Bears center Roberto Garza and defensive lineman Henry Melton were recently selected to USA Today’s 20th annual “All-Joe” team, which honors unsung NFL players who have never been voted to a Pro Bowl.
Roberto Garza |
Created by longtime USA Today NFL writer Larry Weisman in honor of unheralded former Chiefs defensive lineman Joe Phillips, the All-Joe team pays tribute to “first-rate players who receive second-rate recognition.”
Garza started all 16 games at center, anchoring a line that helped the Bears rush for more than 2,000 yards for just the second time since 1990. He was chosen to the All-Joe team because he “capably filled the leadership and positional void left after the bitter departure of longtime leader Olin Kreutz.”
Melton recorded a career-high seven sacks in 2011, third most in the NFL by a defensive tackle behind only the Bengals’ Geno Atkins and the Raiders’ Tommy Kelly, who had 7½ sacks apiece.
