On Monday, three Browns players received postseason recognition for their play on the field in 2011.
Left tackle 
Defensive end
Thomas has started and not missed a snap in all of his 80 career games with the Browns. In 2011, he blocked for a Browns offense that saw increased production out of the quarterback position.
This season, quarterbacks
McCoy and Wallace were intercepted just 13 times, which was the lowest total since Bernie Kosar and Todd Philcox combined to throw just 10 interceptions in the 1991 season.
Sheard led all Browns with 8.5 sacks and was among the NFL leaders with five forced fumbles. He led all NFL rookie defensive linemen and was third among all first-year players in sacks. Sheard’s 8.5 sacks were the second-most ever by a Browns rookie. Former Cleveland linebacker Kamerion Wimbley registered the most sacks by a first-year Brown when he recorded 11 in the 2006 season.
Taylor registered four sacks for 14 lost yards and tied Carolina’s Thomas Keiser for eighth among all first-year NFL players in that category. Only Tennessee rookie Karl Klug registered more sacks (seven) than Taylor from the defensive tackle spot.
Taylor and Sheard became the first tandem of rookie defensive linemen to start all 16 games along the same front since Tampa Bay’s Santana Dotson and Mark Wheeler achieved the feat in the 1992 season.
Over the past two seasons, the Browns’ first and second-round defensive selections in the NFL Draft have gone on to earn PFW/PFWA All-Rookie Team honors. Defensive backs
The players voted onto the respective teams by PFWA members and the editors of Pro Football Weekly.
Pro Football Weekly/Professional Football Writers of America
2011 All-NFL Team
Offense
Quarterback: Aaron Rodgers (Green Bay)
Running backs: Maurice Jones-Drew (Jacksonville); LeSean McCoy (Philadelphia)
Wide receivers: Calvin Johnson (Detroit); Wes Welker (New England)
Tight end: Rob Gronkowski (New England)
Center: Maurkice Pouncey (Pittsburgh)
Guards: Jahri Evans and Carl Nicks (New Orleans)
Tackles: Jason Peters (Philadelphia); Joe Thomas (Cleveland)
Defense
Ends: Jared Allen (Minnesota); Jason Pierre-Paul (New York Giants)
Defensive tackles: Haloti Ngata (Baltimore); Justin Smith (San Francisco)
Outside linebackers: DeMarcus Ware (Dallas); Terrell Suggs (Baltimore)
Inside linebacker: Patrick Willis (San Francisco)
Cornerbacks: Darrelle Revis (New York Jets); Johnathan Joseph (Houston)
Safeties: Troy Polamalu (Pittsburgh); Eric Weddle (San Diego)
Specialists
Placekicker: David Akers (San Francisco)
Punter: Andy Lee (San Francisco)
Punt returner: Patrick Peterson (Arizona)
Kick returner: Joe McKnight (New York Jets)
Special-teamer: Matthew Slater (New England)
Pro Football Weekly/Professional Football Writers of America
2011 All-Rookie Team
Offense
Quarterback: Cam Newton (Carolina)
Running backs: DeMarco Murray (Dallas); Roy Helu (Washington)
Wide receivers: A.J. Green (Cincinnati); Julio Jones (Atlanta)
Tight end: Kyle Rudolph (Minnesota)
Center: Mike Pouncey (Miami)
Guards: Stefen Wisniewski (Oakland); Danny Watkins (Philadelphia)
Tackles: Tyron Smith (Dallas); Nate Solder (New England)
Defense
Ends: J.J. Watt (Houston); Jabaal Sheard (Cleveland)
Tackles: Marcell Dareus (Buffalo); Phil Taylor (Cleveland)
Linebackers: Aldon Smith (San Francisco); Von Miller (Denver); Ryan Kerrigan (Washington)
Cornerbacks: Patrick Peterson (Arizona); Richard Sherman (Seattle)
Safeties: Chris Conte (Chicago); Chris Harris (Denver)
Specialists
Placekicker: Dan Bailey (Dallas)
Punter: Matt Bosher (Atlanta)
Punt returner: Patrick Peterson (Arizona)
Kickoff returner: Randall Cobb (Green Bay)
Special-teamer: Akeem Dent (Atlanta)
