After standout seasons at their respective positions, three Broncos were named to the 2009 AP NFL All-Pro Team on Thursday.

First-time Pro Bowl selections Ryan Clady and Elvis Dumervil were named to the AP All-Pro First Team, while teammate Brian Dawkins, who earned his eighth Pro Bowl nod in 2009, was named a second-team All-Pro selection.

“It’s always nice to see your players receive national recognition for their play,” Head Coach Josh McDaniels said. “Ryan, Elvis and Brian are a big part of our football team and certainly proved this past season that they are among the league’s best at their respective positions. I’m happy for them. Defensively, few players in the NFL made as much of an impact as Elvis did, and Brian brought such an attitude to our locker room while continuing to play at the highest level. For Ryan to be named a first-team All-Pro at such a young age is a rare thing for a tackle and speaks volumes for his play.”

Clady, who was named a second-team AP All-Pro as a rookie in 2008, becomes only the fifth offensive linemen since the 1970 merger to be named to the AP All-Pro First Team by his second season in the league.

The other four offensive linemen to accomplish that feat were Anthony Munoz (Cincinnati) in 1981, Willie Roaf (New Orleans) in 1994, Jonathan Ogden (Baltimore) in 1997 and Jammal Brown (New Orleans) in 2006. No tackle has ever received first-team AP All-Pro honors as a rookie.

– Zach Eisendrath, DenverBroncos.com