Nine 49ers Players Named To Pro Bowl, No Raiders Selected
SANTA CLARA (CBS / AP) -- Peyton Manning and Adrian Peterson want to cap their sensational comebacks with Super Bowl appearances. For now, they can be proud of Pro Bowl spots.
So can Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III, one of two rookies chosen Wednesday for the Jan. 27 NFL all-star game.
Manning missed all of the 2011 season with neck and back problems that required several operations. He then signed with Denver as a free agent and has led the Broncos on a 10-game winning streak to take the AFC West.
"I know there's great players out there in the NFL, but there's some great players on this team this year that deserve to go," said Manning, whose 12th Pro Bowl is a record for quarterbacks. He ranks fourth in league passing this year, has thrown 34 touchdowns and 11 interceptions.
Four other Broncos made the AFC roster: DE Elvis Dumervil, linebacker Von Miller, CB Champ Bailey and tackle Ryan Clady. Bailey's 12th appearance is a record for defensive backs.
"My goal has always been to go out and help the team win and play at a high level," Manning added. "Anything that comes along with that, like being honored as a Pro Bowl selection, is very humbling."
Minnesota's Peterson tore up his left knee on Christmas Eve last year, underwent major surgery, then was back for the season opener. He's gone from uncertain to unstoppable, running away with the rushing title with a career-high 1,898 yards and lifting the Vikings toward an NFC wild card.
"Coming into the season after going through the rehab process, I just told myself that I wanted to lead my team to a championship and make sure that I contribute and do my part," Peterson said. "I've been doing it."
Griffin is one of three rookie QBs who had superb debut seasons, along with Andrew Luck of Indianapolis and Russell Wilson of Seattle. Luck and Wilson weren't voted to the Pro Bowl by players, coaches and fans, although their teams are in the playoffs; Griffin can get to the postseason if Washington beats Dallas on Sunday.
"You can't play down those kind of things," Griffin said. "I've always said my whole football career that you don't play for awards. They just come. You don't say you're going to win the Heisman. You don't say you're going to win MVP. You go out and you prove it on the field, and if everyone feels that way then they'll give you that award."
San Francisco had the most players selected, nine, including six from its second-ranked defense. Houston was next with eight, six on offense.
Kansas City, despite its 2-13 record that is tied with Jacksonville for worst in the league, had five Pro Bowlers, including RB Jamaal Charles, who like Peterson is coming back from a torn ACL.
One other rookie, Minnesota kicker Blair Walsh, was chosen. Walsh has nine field goals of at least 50 yards, an NFL mark.
The AFC kicker is at the other end of the spectrum: Cleveland's Phil Dawson earned his first selection in his 14th NFL season.
"I deliberately tried not to know," Dawson said. "We wanted to watch the show with my kids. I had a really good idea what was going on, but it was a pretty priceless moment when we saw the name flash up on the screen. My kids went nuts `cause my wife went nuts. That makes these 15 years of waiting worth it."
Another record setter will be heading to Honolulu: Detroit WR Calvin Johnson.
Johnson broke Jerry Rice's single-season yards receiving record and has 1,892 yards with a game left.
Falcons tight end Tony Gonzalez set the record for Pro Bowls at his position by being chosen for the 13th time.
The league's top two sackmasters, DEs Aldon Smith of San Francisco and J.J. Watt of Houston, were first-time selections. Watt has 20 1-2 sacks, one ahead of Smith; the NFL record is 22 1-2.
Other newcomers, along with Griffin, Walsh and Dawson, were AFC players tackle Duane Brown and guard Wade Smith of Houston; safety LaRon Landry of the Jets; kick returner Jacoby Jones of Baltimore; and punter Dustin Colquitt of Kansas City.
For the NFC, first-timers were Giants WR Victor Cruz; Atlanta WR Julio Jones; Seattle tackle Russell Okung and center Max Unger; San Francisco guard Mike Iupati, linebacker NaVorro Bowman and safety Donte Whitner; Chicago cornerback Tim Jennings and defensive tackle Henry Melton; Washington tackle Trent Williams and special teamer Lorenzo Alexander; Minnesota fullback Jerome Felton; Tampa Bay DT Gerald McCoy; and New Orleans punter Thomas Morstead.
