Bleacher Report's Midseason NFL All-Pro Team
Peyton Manning. Justin James Watt.
Those players are two of the National Football's League's very best at what they do.
Manning is a household name who has appeared in approximately every commercial of the past two years. Watt isn't far behind in either regard.
The pair share something else besides success on the field and hamming it up off of it.
They're also the cornerstones of the Bleacher Report midseason All-Pro team, which was assembled through a vote of Bleacher Report's National Lead Writers and Division Lead Writers.
Let's see who will be joining those players in Hoboken.
What? Don't you know how expensive Honolulu is?
Quarterback
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Winner: Peyton Manning, Denver Broncos (13 votes)
Like it was going to be anyone else.
Granted, this is something of a golden age for NFL quarterbacks. Whether it's veterans like Drew Brees or Aaron Rodgers or youngsters like Russell Wilson and Andrew Luck, the league is replete with superstars at the position.
Still, there can be only one, and it's fitting that one player is Peyton Manning.
If it's possible to be even better than he was during last year's record-setting campaign, then Manning has accomplished that feat in 2014. The 38-year-old is completing nearly 70 percent of his passes. He has 22 touchdown passes against only three interceptions. His passer rating is nearly 120.
As Lee Schechter of ESPN reports, it's a showing that has led to glowing reviews from coaches:
"Not to take anything away from the Montanas, Marinos and Elways or whoever is up there with those guys, but [Manning] is tough. He's good at everything. He's good at everything, I see no weaknesses in his game.
"
The truly impressive thing? That quote didn't come from Denver.
Try New England, and the mouth of Darth Hoodie (Bill Belichick) himself.
Preseason Winner: Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers (6 votes)
Others receiving votes: Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers (2 votes)
Running Back
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Winners: DeMarco Murray, Dallas Cowboys (15 votes), Le'Veon Bell, Pittsburgh Steelers (11 votes)
Given that he's rushed for over 100 yards in all eight games this year (an NFL record) and leads the league in rushing by nearly 300 yards, it's hardly a surprise that DeMarco Murray of the Dallas Cowboys was a unanimous pick from our panel.
Murray is on a pace that would break Eric Dickerson's single-season rushing record, but as Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk reports, a cloud or two has formed amid all the sunshine:
"There are some questions about whether the Cowboys can keep giving the ball to Murray so often. With 206 carries this season, Murray is on pace for 412, which would be the second most in NFL history—if he can keep up that pace without breaking down. And Murray lost yet another fumble on Monday night, giving him five lost fumbles this year. That’s the most of any player in the NFL—even more than any quarterback, even though the fumbles lost stat is usually dominated by quarterbacks.
"
Party poopers.
Murray is joined in our All-Pro backfield by second-year pro Le'Veon Bell, who ranks third in the league with 691 yards on the ground. Bell also ranks second among running backs with 42 receptions, and it's that dual-threat ability that makes Bell so dangerous, as quarterback Ben Roethlisberger told Ray Fittipaldo of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
"I don’t even think we’ve used him to his full potential," Roethlisberger said. "We did one series of no-huddle [against Houston]. When we go no-huddle and I’m calling the plays, I like to get him out in empty sets because I can utilize him in mismatches. So I think that the best is yet to come for him."
Quite the one-two punch.
Preseason Winners: LeSean McCoy, Philadelphia Eagles (14 votes); Adrian Peterson, Minnesota Vikings (8 votes)
Others receiving votes: Arian Foster, Houston Texans (4 votes)
Fullback/H-Back
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Winner: Kyle Juszczyk, Baltimore Ravens (11 votes)
The fullback position is going the way of the Packers sweep in the NFL. More and more teams are eschewing the position altogether.
Some fullbacks are still kicking around the league, though, and our choice as the pick of the litter is Kyle Juszczyk of the Baltimore Ravens.
The second-year pro has yet to carry the ball in 2014, but he has shown to be a capable blocker (fourth among fullbacks, per Pro Football Focus, subscription required) and receiver (nine catches for 116 yards and a touchdown) for a Baltimore team that's been hit hard by injuries at the tight end position.
Preseason Winner: Mike Tolbert, Carolina Panthers (5 votes)
Others receiving votes: Anthony Sherman, Kansas City Chiefs (3 votes), Darrel Young, Washington Redskins (1 vote)
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Tight End
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Winner: Antonio Gates, San Diego Chargers (10 votes)
There's a saying in sports: Father Time is undefeated.
No player can escape the ravages of age, but in Antonio Gates' case, the 34-year-old is doing a pretty good job of postponing them.
