Colts McAfee & Vinatieri Named 1st Team All-Pros

The NFL announced its 2014 All-Pro teams and both of the Colts special teams standouts were each named in Pat McAfee and Adam Vinatieri. Other Indianapolis Colts who received votes were QB Andrew Luck (1), ILB D’Qwell Jackson (1), and CB Vontae Davis (2). A national panel of 50 media members voted for each position.

Dec 14, 2014; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indianapolis Colts kicker Adam Vinatieri (4) and punter Pat McAfee (1) watch a field goal go through during their game against the Houston Texans at Lucas Oil Stadium. The Indianapolis Colts won, 17-10 to clinch the AFC South Division. Mandatory Credit: Thomas J. Russo-USA TODAY Sports

Adam Vinatieri led the NFL in field goal kicking percentage as he was at 97%, making 30 of his 31 kick attempts. In his 19th season, Vinatieri had arguably the best season of his career, which is really saying something for the future Hall of Famer. Despite worries about his declining leg strength, Vinatieri was 3 for 3 kicking from 50+ yards.

His kicking counterpart, Pat McAfee is 8th in punting average at 46.7 yards per punt and is 3rd in net average at 42.8 yards per punt. As far as kickoffs, McAfee not only leads the league in touchbacks with 70 on the season, but he also is perfect on onside kick attempts as he’s 3 for 3 (100%). The 3 onside kick recoveries lead the league, as no other special teams unit has successfully recovered more than 2 in 2014.

Both were among the best players at their respective positions this season and were well-deserving of their recognition and honors.

Other Colts like Andrew Luck and Vontae Davis were also deserving of votes. However, Aaron Rodgers of the Green Bay Packers was a fairly obvious choice at quarterback this season, and he received a substantial amount of votes, receiving 44 of the 50 total votes.

Meanwhile, the Patriots’ Darrelle Revis (42) and Seahawks’ Richard Sherman (41) beat out Vontae Davis at cornerback (among others). It seems to me a stronger case could be made for Vontae Davis than either one, but both have been great players this season in their own right.

However, it seems reasonable that both Andrew Luck and Vontae Davis will be recipients of 1st Team All-Pro honors some time in their near football futures, and they shouldn’t fret too much about this year’s omission. In the mean time, Colts fans can applaud both McAfee and Vinatieri in what has been tremendous seasons for each.