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Tuesday, December 23, 1997

Allen, Sanders, Cunningham make AP's All-Pro team

By BARRY WILNER

Associated Press

NEW YORK - Barry Sanders, the third NFL player to rush for 2,000 yards in a season, and center Dermontti Dawson and defensive end Dana Stubblefield, were unanimous selections for The Associated Press All-Pro Team released Monday.

Sanders, the Detroit Lions' star running back, made the squad for the sixth time, earning votes from all 48 members of a nationwide panel of sports writers and broadcasters. Pittsburgh's Dawson, the leading vote-getter last season, was the only center named on any ballot.

San Francisco tackle Stubblefield was the leader among defensive players and the only member of the team with one of the league's best record - along with Green Bay and Kansas City - to make All-Pro.

"A lot of nice things have happened this year," said Sanders, whose 2,053 yards were the second most in NFL history.

"It's a huge honor," Dawson said. "Unanimous means special, means everybody. It doesn't get any better than that."

Dawson was one of three Steelers on the team, joined by safety Carnell Lake and inside linebacker Levon Kirkland. Denver and Dallas also had three each.

Buffalo defensive end Bruce Smith was chosen for the eighth time and, like Dawson and defensive tackle John Randle of Minnesota, made it for the fifth consecutive season. The other defensive lineman was Michael Strahan of the New York Giants.

Two players who drew attention for not making the Pro Bowl in voting conducted by fans, players and coaches were chosen for the All-Pro team: Kansas City guard Dave Szott and Denver linebacker John Mobley.

Szott's wife, Andrea, was upset when he didn't make the Pro Bowl, but "she won't cry tonight."

"She was not crying for herself, she was crying for me," said Szott, who was joined by Dallas' Larry Allen at guard. "For the people who don't get a lot of recognition, it's as big a deal for the wives and the parents and the brothers as it is for us. This is exciting."

Along with Allen, the other Cowboys were cornerback Deion Sanders, making it for the fifth time (once as a kick returner), and first-year kicker Richie Cunningham. In addition to Mobley, the Broncos on the squad were tight end Shannon Sharpe and running back Terrell Davis.

Green Bay's Brett Favre, the league's most valuable player the past two years - the MVP will be announced Saturday, and nobody has won it three times - was an easy winner at quarterback. The other member of the defending champion Packers to make All-Pro was safety LeRoy Butler.

"It means just as much as the MVP the last two years, because it's MVP of the quarterbacks," Favre said. "Any player who wins this should say, 'Well I'm the best player at this position this year.' What other honor can you give besides MVP that is that special, because there are some great quarterbacks in this league?"

A pair of Moores, Detroit's Herman and Arizona's Rob, were chosen at receiver. Also making the offensive team were tackles Jon Ogden of Baltimore and Tony Boselli of Jacksonville, fullback Mike Alstott of Tampa Bay, and kick returner Eric Metcalf of San Diego.

Joining Mobley at outside linebacker was Jessie Armstead of the Giants, while the other inside linebacker with Kirkland was Hardy Nickerson of Tampa Bay. Along with Sanders, Butler and Lake in the secondary was Arizona's Aeneas Williams.

The punter was Jacksonville's Bryan Barker.

Fifteen players from the NFC made the team and 12 from the AFC. First-time All-Pros were Rob Moore, Ogden, Boselli, Szott, Alstott, Cunningham, Strahan, Stubblefield, Armstead, Mobley, Kirkland, Lake and Barker.

1997 AP All-Pro Team Roster

NEW YORK (AP) - The 1997 Associated Press All-Pro Team, as selected by a panel of media members: Offense

Wide Receivers - Herman Moore, Detroit; Rob Moore, Arizona.

Tight End - Shannon Sharpe, Denver.

Tackles - Tony Boselli, Jacksonville; Jon Ogden, Baltimore.

Guards - Larry Allen, Dallas; Dave Szott, Kansas City.

Center - Dermontti Dawson, Pittsburgh.

Quarterback - Brett Favre, Green Bay.

Running Backs - Barry Sanders, Detroit; Terrell Davis, Denver.

Fullback - Mike Alstott, Tampa Bay.

Placekicker - Richie Cunningham, Dallas.

Kick Returner - Eric Metcalf, San Diego. Defense

Ends - Bruce Smith, Buffalo; Michael Strahan, N.Y. Giants.

Tackles - Dana Stubblefield, San Francisco; John Randle, Minnesota.

Outside Linebackers - Jessie Armstead, N.Y. Giants; John Mobley, Denver.

Inside Linebackers - Levon Kirkland, Pittsburgh; Hardy Nickerson, Tampa Bay.

Cornerbacks - Aeneas Williams, Arizona; Deion Sanders, Dallas.

Safeties - LeRoy Butler, Green Bay; Carnell Lake, Pittsburgh.

Punter - Brian Barker, Jacksonville.