The Associated Press announced their 2011 NFL All-Pro Team on Friday, considered by many to be a significant honor, or at least more significant than, say, the Pro Bowl. With players like Calvin Johnson, Jared Allen, Aaron Rodgers and Patrick Willis representing this year, there's some great company to be in. For the Cleveland Browns, picking No. 4 overall in the 2012 NFL Draft, they had few players even worthy of All-Pro consideration this time around.
Only two players really even come to mind: cornerback Joe Haden, and offensive tackle Joe Thomas. The former didn't make it, due to the high level of play from other corners this season, and also because Haden was injured off-and-on this past season. The latter, though, has been a mainstay of All-Pro teams for the past couple years now, and 2011 is no exception.
Thomas has made the All-Pro first team for the third time in his career, having been selected in 2009 and 2010. Back in 2008, he made the second team, but that would be considered disappointing at this juncture. He's been a rock for the Browns, and has been widely regarded as the best left tackle in the NFL, also helped by his five Pro Bowl selections - one for each of his five seasons in the NFL thus far.
No other Browns made the team, but then again, none were really expected to. Thomas has only been credited with allowing 2.5 sacks in 2011, the lowest total of his career.
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