NFL Preseason All-Pros

Although the “frenzy,” “mayhem,” “hysteria,” of the NFL’s protracted 2011 free-agency period will likely change the look of several teams in the league, it won’t change who the best players in the sport are.

Normally, we’d only be a couple weeks away from the preseason, and analysts would be putting together their All-Pro teams.

So here’s one man’s assemblage of the best team imaginable. We’ll use a 4-3 defence (because it’s the most common) and a one-back, three-WR offence (because who cares about fullbacks?).

Offence

QB: Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay

The reigning Super Bowl MVP joined, and arguably surpassed, the Brady/Manning duo with his third straight excellent season, leading the Pack to their first post-Favre Super Bowl despite getting little support from his running game.

Rodgers has every skill you could ask as a passer, runner and leader, and at only 27, he could remain the best quarterback in the world for years to come.

RB: Adrian Peterson, Minnesota Vikings

All-Day is one of the most impressive physical specimens to ever play the position—fast enough to outrun safeties, strong enough to bowl over linebackers and big enough to move the pile in short-yardage situations.

On top of that skill set, he runs harder than just about anyone. His punishing style does raise concerns about his durability, but if he stays healthy, he’s still the best back in football. (Though Tennessee speed demon Chris Johnson is close.)

WR: Andre Johnson, Houston Texans

Like Peterson, Johnson is an incredible athlete for his position, blessed with elite size, speed, and strength. Instead of merely relying on his physical superiority, though, Johnson has developed into a very polished route-runner who can play underneath and in the middle of the field.

He’s caught over 100 passes in three of his eight seasons and was on pace to do so in 2010 but missed three games due to injury.

Larry Fitzgerald, Arizona Cardinals

Fitzgerald seemed to fall off the NFL map after setting a career-high with 13 scores in 2009 and making history in the 2008 playoffs, but that has much more to do with the black hole the Cardinals had under centre than any decline in Fitzgerald’s abilities.

Even in what seemed like a down year, the man with the strongest hands in football still finished with over 1,100 yards. The Cards might be stuck near the bottom of the NFL standings for the next few years, but Fitzgerald should still be a Pro Bowl staple.

Calvin Johnson, Detroit Lions

Another guy somewhat hamstrung by the lack of a reliable passer, Johnson is a massive (6'5", 235 pounds) receiver with remarkable speed and leaping ability.

After the much-publicized failures of first-round Lions receivers Charles Rogers, Roy Williams and Mike Williams, Johnson has emerged as one of ex-GM Matt Millen’s few good draft picks.

TE: Antonio Gates, San Diego Chargers

After losing some of his speed to foot and toe injuries, Gates has become a more well-rounded receiver, running better routes and relying on positioning and strength instead of his superior athletic ability.

He was on pace for career-highs in yards and touchdowns before foot injuries slowed him again in the second half of the season. When healthy, he’s the best at his position, and it’s not close.

LT: Joe Thomas, Cleveland Browns

Thomas has made the Pro Bowl every year since he entered the league, easily living up to expectations that come with being a top three draft pick. One of the vital cogs of an up-and-coming Browns offence.

LG: Jahri Evans, New Orleans Saints

Evans’s $56.7 million contract might sound like a lot for an interior lineman, but he’s never missed a game and is arguably the best all-around guard in football.

He’ll be making Pro Bowls for years to come.

C: Nick Mangold, New York Jets

Mangold is one of the Jets’ leaders, consistently displaying the toughness (and hair) of a WWE wrestler while coordinating their blocking schemes.

He has the strength and punch to take on powerful nose tackles as well as the feet to pull and seal the edge on outside run plays.

RG: Chris Snee, New York Giants

Snee has been an excellent all-around lineman for years and deserves bonus credit for marrying the coach’s daughter.

RT: Jake Long, Miami Dolphins

This might be cheating, as Long also plays on the left side, but if Joe Thomas is 1A amongst offensive tackles, Long is 1B. He might not have been a sexy first overall pick, but he’s quickly emerged as one of the best players in football.

He’s not the quickest athlete in pass protection but has the length and technique to compensate and is a mauler of a run blocker.

Defence

DE: Demarcus Ware, Dallas Cowboys

Ware is simply one of the most disruptive defensive players in football, using a lethal combination of upper-body strength and speed to get around edge blockers and into the backfield.

With 80 sacks in six seasons, he could be amongst the all-time leaders when all is said and done. (Note: Ware is technically an OLB in the Cowboys defence but would likely play with a hand on the ground in a 4-3 scheme.)

Jared Allen, Minnesota Vikings

Dwight Freeney might be the most feared pure pass-rusher, but he’s a bit one-dimensional. Clay Matthews was the best defensive playmaker on the eventual Super Bowl champions, but he’s only been in the league for two years and is still developing.

Allen is a fantastic all-around defensive end, able to hold up in the run game and slip past blockers on passing downs. Plus, his unmatched motor and attitude help bring the best out of his linemates.

DT: Ndamukong Suh, Detroit Lions

Few interior defensive linemen can get drafted second overall and then go on to far exceed expectations as a rookie, but Suh did just that in 2010. The first team All-Pro finished the year with 10 sacks, leading all rookies, Lions and defensive tackles.

He was named Rookie of the Year by just about everyone on Earth, and he’s only 24. He could be the first tackle to win Defensive Player of the Year since Warren Sapp did it in 1999.

Vince Wilfork, New England Patriots

Wilfork has exceptional athleticism for a nose tackle, able to anchor inside in a 3-4 scheme, move outside on passing downs or slip through gaps in 4-3 alignments.

MLB: Patrick Willis, San Francisco 49ers

Willis is an absolute tackling machine who has missed only one game in his four-year career in  San Francisco.

He can slip through blockers to find ball carriers on inside run plays but also has the speed to make tackles from sideline-to-sideline.

He could end up in the Hall of Fame.

OLB: James Harrison, Pittsburgh Steelers

Harrison might be—wait, is—an idiot, but he’s an idiot who’s extremely good at playing football.

He can rush the passer, cover short passing routes and seal the edge on run plays.

He plays with a violent, unmatched ferocity and can intimidate entire offences.

Clay Matthews, Green Bay Packers

In only his second season, Matthews quickly emerged as one of the NFL’s premier defensive playmakers and should only get better as he develops his recognition and coverage skills.

CB: Charles Woodson, Green Bay Packers

The reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year is the best bump-and-run corner in the league, with the size and strength to knock even the biggest receivers off their routes and disrupt an offence’s timing.

After being as big of a disappointment in his Raiders career, Woodson is making a late push for the Hall of Fame in Green Bay.

Darrelle Revis, New York Jets

The media circus surrounding the Jets has turned “Revis Island” into a bit of an obnoxious moniker, but it really is well-earned.

The four-year veteran is the best “shutdown” corner in the league, making the league’s best receivers practically disappear week in and week out.

SS: Troy Polamalu, Pittsburgh Steelers

Joe Mauer might think he has silly hair, but every football fan knows that Troy Polamalu might be the best playmaking defensive back in the game.

Early in his career, he played almost exclusively up closer to the line of scrimmage, but he’s become an even better all-around player, able to drop back, play centrefield and knock down passes.

FS: Ed Reed, Baltimore Ravens

Few defensive backs in the history of the league have instincts and range on par with Ed Reed, who just has a knack for being around every play and getting in front of passes.

At 32, and already with 54 career interceptions, he has a shot at breaking Paul Krause’s career record of 81.