The Nfl

A BIG EASY FOR DR. Z

Steve Young made it easy this year. He saved me hours of lost sleep. He eliminated the usual nail-biting that goes into picking my All-Pro quarterback and my Player of the Year. Young was a lock for both. His achievements for the 49ers have been well documented, but let me note one: Playing under unbelievable pressure (the shadow of Joe Montana 's injured right elbow), Young did not have one oil week all season. Few if any quarterbacks have gone through a year like the one he had in 1992.

Rookie of the Year is the Dolphins ' Marco Coleman , who made an effective transition from rush specialist to solid, base 3-4 defensive end during the season. With the Miami offense on the decline this year, it was the Dolphins ' striking improvement on defense that brought them the AFC East title. And Coleman , plus lightning-fast Bryan Cox , who makes my team as an outside linebacker, were Miami 's most dramatic players.

Defense also provides my Coach of the Year, and this pick is from the heart: Seahawk defensive coordinator Tom Catlin, who did the most remarkable job in the NFL . Brilliant rookie coaches abounded—the Steelers ' Billy Cowher, the Vikings' Dennis Green , the Packers ' Mike Holmgren—and who can say which one was best? But then there's Catlin, a 61-year-old war-horse who got his guys to play like maniacs in a hopeless cause.

The toughest choices were at running back, wide receiver and outside linebacker. Three runners dominated—the Cowboys ' Emmitt Smith , the Steelers ' Barry Foster and the Bills' Thurman Thomas . Only two could make the team. Which one goes? My tiebreaker is effectiveness as a receiver, so Foster is out.

The OLB spot opposite Cox came down to the Eagles' Seth Joyner , my Player of the Year in 1991, versus the Rams ' Kevin Greene . I picked Greene . He had more coverage responsibility than ever before, and he did just fine. He was a consistent pass rusher. Joyner , a strong performer who had his moments this year, played hurt part of the way. Saint linebacker Rickey Jackson made the roster as a pure pass rusher, which is a separate position on my team.

Sterling Sharpe , the biggest factor in the Packers ' rise from the ashes, was an easy choice at wideout. The other WR pick came down to 49er Jerry Rice against Cowboy long-ball specialist Michael Irvin . Rice was the selection, on clutch catches and fewer drops.

If my pick of Steeler Adrian Cooper, who played full-time when Eric Green went out, at tight end has you wondering, take a look sometime at Cooper's blocking. He's a throwback to Mark Bavaro , and unless some pass-catching demon emerges at this position, I'll always stick with the top blocker.

Among the other new faces on my team are Bronco middle linebacker Michael Brooks , who was terrific on pass coverage and at stopping the run; the Raiders ' Terry McDaniel, who played the best cornerback I saw this year; and young Cowboy Erik Williams , who, along with an old All-Pro of mine, 49er Harris Barton , formed the perfect power-finesse combination at offensive tackle.