SAN DIEGO CA - DECEMBER 12: Ryan Mathews #24 of the San Diego Chargers turns from Derrick Johnson #56 of the Kansas City Chiefs during the third quarter in a 31-0 win at Qualcomm Stadium on December 12 2010 in San Diego California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
USA Today's All-Joe team definitely has a Kansas City Chiefs feel. Two Chiefs (and a former Chief) made the list this year and the award itself is named after a former Chief:
"The All-Joe team was born in 1992 as a tribute to Joe Phillips, a 14-year defensive lineman who did yeoman's work for the Kansas City Chiefs that season. His work in the trenches didn't lead to much glory ... unless you point to the 29 combined sacks of Derrick Thomas and Neil Smith, Kansas City's fifth-ranked defense or the team's wild-card run. USA TODAY has honored the unsung Joes of the NFL ever since."
Your All-Joe Chiefs this year are G Ryan Lilja and LB Derrick Johnson.
It seemed like Peter King of SI.com was the only one pushing for Lilja to see some postseason honors (Lilja received his All-Pro vote). His work went largely unnoticed even though you could make an argument he was the most important offseason addition for the Chiefs, whose offensive line was stabilized in the last year.
I'm somewhat surprised DJ is on this list because, as a first round pick, I figured he would have a bigger name recognition. But that's what happens when you spend much of one season on the bench, as he did in 2009, which possibly made others forget about him and helped his All-Joe status.
Also on the list: G Wade Smith. Now with the Houston Texans, Smith left KC last year.


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