AFC-NFC 2008 PRO BOWL Selections

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2008, ALOHA STADIUM, HONOLULU, HAWAII

The Pro Bowl will be played on Sunday, February 10, in Honolulu, Hawaii (FOX, 4:30 PM ET).

The NFL is the only professional sports league that combines voting by fans, coaches and players in determining its All-Star teams. The consensus vote of each group counts one-third towards the total. Each team submits two ballots – those of the coach and the players with no one permitted to vote for a player on his own team. This year, nearly 84 million fan votes (a record 83.7 million) were cast on NFL.com, in stadiums and via Sprint service.

The American Conference defeated the National Conference 31-28 last season in the Pro Bowl. The AFC leads the all-time series 19-18. The 2008 AFC coaching staff will be from the AFC Championship Game runner-up team.

Under terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement, each player on the winning Pro Bowl team receives $40,000, while each player on the losing squad earns $20,000.

PATRIOTS & CHARGERS LEAD AFC WITH EIGHT PLAYERS APIECE ON ALL-STAR SQUAD; 18 FIRST-TIME SELECTIONS ON AFC ROSTER

The AFC East Division-winning New England Patriots and AFC West titlist San Diego Chargers will lead the American Football Conference’s 2008 Pro Bowl squad with a conference-high eight players each when the AFC takes on the National Football Conference All-Stars, the NFL announced today.

New England’s eight All-Stars equal a franchise high set by the 1985 Patriots. The AFC roster includes 18 first-time All-Stars, including Cincinnati’s wide receiver T.J. HOUSHMANDZADEH, who leads the NFL with 101 receptions.

Among a group of talented AFC quarterbacks, four-time All-Star TOM BRADY of New England, who leads the NFL in passing yards (4,235), touchdowns (45) and passer rating (119.7), will be the starting signal-caller in his fourth Pro Bowl. Brady is one of seven Patriots that will start for this year’s AFC Squad. Joining Brady to aid the AFC passing attack will be Indianapolis quarterback PEYTON MANNING, who will make his eighth Pro Bowl appearance, and first-time selection BEN ROETHLISBERGER of Pittsburgh, who ranks third in the NFL with 29 touchdown passes.

San Diego’s duo of running back LA DAINIAN TOMLINSON and fullback LORENZO NEAL have been named starters for a second year in a row. Earning his fifth Pro Bowl honor, Tomlinson ranks second in the NFL with 1,311 rushing yards this season and has passed the 1,200-yard rushing mark for the seventh consecutive year. Neal, in his 15th NFL season, has been selected to his fourth Pro Bowl and third as a Charger.

Adding to the AFC’s explosive backfield will be Pittsburgh’s WILLIE PARKER and JOSEPH ADDAI of Indianapolis. This is the second consecutive Pro Bowl trip for Parker, who leads the NFL with 1,317 rushing yards. In his second NFL season, Addai ranks second in the AFC with 11 rushing touchdowns and will make his first Pro Bowl voyage to Hawaii.

Four receivers are named to each All-Star squad. Chosen for the AFC’s 2008 team are New England’s RANDY MOSS, the NFL’s receiving yardage (1,343) and touchdown (19) leader, who will start. Moss records his first Pro Bowl appearance since 2004 and sixth overall. Lined up across from Moss will be REGGIE WAYNE of Indianapolis, who will make his second All-Star game in consecutive seasons. Two first-time selections from clubs in Ohio will round out the AFC All-Star receiving foursome -- Cleveland wide receiver BRAYLON EDWARDS, whose 13 touchdown receptions rank second in the AFC, and Houshmandzadeh of Cincinnati.

Representing the AFC at tight end will be nine-time all-star TONY GONZALEZ of the Kansas City Chiefs and the San Diego’s ANTONIO GATES, who will play in his fourth consecutive Pro Bowl and start for the second year in a row.

Pittsburgh’s 10-year veteran guard ALAN FANECA will make his seventh consecutive Pro Bowl trip and will be joined at the other starting guard position by first-time All-Star LOGAN MANKINS of New England, who has helped pave the way for the league’s top-ranked offense. San Diego’s KRIS DIELMAN, a former undrafted free agent who has been a mainstay for the Chargers offensive line this year, will make his All-Star debut.

AFC starting center JEFF SATURDAY will book his trip to Hawaii for his third consecutive Pro Bowl. First-time AFC All-Star DAN KOPPEN of New England will back up Saturday.

Assigned to keep the pocket clean against a talented group of NFC edge rushers are a group of AFC All-Star tackles -- New England’s two-time Pro Bowler MATT LIGHT and first-time Pro Bowl selection JASON PETERS of Buffalo. JONATHAN OGDEN of Baltimore will play in his 11th consecutive Pro Bowl in his 12th NFL season.

