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Rams QB
Kurt Warner
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While the Pro Football Weekly/Professional Football Writers of America All-NFL
team is about honoring individuals, team success apparently plays a part in the voting.
The vast majority of this year’s All-NFL team members — 20 of 27, to be exact
— come from teams that played in the postseason this season.
Of the 12 teams participating in the playoffs, nine landed at least one player on the
honor roll. The Rams lead the way with four all-stars, and the Buccaneers and Jets each
had three. Three clubs — the Dolphins, Packers and Raiders — made the playoffs
without an All-NFL representative.
QB Kurt Warner / Rams
The NFL’s highest-rated passer, Warner turned in the second-most productive
passing season ever (4,830 yards). Considered one of the most accurate passers ever to
play the game, Warner guided the Rams to the 500-point mark for an NFL-record third
consecutive season. While he received a tiny bit of criticism for his 22 interceptions,
Warner can deal with it as long as he gets to run the high-risk, attacking offense that he
loves.
RB Marshall Faulk / Rams
Simply put, Faulk is one of the great all-purpose backs of all time. After totaling
2,147 combined rushing-receiving yards, Faulk became the first player in NFL history to
reach the 2,000-yard plateau four years in a row. Faulk lines up in a variety of spots, as
the Rams implement a number of formations to keep opponents on edge. He is very elusive
with great cutting ability, which any defender who has faced him knows.
RB Curtis Martin / Jets
Martin may not receive superstar status around the country, but he puts up superstar
numbers. The most dangerous member of the Jets’ offense, Martin is clearly the most
productive as well. He rushed for 1,513 yards and 10 touchdowns and added another 53
catches for 320 yards. The Jets took it a little easy on Martin in the passing game this
season in order to keep him fresh for the long haul.
TE Tony Gonzalez / Chiefs
He’s the best pass-catching tight end playing today, but some observers believe he
may have been underutilized this season. Nevertheless, Gonzalez caught 73 passes for 917
yards and six scores. While that’s 20 passes and 286 yards fewer than last season,
Gonzalez finished the year with a better average per catch.
WR David Boston / Cardinals
Boston burst onto the scene this season with a 98-catch, 1,598-yard performance. Three
years into his NFL career, this former first-round pick lived up to lofty expectations
this season, leading the league in receiving yardage. After working diligently in the
offseason with new WR coach Jerry Sullivan and adding even more strength to his already
ripped body, Boston became one of the best in the league.
WR Terrell Owens / 49ers
It’s a given that Owens is somewhat of an enigma. But as long as he keeps
producing like he did this season, his teammates and coaches will put up with his
shenanigans. Owens caught 93 passes for 1,412 yards and 16 touchdowns. He is a great
route-runner with a strong work ethic who proved to be the key to the 49ers’ passing
attack.
C Kevin Mawae / Jets
Mawae may have played as well as any offensive lineman in the NFL this season. The
leader of the Jets’ offensive line, Mawae is a big reason New York has been so
successful vs. the Dolphins and MLB Zach Thomas.
OG Larry Allen / Cowboys
One of the all-time NFL greats, Allen has become almost an annual pick for a variety of
all-star teams. While some scouts will tell you this wasn’t one of Allen’s best
seasons, he was still the best guard in football.
OG Alan Faneca / Steelers
In his fourth NFL season, Faneca just began to garner the national recognition he
deserves. If you don’t know much about him, Faneca is a tough, hard-nosed
overachiever with very good strength.
OT Jonathan Ogden / Ravens
Standing 6-8, 340 pounds, Ogden is one of the most athletic giants ever to play in the
NFL. He has the ability to be as good as anyone ever to play the game when he is totally
focused and angry. While the Ravens didn’t get superb play from the offensive line as
a whole this season, rarely was Ogden the source of the problem.
OT Orlando Pace / Rams
Pace continues to live up to the expectations the Rams had when they drafted him No. 1
overall in 1997. He is a massive presence with unbelievable footwork for a player of his
size. While he may not net the same number of "pancake" blocks he had while at
Ohio State, Pace is extremely reliable and at times dominant.
DE John Abraham / Jets
After playing linebacker last year as a rookie, Abraham was switched to defensive end.
He got off to a slow start before embarking on a hot streak that led to a 13-sack season.
Abraham has excellent speed-rush ability off the edge.
DE Michael Strahan / Giants
So the record-breaking sack in Week 17 may have been a gimme. But you can’t
discount the dominant season Strahan had. He was clearly the best defensive player in
football in 2001. Strahan has a rare ability to rush the passer with speed and power.
