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Sporting News' NFL All-Pro team was selected by a panel of 50 NFL coaches and executives:
Don’t be fooled by Julius Peppers' eight sacks; he was a big reason the team’s scoring defense improved from tied for 21st to fourth. (AP Photo)QB Tom Brady, Patriots. Going 335 pass attempts without an interception might be more impressive than anything he did in his record-setting 2007 season.
RB Arian Foster, Texans. With 1,616 yards, he is the first undrafted rushing champ since Priest Holmes in ’01.
RB Maurice Jones-Drew, Jaguars. He averaged more than 21 carries per game but held up well at 4.4 yards per carry.
WR Roddy White, Falcons. In his fourth consecutive 1,000-yard season, he had a league-best 115 receptions.
WR Andre Johnson, Texans. A bad ankle kept him from a third straight 100-catch, 1,500-yard season, but he still had 1,216 yards.
TE Jason Witten, Cowboys. Mr. Consistent, he matched 2009’s catch total (94) for 1,002 yards.
OT Joe Thomas, Browns. In four years, he has made four Pro Bowls—and probably has many more to come.
G Jahri Evans, Saints. He remains the anchor of the defending Super Bowl champions’ line.
C Nick Mangold, Jets. The league’s highest-paid center played like he was worth every penny.
G Chris Snee, Giants. He helped keep the Giants’ line together through numerous injuries.
OT Jake Long, Dolphins. He has gone 3-for-3 in Pro Bowl voting.
DE Julius Peppers, Bears. Don’t be fooled by his eight sacks; he was a big reason the team’s scoring defense improved from tied for 21st to fourth.
DT Haloti Ngata, Ravens. Tackle-type 3-4 ends don’t get much pub—unless you dominate like he does.
DT Ndamukong Suh, Lions. With a 10-sack rookie season, he established himself as an elite inside pass rusher.
DE John Abraham, Falcons. At 32, he is the same kind of dynamic pass rusher he was at 22.
LB Clay Matthews, Packers. With his relentlessness, his sacks total (13½) is likely to keep creeping upward.
LB James Harrison, Steelers. His numbers—10½ sacks and 100 tackles—are typical of his performances since 2007.
LB Cameron Wake, Dolphins. A former CFL star, he piled up 14 sacks, up from 5.5 a year ago.
CB Asante Samuel, Eagles. Despite missing five games with a knee injury, he led the NFC in interceptions (seven).
CB Devin McCourty, Patriots. As a rookie, he had seven interceptions and 17 pass deflections.
SS Troy Polamalu, Steelers. Pittsburgh is 22-3 in games in which he intercepts a pass.
FS Ed Reed, Ravens. It took him only 10 games to produce a league-best eight interceptions.
K David Akers, Eagles. After finishing No. 2 in 2009, his total of 143 points was good for the scoring title.
P Shane Lechler, Raiders. At 34, the six-time Pro Bowler can still boom the ball (47-yard average).
KR Leon Washington, Seahawks. He matched his stellar ’07 with the Jets by returning three kickoffs for TDs.
PR Devin Hester, Bears. He led the league with a 17.1 yard average and three scores.
Lions defensive lineman Ndamukong Suh combines brawn and brains in a smashing rookie season. More: Off. POY | Def. POY | Comeback | All-Pro | Coach
Roddy White highlights an elite group selected by our panel of 50 NFL coaches and executives. More: Off. POY | Def. POY | Comeback | Rookie | Coach
Falcons coach Mike Smith (pictured) and offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey let the numbers do the talking. More: Off. POY | Def. POY | Comeback | Rookie | All-Pro
Clay Matthews impacts a game in ways few defensive players can. He is the NFL’s Tasmanian Devil. More: Offensive POY | Coach | Rookie | All-Pro team
This was Tom Brady's finest season—and that’s saying something for a man with three Super Bowl rings. More: Defensive POY | Coach | Rookie | All-Pro team