NFL All-Pro team released by Associated Press
By David Rouben
15 NFC players and 12 AFC players make up the NFL’s All-Pro team, with Khalil Mack making history being named at two positions.
The NFL’s All-Pro team has been released by the Associated Press, and the biggest standout of the team is Khalil Mack of the Oakland Raiders. He lined up at defensive end and outside linebacker and recorded 15.5 sacks over the course of the season. He trailed JJ Watt in the category, but considering it’s only his second year as a pro, that’s significant. The Raiders are a young team that just missed the playoffs this year, but they’re making big strides.
Other unanimous selections to the team were Adrian Peterson and JJ Watt. Watt’s Texans made it to the playoffs this year despite starting 1-4, suffering a host of injuries (most notably to Arian Foster), and going through a carousel of quarterbacks, and it was mostly due to his outstanding play. Meanwhile, Adrian Peterson won the rushing title over Doug Martin after taking a year off and propelled the Vikings to an NFC North title over the Packers.
Finally, the Carolina Panthers have the most number of players on the All-Pro team with six entrants. Unsurprisingly, MVP front-runner Cam Newton is on there and he is joined by Luke Kuechly, Mike Tolbert, Ryan Kalil, Thomas Davis, and Josh Norman. Kuechly garnered the most votes of all the Panthers with 49, and Cam was gracious in giving him credit for the team’s, and his own, success:
“I’m just trying to be like Luke Kuechly man, that’s it — Captain America, man. He sets the tone.”
The Seahawks got an All-Pro, but from an unlikely position; rookie Tyler Lockett burst onto the scene as a return specialist, returning a 57-yard punt for a touchdown in his first game against the Rams. He would then return a kick 105 yards for a touchdown against the Bears which set a franchise record.
It was also a special moment for Eric Berry, former cancer patient, to be selected to the First Team. After the Chiefs started off 1-5, they’ve hurled off 10 straight wins and head into the postseason as a live underdog. Berry should be considered the front-runner to win Comeback Player of the Year.
Full team by position:
QB: Cam Newton
RB: Adrian Peterson, Doug Martin
FB: Mike Tolbert
WR: Antonio Brown, Julio Jones
TE: Rob Gronkowski
OT: Andrew Whitworth, Joe Thomas
G: David DeCastro, Marshal Yanda
C: Ryan Kalil
DE: Khalil Mack, J.J. Watt
DT: Geno Atkins, Aaron Donald
LB: Khalil Mack, Thomas Davis, Von Miller, Luke Kuechly, NaVorro Bowman
CB: Josh Norman, Patrick Peterson
S: Tyrann Mathieu, Eric Berry
K: Stephen Gostkowski
P: Johnny Hekker
KR: Tyler Lockett