All Joe Team named

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All-Joe team led by guy named Jones

By Larry Weisman, USA TODAY

Six years, three teams, one 1,000-yard season. Maybe Thomas Jones simply committed the cardinal sin - being drafted by the Arizona Cardinals.

At last, at long last, Jones found his way to a team with a commitment to the running game. Of course, the Chicago Bears also were going to commit to running back Cedric Benson, their first-round pick, but Benson held out and Jones held on.

He's the essence of the 14th USA TODAY All-Joe team, which honors the overachievers, the overlooked, the "effort" guys who don't get invited to the Pro Bowl but without whom their teams might founder. (Related items: AFC All-Joes | NFC All-Joes)

"I try to be intense," Jones says, "whether it's in the meeting room or the practice field or the game."

He rushed for more than 100 yards in five games for the Bears, surprise winners of the NFC North division. No Chicago back had done that since 1997 (Raymont Harris).

As the seventh pick in the 2000 NFL draft by Arizona, he was a bust. With the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, he was a spare part. Now he's an offense's focal point. Only one Chicago back has surpassed 1,300 yards in a season -Walter Payton. Jones has 1,273.

The All-Joe team is, for the first time, split into conferences. There's no All-Joe Bowl, but if there were, it would be played not in Honolulu but somewhere befitting the competitors' grit. Perhaps a parking lot in Scranton? No bonuses accrue. All-Joe offers nothing but knowledge that time spent making others look good won't go unnoticed. It does take players where they ultimately want to go.

Named All-Joe last year and Pro Bowler this year for the first time: San Diego Chargers nose tackle Jamal Williams, Indianapolis Colts center Jeff Saturday, Bears linebacker Lance Briggs, New York Giants special-teams ace David Tyree and Carolina Panthers quarterback Jake Delhomme.

AFC's ALL-JOES

Offense

T: Levi Jones, Cincinnati - Held Indy's Dwight Freeney without a sack, overshadowed by Willie Anderson.

T: Mike Gandy, Buffalo - Bills ran ball well early in season, thanks to his emergence on left side.

G: Jeno James, Miami - Never says a word, just goes about business and finishes blocks.

G: Mike Goff, San Diego - Chargers have started six O-line combinations, and he is constant, the glue that binds.

C: Casey Wiegmann, Kansas City - Belongs in luggage of Willie Roaf, Will Shields and Brian Waters when they pack for Pro Bowl.

TE: Jeb Putzier, Denver - A favorite target of Jake Plummer's on bootlegs and rollouts.

TE: Reggie Kelly, Cincinnati - Not many catches, but blocks like third tackle.

WR: T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Cincinnati - Wonderful complement to college pal Chad Johnson.

WR: Eric Parker, San Diego - Clutch catches on third down earned him nickname "The Bondsman" because he bails team out.

WR: Ernest Wilford, Jacksonville - No-name unseated a No. 1 pick and caught six TD passes.

FB: Dan Kreider, Pittsburgh - What could be more All-Joe than fullback with three rushing attempts?

RB: Reuben Droughns, Cleveland - Here again in different uni' is Browns' first 1,000-yard rusher since 1985.

RB: Jonathan Wells, Houston - Backup came up big in win vs. 'Zona, also plays specials, takes snaps at fullback.

QB: Byron Leftwich, Jacksonville - Hangs in pocket and takes beating for doing so.

KR: Wes Welker, Miami - Because we left Mr. Do-It-All off team last year, and we always pay our debts.

K: Rian Lindell, Buffalo - Most accurate kicker on field goals in Bills history.

Long snapper: David Binn, San Diego - More than 1,600 career snaps without causing botched kick.

Offensive coordinator: Bob Bratkowski, Cincinnati - Bengals dig long ball (short one, too).

Defense

E: Kyle Vanden Bosch, Tennessee - High motor gets in gear, yields 121/2 sacks.

E: Paul Spicer, Jacksonville - Journeyman finds home, settles in as starter after nasty injury in '04.

T: Montae Reagor, Indianapolis - Hit career high in sacks and led swarming D-line in tackles.

T: Rob Meier, Jacksonville - Part-timer makes big plays, had sacks in four consecutive games.

NT: Kelly Gregg, Baltimore - Fireplug with legs who uses that physique to leverage well against the run.

NT: Keith Traylor, Miami - Plus-size bruiser enabled Fins to swing into 3-4; eats up blockers.

OLB: Adalius Thomas, Baltimore - Also lines up at tackle, end, back and gunner on punt coverage.

OLB: Kirk Morrison, Oakland - Rookie led team in tackles in first game.

OLB: Mike Vrabel, New England - Also played inside, dabbled at tight end, where he caught TD pass.

ILB: Donnie Edwards, San Diego - Does everything but make Pro Bowl.

ILB: Mike Peterson, Jacksonville - All-Joe lifer who roams sideline to sideline but never to Honolulu.

ILB: Tedy Bruschi, New England - Returned from stroke, minor heart surgery to lift wounded defense.

CB: Terrence Mcgee, Buffalo - Scored on punt return and interception return in same game.

CB: Domonique Foxworth, Denver - Gets lots of work opposite Champ Bailey but rookie holds his ground.

CB: Rashean Mathis, Jacksonville - Rangy ballhawk who will support against run.

