Thursday, January 14, 2010

Weaver named All-Pro

The Philadelphia Eagles today announced that five players earned Associated Press All Pro honors in 2009. FB Leonard Weaver was selected to the first team, while K David Akers, DE Trent Cole, KR DeSean Jackson and CB Asante Samuel all garnered second team honors. The five-man contingent represents the most All-Pro selections the team has received since six players were honored in 2002.

Leonard Weaver is the first fullback in team history to earn AP All Pro honors. He led all NFL fullbacks with career highs in rushing attempts (70) and yards (323), and also added a career-high four total touchdowns (two rushing, two receiving). Originally a rookie free agent signing of Seattle in 2005, Weaver spent four seasons with the Seahawks before signing with Philadelphia in the 2009 offseason.

David Akers led the NFL with 32 field goals and ranked second with 139 points in 2009, while connecting on 86.5 percent of his kicks. He tied his own team record by nailing 17 consecutive field goals, en route to earning NFC special teams player of the month honors in November. He also made two game-winning kicks in the final two minutes of the fourth quarter (11/29/09 vs. Washington and 12/27/09 vs. Denver). His 12 field goals of 40-plus yards this season led the NFC. This is the third AP All Pro selection of Akers’ career.

Trent Cole set a career high in 2009 with 12.5 sacks, which ranked fifth in the NFL and third in the NFC. With his first AP All-Pro selection, Cole became the first Eagles draft pick at defensive end to earn All Pro honors since Clyde Simmons in 1992.

After becoming the first player in NFL history to be named to the Pro Bowl at two positions, DeSean Jackson earned All Pro honors as a kick returner. The dynamic Jackson was named NFC Special Teams Player of the Week (9/13 at Carolina and 12/13 at NY Giants) and earned NFC Special Teams Player of the month in both September and October. Jackson led the NFL in punt return average (15.2), including two returns for touchdowns (9/13 @ Carolina and 12/13 @ NY Giants). Jackson set a franchise record for punt return touchdowns in a career with three. The last Eagles returner to garner All-Pro honors was Vai Sikahema in 1992.

Asante Samuel earned his second All-Pro selection and first with the Eagles after tying for the league lead in interceptions (9), to go along with 42 tackles, 10 passes defensed, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery. Samuel recorded two multi-interception games in 2009 (11/29 vs. Washington and 10/11 vs. Tampa Bay) increasing his career total to six. Since 2006, no player in the NFL has more interceptions than Samuel (29). The last Eagles cornerback to earn All-Pro accolades was Lito Sheppard in 2004.

The Associated Press 2009 All-Pro team was selected by a national panel of media members. 

Here's the full voting:

x-Quarerbacks

Peyton Manning, Indianapolis, 36 1/2; Drew Brees, New Orleans, 12 1/2; Philip Rivers, San Diego, 1.

x-Running Backs

Chris Johnson, Tennessee, 50; Adrian Peterson, Minnesota, 17; Ray Rice, Baltimore, 12; Steven Jackson, St. Louis, 9; Maurice Jones-Drew, Jacksonville, 6; Thomas Jones, NY Jets, 3; DeAngelo Williams, Carolina, 1.

Fullback

Leonard Weaver, Philadelphia, 24; Le'Ron McClain, Baltimore, 14; Lousaka Polite, Miami, 9; Lawrence Vickers, Cleveland, 1; Tony Richardson, NY Jets, 1.

Tight End

Dallas Clark, Indianapolis, 25 1/2; Antonio Gates, San Diego, 10 1/2; Vernon Davis, San Francisco, 9; Jason Witten, Dallas, 4; Heath Miller, Pittsburgh, 1.

Wide Receivers

Andre Johnson, Houston, 44; Wes Welker, New England, 20; Reggie Wayne, Indianapolis, 12; Larry Fitzgerald, Arizona, 8; DeSean Jackson, Philadelphia, 6; Miles Austin, Dallas, 6; Vincent Jackson, San Diego, 2; Brandon Marshall, Denver, 2.