In a season in which Gates was supposed to cede duties as the team's top tight end to youngster Ladarius Green, the veteran has had none of it. Through eight games, the 12th-year player has already hauled in nine touchdown passes.
Gates recently passed Lance Alworth as the Chargers' all-time leading receiver. As John Breech of CBSSports.com reports, it was one more team record to add to the pile: "Gates' 761 receptions are 165 more than the next closest player on the Chargers all-time list (Charlie Joiner, 586 receptions). Gates' 96 career touchdown catches is also a franchise record."
Of course, that all pales in comparison to inclusion on this team. Or something.
Preseason Winner: Jimmy Graham, New Orleans Saints (14 votes)
Others receiving votes: Julius Thomas, Denver Broncos (3 votes), Jason Witten, Dallas Cowboys (1 vote), Rob Gronkowski, New England Patriots (1 vote)
Wide Receiver
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Winner: Jordy Nelson, Green Bay Packers (11 votes), Antonio Brown, Pittsburgh Steelers (8 votes)
It's been something of a strange season at the wide receiver position.
Injuries to Calvin Johnson of the Detroit Lions and A.J. Green of the Cincinnati Bengals have shaken up the balance of power, opening the door for some new blood to shine.
A number of players have taken advantage of that opportunity.
Among them is Jordy Nelson of the Green Bay Packers, who has 50 grabs for 737 yards and six scores so far on the season. Three of those touchdowns have traveled at least 55 yards.
Nelson's batterymate on our All-Pro team is Pittsburgh's Antonio Brown, who has turned in a phenomenal first half of the year.
Brown's 60 catches lead the league. Brown also ranks second in the league in both yardage (852) and touchdowns (seven).
As ESPN.com's Scott Brown reports, head coach Mike Tomlin believes Brown deserves every bit of recognition he gets: "Antonio is playing at that type of level at wide receiver, a J.J. Watt-type of level. He's one of the best in the world at what he does, and he's mentally and physically on top of his game."
Given that Brown has now caught at least five passes for at least 50 yards in 21 consecutive games dating back to last year, we're hard-pressed to argue with him.
Preseason Winners: Calvin Johnson, Detroit Lions (14 votes); Demaryius Thomas, Denver Broncos (5 votes)
Others receiving votes: Demaryius Thomas, Denver Broncos (7 votes), Dez Bryant, Dallas Cowboys (3 votes), T.Y. Hilton, Indianapolis Colts (1 vote)
Offensive Tackle
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Winners: Joe Thomas, Cleveland Browns (13 votes), Tyron Smith, Dallas Cowboys (10 votes)
They don't get the publicity of the quarterbacks they protect, but there may not be a more important position on offense than tackle.
After all, that $20 million quarterback isn't much good to a team if he's in the hospital.
Our voters went with two of the league's best blindside protectors as their All-Pro tackles. In fact, Joe Thomas of the Cleveland Browns is the top-ranked tackle overall at the midway point, according to the folks at Pro Football Focus.
As Alan Robinson of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports, Thomas is in some very rare company in the long and storied history of the Browns:
"Joe Thomas…and Jim Brown? Brown, the Hall of Fame running back, and left tackle Thomas are the only Browns players to be selected to the Pro Bowl in each of their first seven seasons. The 6-foot-6, 312-pound Thomas has played every snap since being drafted No. 3 overall in 2007, and he and Richmond Webb are the only NFL offensive linemen since 1970 to be Pro Bowl picks seven consecutive times to start a career.
"
Meanwhile, as Ashley Fox of ESPN.com points out, Smith has been a crucial part of the Cowboys' success this season:
"The Cowboys picked Smith ninth overall in 2011 and started him all 16 games at right tackle. In 2012, they flipped Smith to left tackle, moved veteran Doug Free to right tackle and signed undrafted rookie Ronald Leary, who became the starting left guard last season.
'The level I said was in two years he'd be in the Pro Bowl,' said then-offensive line coach Hudson Houck, who retired after the 2011 season. 'I was a little lucky, but in two years he was in the Pro Bowl.'
"
By our vote, Smith's in the Pro Bowl again.
Preseason Winners: Joe Thomas, Cleveland Browns (9 votes); Jason Peters, Philadelphia Eagles (7 votes)
Others receiving votes: Branden Albert, Miami Dolphins (5 votes), Jason Peters, Philadelphia Eagles (1 vote), Trent Williams, Washington Redskins (1 vote)
Offensive Guard
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Winners: Marshal Yanda, Baltimore Ravens (13 votes), Zack Martin, Dallas Cowboys (8 votes)
Ladies and gentleman, we have a rookie in the house!