S: Chris Hope, Pittsburgh - Tops team in interceptions, second in tackles, overshadowed by Troy Polamalu's hair.

S: Kevin Kaesviharn, Cincinnati - Opened at strong safety, moved to free after injury to Madieu Williams.

P: Ben Graham, New York Jets - Rookie from Down Under keeps plopping punts inside 20.

PR: Antwaan Randle El, Pittsburgh - Has to be on here somewhere, doing all the things he does.

Special teams: Josh Stamer, Buffalo - Top tackler on NFL's best kickoff coverage unit.

Defensive coordinator: Mike Smith, Jacksonville - Excels at moving people in and out while blockading end zone.

Special-teams coach: Bobby April, Buffalo - Bills again among NFL leaders in every aspect of third phase.

NFC's ALL-JOES

Offense

T: Jon Jansen, Washington - Broke both thumbs but did not miss any time.

T:Sean Locklear, Seattle - Youngster on veteran line had to step it up quickly.

G: Randy Thomas, Washington - Out with broken leg now, but one reason why 'Skins loved to run right.

G: David Diehl, New York Giants - Three-year starter at three positions.

C: Andy McCollum, St. Louis - Proud possessor (and occasional displayer) of NFL's outstanding gut.

TE: Jermaine Wiggins, Minnesota - Vikings' leading receiver and security blanket for quarterback who throws short.

TE: Chris Cooley, Washington - Mostly an H-back, had seven TD catches and is twice All-Joe in as many NFL seasons.

WR: Joe Jurevicius, Seattle - Stepped in when injuries thinned the group and put up nine TDs.

WR: Brian Finneran, Atlanta - Falcons keep drafting wide receivers but stick with guy who can actually make catches.

WR: Keyshawn Johnson, Dallas - Not the picture of selflessness, but watch him block downfield and do little things that enable team to win.

FB: Jim Finn, N.Y. Giants - Helps Tiki Barber roll along at club-record clip.

RB: Thomas Jones, Chicago - Former No. 1 pick broke 1,000 yards for first time in six seasons.

RB: Samkon Gado, Green Bay - More 100-yard games (three) than college starts (two, at Division I-AA Liberty) for undrafted free agent.

QB: Brad Johnson, Minnesota - Too old, too slow, no arm: Yeah, and six-game winning streak that nearly saved season.

KR: Roderick Hood, Philadelphia - Opened at nickel back, started at cornerback, took over as returner and kept playing on other special teams as well.

K: Joe Nedney, San Francisco - Accurate (24-for-26 on field goals) but low-scoring as 49ers rarely see end zone.

Long snapper: Mike Bartrum, Philadelphia - Also played tight end when injuries hit.

Offensive coordinator: Gil Haskell, Seattle - He sets table, and Mike Holmgren orders meal.

Defense

E: Will Smith, New Orleans - Best player on bad defense is backhanded compliment, but he can really chase quarterback.

E: Aaron Kampman, Green Bay - A grunt who keeps getting better but will always be the "other" end.

T: Kendrick Clancy, N.Y. Giants - Classic interior disrupter who can stop run, crush pocket.

T: Dan Wilkinson, Detroit - After all these years, who would have thought Big Daddy would be unsung?

T: Rocky Bernard, Seattle - Occasional starter has career-high 81/2 sacks.

NT: Pat Williams, Minnesota - At 340, this run-stuffer eats up blockers (and everything else at buffet).

OLB: Hunter Hillenmeyer, Chicago - The other guys are going to Pro Bowl; he's going to grad school.

OLB: Nick Greisen, N.Y. Giants - Inside, outside, it doesn't much matter where he lines up, so long as he gets to line up.

OLB: Keith Newman, Minnesota - Playing alongside Sam Cowart, he brought back memories of great defensive times in Buffalo.

ILB: Bradie James, Dallas - First-year starter tops in tackles, led team in special-teams tackles last year.

ILB: Shelton Quarles, Tampa Bay - Undrafted free agent is in ninth year, leads aggressive defense in tackles.

ILB: Lofa Tatupu, Seattle - Rookie sets tone for defense toughened up against run, also calls signals.

CB: Ken Lucas, Carolina - Top-dollar signing for top-drawer player who can clamp onto receivers.

CB: Antoine Winfield, Minnesota - What does it say when team's leading tackler is tough little corner?

CB: Brian Kelly, Tampa Bay - Solid player with no holes eclipsed by luminous presence of Ronde Barber.

S: Adrian Wilson, Arizona - When he hits people, they stay hit.

S: Chris Harris, Chicago - Rookie free safety sticks mug in there against run, fits Bears' hard-hitting personality.

P: Nick Harris, Detroit - 32 punts inside 20, two for touchbacks gives him NFL's best net differential.

PR: Mewelde Moore, Minnesota - 71-yard return for TD beat Giants.

Special teams: Keith Lewis, San Francisco - Best part of 49ers' game was special teams, and he was best part.

Defensive coordinator: Ron Rivera, Chicago - Bears kicked butt 20 years ago when he played, and now it's déjà vu all over again.

Special-teams coach: Danny Smith, Washington - Good coverage units and some decent returns despite no true specialist.

ALL-JOE head coach: Joe Gibbs, Washington - Game passed him by, eh? And the coach of this team should be named Joe, after all.