Tackles

Ryan Clady, Denver, 30; Joe Thomas, Cleveland, 18; Michael Roos, Tennessee, 12; Jake Long, Miami, 12; Jason Peters, Philadelphia, 5; Jon Stinchcomb, New Orleans, 5; Bryant McKinnie, Minnesota, 4; Michael Oher, Baltimore, 4; David Stewart, Tennessee, 3; Vernon Carey, Miami, 2; Andrew Whitworth, Cincinnati, 2; D'Brickashaw Ferguson, NY Jets, 2; Marcus McNeill, San Diego, 1; Willie Colon, Pittsburgh, 1.

Guards

Steve Hutchinson, Minnesota, 31; Jahri Evans, New Orleans, 28; Logan Mankins, New England, 12; Kris Dielman, San Diego, 9; Alan Faneca, NY Jets, 7; Chris Snee, NY Giants, 5; Leonard Davis, Dallas, 4; Carl Nicks, New Orleans, 3. Brandon Moore, NY Jets, 1.

Center

Nick Mangold, NY Jets, 31; Andre Gurode, Dallas, 9; Jeff Saturday, Indianapolis, 8; Shaun O'Hara, NY Giants, 2.

Placekicker

Nate Kaeding, San Diego, 27; David Akers, Philadelphia, 11; Sebastian Janikowski, Oakland, 8; Rob Bironas, Tennessee, 1; Stephen Gostkowski, New England, 1; Jeff Reed, Pittsburgh, 1; Olindo Mare, Seattle, 1.

Kick Returner

Joshua Cribbs, Cleveland, 45 1/2; DeSean Jackson, Philadelphia, 3 1/2; Percy Harvin, Minnesota, 1.
---

DEFENSE

Ends

Jared Allen, Minnesota, 45; Dwight Freeney, Indianapolis, 36; Trent Cole, Philadelphia, 9; Julius Peppers, Carolina, 6; Robert Mathis, Indianapolis, 1; Andre Carter, Washington, 1; Randy Starks, Miami, 1; Will Smith, New Orleans, 1.

Tackles

Jay Ratliff, Dallas, 29; Kevin Williams, Minnesota, 24; Darnell Dockett, Arizona, 23; Haloti Ngata, Baltimore, 14; Vince Wilfork, New England, 6; Pat Williams, Minnesota, 1; Casey Hampton, Pittsburgh, 1; Tony Brown, Tennessee, 1; Cullen Jenkins, Green Bay, 1.

Outside Linebackers

Elvis Dumervil, Denver, 46; DaMarcus Ware, Dallas, 37; Brian Cushing, Houston, 5; LaMarr Woodley, Pittsburgh, 4; James Harrison, Pittsburgh, 3; Lance Briggs, Chicago, 3; Anthony Spencer, Dallas, 1; Shaun Phillips, San Diego, 1.

y-Inside Linebacker

Patrick Willis, San Francisco, 49; Ray Lewis, Baltimore, 13; David Harris, NY Jets, 10; Jon Beason, Carolina, 9; Jonathan Vilma, New Orleans, 7; DeMeco Ryans, Houston, 4; London Fletcher, Washington, 2; Curtis Lofton, Atlanta, 2; D.J. Williams, Denver, 1; Jerod Mayo, New England, 1; Gary Brackett, Indianapolis, 1.

Cornerbacks

Charles Woodson, Green Bay, 48; Darelle Revis, NY Jets, 48; Nnamdi Asomugha, Oakland, 2; Leon Hall, Cincinnati, 1; Asante Samuel, Philadelphia, 1.

Safeties

Darren Sharper, New Orleans, 46; Adrian Wilson, Arizona, 29; Brian Dawkins, Philadelphia, 10; Ed Reed, Baltimore, 4; Nick Collins, Green Bay, 4; Jairus Byrd, Buffalo, 3; Bernard Pollard, Houston, 1; Antoine Bethea, Indianapolis, 1; Brandon Meriweather, New England, 1; Tyvon Branch, Oakland, 1.

Punter

Shane Lechler, Oakland, 48; Donnie Jones, Rams, 1; Andy Lee, San Francisco, 1

No comments: