Joel Bitonio and Myles Garrett continue to be recognized for their stellar play.
No matter who’s doing the voting.
The Browns’ dynamic duo was named to the NFL Players Association’s first All-Pro Team, which was released Wednesday.
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Bitonio was chosen as the left guard, and Garrett and San Francisco’s Nick Bosa were the edge rushers.
Bitonio is a five-time Pro Bowler and was first-team All-Pro a year ago. Garrett’s a four-time Pro Bowler and was All-Pro the last two years. The All-Pro team hasn’t been announced for this season.
The NFLPA touts the fact that the players are the ones doing the voting for its new All-Pro team. A panel of media members picks the traditional Associated Press All-Pro team, and a combination of fans, players and coaches selects the Pro Bowl rosters.
The guidelines and ballot for the Players’ All-Pro Team emphasize consistency, availability and positional familiarity.
Only active players were eligible to vote and they couldn’t vote for themselves or teammates. If a player missed five games as of Week 15, he was ineligible to be selected.
Players voted for the position they play and the ones they line up against. The example given was centers vote for the best center, nose tackle, interior defensive lineman and off-ball linebacker in the league.
“Players compete against each other all season long, watching hours and hours of film week after week; and yet, we have never had an opportunity to truly use our expertise to select the best of us,” NFLPA president JC Tretter said in the news release. “We think it is important that players take the time to define ourselves, because so far, we have allowed everyone else to either pick or dilute our voices.”
Las Vegas’ Josh Jacobs, who led the league in rushing, was picked as the running back.