Zack Martin of the Dallas Cowboys is the first first-year player to be included on the Bleacher Report midseason All-Pro team. As head coach Jason Garrett told Todd Archer of ESPNDallas.com, the former Notre Dame star has performed as advertised—and then some:
"He's strong. He's quick. He's explosive. He's got good hands. He's got good feet. He's mentally tough. He's physically tough. All those things. Now, he has to get a lot better, don't get me wrong. He ain't perfect by any means. But there's so much good there and the fact that he plays so maturely emotionally, as well as technically and otherwise, for a young guy is pretty impressive.
"
Martin, who ranks fifth among all guards at PFF, has yet to allow a sack. In fact, Martin's allowed only a single hit on Tony Romo this season.
Marshal Yanda of the Ravens, our voters' other pick along the interior of the offensive line, has allowed a sack, but pass protection isn't really where the 30-year-old shines.
To say that Yanda is a mauler as a run-blocker is an understatement. Not only is Yanda PFF's highest-ranked guard in run blocking by a staggering margin, but Yanda is the league's highest-ranked offensive lineman overall.
Still, Yanda insisted to Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com that he isn't interested in the accolades being heaped upon him:
"I really don’t read the media. I’m concentrated on what’s going on in this building, and everything else is a distraction that I don’t worry about. I worry about Joe [Flacco]. I worry about our guys. I worry about our team and us moving forward as a group. So, as an individual, no. I just try to do my job and try to be good at my job.
"
Yanda may not want the accolades, but he's getting them anyway.
Preseason Winners: Evan Mathis, Philadelphia Eagles (13 votes), Larry Warford, Detroit Lions (4 votes)
Others receiving votes: Josh Sitton, Green Bay Packers (5 votes), Kelechi Osemele, Baltimore Ravens (3 votes), Kyle Long, Chicago Bears (1 vote)
Center
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Winner: Nick Mangold, New York Jets (10 votes)
In a way, the vote for All-Pro center is both fitting and a little bit sad.
It's fitting that Cleveland's Alex Mack got one vote, even after being lost to a season-ending injury. Mack was the panel's preseason pick and all but certainly would have held the spot had he not gotten hurt. His absence has turned the Browns' offensive line from elite to merely average.
It's sad because much like Mack (in years past, anyway), Nick Mangold is stuck being a great player on an awful team.
The Jets haven't had much to cheer about during their seven-game losing streak, but Mangold can't be blamed for the team's woes. Not only is Mangold Pro Football Focus' highest-rated center by a sizable margin, but the ninth-year veteran received the highest grade at his position in both run blocking and pass protection.
Too bad that versatility's wasted blocking for the likes of Chris Johnson and Geno Smith.
Preseason Winner: Alex Mack, Cleveland Browns (7 votes)
Others receiving votes: Maurkice Pouncey, Pittsburgh Steelers (3 votes), Alex Mack, Cleveland Browns (1 vote), Max Unger, Seattle Seahawks (1 vote)
Defensive End
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Winners: J.J. Watt, Houston Texans (15 votes), DeMarcus Ware, Denver Broncos (7 votes)
Prepare to be shocked.
Despite the fact that all he's done is tally 32 tackles, add seven sacks, score touchdowns in three different ways (interception return, fumble return and reception) and emerge as a viable candidate for most valuable player, J.J Watt of the Houston Texans was a unanimous choice as one of our All-Pro defensive ends.
Talk about low standards. I mean come on! Watt has only three touchdowns!
Watt is joined in his quest to make quarterbacks cry by DeMarcus Ware, who has amassed seven sacks over his first half season with the Denver Broncos.
The 32-year-old has shown no ill effects from the injuries that marred his last year in Dallas in 2013. Ware told Don Banks of Sports Illustrated that the change of scenery in the offseason has been a big help:
"The pieces are in place here, and when I got here I saw how hard Von works and how he has gotten back to where he needs to be physically. Then with me, I feel like my body being whole again, being able to play all out and not being hurt and injured, has been the key. It’s like, ‘OK, now we have what people think they have with both of us.’ You don’t have a beat-up DeMarcus, or a Von coming back and still not being right from his injury.
"
Ware and Miller have combined for 16 sacks already this year, powering a Denver defense that suddenly looks every bit as scary as its high-octane offense.
Preseason Winners: J.J. Watt, Houston Texans (15 votes), Robert Quinn, St. Louis Rams (11 votes)
Others receiving votes: Cameron Wake, Miami Dolphins (6 votes), Muhammad Wilkerson, New York Jets (2 votes)
Defensive Tackle
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Winners: Gerald McCoy, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (15 votes), Marcell Dareus, Buffalo Bills (14 votes)
Apparently the Bleacher Report All-Pro team will be running the 4-3 when they take the field at Vito's Bail Bonds Field in Hoboken, New Jersey, because our voters have settled on a pair of penetrating 3-techniques as the defensive tackles.
