Manning unanimous selection for All-Pro team
Peyton Manning was unstoppable on the field this season, and in the All-Pro voting, too.
The record-setting Indianapolis Colts quarterback was a unanimous choice Thursday for the Associated Press 2004 NFL All-Pro Team, announced from New York. Manning received all 48 first-place votes from a nationwide panel of writers and broadcasts who cover pro football, the only player to sweep the voting this year.
After sharing the Most Valuable Player award with Steve McNair last year, Manning reached a new level.
Manning broke Dan Marino’s 20-year-old record for touchdown passes in a season with 49, and shattered Steve Young’s passer rating mark with a 121.1.
Despite the Colts’ prolific offense, Manning was their only All-Pro on that side of the ball. Defensive end Dwight Freeney, the NFL sacks leader with 16, made it on defense.
The AFC’s dominance this season was evident on the All-Pro team, with 19 players from that conference and 10 from the NFC. Pittsburgh, with a 15-1 regular-season mark, had the most AFC players: guard Alan Faneca, center Jeff Hartings and inside linebacker James Farrior.
Brees wins in a breeze
San Diego Chargers quarterback Drew Brees was the overwhelming choice as AP Comeback Player of the Year.
Brees earned 18 1/2 votes from a national panel of writers and broadcasters who cover pro football, easily beating Carolina linebacker Mark Fields, the former Washington State player who received 10 votes. Fields was sidelined last season with Hodgkin’s disease.
Brees made his fourth NFL season his best by far, ranking third in passer rating behind Peyton Manning and Daunte Culpepper, and making his first Pro Bowl. Brees completed 262 of 400 passes for 3,159 yards, 27 touchdowns and only seven interceptions.
Ravens talk to Neuheisel
The Baltimore Ravens launched their search for a new offensive coordinator by interviewing former Washington Huskies head coach Rick Neuheisel.
The Ravens are seeking a successor for Matt Cavanaugh, who ran the offense for six years before leaving Monday in what coach Brian Billick termed “a mutual decision.”
Baltimore (9-7) missed the playoffs this season, in part because of an attack that ranked 31st among 32 NFL teams.
Around the league
Southern California coach Pete Carroll, mentioned as a possible target of the San Francisco 49ers’ coaching search, said that he has no interest in the job and has not been contacted by the 49ers. Meanwhile, the 49ers received permission from New England to interview their defensive coordinator, Romeo Crennel, for the vacancy. … Tampa Bay Buccaneers coach Jon Gruden and Norv Turner of the Oakland Raiders will coach in the Senior Bowl on Jan. 29 at Mobile, Ala. … … Brandon Browner, a cornerback whose combination of size and speed could make him a first-round pick in this spring’s NFL draft, has decided to leave Oregon State. Browner, a 6-4 sophomore, is eligible for the draft because he redshirted in 2002. … University of Miami receiver Roscoe Parrish said he’ll skip his senior season and will enter the NFL draft. … Syracuse University has received permission from the Buffalo Bills to interview defensive coordinator Jerry Gray for their head coaching position. Paul Pasqualoni was fired last week.