The All-Joe team was born in 1992 as a tribute to Joe Phillips, a 14-year defensive lineman who did yeoman's work for the Kansas City Chiefs that season. His work in the trenches didn't lead to much glory � unless you point to the 29 combined sacks of Derrick Thomas and Neil Smith, Kansas City's fifth-ranked defense or the team's wild-card run. USA TODAY has honored the unsung Joes of the NFL ever since.

     Identifying the NFL's unsung stars is a bit more challenging these days since so many more are being heralded with the expansion of Pro Bowl rosters the past two years. With a combined 10 Green Bay Packers and Pittsburgh Steelers bowing out of this year's all-star event to shine on the Super Bowl stage instead, emerging talents like Kansas City Chiefs defenders Eric Berry and Tamba Hali, Atlanta Falcons cornerback Brent Grimes and Tampa Buccaneers tackle Donald Penn will be enjoying their first free trips to Honolulu.

     Still, we found enough players thriving on the mainland in the NFL's version of anonymity to stock USA TODAY's 19th annual All-Joe team, which recognizes a 53-man group of topflight pigskin pros even if they're still awaiting their first Pro Bowl call.

     Since we've heard once or twice that the NFL is a quarterback-driven league, our No. 1 signal-caller might want to call this year's version the All-Josh team. He'll be throwing to two receivers sharing the same name and backed up by a true "Joe" on defense, though that rising rookie may not be Joe-eligible long.

     We were glad to see Hali, Greg Jennings, Alex Mack, Jerod Mayo, Zach Miller and Kyle Williams graduate from Joe to Pro this year.