The new centurions

Titans lead way with four picks on 2000 All-NFL team

By Dan Arkush, Executive editor
As published in print Jan. 8, 2001

Raiders QB Rich Gannon

In sync with the parity that has become the NFL’s trademark in the new millennium, this year’s Pro Football Weekly/Professional Football Writers of America All-NFL team has a dramatically different cast of characters than the previous season, with only 11 repeat selections.

The defending AFC champion Titans provided the most selections with four. The Ravens and Buccaneers had three picks each, and the Rams, Saints, Dolphins and Chargers each offered a pair of players.

Returning from last year’s All-NFL squad are Rams RB Marshall Faulk, Chiefs TE Tony Gonzalez, Colts WR Marvin Harrison, Cowboys OG Larry Allen, Titans OG Bruce Matthews, Ravens MLB Ray Lewis, Dolphins CB Sam Madison, Panthers special-teamer Michael Bates and Buccaneers DT Warren Sapp, OLB Derrick Brooks and SS John Lynch.

Offense

With his tremendous mobility and commanding pocket presence, Gannon is the guiding light behind Oakland’s success. In addition to leading AFC quarterbacks in rushing yards (5.9 average; four rushing TDs) and showing a consistent knack for escaping trouble, he was third among AFC signalcallers with a 92.4 passer rating and had an impressive 28-11 TD-interception ratio. Gannon also has the same maniacal work ethic as Raiders head coach Jon Gruden.

It’s hard to imagine Faulk could match a ’99 season in which he set an NFL record with 2,429 yards rushing and receiving. But he continued to set new standards in 2000, establishing a new NFL TD record with 26 despite missing two games with a knee injury. Faulk joins the great Walter Payton as the only player in NFL history to log three straight seasons of 2,000 yards or more rushing and receiving.

George had his best season, setting career highs in carries (403), rushing yards (1,509), rushing TDs (14), receptions (50) and total yards from scrimmage (1,962). What continues to really set George apart, though, is how much better he gets the more he carries the ball. George is the only running back in NFL history to carry the ball at least 300 times in each of his first five seasons.

Before his career is over, Gonzalez is a good bet to become the most productive pass-catching tight end the game has ever known. His 93 catches this season were just three short of Ben Coates’ league record for tight ends set in ’94, and he led all tight ends this season with 1,203 receiving yards and nine TDs. Gonzalez fit like a glove in a Kansas City offense that became much more dependent on the passing game. There are few better all-around athletes in the league.

Moss had another superb season, catching 77 passes for 1,437 yards (18.7-yard average per catch) and a league-high 15 TDs. There was some concern at the beginning of the year that Moss would have trouble clicking with Daunte Culpepper, Minnesota’s new starting quarterback, but the two established an instant rapport in a preseason victory over the Cardinals. Moss quickly convinced Culpepper that he shouldn’t be afraid to throw to him in double coverage, where Moss could take advantage of his exceptional leaping ability and great hands.

The numbers speak for themselves. Harrison tied Carolina’s Muhsin Muhammad with a league-high 102 catches. He also had an AFC-high 1,413 receiving yards and 14 TDs. But his real claim to fame is his tremendous consistency. Over the last two seasons, Harrison has registered 17 100-yard-receiving performances and scored at least one TD in 18 games.

Mawae is the anchor of a solid Jets offensive line that tied Indianapolis for fewest sacks allowed this season (20). He has few peers in terms of leverage and footwork, and he has an outright nasty disposition. Opposing defenders always know they’ll have to work exceedingly hard for their money whenever they face him.

Allen, who also has excelled at the OT position in his seven-year pro career, remains the league’s most talented and accomplished offensive lineman in the eyes of most experts. Equally good at pass-blocking and opening holes for the Cowboys’ backfield, featuring Emmitt Smith, Allen will be making his sixth-straight Pro Bowl appearance. Only two other players in league history — Bruce Matthews and Chris Hinton — have been selected to the Pro Bowl at more than one OL position.

An ageless wonder to say the least. In his 18th season, Matthews keeps on ticking like an exquisite Swiss watch, providing a rock-solid presence on the Titans’ offensive line and playing a key factor in paving running lanes for George. Few performers are as durable as Matthews, whose 280 regular-season games played are the most ever by an NFL offensive lineman (21 more than Jackie Slater) and the fifth most among all players.

After starting every game his rookie season at left guard after being selected with the fourth overall pick of the ’96 draft, the massive (6-8, 340 pounds) Ogden has cemented a starting Pro Bowl berth at left tackle in each of the last four years. A sprained right ankle has hindered him somewhat this season, but he can still be an overpowering force, as was the case in the Ravens’ wild-card win over Denver, when his blocking for rookie Jamal Lewis was one of the unsung keys to the victory.