First up is Gerald McCoy of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who recently re-upped with Tampa for seven years and a staggering $98 million.
McCoy told Pat Yasinskas of ESPN.com that he isn't letting the Buccaneers' current struggles as a team get him down:
"A lot of people, you see run from situations like this. They feel like they're not winning right now or it's not going the way they planned. The best feeling in the world is going to be when we turn this thing around and to know you were a part of it and you didn't run from a challenge. You didn't run from the fight. I love the fight. I don't like fighting, but I love this fight.
"
Of course, McCoy has 98 million reasons to be upbeat.
Flanking McCoy on our dream defense is Marcell Dareus of the Buffalo Bills, who's been on quite the rip to start the 2014 campaign.
Dareus leads all defensive tackles with seven sacks, good enough for fifth in the NFL. Dareus' stellar play after a rough offseason has impressed head coach Doug Marrone, according to Matthew Fairburn of Syracuse.com:
"I think I said it before. He’s a little under-the-radar statistically, but he’s been winning all of his matchups and playing extremely hard. I give him a lot of credit. During the week he was running extra on the side, knowing that he had to get himself ready to go. (He did that) without anyone telling him to do that. He did it on his own and he’s just been playing very, very well for us.
"
I think Marrone's radar may need an adjustment, but Dareus' game hasn't this year.
Preseason Winners: Gerald McCoy, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (12 votes), Muhammad Wilkerson, New York Jets (7 votes)
Others receiving votes: Ndamukong Suh, Detroit Lions (1 vote)
Outside Linebacker
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Winners: Von Miller, Denver Broncos (15 votes), DeAndre Levy, Detroit Lions (8 votes)
As I mentioned earlier, Von Miller and DeMarcus Ware have combined to add a whole new element to the Denver defense. With opponents forced to the air in catch-up mode against the Broncos, Miller and Ware have been free to tee-off on the quarterback.
However, while Miller's nine sacks get all the run, the fourth-year pro's run defense is an overlooked and underappreciated part of Miller's game.
According to Pro Football Focus, there isn't a better run defender among 4-3 outside linebackers this season. As a matter of fact, it isn't close.
Miller is also PFF's top-ranked 4-3 OLB overall, but the player who comes in at No. 2 also made his way onto the Bleacher Report midseason All-Pro team.
The Detroit Lions are 6-2 at the halfway point, thanks to a surprisingly stout defense that ranks first in a number of statistical categories.
The leader of that defense in 2014 is outside linebacker DeAndre Levy, who has picked up his game in the absence of middle linebacker Stephen Tulloch.
Over the past few years, Levy has developed a knack for big plays, especially interceptions. Since the beginning of the 2013 campaign, Levy has an eye-popping seven picks.
That's a lot for a cornerback. For a linebacker it's just nuts.
Preseason Winners: Lavonte David, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9 votes), Von Miller, Denver Broncos (5 votes)
Others receiving votes: Justin Houston, Kansas City Chiefs (5 votes), Dont'a Hightower, New England Patriots (1 vote), Elvis Dumervil, Baltimore Ravens (1 vote)
Inside Linebacker
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Winners: C.J. Mosley, Baltimore Ravens (10 votes), Luke Kuechly, Carolina Panthers (10 votes)
Lookie lookie, we've got another rookie.
C.J. Mosley is the second newcomer to make our All-Pro squad, buoyed to those heights by 76 tackles, good for fourth in the NFL.
Mosley has acclimated about as quickly to the NFL as a player can. So much so, in fact, that through eight weeks no inside linebacker (rookie or veteran) has garnered a higher grade from Pro Football Focus.
Mosley is making a quick ascent of Mount Tacklelots (it's in Jersey, too), but once he reaches the summit he will find Luke Kuechly of the Carolina Panthers waiting for him.
The reigning NFL Defensive Player of the year leads the league with 89 tackles. Should that hold through the season's end, Kuechly will have led the NFL in stops twice in three years.
Quarterback Drew Brees, whose Saints face Kuechly's Panthers twice a season, gushed about the former Boston College star while speaking with David Newton of ESPN.com.
"The guy is a stud," Brees said. "He is all over the place. He seems like he's making every tackle and every call. He's as good a football player as there is in the league."
Yeah, that about covers it.
