FOXBOROUGH - Quarterback Tom Brady, the NFL's Most Valuable Player and Offensive Player of the Year, led a contingent of five Patriots selected yesterday to the Associated Press All-Pro team, including wide receiver Randy Moss (a unanimous choice), left tackle Matt Light, outside linebacker Mike Vrabel, and cornerback Asante Samuel.
Although Brady's name appeared on the ballots of all 50 media members polled, he was not a unanimous choice.
One voter split his quarterback vote between Brady and Green Bay's Brett Favre.
As it turned out, it was the same dissenting voter, Frank Cooney, founder of the Sports Xchange, who denied Brady unanimous selection as MVP by casting his vote for Favre.
"Split votes are not that unusual," said AP football writer Barry Wilner, who canvassed the All-Pro ballots. "We have them every year."
While efforts to reach Cooney yesterday were not successful, in an e-mail to the Globe Tuesday he explained the rationale behind his MVP selection, in part saying: "Favre was the quarterback and unquestioned leader of the youngest team in the NFL, one that was expected to win only five games. He led that team to 13 wins. I think that was a more valuable individual achievement than what Brady managed with his great team."
Brady led the Patriots to a 16-0 regular season and established career highs for completions (389), completion percentage (68.9), passing yards (4,806), passer rating (117.2), and touchdown passes (50).
Moss, who was chosen All-Pro for the fourth time in his career after making 23 touchdown catches to break the NFL record set by Jerry Rice (22), was one of two unanimous selections, along with Chargers running back LaDainian Tomlinson.
Brady, Light, Vrabel, and Samuel were chosen for the first time.
Four other Patriots were named second-team All-Pro, including wide receiver Wes Welker, who tied for the league lead with 112 receptions, guard Logan Mankins, center Dan Koppen, and defensive tackle Vince Wilfork.
High praise
Coach Bill Belichick praised punter Chris Hanson, a former Jaguar, for his work as the team prepared to host Jacksonville Saturday night at Gillette Stadium."I think Chris has had a good year," Belichick said. "Yeah, I think he's done a good job for us. He's done what we've asked him to do and, like everybody else, it's not perfect, but it's been good. It's probably been a little better than what we've had here recently."
Hanson punted 44 times during the regular season with an average of 44.1 yards, including 13 inside the opponent's 20-yard line.
"He's a good athlete, he's consistent, he has good hands," Belichick said of Hanson, who doubles as Stephen Gostkowski's holder on field goals and extra points. "He's done a good job holding with Steve, and I think he's done a good job in situational punting."
Feeling better
Defensive end Richard Seymour, while still not 100 percent, said Tuesday he was getting closer, which was welcome news to his teammates yesterday. "Seymour is an impactful player, regardless," said Ty Warren. "I'm not in his body, so I really can't tell you how he feels when he's out there on the field, but I know point-blank-period he can be an impactful player in this one." Said Rodney Harrison: "I know better than anyone how tough it is to play coming off an injury. It's tough when you're not confident in your abilities to move, to push off, and to explode. But if Richard says he's ready, that's great news for us, because he's one of the best." . . . Of the 389 completions Brady made to 14 receivers this season, one stood out as an unlikely connection: a 9-yard loss to Mankins Oct. 1 at Cincinnati. "I just thought it was a fumble, so I just caught it and went down," Mankins said of his first NFL reception. "Bad things happen when you try to run with the ball. You're either going to fumble or get jacked up, so there's no reason to run with it." . . . The Patriots held their afternoon practice inside the Dana-Farber Field House and worked out in shorts/sweatpants, shoulder pads, and helmets. Tight end Stephen Spach (knee) and cornerback Antwain Spann (hamstring) were not present for the media-access portion of practice. Running back Kyle Eckel (stomach), who was not present for the media-access portion of Tuesday's practice, was back . . . Linebacker Mike Peterson (hand) was listed as out on the Jaguars' injury report, and defensive tackles John Henderson (hamstring) and Grady Jackson (knee) did not practice.Mike Reiss of the Globe staff contributed to this report.