Eight teams had no Pro Bowl players: Carolina, Philadelphia and St. Louis in the NFC, Tennessee, Buffalo, Jacksonville, San Diego and Oakland in the AFC.
Pro Bowl Rosters:
AFC
Offense
Quarterbacks -- Tom Brady, New England; Peyton Manning, Denver; Matt Schaub, Houston
Running Backs -- Jamaal Charles, Kansas City; Arian Foster, Houston; Ray Rice, Baltimore
Fullback -- Vonta Leach, Baltimore
Wide Receivers -- A.J. Green, Cincinnati; Andre Johnson, Houston; Reggie Wayne, Indianapolis; Wes Welker, New England
Tight Ends -- Rob Gronkowski, New England; Heath Miller, Pittsburgh
Tackles -- Duane Brown, Houston; Ryan Clady, Denver; Joe Thomas, Cleveland; Marshall Yanda, Baltimore
Guards -- Logan Mankins, New England; Wade Smith, Houston
Centers -- Chris Myers, Houston; Maurkice Pouncey, Pittsburgh
Defense
Ends -- Elvis Dumervil, Denver; Cameron Wake, Miami; J.J. Watt, Houston
Interior Linemen -- Geno Atkins, Cincinnati; Haloti Ngata, Baltimore; Vince Wilfork, New England
Outside Linebackers -- Tamba Hali, Kansas City; Robert Mathis, Indianapolis; Von Viller, Denver
Inside/Middle Linebackers -- Derrick Johnson, Kansas City; Jerod Mayo, New England
Cornerbacks -- Champ Bailey, Denver; Antonio Cromartie, N.Y. Jets; Johnathan Joseph, Houston
Strong Safeties -- Eric Berry, Kansas City; LaRon Landry, N.Y. Jets
Free Safety -- Ed Reed, Baltimore
Specialists
Placekicker -- Phil Dawson, Cleveland
Punter -- Dustin Colquitt, Kansas City
Kick Returner -- Jacoby Jones, Baltimore
Special Team -- Matthew Slater, New England
NFC
Offense
Quarterbacks -- Robert Griffin III, Washington; Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay; Matt Ryan, Atlanta
Running Backs -- Frank Gore, San Francisco; Marshawn Lynch, Seattle; Adrian Peterson, Minnesota
Fullback -- Jerome Felton, Minnesota
Wide Receivers -- Victor Cruz, N.Y. Giants; Calvin Johnson, Detroit; Julio Jones, Atlanta; Brandon Marshall, Chicago
Tight Ends -- Tony Gonzalez, Atlanta; Jason Witten, Dallas
Tackles -- Russell Okung, Seattle; Joe Staley, San Francisco; Trent Williams, Washington
Guards -- Jahri Evans, New Orleans; Mike Iupati, San Francisco; Chris Snee, N.Y. Giants
Centers -- Jeff Saturday, Green Bay; Max Unger, Seattle
Defense
Ends -- Jared Allen, Minnesota; Julius Peppers, Chicago; Jason Pierre-Paul, N.Y. Giants
Interior Linemen -- Gerald McCoy, Tampa Bay; Henry Melton, Chicago; Justin Smith, San Francisco
Outside Linebackers -- Clay Matthews, Green Bay; Aldon Smith, San Francisco; DeMarcus Ware, Dallas
Inside/Middle Linebackers -- NaVorro Bowman, San Francisco; Patrick Willis, San Francisco
Cornerbacks -- Tim Jennings, Chicago; Patrick Peterson, Arizona; Charles Tillman, Chicago
Strong Safeties -- Donte Whitner, San Francisco
Free Safeties -- Dashon Goldson, San Francisco; Earl Thomas, Seattle
Specialists
Placekicker -- Blair Walsh, Minnesota
Punter -- Thomas Morstead, New Orleans
Kick Returner -- Leon Washington, Seattle
Special Team -- Lorenzo Alexander, Washington
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