Lining up in the middle for the AFC defensive front are starting interior linemen ALBERT HAYNESWORTH of Tennessee and New England’s VINCE WILFORK. Both linemen will make their first appearances in the All-Star game. Accompanying Wilfork and Haynesworth will be San Diego’s JAMAL WILLIAMS, who has secured his third consecutive Pro Bowl berth.

Ranked second in the AFC with 11.5 sacks, Kansas City defensive end JARED ALLEN will make his Pro Bowl debut as a starter and will be joined by Tennessee defensive end KYLE VANDEN BOSCH, who will play in his second Pro Bowl in three seasons with the Titans and his first as a starter. Miami’s JASON TAYLOR will cap off this trio with the sixth Pro Bowl of his career.

Two first-time All-Stars -- MIKE VRABEL of New England and Pittsburgh’s JAMES HARRISON -- will start at outside linebacker for the AFC. Vrabel has tied his career-high with 9.5 sacks and Harrison leads the league’s top-ranked defense with 8.5 sacks. Joining Vrabel and Harrison at outside linebacker is SHAWNE MERRIMAN of San Diego, who tops NFL linebackers with 11.5 sacks and will make his third consecutive All-Star game appearance.

Roaming the middle of the AFC defense will be middle linebackers RAY LEWIS of Baltimore and DE MECO RYANS of Houston. Ryans, the 2006 NFL Defensive Rookie of Year, will start in his first Pro Bowl, while Lewis, a 12-year veteran, will record his eighth appearance in Hawaii.

Interceptions are plentiful for the trio of AFC All-Star cornerbacks. Starter CHAMP BAILEY of Denver has earned his eighth consecutive Pro Bowl selection and will be teamed up with two first-time All-Stars. New England’s ASANTE SAMUEL will start opposite Bailey and ANTONIO CROMARTIE of San Diego, who leads the league with 10 interceptions, will make his All-Star debut in his second season.

Indianapolis strong safety BOB SANDERS earns his second consecutive AFC All-Star berth and Ravens ball-hawking free safety ED REED is a four-time Pro Bowl choice in six NFL seasons. Four-time Pro Bowl selection TROY POLAMALU of Pittsburgh will join starting safeties Sanders and Reed.

The AFC special teams unit is comprised of four players, including two first-time Pro Bowl honorees. Cleveland kick returner JOSHUA CRIBBS making his first trip to Hawaii, leads the NFL with a 30.9-yard average and is tied for second in the league with two scores. Tennessee kicker ROB BIRONAS, who leads the NFL with 31 field goals and set the NFL record for most field goals in a game earlier this season, will make his All-Star debut. San Diego wide receiver KASSIM OSGOOD, who will serve as the AFC’s special teamer, makes his second consecutive Hawaiian trip. Concluding the special teams group will be Oakland’s veteran punter SHANE LECHLER (third Pro Bowl). Lechler leads the NFL with a 49.0 average and has placed 21 of his 63 punts inside the opponents’ 20-yard line.

The 42-man AFC squad is comprised of 21 offensive and 17 defensive players plus four specialists. A 43rd “need” player will be chosen by the AFC head coach and must be a cornerback, defensive end, linebacker or long snapper.

COWBOYS LEAD NFL WITH 11 PLAYERS ON NFC ALL-STAR SQUAD; 11 FIRST-TIME SELECTIONS ON NFC ROSTER

WASHINGTON’S SEAN TAYLOR VOTED IN AS STARTING FREE SAFETY

The Dallas Cowboys placed a league-high 11 players on the National Football Conference All-Star team that will face the American Football Conference All-Stars in the 2008 Pro Bowl on Sunday, February 10 in Honolulu, Hawaii (FOX, 4:30 PM ET), the NFL announced today.

Among the players selected to the NFC squad was Washington Redskins safety SEAN TAYLOR, who died last month. Taylor received the most votes at his position and was chosen as the starting free safety for the NFC team. A replacement for Taylor will be announced at a later date.

Eleven NFC players will participate in their first Pro Bowl, including Minnesota Vikings rookie running back ADRIAN PETERSON, who leads the NFC in rushing yards with 1,278.

Five of the Cowboys’ Pro Bowl players – running back MARION BARBER, guard LEONARD DAVIS, rookie kicker NICK FOLK, safety KEN HAMLIN and cornerback TERENCE NEWMAN – are also first-time All-Stars. They join tackle FLOZELL ADAMS (fourth Pro Bowl), center ANDRE GURODE (second), wide receiver TERRELL OWENS (sixth), quarterback TONY ROMO (second), linebacker DE MARCUS WARE (second) and tight end JASON WITTEN (fourth) to equal the largest Dallas Pro Bowl contingent ever. Dallas also had 11 players named to the All-Star team in 1993 and 1994.

