The 2011 All Pro team was announced on Friday. Minnesota Vikings defensive end Jared Allen and Detroit Lions receiver Calvin Johnson were both one vote shy of unanimous. I'm not sure how anyone could vote against Allen or Johnson. One person did. Its probably the same idiot that keeps voting against Cris Carter for the Hall of Fame.
Here's the All-Pros
QB Aaron Rodgers Packers
RB Maurice Jones-Drew Jaguars
LeSean McCoy Eagles
FB Vonta Leach Ravens
WR Calvin Johnson Lions
Wes Welker Patriots
TE Rob Gronkowski Patriots
T Joe Thomas Browns
Jason Peters Eagles
G Carl Nicks Saints
Jahri Evans Saints
C Maurkice Pouncey Steelers
K David Akers 49ers
KR Patrick Peterson Cardinals
DE Jared Allen Vikings
DT Haloti Ngata Ravens
DT Justin Smith 49ers
DE Jason Pierre-Paul Giants
OLB DeMarcus Ware
Terrell Suggs
ILB Patrick Willis 49ers
Navarro Bowman 49ers
Derrick Johnson Chiefs
CB Darrelle Revis Jets
Charles Woodson Packers
S Troy Polamalu Steelers
Eric Weddle Chargers
P Andy Lee 49ers
I'm surprised by Weddle's presence on the team. He's a fine player. As a free agent prior to the season I was hoping that the Vikings could sign him. Its just that as long as the Ravens Ed Reed is still breathing he's my All-Pro safety. No one that I've ever seen has played the position better.
The 49ers led with five players. Very nice. Justin Smith nearly made the team at DE in addition to DT. The 49ers played him at both positions. As a result he got votes at both. He was third in voting for ends.
Patrick Peterson was the only rookie to make the team.
Its no surprise that the New Orleans Saints placed two players on the offensive team. Its a little surprising that both players are guards. Perhaps its an indication that no matter how much firepower you have on offense it all starts up front.
The Hall of Fame voters shaved the list to the 15 finalists. Former Vikings Cris Carter and Chris Doleman made the cut so the voters live to vote another day. They have to get Carter's proper respect right this year. Its getting ridiculous. I see a Hall of Fame class of Carter, Jerome Bettis, Dermontti Dawson, Tim Brown and either Kevin Greene or Doleman. Senior nominees Dick Stanfel and Jack Butler should make it as well. Congratulations to all Hall of Fame finalists.
"The 49ers can go into a football game and just make it ugly right away."
-CBS analyst Phil Simms
This doesn't sound like much of a compliment but it is. All season the 49ers have had an incredible ability to control games. On offense and defense the game is played at their speed. Their defense can take even the highest scoring teams out of their high scoring ways. They did it to Detroit. Can they do it to Green Bay, New Orleans and New England?
The U.S. Army All-American Bowl was a nice appetizer for the playoff games. This high school all star game is a lot of fun. Its no guarantee of college or professional success for the players but it sure is an introduction to the big time for them.
Cal had a fantastic day. They received commits from receiver Jordan Payton, safety Shaq Thompson and defensive tackle Ellis McCarthy. This 2012 recruiting class is incredible. Its easily the best that I've ever seen in Berkeley. One person that is mentioned by nearly every recruit is defensive line coach Tosh Lupoi. He's quickly become one of the best recruiters in the nation.
In addition to the incredible talent, this Cal recruiting class has become something of a legacy class. Receiver Bryce Treggs is the son of former Bears receiver Brian Treggs. Linebacker Hardy Nickerson is the son of former linebacker Hardy Nickerson. New commit Shaq Thompson is the brother of recent Cal and current Denver Broncos corner SydQuan Thompson.
Barry Sanders, son of Barry Sanders, played in the game. He looks and talks exactly like his father. Pretty nifty runner too. I'm not sure why a smart kid like Sanders would pick Stanford.
One player that really stood out to me is future Alabama runningback TJ Yeldon. He had a couple incredible runs. Twice hurdling would be tacklers. Even his short runs were impressive. He seems like a very deliberate runner. Waits for his blocks. Waits for his holes to open. There's runners in the NFL that don't do this. Once Yeldon sees a his hole, he's through it in a hurry. Very impressive back. I don't think that Tide fans will be missing Trent Richardson for long.
I've always enjoyed listening to former baketball player Charles Barkley talk football. He's been on Rich Eisen's podcast. He was on NBC's pregame and halftime show yesterday. He knows his football. More significantly, he understands sports. For whatever reason, Rodney Harrison kept hassling him. Just like he was on the football field, Harrison can be a jerk at times.
Houston Texans rookie defensive end JJ Watt keeps making plays. He had a big interception return for a touch down yesterday. The played tilted the game the Texans way. A couple plays later he had a sack to end the first half.
Texans cornerback Jonathan Joseph hit free agency in the considerable shadow of Nnambi Asomugha. Both are great players but Joseph had by far the better season. He's in the conversation with Darrelle Revis, Nnambi Asomugha and Charles Woodson for the best corner in the game.
I sure was wrong with my prediction of the Cincinnati Bengals beating the Houston Texans. Andy Dalton made the mistakes that I thought TJ Yates would make.
Detroit Lions head coach Jim Schwartz often looks like a first-grader and someone stole his paste.
The Lions recovered two fumbles in the first half. They quickly punted. You always want to do something with turnovers but at least they stopped Saints' drives.
The Lions-Saints game was a good one until Matthew Stafford threw his first interception. The Lions couldn't stop the Saints in the second half.
Schwartz spent his post game press conference whining about pretty much everything. Nothing was fair. If the Lions had tackled better. If the Lions had covered receivers. If the Lions had taken advantage of the two turnovers in the first half. The Lions might have had a defensive score off one of the fumbles taken away by a bad call but they still had the fumble. They took the ball away. Do something with it. The Saints had the ball for nearly 40 minutes. That's controlling the ball and the game. You lost Jim! Deal with it. Its been a while since I've heard a coach whine like that.
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