesota, 3; Elvis Dumervil, Denver, 1; Aldon Smith, San Francisco, 1; Charles Johnson, Carolina, 1; John Abraham, Atlanta, 1.

Defensive tackles: Geno Atkins, Cincinnati, 42; Vince Wilfork, New England, 27; Justin Smith, San Francisco, 17; Haloti Ngata, Baltimore, 5; Ndamukong Suh, Detroit, 5; Henry Melton, Chicago, 2; Gerald McCoy, Tampa Bay, 2.

Outside linebackers: Von Miller, Denver, 48; Aldon Smith, San Francisco, 47; Chad Greenway, Minnesota, 2; Ahmad Brooks, San Francisco, 1; Clay Matthews, Green Bay, 1; DeMarcus Ware, Dallas, 1.

Inside linebackers: Patrick Willis, San Francisco, 30; NaVorro Bowman, San Francisco, 26; Daryl Washington, Arizona, 20; London Fletcher, Washington, 7; Luke Kuechly, Carolina, 5; Jerod Mayo, New England, 4; Lawrence Timmons, Pittsburgh, 3; Derrick Johnson, Kansas City, 2; Lance Briggs, Chicago, 1; Bobby Wagner, Seattle, 1.

Cornerbacks: Richard Sherman, Seattle, 39; Charles Tillman, Chicago, 37; Tim Jennings, Chicago, 8; Champ Bailey, Denver, 8; Patrick Peterson, Arizona, 5; Antonio Cromartie, New York Jets, 3.

Safeties: Earl Thomas, Seattle, 28; Dashon Goldson, San Francisco, 20; Eric Weddle, San Diego, 19; Jairus Byrd, Buffalo, 7; Stevie Brown, New York Giants, 6; Ed Reed, Baltimore, 3; Thomas DeCoud, Atlanta, 3; Donte Whitner, San Francisco, 2; T.J. Ward, Cleveland, 2; Ronde Barber, Tampa Bay, 2; William Moore, Atlanta, 1; Eric Berry, Kansas City, 1; Reshad Jones, Miami, 1; Devin McCourty, New England, 1; LaRon Landry, New York Jets, 1; Morgan Burnett, Green Bay, 1; Reggie Nelson, Cincinnati, 1; Tyvon Branch, Oakland, 1.

Punters: Andy Lee, San Francisco, 24; Thomas Morstead, New Orleans, 18; Dustin Colquitt, Kansas City, 5; Britton Colquitt, Denver, 1; Brandon Fields, Miami, 1; Brian Anger, Jacksonville, 1.

[SlickBri481]

Cromartie is a better corner than Tillman, although Tillman had all those strip fumbles which stood out. Sherman was right, he didn't get voted to the Pro Bowl and he said "I don't care about Pro Bowl, it's all about the All-Pro team." He deserved it

[crasherino]

Originally Posted by SlickBri481

Cromartie is a better corner than Tillman, although Tillman had all those strip fumbles which stood out. Sherman was right, he didn't get voted to the Pro Bowl and he said "I don't care about Pro Bowl, it's all about the All-Pro team." He deserved it

Basically, he was a top 6 CB. That's probably about right and very impressive. We could argue that he's top 4 which is even more impressive.

It just shows you how good Revis is. There are a lot of very good CBs out there. But when Revis is playing, it's not even close.

[Flaming Mo]

Originally Posted by SlickBri481

Cromartie is a better corner than Tillman, although Tillman had all those strip fumbles which stood out. Sherman was right, he didn't get voted to the Pro Bowl and he said "I don't care about Pro Bowl, it's all about the All-Pro team." He deserved it

I don't know, that whole PED story should have factored in. He got off because of a mistake, not because he was proven not guilty. Tillman is having himself a great career and is one tough guy but he is nowhere near the cover corner that Cromartie is. Still can't argue with the selection.

Some others got in purely on name recognition - London Fletcher, Peppers and Mankins for example.

[124]

Tim Jennings? Really? Tim Jennings? Okay then.

[BamaJets]

I figured Megatron would have been unanimous. I know he only had 5 TDs (really should have been about 10). But for a guy who is constantly double teamed, he still caught 122 passes and averaged over 16 per catch. Oh, and broke the single-season yardage mark.

[FootballFan1]

Originally Posted by Flaming Mo

I don't know, that whole PED story should have factored in. He got off because of a mistake, not because he was proven not guilty. Tillman is having himself a great career and is one tough guy but he is nowhere near the cover corner that Cromartie is. Still can't argue with the selection.

Some others got in purely on name recognition - London Fletcher, Peppers and Mankins for example.

Fletcher has to be one of the most underrated players in the game today.