Preseason Winners: Luke Kuechly, Carolina Panthers (11 votes), Patrick Willis, San Francisco 49ers (8 votes)
Others receiving votes: Rolando McClain, Dallas Cowboys (4 votes), Karlos Dansby, Cleveland Browns (3 votes), Bobby Wagner, Seattle Seahawks (2 votes), Dont'a Hightower, New England Patriots (1 vote)
Cornerback
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Winners: Vontae Davis, Indianapolis Colts (12 votes), Chris Harris, Denver Broncos (8 votes)
When talk turns to the NFL's best cornerbacks, a number of names are often mentioned. Darrelle Revis. Richard Sherman. Patrick Peterson. Aqib Talib. Joe Haden.
Vontae Davis of the Indianapolis Colts garnered more votes from our experts than all five of those players—combined.
And doubled.
Davis' play has been phenomenal to this point in the year. His value to the Colts' playoff hopes can best be demonstrated by what happened when he was forced from last week's loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Indy gave up 522 yards through the air, six passing touchdowns and 51 points.
Much the same can be said about Chris Harris of the Denver Broncos. It's Talib who receives the publicity, but it's been Harris who has been the better player in 2014, picking off a pair of passes and ranking second at his position per Pro Football Focus.
By weight of comparison, Revis ranks 12th. Sherman is 20th. Peterson?
Try 85th.
Preseason Winners: Richard Sherman, Seattle Seahawks (14 votes), Darrelle Revis, New England Patriots (10 votes)
Others receiving votes: Brandon Flowers, San Diego Chargers (3 votes), Desmond Trufant, Atlanta Falcons (2 votes), Aqib Talib, Denver Broncos (2 votes), Richard Sherman, Seattle Seahawks (2 votes), Prince Amukamara, New York Giants (1 vote)
Safety
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Winners: Eric Weddle, San Diego Chargers (12 votes), Harrison Smith, Minnesota Vikings (9 votes)
Fear the beard.
That's been the mantra of teams in the AFC West in recent years, because taking on the San Diego Chargers means dealing with veteran safety Eric Weddle.
The 29-year-old has once again been rock-solid for the Bolts in 2014. The top-ranked safety at Pro Football Focus so far this year, Weddle's 39 solo tackles rank 11th at his position. The eighth-year veteran has also been especially stout in coverage, with opposing quarterbacks throwing in Weddle's direction generating a dismal passer rating of 50.6
Our experts' choice as the second safety on the Bleacher Report midseason All-Pro team is in many respects a younger clone of Weddle.
Minnesota's Harrison Smith has emerged as a key contributor for the Vikings' defense. Smith topped 100 total tackles as a rookie in 2012, and has demonstrated himself to be a natural at making big plays, to the tune of eight interceptions in 32 career games.
Smith has battled injuries the past couple of seasons (including an ankle problem this year), but when he's healthy the former Golden Domer just might be the most underrated player at his position in the entire NFL.
Preseason Winners: Earl Thomas, Seattle Seahawks (14 votes), Kenny Vaccaro, New Orleans Saints (10 votes)
Others receiving votes: Glover Quin, Detroit Lions (4 votes), Devin McCourty, New England Patriots (2 votes), Antoine Bethea, San Francisco 49ers (1 vote), Earl Thomas, Seattle Seahawks (1 vote), Tashaun Gipson, Cleveland Browns (1 vote)
Special Teams
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Kicker: Dan Bailey, Dallas Cowboys (13 votes)
The fourth-year pro has missed only one field-goal attempt all season long, and that was from over 50 yards out. Bailey's 93.8 percent success rate in 2014 marks the third straight season in which Bailey has made over 93 percent of his kicks.
Ask the Detroit Lions how big that can be for a team.
Preseason Winner: Justin Tucker, Baltimore Ravens (10 votes)
Others receiving votes: Stephen Gostkowski, New England Patriots (2 votes)
Punter: Pat McAfee, Indianapolis Colts (14 votes)
McAfee, who is PFF's top-ranked punter, ranks second in the NFL in punting average and leads the league in net average. Add in a sixth-place ranking in punts downed inside the 20, and you have yourself a Pro Bowl punter.
Preseason Winner: Shane Lechler, Houston Texans (9 votes)
Others receiving votes: Andy Lee, San Francisco 49ers (1 vote)
Kick/Punt Returner: Devin Hester, Atlanta Falcons (15 votes)
Hester, who broke the all-time record for return touchdowns held by Deion Sanders earlier this year, has re-established himself as the NFL's most dangerous return man. After Hester set the new mark against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Atlanta head coach Mike Smith made the understatement of the year, telling Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com, "He's been a great addition to our football team."
Preseason Winner: (tie) Cordarrelle Patterson, Minnesota Vikings (five votes); De'Anthony Thomas, Kansas City Chiefs (five votes)
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