:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/27437059/180070348.0.jpg)
Jerricho Cotchery was far from an average Joe in the Steelers' offense in 2013.
He grabbed 46 passes, 10 of which went for touchdowns, and took himself from a veteran the team wouldn't particularly want to see leave in free agency to a priority re-sign, and likely the team's second receiver next year.
For that, he was placed on USA Today's All-Joe Team, a group of players selected for their unheralded but outstanding contributions to their respective teams throughout the season.
USA Today's reasoning:
He's beloved in locker room even if he's a quiet assassin. Ten of his 46 grabs produced TDs.
Inside linebacker Lawrence Timmons was named to the team in 2012.
The locker room part of it appears the most compelling. Cotchery was well-liked with the Jets, when he was there from 2004-10. He was their Ed Block Courage Award winner in 2008, and was something of a surprise release from their roster in 2011. The Steelers scooped him up, and in many ways, his career was re-born.
He filled in well as a receiving option in the absence of receiving threat Heath Miller, who played back to strength all season after tearing his ACL at the end of the 2012 campaign. Cotchery's 10 touchdown total was four higher than his previous career high, set in 2006.
Cotchery is a free agent in 2014, but the Steelers are expected to make an offer to retain him. Emmanuel Sanders is also a free agent, and he isn't expected back. With All Pro second team WR Antonio Brown and the development of Markus Wheaton, the Steelers are looking to field one of their better offenses in a while next season.
