No Bucs On Players’ All-Pro Team
January 12th, 2023
Joe applauds the NFL players union for getting smart.
Every year, a panel of 50 esteemed media types handpicked to represent the country vote for the prestigious Associated Press All-Pro team. It’s been going on for years and the voters take it seriously. Sage JoeBucsFan.com columnist Ira Kaufman is the only voter in the Tampa Bay area.
This year, finally, players got smart and decided to come up with their own All-Pro team through a process organized by their union.
The rules included only active players that played in a minimum amount of games this season being able to vote — and only vote for players at their position group and at positions they have a direct connection to. So, for example, Tristan Wirfs didn’t get to pick the best cornerback in the league.
Joe thinks it’s a fantastic idea that could reshape Hall of Fame voting in future years.
The union released the results this week and the winners are below, via a cut-and-paste job from ProFootballTalk.com.
Sadly, no Buccaneers player made the list. Joe realizes many Bucs fans might be stunned that Giants nose tackle Dexter Lawrence won out over Vita Vea, and that Tristan Wirfs didn’t make the cut.
Falcons returner Cordarrelle Patterson (who also plays offense) is the only NFC South representative.
Quarterback: Patrick Mahomes (Kansas City)
Running back: Josh Jacobs (Las Vegas)
Fullback: Kyle Juszczyk (San Francisco)
Wide Receiver: Justin Jefferson (Minnesota), Davante Adams (Las Vegas)
Tight End: Travis Kelce (Kansas City)
Left Tackle: Trent Williams (San Francisco)
Left Guard: Joel Bitonio (Cleveland)
Center: Jason Kelce (Philadelphia)
Right Guard: Zack Martin (Dallas)
Right Tackle: Lane Johnson (Philadelphia)
Edge Rusher: Nick Bosa (San Francisco), Myles Garrett (Cleveland)
Interior Defensive Lineman: Chris Jones (Kansas City), Aaron Donald (LA Rams)
Nose Tackle: Dexter Lawrence (New York Giants)
Off-Ball Linebacker: Fred Warner (San Francisco), Roquan Smith (Baltimore)
Cornerback: Pat Surtain II (Denver), Darius Slay (Philadelphia)
Free Safety: Minkah Fitzpatrick (Pittsburgh)
Strong Safety: Derwin James Jr. (LA Chargers)
Kick Returner: Cordarrelle Patterson (Atlanta)
Punt Returner: KaVontae Turpin (Dallas)
Core Teamer: Jeremy Reaves (Washington), Justin Hardee (NY Jets)
Kicker: Jason Myers (Seattle)
Punter: Tommy Townsend (Kansas City)
Long snapper: Morgan Cox (Tennessee)
January 12th, 2023 at 1:12 pm
Tristan Wirfs not making it due to the bucs offense being TERRIBLE and I guess him being hurt but Lane Johnson is also hurt, but the iggles are #1 seed
January 12th, 2023 at 1:17 pm
I hope you’re right about the HOF voting Joe. The panel is a joke. Look how long they kept TO out. Any hall that doesn’t have Rodney Harrison and Barber is a joke. The Peter King and a few others need to go. I say half writers and half ex players.
January 12th, 2023 at 1:29 pm
When we have ap players we’re a good team
January 12th, 2023 at 1:46 pm
This doesn’t come as much of a surprise as it might normally.
January 12th, 2023 at 1:59 pm
I’m confused; did our self-proclaimed ALL PRO coaching staff not get one single guy nominated? How is this possible?
January 12th, 2023 at 2:20 pm
Camarda and Wirfs should have made it
January 12th, 2023 at 2:20 pm
Good. When you’re 8-9 and lose to the Browns, decimated Steelers and tanking Panthers, you don’t deserve accolades.
Now let the players vote on worst coaches in the NFL.
We have at least 3.
Toad Blowes and Boron Leftwurst for sure, and of course Keith Armweak.
January 12th, 2023 at 2:25 pm
Maybe Bowles will coach of the year.
January 12th, 2023 at 2:30 pm
Actually, reading through the list I think they got it right. You might quibble about some of the offensive and defensive linemen, but considering that their peers on the front lines voted them in gives the list cred. Remember, these guys not only watch games they study game film week in and week out. I have a strong suspicion they may know more about who’s the best at their positions than a bunch of biased, die-hard Bucs fans, including me.
January 12th, 2023 at 2:57 pm
Agree, PSL Bob. Nobody knows better than your co-workers and peers how good at your job you are.
January 12th, 2023 at 4:19 pm
We are just not as talented as advertised. Maybe Todd Bowles and Leftwich are not bad coaches after all. Working with average talent
January 12th, 2023 at 7:56 pm
If there was an all-pro list for part-time players, Vita would have been on that.
For Wirfs, he’s awesome, and when fully healthy I think is the best RT in the game – but he clearly hasn’t been fully healthy for a lot of this year. If the Bucs end up keeping Brady next year, they’re going to have to do some cap wizardry to make it work, and one of those cap moves could be dumping Donovan Smith, which would likely mean moving Wirfs to LT. If the Bucs were to do that, before they announce the move, they need to (if possible – not sure anymore when guys on rookie deals can sign extensions) sign Wirfs to a long term deal, because a top RT vs LT salary can be a lot.