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Best of the best Titans' George makes AP All-Pro team for first time
Updated: Saturday December 30, 2000 5:04 PM
NEW YORK (AP) -- The Tennessee Titans showed why they had the NFL's best record by placing the most players on The Associated Press All-Pro Team on Saturday. Running back Eddie George, guard Bruce Matthews, cornerback Samari Rolle and kick returner Derrick Mason were selected by a nationwide panel of 50 sports writers and broadcasters who cover pro football. Matthews, who also has made it at center, was chosen for the seventh time, while the other three were first-time All-Pros. "Any type of recognition is great. First-team All-Pro, that's outstanding," George said. "I'm honored. That's something I'll definitely look back and think I'm finally, officially an All-Pro." Added Matthews: "It's nice to be part of a team that's recognized throughout the league and individually."
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Baltimore Ravens, also had three All-Pros. Defensive tackle Warren Sapp, outside linebacker Derrick Brooks and safety John Lynch all were repeaters from the 1999 squad. Ravens middle linebacker Ray Lewis, the cornerstone of the stingiest defense in league history (165 points allowed), led all vote-getters with 49. He was joined by Baltimore tackle Jon Ogden and kicker Matt Stover, the league's scoring leader with 135 points.
Marshall Faulk, the league's Most Valuable Player, was the only member of the defending champion St. Louis Rams to repeat -- a measure of how difficult a year St. Louis had. Faulk set an NFL mark with 26 touchdowns. "It's great to be in that class," Faulk said of making All-Pro for the second consecutive year. "If you want your name to be mentioned, those are a handful of guys I'd love to be mentioned with. They love the game and want to compete." Joining George and Faulk in the backfield was Oakland quarterback Rich Gannon. Like George, Gannon was a first-time All-Pro, two of 13 on the team. Both Matthews and Larry Allen of Dallas made it for the second successive season together at guard. Allen has been on the team five consecutive years, but also made it at tackle in 1998. The wide receivers were Minnesota's Randy Moss and San Francisco's Terrell Owens, who had a record 20 receptions in Week 15. Tony Gonzalez repeated at tight end and was the leading vote-getter on offense with 48. Kyle Turley of New Orleans, another newcomer, was the other tackle, while Denver center Tom Nalen made his debut on the team. On defense, Philadelphia's Hugh Douglas and Miami's Jason Taylor were first-timers at end, as was New Orleans' La'Roi Glover at tackle. Taylor's teammate, cornerback Sam Madison, made it for the second straight year. "That's a great pat on the back for our defense," Taylor said. "There are other guys who could have made it. Sam and I were just the ones to get picked out." Brooks was joined by Junior Seau at outside linebacker, with Philadelphia's Jeremiah Trotter earning the other inside LB spot. Trotter also made his first All-Pro squad, as did Rolle and safety Darren Sharper. Punter Shane Lechler was the only rookie on the squad; all three special-teamers were first-time All-Pros. In all, 14 AFC players and 12 from the NFC made the team.
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