Ryan Clady, Denver Broncos' LT Makes All-Pro Team; Proves ROY Vote Is Flawed

The Denver Broncos' season was a major disappointment, but fans will learn something positive today.

Rookie left tackle Ryan Clady, the 12th overall pick in last April's draft, was named a second team All-Pro today.

Clady was the one and only rookie on either the first or second team, proving my point all throughout the season that he is, in fact, the league's top newcomer.

Sure, one could argue that Matt Ryan, Joe Flacco, Chris Johnson, Matt Forte, and Jake Long were a part of better teams, but the Rookie of the Year award is not handed out to the "MVP" among rookies, it should be handed out to the top rookie performer.

Ryan Clady was that and then some.

Forget rookies, Jay Cutler's blind-side protector may very well be the best left tackle in the NFL. Cutler and the Broncos led the AFC's second best offense, and Clady went the entire season without allowing a sack. 

He dominated the likes of John Abraham, Joey Porter, Derrick Burgess, Luis Castillo, Tamba Hali, and most notably Julius Peppers, who was forced to alternate sides in their game against Denver.

No other rookie dominated his opposition like Clady, and his spot on the All-Pro team is well deserved. 

Many of NFL.com's Senior Writers had him as their starting left tackle for the Pro Bowl, which just goes to show the amount of respect he demands. 

The statistics aren't flashy, and he can't really score a touchdown playing left tackle, so naturally, his talents go overlooked by the ESPN homers who bought into the Matt Ryan phenomenon.

Clady's inaugural season in the NFL was one to be remembered, and he will man his post on the left side of Denver's offensive line for many, many years to come.