NEW YORK (AP) — From a breakthrough quarterback to a
unanimous choice. From two brothers to four rookies for the first time — two
from the same
club
Devin
White Jersey , no less. The Associated Press 2018 All-Pro Team has
something for everyone.Patrick Mahomes and three other Kansas City Chiefs
players made the squad Friday. They were joined by the first rookie teammates
since 1965 — Colts guard left Quenton Nelson and linebacker Darius Leonard. The
last time that occurred it was two future Hall of Famers, the Bears’ Dick Butkus
and Gale Sayers.Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald was the only unanimous choice
in balloting by a nationwide panel of 50 media members who regularly cover the
league.“That’s surreal,” Donald said. “It’s a blessing. Wow! You see the hard
work pay off.“A lot of credit to my teammates and my coaches for pushing me and
helping me.”Mahomes, Kansas City’s second-year sensation, drew 45 votes at
quarterback and was joined by teammates Travis Kelce at tight end, Tyreek Hill
as the flex player and Mitchell Schwartz at right tackle.Kelce’s brother, Eagles
center Jason, also made the team.“For me and my brother to both get it, it’s
that much more special because I still remember us in the backyard fighting with
each
other
L.J.
Collier Jersey , playing football growing up and we envisioned each other
competing at the highest level, competing against the best players,” Jason said.
“And for both of us to be recognized as one of those guys is pretty
special.”Joining Nelson and Leonard as rookies on the team were Seahawks punter
Michael Dickson and Chargers safety Derwin James.“These are the kind of guys who
have the DNA, the makeup of everything that we are looking for,” Colts coach
Frank Reich said of Nelson and Leonard. “All the intangibles, all the character
qualities, everything about them. It’s a really hard filter to get through to
get marked that way and both Quenton and Darius had that on their card. So that
says something about their maturity and how fast we think they will develop.”And
already have developed.Chicago also had four All-Pros: edge rusher Khalil Mack,
cornerback Kyle Fuller, safety Eddie Jackson and punt returner Tarik Cohen.Two
players made All-Pro for the fifth time: Houston edge rusher J.J. Watt and
Carolina linebacker Luke Kuechly.“It means a lot to get back to the top level of
the
game
Johnathan
Abram Jersey ,” said Watt, who missed most of the 2016 and ’17 seasons
with major injuries. “Obviously, it’s an extreme honor to be a first-team
All-Pro, especially after what I’ve been through the last two years and hearing
the things that people were saying and questioning myself at times.“To be able
to get back to the top level of the game and know that I still have things to
improve on and things that I want to get even better at, it’s exciting.”The
All-Pro team was split: 14 AFC and 14 NFC members. There were 16 newcomers:
Mahomes; Schwartz; Fuller; Jackson; Cohen; Saints receiver Michael Thomas;
Packers left tackle David Bakhtiari; Eagles interior defensive lineman Fletcher
Cox; Patriots cornerback Stephon Gilmore; Chargers defensive back Desmond King
and special teamer Adrian Phillips; Jets kick returner Andre Roberts; and the
four rookies.Players with previous All-Pro honors who made the 2018 team
included Donald and Seahawks linebacker Bobby Wagner, each for the fourth time;
Mack, Dallas right guard Zack Martin and Ravens kicker Justin Tucker, each for
the third time; Hill; Rams running back Todd Gurley; and Texans receiver DeAndre
Hopkins.“I think I really took a lot of pride in leadership,” said
Wagner
Maxx
Crosby Jersey , who drew 49 votes. “I knew that was going to be big if we
were going to be successful. I knew I was going to have to up my role in that,
up my mindfulness in that. I was really conscious of that and just making sure I
was, when it came to getting back to the defense I looked at it from a different
lens.”Hopkins got the most votes on offense with 46.“This is validation,”
Hopkins said. “I feel like these people are the people who actually know
football, who study football, who have been around football for years. So to be
on this list and to be first team is a great feeling. But it makes me want to
work harder and continue to be on that list.” San Francisco coach Kyle Shanahan
knew things wouldn’t always go quite as smoothly for Nick Mullens as they did in
his first start.So when Mullens followed up his record-setting debut with a
spottier performance that included two interceptions and a failed late drive,
Shanahan wasn’t overly concerned and remains committed to Mullens as the starter
when the team returns from the bye next week.“I think it’s a positive
experience,” Shanahan said Tuesday. “The guy’s played one game in his career. I
know statistically that was the best start in NFL history. I mean, I think Nick
did some real good things
yesterday
Foster
Moreau Jersey , too. It was a little bit more of a challenge in some
circumstances. … What I liked about Nick is he never seemed rattled throughout
the whole game, continued playing. He was great after the game. He was great
watching film with him. I say it’s a good experience or step forward because I
think he’ll get better from each experience he has.”Just about everything went
right for Mullens in his debut against the Oakland Raiders on Nov. 1, when he
joined Hall of Famers Jim Kelly and Fran Tarkenton as the only players with at
least 250 yards passing, three touchdown passes and no interceptions in the
first career game. He also had the most efficient debut since the merger for a
player with at least 20 attempts, posting a 151.9 rating in the 34-3 win.It
wasn’t quite like that in a 27-23 loss to the New York Giants on Monday night.
Mullens went 27 for 39 for 250 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions.He
helped San Francisco (2-8) build a 10-point lead in the second half before the
team blew it. Mullens then drove the Niners to the 21 in the closing minute
before his last-ditch pass sailed out of the back of the end zone to send San
Francisco to another loss.Mullens’ best play came in the third quarter when he
went through several reads before finding running back Matt Breida for an
11-yard touchdown pass that made it 20-10.But there were also some mistakes,
like a slightly off-target pass to Marquise Goodwin that led to an interception
in the second half and a late throw to Kendrick Bourne that led to an earlier
pick in the first half that set up a New York touchdown.“I thought he did some
decent things last night,” Shanahan said. “He’s a good pocket passer, so I want
him to be perfect at it. He was pretty good on a number of his reads. He had a
touchdown get into the last guy in his progression. Had a couple big plays,
getting into number two and three.
But
Joey Bosa
Jersey , I want him to be automatic. I know that’s what he wants to do,
too. And we’ll keep working at it until he is.”The 49ers should be healthy when
they return from the bye with Shanahan predicting that everyone on the roster
should be available to practice next week. That includes linebacker Reuben
Foster, who missed the past two games with a hamstring injury, as well as
receiver Pierre Garcon (knee) and safety Jaquiski Tartt (shoulder), who sat out
Monday with injuries.Defensive backs K’Waun Williams (stinger) and receiver
Goodwin were banged up in the game against the Giants but aren’t expected to
miss any time.
Find in Directory
Find in Events
Find in Marketplace