Rice Makes Team for a 10th Time

Jerry Rice, the most prolific receiver in NFL history, was selected to his 10th Associated Press All-Pro Team on 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 49er standout earned 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.

The leading vote-getter was Pittsburgh center Dermontti Dawson, who received 87 votes. It is the fourth consecutive All-Pro year for Dawson.

The rest of the offense included 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.

Leading the balloting on defense was Buffalo end Bruce Smith, who made the team for the seventh time. Smith got 84 votes, far ahead of the other defensive end, Alfred Williams of Denver.

Bryant Young of San Francisco and John Randle of Minnesota were chosen at tackle.

The linebackers were Kevin Greene of Carolina and Chad Brown of Pittsburgh on the outside, 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, 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.

In all, 16 NFC players and 12 AFC players made the team. Denver and Dallas led the way with four each.