The Associated Press released its NFL All-Pro team Friday morning, and one Seattle Seahawk made the first team. Returner Tyler Lockett received a first-team nod for his outstanding season returning kicks and punts. The rookie out of Kansas State averaged 25.8 yards per kick return, 9.5 yards per punt return, and scored one touchdown on each. He was named the NFC Special Teams Player of the Month twice during the regular season.
“It means a lot,” Lockett said. “There are a lot of great players who come in to the NFL and do an exceptional job and have a great career, but they’re never able to make it on the All-Pro team. It’s nothing that they did, just other players may have had a better season. To be a rookie to be able to come in, it’s a crazy experience and a crazy accolade to have.”
Seattle had two players on the second team: linebacker Bobby Wagner, who finished second on the team in tackles with 114, and cornerback Richard Sherman, who had two interceptions and 14 passes defensed. Wagner and Sherman were both first-team All-Pro last year.
Other Seahawks receiving votes were quarterback Russell Wilson, defensive end Michael Bennett, linebacker K.J. Wright, free safety Earl Thomas and strong safety Kam Chancellor.
Khalil Mack’s versatility and relentlessness earned him selection at two positions on the first team, an NFL first. The second-year Oakland Raiders defensive end and outside linebacker drew enough support from a panel of 50 media members who regularly cover the league to make the squad at both spots.
Others, including Houston’s J.J. Watt last year, have been chosen first team at one position and second at another. Watt was a unanimous pick at defensive end for this season’s team, as was Minnesota running back Adrian Peterson.
Carroll happy with Hauschka
Seahawks kicker Steven Hauschka missed another extra point attempt last weekend, but coach Pete Carroll says he’s happy with his kicking game heading into Seattle’s NFC wild-card game on Sunday at Minnesota.
“I love what we can count on from our guys,” Carroll said. “Steven Hauschka has been a great field goal guy for us and kicked the ball beautifully on kickoffs — he’s done a great job. (Punter) Jon Ryan has been instrumental in how we play defense around here and field position and all of that — a great finesse kicker inside the 20 yard line and does a great job there. We’re very fortunate to have them.”
During the regular season, Ryan punted 68 times, averaging 45.7 yards per punt, including a season-long 73-yarder.
Hauschka hit 29 of 31 field goal attempts (94 percent) — the second time in three seasons he only missed two field goals. But he was only 40 of 44 extra points (91 percent). That’s four misses from the new point-after touchdown distance of about 33 yards, despite nailing all seven of his field goal attempts from between 30 and 39 yards.
“It’s interesting that our guy and a lot of guys, they don’t miss field goals, but they’ll miss an extra point now and then,” Carroll said. “There’s something to it.”
Extra point
The updated forecast for Sunday in Minneapolis, where the game will kickoff at noon local time: a high of 5 degrees, a low of minus-4 with a wind chill during daylight hours approaching 10 below zero.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