After a slow start, this perennial Pro Bowler came on strong for an offensive line that was about as good as any in the league. Last offseason Roaf talked about wanting to be traded, but he quickly bought into head coach Jim Haslett’s no-nonsense philosophy in training camp and has never been happier.

Defense

The league’s fourth-leading sacker with 15 takedowns. Douglas bounced back big-time from an injury-plagued campaign in ’99. He’s been the undisputed leader of the Eagles’ defense and has continually come up with big plays. In the wild-card victory over the Buccaneers, Douglas was a one-man wrecking crew.

Taylor had the second-most sacks in the AFC with 14½ — two fewer than linemate Trace Armstrong. Unlike Armstrong, however, Taylor is an every-down performer. After a subpar ’99 campaign in which he was hindered by injury problems, Taylor regained the form he displayed in the ’97 and ’98 seasons (combined 14 sacks), when he reminded people of a young Charles Haley.

A key cog in the Buccaneers’ potent pass rush, Sapp tied with Armstrong for the second-most sacks in the league with 16½. An incredibly disruptive inside force, few players, if any, can match his quickness and penetration off the ball.

Playing a new position alongside free-agent addition Norman Hand, Glover had a breakout season. With Hand clogging up the middle and taking on double teams, Glover led the NFL and tied a team record with 17 sacks — not bad for a guy picked off waivers. A weight-room warrior who can bench-press over 500 pounds, Glover has an uncanny first step that enables him to slip by defenders with regularity. He has become a great leader by example on the Saints’ defense.

Lewis is the heart and soul of a Ravens defense that set an NFL record for fewest points allowed (165) in a 16-game season. In the wake of a tumultuous offseason, Lewis was under pressure to produce an even better season than his three previous Pro Bowl campaigns. He ended up leading the Ravens with a whopping 184 tackles, three sacks, two interceptions, three fumble recoveries and eight passes defensed, further establishing himself as one of the game’s brightest superstars.

Like Lewis, Brooks perennially leads his team in tackles and is a relentless, sideline-to-sideline playmaker with great speed, awareness and hitting ability. With Sapp spearheading the Buccaneers’ defensive line and the savvy Brooks anchoring their LB corps, it’s easy to see why Tampa Bay’s front seven is considered as good, if not better, than any in the league.

The most decorated player in Chargers history, Seau earned his 10th straight Pro Bowl appearance this season. The Chargers’ pass rush struggled all season without DT Norman Hand, who joined the Saints as a free agent, and DE Raylee Johnson, who suffered a season-ending injury in the preseason. San Diego also was weak at the corners. Despite those deficiencies, Seau was the key to a rushing defense that ranked fourth in the league (second in average gain per rush). Seau remains one of the league’s best pass-defending linebackers.

One of the league’s budding young cornerbacks, Rolle burst into the national limelight in the Titans’ Monday-night victory over the Redskins in Week Nine, when he scored on a dazzling 81-yard interception return just before halftime. Rolle excels in man coverage and tied Miami’s Brian Walker for the most interceptions in the AFC with seven.

How good was the Dolphins’ secondary this season? Every starter on the unit had at least five interceptions. Madison, who had five picks, is the most talented of the lot. Matched up against the opposition’s top receiver in every game, he once again more than held his own with his exceptional one-on-one cover ability.

Lynch excelled despite playing with a painful shoulder injury. He improved his pass coverage while continuing to shine against the run. Lynch also became more of a team leader this season.

Playing in a contract year, Sharper picked the perfect time to turn his career around. After a terrible ’99 campaign, he became the key force in the Packers’ defense and led the league in interceptions with nine.

Specialists

PFW’s 2000 Golden Toe recipient was an indispensible weapon for the Ravens, leading all kickers with a career-high 135 points.

Nobody hangs punts as high as this cannon-legged Aussie. Bennett led the league in gross punting average (46.2 yards).

Mason led the AFC with a 27.0-yard average on 42 kickoffs, many of which provided the Titans with great field position. He also tied for third in the AFC in punt-return average (13.0) and consistently made clutch contributions to Tennessee’s injury-plagued WR corps.

While there’s no denying Hakim must improve his handling of punts — his fourth-quarter muff shattered St. Louis’ comeback hopes in its wild-card loss to New Orleans — he remains a bona-fide scoring threat every time he touches the ball. Hakim led the NFC with a 15.3-yard punt-return average.

While his return skills have declined, Bates was named to the Pro Bowl for the fifth straight year and continued to excel in coverage situations.

To see who won the Pro Football Weekly/Professsional Football Writers of America individual awards for 2000 and who was voted to the All-Conference and All-Rookie teams, you can purchase a copy of Vol. XV, No. 28 (dated Jan. 15, 2001) of Pro Football Weekly, now on sale at newsstands and bookstores across the country. Or you can subscribe online to PFW's print edition, or subscribe by calling 1-800-FOOTBALL (1-800-366-8225) and charging your subscription to a major credit card.

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2000 - 2001 Season