11 Cowboys, eight Patriots highlight Pro Bowl rosters
New York, NY (Sports Network) - The NFC and AFC Pro Bowl rosters were announced on Tuesday and the Dallas Cowboys led all teams with 11 selections.
The Patriots and Chargers led the way in the AFC with eight players being named from each team, including New England quarterback Tom Brady and San Diego running back LaDainian Tomlinson as starters.
The Pro Bowl rosters were compiled in voting from a combination of fans, players and coaches. The Pro Bowl will take place Sunday, February 10 in Honolulu, Hawaii.
The currently undefeated Patriots will send eight players to the Pro Bowl for the first time since 1985, and the team's eight Pro Bowl picks tie the 1985 squad with the most Patriots Pro Bowl players since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger. Wide receiver Randy Moss, who will also start, earned his sixth career Pro Bowl nod, while Brady will head to Hawaii for the fourth time in his career.
Moss leads the NFL with 19 touchdown receptions, a total that ranks second in league history to Jerry Rice’s record 22 scoring catches in 1987.
Tomlinson, who currently ranks second in the NFL in rushing and leads the league with 14 rushing touchdowns, earned his fifth Pro Bowl invitation of his career.
Chargers fullback Lorenzo Neal was also named as a starter, as was wide receiver Reggie Wayne of the Colts.
Other New England starters were offensive tackle Matt Light, guard Logan Mankins, defensive tackle Vince Wilfork, linebacker Mike Vrabel and cornerback Asante Samuel. Pats center Dan Koppen was named as a reserve.
Other Charger starters were tight end Antonio Gates and special teamer Kassim Osgood, while guard Kris Dielman, defensive tackle Jamal Williams, linebacker Shawne Merriman and cornerback Antonio Cromartie were honored as reserves.
Neal will make his fourth trip to the Pro Bowl, and Gates will make his fourth straight trip to Honolulu.
In the NFC, seven of the franchise record-tying 11 Cowboys will be starters. Wide receiver Terrell Owens; tight end Jason Witten; offensive linemen Flozell Adams, Leonard Davis and Andre Gurode; linebacker DeMarcus Ware and kicker Nick Folk were selected starters.
Quarterback Tony Romo, running back Marion Barber, safety Ken Hamlin and cornerback Terence Newman were chosen as reserves.
The other offensive starters include Green Bay's Brett Favre at quarterback, rookie sensation Adrian Peterson at running back, and his Vikings' teammate Tony Richardson at fullback.
This marks Favre's ninth Pro Bowl selection of his storied career and first since 2003. He has had a record-breaking season. In addition to becoming the winningest QB in NFL history and tossing the most TD passes in league history earlier this season, he surpassed Dan Marino as the all-time passing leader this past Sunday with 61,405 yards.
This season he has completed 67.1 percent of his passes for 3,905 yards with 26 touchdowns and 13 interceptions.
Peterson has run for 1,278 yards and 12 touchdowns this season. His efforts include a 224-yard three-TD rushing performance against the Bears on October 14.
"This is a great honor as a rookie and I'm proud to be selected," said Peterson. "This was one of my goals coming into the season and it feels good to accomplish that. I'm blessed by the individual honor, but I know we have some team goals we are still striving for."
The remainder of the offensive line starters consist of Minnesota's Steve Hutchinson and Seattle's Walter Jones, while Arizona's Larry Fitzgerald will start opposite Owens at wide receiver.
Joining Ware as starting linebackers are Seattle's Julian Peterson and Lofa Tatupu. The defensive line consists of Green Bay's Aaron Kampman, Seattle's Patrick Kerney and Minnesota's Kevin Williams and Pat Williams.
The NFC's starting defensive backs are Green Bay's Al Harris and Seattle's Marcus Trufant at corner and Minnesota's Darren Sharper at strong safety.
Washington Redskins free safety Sean Taylor, who was killed last month after being shot during a burglary at his Florida home, earned a starting nod.
He had five interceptions at the time of his death.
Joining the first-timer Folk as special teamers for the NFC, is San Francisco punter Andy Lee, also a first time selection, kick returner Devin Hester of the Chicago Bears and specialist Brendon Ayanbadejo of the Bears.
Seattle's Matt Hasselbeck joins Romo as a reserve quarterback, while Philadelphia's Brian Westbrook joins Barber as a reserve running back. Green Bay's Donald Driver and St. Louis' Torry Holt are the reserve wide outs, Washington's Chris Cooley is the backup tight end; and Washington's Chris Samuels, Philadelphia's Shawn Andrews and Minnesota's Matt Birk are the reserve offensive linemen.
In addition to Newman and Hamlin as reserve defensive players for the NFC are, defensive linemen Osi Umenyiora of the Giants and Chicago's Tommie Harris. The Bears' Lance Briggs and San Francisco's Patrick Willis are the reserve linebackers.
Other offensive starters for the AFC were tackle Jason Peters of Buffalo, Pittsburgh guard Alan Faneca and Colts center Jeff Saturday.
The other AFC defensive starters were defensive ends Jared Allen of Kansas City and Kyle Vanden Bosch of Tennessee, defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth of the Titans, linebackers James Harrison of Pittsburgh, and DeMeco Ryans of Houston, cornerback Champ Baily of Denver, and safeties Ed Reed of Baltimore and Bob Sanders of the Colts.
The punter will be Oakland's Shane Lechler, while Rob Bironas will handle the place-kicking duties for the AFC. Cleveland's Josh Cribbs was voted as the kick returner.
Quarterbacks Peyton Manning of the Colts and Ben Roethlisberger of the Steelers were named reserves. The other running backs were Joseph Addai of the Colts and Pittsburgh's Willie Parker. One other Steeler was selected - reserve safety Troy Polamalu.
Manning was named to the game for the eighth time in 10 NFL seasons and the sixth time in as many years.
Cleveland's Braylon Edwards and Cincinnati's T.J. Houshmandzadeh were voted as reserve wide receivers, while KC tight end Tony Gonzalez is going to his ninth consecutive Pro Bowl, this time in a reserve role.
"We are very proud that Tony Gonzalez has been selected to his ninth consecutive Pro Bowl," Chiefs president Carl Peterson said. "Very few players have displayed the outstanding level of consistency that Tony has demonstrated over the years."
Baltimore tackle Jonathan Ogden was selected to his 11th Pro Bowl, while Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis was chosen to his eighth and Miami defensive end Jason Taylor to his sixth.
12/18 18:10:18 ET
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