ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Tuesday, December 24, 1996 TAG: 9612240074
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B1 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: NEW YORK
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
Jerry Rice, the most prolific receiver in NFL history, was selected to his 10th Associated Press All-Pro Team in voting announced Monday.
Rice, who leads the league in virtually every career receiving category, has been an All-Pro every year except 1985, his rookie season, and 1991. The San Francisco 49ers star received 77 of a possible 93 votes from a national panel of sportswriters.
``It's been a very tough season, but to be respected that way, you feel like you still bring something special to your team,'' Rice said. ``I never take it for granted. It's not something you expect.''
Rice had 103 receptions for 1,205 yards and eight touchdowns (plus one rushing) entering Monday night's regular-season finale against Detroit. The Lions' Herman Moore, a former Virginia star, also made the All-Pro squad.
The leading vote-getter was Pittsburgh center Dermontti Dawson, who received 87 votes. It is the fourth consecutive All-Pro year for Dawson.
``It's a great honor,'' Dawson said. ``You never know but it is a great honor to be the leading vote-getter. You just do your job, and whatever happens, happens. But you never expect anything like that.
``There's a lot of good centers in the league. I just think it's because of what I do. I do a lot more than most [centers]. I'm recognized a little bit more because of the schemes here, and I get to showcase my talent a little more.''
Joining Rice, Moore and Dawson on the All-Pro offense were Green Bay quarterback Brett Favre, running backs Terrell Davis of Denver and Jerome Bettis of Pittsburgh, fullback Larry Centers of Arizona, tight end Shannon Sharpe of Denver, tackles Erik Williams of Dallas and Gary Zimmerman of Denver and guards Randall McDaniel of Minnesota and Larry Allen of Dallas.
McDaniel made it for the sixth time, including the past five years. Zimmerman was an All-Pro in 1987 and '88, but not since.
Leading the balloting on defense was Buffalo end and former Virginia Tech standout Bruce Smith, who made the team for the seventh time. Smith got 84 votes, far more than the other defensive end, Alfred Williams of Denver.
Bryant Young of San Francisco and John Randle of Minnesota were chosen at tackle. Randle made it for the fourth successive year.
The linebackers were Kevin Greene of Carolina and Chad Brown of Pittsburgh on the outside and Sam Mills of Carolina and Junior Seau of San Diego inside.
In the secondary were Deion Sanders of Dallas and Ashley Ambrose of Cincinnati at cornerback and LeRoy Butler of Green Bay and Darren Woodson of Dallas at safety.
All four special-teams players were chosen for the first time: Indianapolis kicker Cary Blanchard, Carolina return man Michael Bates, and punters Chris Gardocki of Indianapolis and Matt Turk of Washington, who tied.
Other first-time selections were: Alfred Williams, Ambrose, Young, Brown and Mills on defense; Davis, Allen and Centers on offense. Centers is the first player chosen at fullback, which was added to the ballot this year.
In all, 16 NFC players and 12 AFC players made the team. Denver and Dallas led the way with four selections each, while Pittsburgh and Carolina had three apiece. San Francisco, Minnesota, Green Bay and Indianapolis each had two, with Detroit, Arizona, Washington, Buffalo, San Diego and Cincinnati represented by one player.
LENGTH: Medium: 65 lines KEYWORDS: FOOTBALLby CNB