PRO FOOTBALL / DAILY REPORT : Rice Is Among Four 49ers Named to Associated Press All-Pro Team

Receiver Jerry Rice, linebacker Ken Norton, safety Merton Hanks and cornerback Eric Davis of the San Francisco 49ers lead the selections to the 1995 Associated Press All-Pro Team announced Monday.

Rice received 72 votes in balloting by a nationwide panel of 88 sportswriters and broadcasters. It is the ninth time since 1986 that Rice has made the team.

His partner at receiver, Herman Moore of Detroit, is making his All-Pro debut. The fifth-year receiver also got 72 votes after setting the NFL record for receptions, making 123 for 1,686 yards.

Green Bay quarterback Brett Favre led all players with 86 votes. Favre, having the best season of his career, threw for a league-best 4,413 yards and 38 touchdowns.

Joining Favre in the backfield are running backs Emmitt Smith of Dallas and Barry Sanders of Detroit. The tight end is Ben Coates of New England.

Detroit’s Lomas Brown and New Orleans’ William Roaf are the tackles, with Dallas’ Nate Newton and Minnesota’s Randall McDaniel at guard. The center is Dermontti Dawson of Pittsburgh.

Joining the three 49ers on the All-Pro defense are ends Reggie White of Green Bay and Bruce Smith of Buffalo; tackles Chester McGlockton of Oakland and John Randle of Minnesota; linebackers Bryce Paup of Buffalo and Greg Lloyd of Pittsburgh; safety Darren Woodson of Dallas; and cornerback Aeneas Williams of Arizona.

The kicker is Morten Andersen of Atlanta, who made the team twice with the Saints before signing with the Falcons as a free agent this season. San Diego’s Darren Bennett, a former Australian Rules Football player in his first NFL season, is the punter. Brian Mitchell of Washington is the kick returner.

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The Kansas City Chiefs have signed left guard Dave Szott to a five-year contract, virtually ensuring one of the NFL’s best offensive lines will remain intact for another season.

Right guard Will Shields is the only starter on the line not under contract for next season, and the Chiefs would have the right to match any offer he might receive as a free agent.

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Marshall Faulk’s bruised left knee, which sidelined him for all of the second half of Indianapolis’ 10-7 comeback victory over New England on Saturday, is the major physical concern of the Colts, who play a wild-card playoff game at San Diego on Sunday.

“It’s not anything that is serious, but it is painful and it doesn’t allow him to make cuts,” Coach Ted Marchibroda said of the tailback, who led Indianapolis in rushing (1,078 yards) and receptions (54) for the second consecutive year. “It’s bothersome, but he said [Sunday] it wasn’t swollen any more. I think everybody that played will be ready to play on Sunday.”

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Atlanta quarterback Jeff George, who suffered a sprained neck in Sunday’s victory over San Francisco, is expected to play in this week’s wild-card playoff game against Green Bay.

George was hospitalized Sunday because of the sprained neck and a loss of hearing in his left ear after he was driven to the turf by 49er defensive end Tim Harris as he released a pass late in the first half.