DT Sam Adams / Ravens
A tremendous, unheralded free-agent pickup in 2000, Adams is especially effective vs.
the run when he’s healthy. He does a fine job of occupying blockers, along with DT
Tony Siragusa, keeping linebackers like Ray Lewis free to make plays.
DT Warren Sapp / Buccaneers
Sapp stated before the season that he intended to break Mark Gastineau’s
single-season sack record. As we all know, Strahan was the one who accomplished that. In
fact, Sapp finished with only six sacks. Still, he is a high-motor, high-intensity player
who drew double- and triple-teams that helped free up some of his linemates. This
wasn’t a vintage Sapp season, but he still was awfully good.
MLB Brian Urlacher / Bears
With rare size, physical ability and a great motor, Urlacher is starting to see the big
picture. He made plays all over the field and wasn’t limited to defense — as
evidenced by his TD catch on a fake field goal vs. the Redskins. Urlacher, who was helped
by the presence of DTs Ted Washington and Keith Traylor, is the latest in a long line of
great Bears linebackers.
OLB Jason Gildon / Steelers
Gildon is a hybrid defensive end/outside linebacker who is much better at rushing the
passer than anything else — and that’s just fine with the Steelers. In the last
four seasons, Gildon has racked up 45 sacks — which will drive up his asking price as
an unrestricted free agent.
OLB Jamir Miller / Browns
Miller is an excellent pass rusher who was most effective as a defensive end in nickel
situations. He finished with 13 sacks, more than doubling his previous total for a season.
Miller was second on the Browns in tackles with 114 and third in QB pressures with 31.
CB Ronde Barber / Buccaneers
Barber is a very opportunistic player who had a knack for making big plays this season.
While he’s not a top man-on-man, bump-and-run cover corner, Barber is an excellent
fit in the Bucs’ two-deep scheme. In addition to tying for an NFL-high 10
interceptions, Barber is a very effective blitzer.
CB Aeneas Williams / Rams
After enduring 10 seasons with the hapless Cardinals, Williams was traded to the Rams
for second- and fourth-round draft picks. He has done for the Rams’ defense what
Marshall Faulk did for the Rams’ offense when St. Louis traded for him. Williams has
found the fountain of youth and may have had his finest professional season. Not only was
he an important playmaker (four interceptions, two returned for touchdowns), he provided
leadership for a revamped defense.
S Brian Dawkins / Eagles
With tremendous range, hitting ability and instincts, Dawkins is regarded as one of the
best safeties in the NFL. Along with CBs Troy Vincent and Bobby Taylor, Dawkins helps
comprise one of the league’s most talented secondaries.
S John Lynch / Buccaneers
Lynch serves as an extra linebacker vs. the run and makes up for his lack of speed with
outstanding instincts. While he may not receive the same pub that Sapp or Derrick Brooks
get, Lynch is key to Tampa Bay’s outstanding defense.
PK David Akers / Eagles
Akers has good range, kicks very well outdoors, is very accurate and has a strong leg
for kickoffs. He connected on 26-of-31 field-goal attempts with a long of 50 yards. The
Eagles know they can depend on Akers when the game is on the line.
P Todd Sauerbrun / Panthers
One NFL insider said that Sauerbrun looked like the second coming of Ray Guy when he
got to kick the ball long, but the insider noted that Sauerbrun doesn’t place the
ball nearly as well. Sauerbrun finished the season with a phenomenal 47.5-yard gross
average.
KR Steve Smith / Panthers
The only rookie to make this team, Smith is explosive and has breakaway speed. He may
have been the most exciting player on the Panthers this season because he was a threat to
go all the way every time he touched the ball. Smith averaged an NFC-high 25.6 yards per
kickoff and returned two for scores.
PR Troy Brown / Patriots
While he doesn’t have the greatest speed, Brown is very instinctive and shifty. He
led the NFL with a 14.2-yard average and returned a pair of punts for touchdowns.
ST Larry Whigham / Bears
Whigham is known throughout the NFL as one of the league’s elite special-teams
performers. He earned his second Pro Bowl berth this season.
To see who won the Pro Football Weekly/Professsional Football Writers of America
individual awards for 2001, including Most Valuable Player, and who was voted to the
All-Conference and All-Rookie teams, you can purchase a copy of Vol. XVI, No. 29 (dated
Jan. 28, 2002) 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. |
