2008 All-Pro Team Explained

The 2008 All-Pro teams were named by the Associated Press (AP), Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA), and The Sporting News (TSN) for performance in the 2008 NFL season. These are the current teams that historically appear in Total Football: The Official Encyclopedia of the NFL. Although the NFL has no official awards, according to the NFL spokesman Greg Aiello, the NFL Record and Fact Book has historically listed All-Pro teams from major news sources such as the Associated Press, Sporting News, Pro Football Writers Association, as well as teams from organizations that no longer release All-Pro teams such as Newspaper Enterprise Association and United Press International.[1]

The AP team is selected by a national panel of 50 media members, and it lists both first and second teams.[2] [3] The Sporting News surveyed 664 players, coaches, and general managers to determine its All-Pro team.[4] The Pro Football Writers Association's All-NFL team results from the votes of over 300 members as well as from the editors and writers of Pro Football Weekly, who present the PFWA awards.[5]

Teams

Offense
PositionFirst teamSecond team
QuarterbackPeyton Manning, Indianapolis Colts (AP, PFWA)Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints (AP-2)
Running backAdrian Peterson, Minnesota Vikings (AP, PFWA, SN)
Michael Turner, Atlanta Falcons (AP, PFWA, SN)
Thomas Jones, New York Jets (PFWA)
DeAngelo Williams, Carolina Panthers (AP-2)
Clinton Portis, Washington Redskins (AP-2)
FullbackLe'Ron McClain, Baltimore Ravens (AP)Madison Hedgecock, New York Giants (AP-2)
Wide receiverAndre Johnson, Houston Texans (AP, PFWA, SN)
Larry Fitzgerald, Arizona Cardinals (AP, PFWA, SN)
Steve Smith, Carolina Panthers (AP-2)
Wes Welker, New England Patriots (AP-2)
Tight endTony Gonzalez, Kansas City Chiefs (AP, PFWA, SN)Jason Witten, Dallas Cowboys (AP-2)
TackleJordan Gross, Carolina Panthers (AP, PFWA, SN)
Michael Roos, Tennessee Titans (AP, PFWA, SN)
Ryan Clady, Denver Broncos (AP-2)
David Stewart, Tennessee Titans (AP-2t)
Walter Jones, Seattle Seahawks (AP-2t)
Jason Peters, Buffalo Bills (AP-2t)
David Diehl, New York Giants (AP-2t)
Joe Thomas, Cleveland Browns (AP-2t)
GuardSteve Hutchinson, Minnesota Vikings (AP, PFWA, SN)
Chris Snee, New York Giants (AP, PFWA, SN)
Kris Dielman, San Diego Chargers (AP-2)
Alan Faneca, New York Jets (AP-2)
CenterKevin Mawae, Tennessee Titans (AP, PFWA)
Shaun O'Hara, New York Giants (SN)
Shaun O'Hara, New York Giants (AP-2)
Special teams
PositionFirst teamSecond team
KickerStephen Gostkowski, New England Patriots (AP, PFWA, SN)John Carney, New York Giants (AP-2)
PunterShane Lechler, Oakland Raiders (AP, PFWA, SN)Donnie Jones, St. Louis Rams (AP-2)
Kick returnerLeon Washington, New York Jets (AP)
Danieal Manning, Chicago Bears (PFWA)
Leodis McKelvin, Buffalo Bills (SN)
Clifton Smith, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (AP-2)
Punt returnerJohnnie Lee Higgins, Oakland Raiders (PFWA)
Reggie Bush, New Orleans Saints (SN)
Special teamsBrendon Ayanbadejo, Baltimore Ravens (PFWA)
Defense
PositionFirst teamSecond team
Defensive endJustin Tuck, New York Giants (AP, PFWA)
Jared Allen, Minnesota Vikings (AP)
Mario Williams, Houston Texans (SN)
Julius Peppers, Carolina Panthers (SN)
John Abraham, Atlanta Falcons (PFWA)
Robert Mathis, Indianapolis Colts (PFWA)
Julius Peppers, Carolina Panthers (AP-2)
John Abraham, Atlanta Falcons (AP-2)
Defensive tackleAlbert Haynesworth, Tennessee Titans (AP, PFWA, SN)
Kevin Williams, Minnesota Vikings (AP, PFWA)
Kris Jenkins, New York Jets (SN, PFWA)
Jeremiah Ratliff, Dallas Cowboys (PFWA)
Kris Jenkins, New York Jets (AP-2)
Haloti Ngata, Baltimore Ravens (AP-2)
Outside linebackerDeMarcus Ware, Dallas Cowboys (AP, PFWA, SN)
James Harrison, Pittsburgh Steelers (AP, PFWA, SN)
Joey Porter, Miami Dolphins (SN)
Terrell Suggs, Baltimore Ravens (AP-2)
Joey Porter, Miami Dolphins (AP-2)
Inside linebackerRay Lewis, Baltimore Ravens (AP, PFWA)
Jon Beason, Carolina Panthers (AP)
Patrick Willis, San Francisco 49ers (AP-2)
James Farrior, Pittsburgh Steelers (AP-2)
CornerbackNnamdi Asomugha, Oakland Raiders (AP, PFWA, SN)
Cortland Finnegan, Tennessee Titans (AP, PFWA, SN)
Charles Woodson, Green Bay Packers (AP-2)
Antoine Winfield, Minnesota Vikings (AP-2)
SafetyEd Reed, Baltimore Ravens (AP, PFWA, SN)
Troy Polamalu, Pittsburgh Steelers (AP, PFWA, SN)
Adrian Wilson, Arizona Cardinals (AP-2)
Quintin Mikell, Philadelphia Eagles (AP-2t)
Nick Collins, Green Bay Packers (AP-2t)

Only the AP designates fullbacks.

The Sporting News groups all linebackers together, while the AP and PFWA have separate awards for outside and inside linebackers.

The AP names two inside linebackers, while the Sporting News and PFWA name only one

The AP does not designate a punt returner.

Only PFWA designates a special teams player.

Key

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Despite no MVP votes, Brees is the Offensive Player of the Year . Profootballtalk.com . January 6, 2009 . January 28, 2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20090226185716/http://m.profootballtalk.com/2009/01/06/despite-no-mvp-votes-brees-is-the-offensive-player-of-the-year/. 26 February 2009 . live.
  2. News: 2008 All-Pro Team Voting . January 9, 2009 . ESPN.com . Associated Press . January 9, 2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20090116112957/http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3821666. 16 January 2009 . live.
  3. News: Ravens safety Reed is only unanimous selection to All-Pro team. January 9, 2009 . NFL.com . Associated Press . January 9, 2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20090116221441/http://www.nfl.com/news/story?id=09000d5d80dfd4f6&template=with-video-with-comments&confirm=true. 16 January 2009 . live.
  4. Web site: Clifton . Brown . SN's NFL All-Pro Team . SportingNews.com . January 14, 2009 . January 28, 2009 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090118225809/http://www.sportingnews.com/yourturn/viewtopic.php?t=507558 . 2009-01-18 . dead .
  5. Web site: Eric . Edholm . 2008 PFW/PFWA awards: All-NFL team . ProFootballWeekly.com . January 13, 2009 . January 28, 2009 .