2008 All-Pro Team
Official list of the best NFL players in 2008
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
Position
First team
Second team
Quarterback
Peyton Manning , Indianapolis Colts (AP, PFWA)
Drew Brees , New Orleans Saints (AP-2)
Running back
Adrian 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)
Fullback [a]
Le'Ron McClain , Baltimore Ravens (AP)
Madison Hedgecock , New York Giants (AP-2)
Wide receiver
Andre 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 end
Tony Gonzalez , Kansas City Chiefs (AP, PFWA, SN)
Jason Witten , Dallas Cowboys (AP-2)
Tackle
Jordan 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)
Guard
Steve 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)
Center
Kevin Mawae , Tennessee Titans (AP, PFWA) Shaun O'Hara , New York Giants (SN)
Shaun O'Hara, New York Giants (AP-2)
Special teams
Position
First team
Second team
Kicker
Stephen Gostkowski , New England Patriots (AP, PFWA, SN)
John Carney , New York Giants (AP-2)
Punter
Shane Lechler , Oakland Raiders (AP, PFWA, SN)
Donnie Jones , St. Louis Rams (AP-2)
Kick returner
Leon Washington , New York Jets (AP) Danieal Manning , Chicago Bears (PFWA) Leodis McKelvin , Buffalo Bills (SN)
Clifton Smith , Tampa Bay Buccaneers (AP-2)
Punt returner [d]
Johnnie Lee Higgins , Oakland Raiders (PFWA) Reggie Bush , New Orleans Saints (SN)
Special teams [e]
Brendon Ayanbadejo , Baltimore Ravens (PFWA)
Defense
Position
First team
Second team
Defensive end
Justin 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 tackle
Albert 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 linebacker [b]
DeMarcus 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 linebacker [b] [c]
Ray Lewis , Baltimore Ravens (AP, PFWA) Jon Beason , Carolina Panthers (AP)
Patrick Willis , San Francisco 49ers (AP-2) James Farrior , Pittsburgh Steelers (AP-2)
Cornerback
Nnamdi 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)
Safety
Ed 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)
a Only the AP designates fullbacks.
b The Sporting News groups all linebackers together, while the AP and PFWA have separate awards for outside and inside linebackers.
c The AP names two inside linebackers, while the Sporting News and PFWA name only one
d The AP does not designate a punt returner.
e Only PFWA designates a special teams player.
Key
AP = Associated Press first-team All-Pro
AP-2 = Associated Press second-team All-Pro
AP-2t = Tied for second-team All-Pro in the AP vote
PFWA = Pro Football Writers Association All-NFL
SN = Sporting News All-Pro
References
^ "Despite no MVP votes, Brees is the Offensive Player of the Year" . Profootballtalk.com . January 6, 2009. Archived from the original on February 26, 2009. Retrieved January 28, 2009 .
^ "2008 All-Pro Team Voting" . ESPN.com . Associated Press. January 9, 2009. Archived from the original on January 16, 2009. Retrieved January 9, 2009 .
^ "Ravens safety Reed is only unanimous selection to All-Pro team" . NFL.com . Associated Press. January 9, 2009. Archived from the original on January 16, 2009. Retrieved January 9, 2009 .
^ Brown, Clifton (January 14, 2009). "SN's NFL All-Pro Team" . SportingNews.com . Archived from the original on January 18, 2009. Retrieved January 28, 2009 .
^ Edholm, Eric (January 13, 2009). "2008 PFW/PFWA awards: All-NFL team" . ProFootballWeekly.com . Retrieved January 28, 2009 . [permanent dead link ]