Manning, record-breaking RB lead All-Pro team
Chris Johnson didn't get any votes for MVP. He didn't miss any for
The Associated Press 2009 NFL All-Pro team.
The 2,000-yard rusher from the Tennessee Titans was the only
unanimous choice for the squad, announced Thursday. He's joined in
the backfield by Colts quarterback Peyton Manning, who won an
unprecedented fourth Most Valuable Player Award last week, when
only quarterbacks received votes.
"That'd be a good thing," said Johnson, who won the Offensive
Player of the Year award Wednesday. "Because I feel like if you put
a season out there, out of those dudes who got votes or the dudes
who won, I wouldn't feel they had a better season than I had, and
broke as many records in one season that I had."
For setting the league mark for yards from scrimmage and
becoming the sixth 2,000-yard rusher in NFL history, Johnson got
all 50 votes from a nationwide panel of sports writers. One other
player, San Francisco inside linebacker Patrick Willis, came close
with, appropriately, 49. Cornerbacks Charles Woodson of Green Bay,
the Defensive Player of the Year, and Darrelle Revis of the New
York Jets each got 48, as did Oakland punter Shane Lechler.
"I just think Patrick is a very unique guy," 49ers coach Mike
Singletary said. "He's a guy who's always going to be around the
ball. He has the instincts. He has the speed. He can be where he
wants to be."
He's on the All-Pro team for the second time in his three pro
seasons. The other inside linebacker, Baltimore's Ray Lewis, made
it for the seventh time.
Other veteran All-Pros include Manning, chosen for the fifth
time, as were Minnesota guard Steve Hutchinson and Vikings
defensive tackle Kevin Williams, and Lechler.
The Vikings had the most players on the team with four --
running back Adrian Peterson and defensive end Jared Allen also
made it. Next was Indianapolis with three: Manning, tight end
Dallas Clark, and DE Dwight Freeney.
New Orleans (guard Jahri Evans and safety Darren Sharper),
Dallas (outside linebacker DeMarcus Ware and defensive tackle Jay
Ratliff), the Jets (Revis and center Nick Mangold), Denver (tackle
Ryan Clady and defensive end Elvis Dumervil) and Cleveland (tackle
Joe Thomas and kick returner Joshua Cribbs) had two players.
"To be selected for the All-Pro team is really overwhelming
to me," Clady said. "There are so many great tackles playing right
now. To be recognized among them is truly a blessing. I would like
to thank my teammates and coaches for this honor."
In all, there were 15 AFC players and 12 from the NFC
selected.
Sixteen players made All-Pro for the first time: Johnson,
Woodson, Revis, Sharper, Dumervil, Ratliff, Cribbs, Mangold, Evans,
Thomas, Clady, Clark, New England receiver Wes Welker, Philadelphia
fullback Leonard Weaver, San Diego placekicker Nick Kaeding and
Arizona safety Adrian Wilson.
Also selected to the team was Houston receiver Andre Johnson
for the second time.
Repeaters from last year were Manning, Peterson, Andre
Johnson, Hutchinson, Allen, Williams, Ware, Lewis and Lechler.
The New York Giants, Washington, Atlanta, Carolina, Tampa
Bay, Chicago, Detroit, Seattle, St. Louis, Miami, Buffalo,
Jacksonville, Cincinnati, Kansas City and Pittsburgh had no
All-Pros this season.