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Lions' Darius Slay, Jamal Agnew voted to AP All-Pro team

Lions' Darius Slay, Jamal Agnew voted to AP All-Pro team
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(AP) -- Antonio Brown was one of four repeaters from last season on The Associated Press 2017 NFL All-Pro Team, and the only unanimous choice.

The brilliant wide receiver of the Pittsburgh Steelers drew all 50 ballots Friday from a nationwide panel of media members who regularly cover the league. Brown missed the last two-plus games with an ankle injury.

He was among four players to make a fourth All-Pro squad, joining New England tight end Rob Gronkowski, Carolina linebacker Luke Kuechly and Los Angeles Rams punter Johnny Hekker.

The repeaters from 2016 were Rams interior defensive lineman Aaron Donald, who got 49 votes, and punter Johnny Hekker; and Seattle linebacker Bobby Wagner.

In their turnaround season, the Rams led the way with six All-Pros, including two more specialists: kicker Greg Zuerlein and kick returner Pharoh Cooper. Running back Todd Gurley and left tackle Andrew Whitworth were honored.

"Dang, that's crazy. It means a lot, honestly," said Gurley, who likely would have led the league in rushing had he played in LA's finale. "It's a blessing. I've got so much respect for everybody in this league, and to be in this position just means so much to me.

"I've been following people around the NFL my whole life, and to be considered as an All-Pro, man, God is good, honestly. Honestly."

Patriots quarterback Tom Brady made his third All-Pro team.

Three Steelers joined Brown on the roster: Le'Veon Bell as the flex, interior defensive lineman Cam Heyward, and right guard David DeCastro. No other team had more than two All-Pros, with the stronger NFC getting 18 players and the AFC 10.

Two rookies made it: punt returner Jamal Agnew of Detroit and special teamer Budda Baker of Arizona.

Also making it: Eagles right tackle Lane Johnson and center Jason Kelce; Panthers left guard Andrew Norwell; Texans wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins; Jaguars edge rusher Calais Campbell and cornerback Jalen Ramsey; Saints edge rusher Cameron Jordan; Cardinals linebacker Chandler Jones; Vikings cornerback Xavier Rhodes and safety Harrison Smith; Detroit defensive back Darius Slay; and Titans safety Kevin Byard.

First-timers made an impression on both sides of the ball, with 15 on the team: Byard, Slay, Rhodes, Jones, Jordan, Ramsey, Campbell, Hopkins, Norwell, Kelce, Johnson, Agnew, Baker, Gurley, and Cooper.

Wagner is on his third All-Pro squad.

"When you get voted for these types of awards," he said, "it shows you all the work you do in the offseason, the grinding, all the things you push through ... when you get this, when people say this is not AFC, NFC, this is the league, this is who we deem the best at their position in the league, that says a lot. And you see the guys before you, the things they were able to accomplish, you've seen those things and you want those things. It's part of that mindset of wanting to be great and understanding what comes along with that, and wanting that kind of acknowledgment."

While making All-Pro has become almost natural for Wagner, Jordan finally got there in his seventh pro season.

"I'm definitely trying to push myself to be better than I was the year previous," he said. "I think I had a really good year last year. Of course, sack numbers won't show that, but in terms of playing the run, in terms of getting after the passer I thought last year was one of my better years (7 1-2 sacks, 17 tackles for loss). So what I wanted to do this year is, of course, push myself to be better than last. That probably only poses the problem of where I go next year. Now I've got to shoot for more than what I did this year."

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   AP Sports Writers Tim Booth, Brett Martel and Greg Beacham contributed to this report.

The Associated Press 2017 NFL All-Pro team selected by a national panel of 50 media members:

OFFENSE
   Quarterback -- Tom Brady, New England
   Running Back -- Todd Gurley, Los Angeles Rams
   Flex -- Le'Veon Bell, Pittsburgh
   Tight End -- Rob Gronkowski, New England
   Wide Receivers -- Antonio Brown, Pittsburgh; DeAndre Hopkins, Houston
   Left Tackle -- Andrew Whitworth, Los Angeles Rams
   Right Tackle -- Lane Johnson, Philadelphia
   Left Guard -- Andrew Norwell, Carolina
   Right Guard -- David DeCastro, Pittsburgh
   Center -- Jason Kelce, Philadelphia
DEFENSE
   Edge Rushers -- Calais Campbell, Jacksonville; Cameron Jordan, New Orleans
   Interior Linemen -- Aaron Donald, Los Angeles Rams; Cam Heyward, Pittsburgh
   Linebackers -- Chandler Jones, Arizona; Luke Kuechly, Carolina; Bobby Wagner, Seattle
   Cornerbacks -- Jalen Ramsey, Jacksonville; Xavier Rhodes, Minnesota
   Safeties -- Kevin Byard, Tennessee; Harrison Smith, Minnesota
   Defensive Back -- Darius Slay, Detroit
SPECIAL  TEAMS
   Placekicker -- Greg Zuerlein, Los Angeles Rams
   Punter -- Johnny Hekker, Los Angeles Rams
   Kick Returner -- Pharoh Cooper, Los Angeles Rams
   Punt Returner -- Jamal Agnew, Detroit
   Special Teamer -- Budda Baker, Arizona

SECOND  TEAM
OFFENSE       
   Quarterback -- Carson Wentz, Philadelphia
   Running Back -- Le'Veon Bell, Pittsburgh
   Flex -- Alvin Kamara, New Orleans
   Tight End -- Travis Kelce, Kansas City
   Wide Receivers -- Julio Jones, Atlanta; Adam Thielen, Minnesota
   Left Tackle -- David Bakhtiari, Green Bay
   Right Tackle -- Mitchell Schwartz, Kansas City, and Daryl Williams, Carolina
   Left Guard -- Rodger Saffold, Los Angeles Rams
   Right Guard -- Zack Martin, Dallas
   Center -- Alex Mack, Atlanta
DEFENSE
   Edge Rushers -- Everson Griffen, Minnesota; Demarcus Lawrence, Dallas
   Interior Linemen -- Fletcher Cox, Philadelphia; Calais Campbell, Jacksonville
   Linebackers -- Von Miller, Denver; C.J. Mosley, Baltimore; Telvin Smith, Jacksonville
   Cornerbacks -- Casey Hayward, Los Angles Chargers; A. J. Bouye, Jacksonville
   Safeties -- Earl Thomas, Seattle; Micah Hyde, Buffalo
   Defensive Back -- Xavier Rhodes, Minnesota
SPECIAL  TEAMS
   Placekicker -- Justin Tucker, Baltimore
   Punter -- Brett Kern, Tennessee
   Kick Returner -- Tyler Lockett, Seattle
   Punt Returner -- Pharoh Cooper, Los Angeles Rams
   Special Teamer -- Matthew Slater, New England