The starting quarterback for the NFC is nine-time All-Star BRETT FAVRE of the Green Bay Packers. Favre, the leading vote-getter among fans, ties Pro Football Hall of Famers JOHN ELWAY, DAN MARINO, WARREN MOON and NORM VAN BROCKLIN for the second-most Pro Bowl selections by a quarterback behind JOHNNY UNITAS with 10. Joining Favre at QB are Dallas’ Romo and Seattle’s MATT HASSELBECK. Romo is the first Cowboys QB to be chosen for back-to-back Pro Bowls since Hall of Famer TROY AIKMAN (1992-97). Hasselbeck joins DAVE KRIEG as the only Seahawks quarterbacks to be named to three Pro Bowls.

Starting at running back for the NFC is Peterson, who seeks to become the first rookie to lead the NFC in rushing since Pro Football Hall of Famer BARRY SANDERS (1989). He is joined by Dallas’ Barber and two-time Philadelphia Eagles All-Star BRIAN WESTBROOK, who has an NFL-best 1,896 scrimmage yards. Barber is the first Cowboys RB to be chosen since the 2000 Pro Bowl (EMMITT SMITH) and Westbrook is the sixth Eagles running back with multiple All-Star selections.

Filling out the backfield is Minnesota fullback TONY RICHARDSON, who makes his third Pro Bowl appearance (Kansas City, 2004-05) and first for the NFC.

Along with Dallas’ Owens, now chosen as an All-Star with three teams (San Francisco, Philadelphia), the NFC’s other starting wide receiver is Arizona’s LARRY FITZGERALD, who played in the 2006 Pro Bowl. Rounding out the position are a pair of Pro Bowl veterans in seven-time All-Star TORRY HOLT of the St. Louis Rams and three-time All-Star DONALD DRIVER of Green Bay.

The starting tight end for the NFC is Witten, making his fourth consecutive appearance in Hawaii. He is joined by Washington’s CHRIS COOLEY, who will make his Pro Bowl debut.

Minnesota’s STEVE HUTCHINSON will make his fifth consecutive trip to the Pro Bowl and start at guard along with the Cowboys’ Davis. Philadelphia’s SHAWN ANDREWS was named an All-Star for the second year in a row and fills out the position.

Starting at center is Dallas’ Gurode, joined by Minnesota’s MATT BIRK, a six-time Pro Bowl selection.

The starting tackles are Seattle’s WALTER JONES, an eight-time All-Star, and the Cowboys’ Adams. Washington’s CHRIS SAMUELS, making his fifth Pro Bowl appearance, is the NFC’s third tackle.

A pair of two-time All-Stars will start at defensive end for the NFC in Green Bay’s AARON KAMPMAN and Seattle’s PATRICK KERNEY. New York Giants defensive end OSI UMENYIORA, making his second trip to Hawaii, also was chosen to represent the NFC.

Two Vikings will start on the interior defensive line in three-time All-Star KEVIN WILLIAMS and two-time Pro Bowl selection PAT WILLIAMS. Chicago’s TOMMIE HARRIS was chosen for the third time in his career.

Seattle’s LOFA TATUPU makes his third Pro Bowl trip and will start at inside linebacker. He will be joined at the position by rookie PATRICK WILLIS of the San Francisco 49ers, the No. 11 overall selection in the 2007 NFL Draft.

The outside linebackers are Chicago’s LANCE BRIGGS (third Pro Bowl), Seattle’s JULIAN PETERSON (fourth) and Dallas’ Ware. Peterson and Ware were chosen as the starters.

All three cornerbacks on the NFC team are Pro Bowl newcomers. Green Bay’s AL HARRIS and Seattle’s MARCUS TRUFANT will start with Dallas’ Newman coming off the bench.

At free safety, the late Taylor was selected as the starter. Dallas’ Hamlin also was chosen at free safety and four-time All-Star DARREN SHARPER of the Minnesota Vikings will be the starting strong safety.

Two Bears are among the quartet of players who will handle special teams duties for the NFC. For the second consecutive year, Chicago’s DEVIN HESTER will be the return specialist and BRANDON AYANBADEJO will be the coverage specialist. Dallas’ rookie Folk is the kicker and San Francisco punter ANDY LEE was selected for the first time in his career.

The 42-man NFC squad is comprised of 21 offensive and 17 defensive players plus four specialists. A 43rd “need” player will be chosen by the NFC head coach and must be a cornerback, defensive end, linebacker or long snapper.