AFC All-Pro Third Team?
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by Chachi
AFC
Offense
QB – Derek Anderson– Anderson is currently fourth in the AFC in passing yards and touchdowns and is having a breakout year.
RB – Fred Taylor – Over a 1,000 yards this season despite splitting time with Maurice Jones-Drew. Could you imagine what type of year he could be having if he didn’t have 104 less carries than Willie Parker or 74 less carries than LT
FB – Greg Jones – Would probably been Dan Kreider if he wasn’t hobbled by injuries this year, but right now it’s Jones. The Jags are leading the AFC in rushing and you don’t do that without quality blocking.
WR – Wes Welker – Having a breakout year in New England with over a 1,000 yards receiving and 96 receptions, 2 nd in the NFL.
WR – Brandon Marshall – Chad Johnson gets knocked out by the second year man out of UCF who is having a great year in the typically run-oriented Denver offense.
TE – Kellen Winslow Jr. – Actually, if I’m coaching this team I dump the FB and go with some combination of Winslow, Dallas Clark and Heath Miller. All three are quality tight ends.
T – Joe Thomas – The rookie left tackle has helped the Browns give up only 17 sacks this season with five of those coming in the first game. Thomas would be third on my ROY ballot behind Adrian Peterson and Patrick Willis.
G – Eric Steinbach – The free agent acquisition helped solidify the line for the Browns and has teamed with Thomas to form a strong left side.
C – Mike Flynn – Has been as consistent as they come and due to injuries and the two best being on the Pro Bowl roster probably 3 or 4 guys could fill this spot.
G – Vince Manuwai – Because somebody on the Jags o-line deserves some love and Manuwai has been a beast on theirs.
T – Marvel Smith – Like many Steelers, Smith is a hard-nosed player and tough competitor. This season he has helped clear the way for Willie and protected Big Ben’s backside (this might be the most homoerotic sentence I have ever written).
Defense
DE – Mario Williams – An absolute joke that he is not an All-Pro this year.
DT – Kelly Gregg – His 72 tackles lead all DT and his play on the interior of the Ravens’ line gives Ray Lewis and company room to make big plays.
DT – Albert Haynesworth – Crazy, but still leading all DT with 6 sacks. Barely beats out rookie Amobi Okoye who has 5.5 sacks and, for being 20 years old, is really holding his own this season.
DE – Elvis Dumervil – Because it’s always cool to have Elvis on your team…especially when he has 11 sacks this season. That would be more than Jason Taylor and Kyle Vanden Bosch.
OLB – Derrick Johnson – Remember him? Well he has quietly had 86 tackles and four sacks this year to go with two picks.
MLB – Gary Brackett – One of the leaders of the Colts’ defense. Has 107 tackles and four INTs.
OLB – Thomas Howard – In another sub-par year for the Raiders, Howard has played well leading all linebackers with 6 INTs and two TDs to go with 83 tackles.
CB – Terrence McGee – McGee has 70 tackles and an amazing 23 pass defenses this year along with three INTs.
SS – Sean Jones – Watch a Browns game and see who is flying all over the field making plays, #26. He is third among all DBs with 84 tackles, has five INTs and has broken up 15 passes.
FS – Antoine Bethea – Is currently teaming up with Bob Sanders to form one of the better safety combinations in the game.
CB – Darrelle Revis – The rookie out of Pitt has 80 tackles and three picks with 15 passes defended.
Special Teams
P – Mike Scifres – Has landed the most punts inside the 20 this year.
K – Phil Dawson – After the 49 yarder in the blizzard on Sunday and his bank shot against Baltimore, I think Phil deserves a nod this year.
KR – Leon Washington – Has the most kicks returned for touchdowns this season with three and is easily the best returner this side of Josh Cribbs in the AFC.
