Nine Broncos selected to Pro Bowl
The Denver Broncos won’t own home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs, but their players will feel right at home in the Pro Bowl.
An NFL-high nine Broncos were selected to play in the all-star game, which will be contested Jan. 25 in Glendale, Ariz., site of the Super Bowl.
Leading the Denver contingent is Peyton Manning, selected to his 14th Pro Bowl, an ongoing record among quarterbacks.
Offensive teammates joining Manning in the Pro Bowl will be tight end Julius Thomas, wide receiver Demaryius Thomas and left tackle Ryan Clady.
The Denver defense will be represented by cornerbacks Aqib Talib and Chris Harris, strong-side linebacker Von Miller, strong safety T.J. Ward and defensive end DeMarcus Ware.
No other team had as many defensive players selected as the Broncos. The Dallas Cowboys led the way with six offensive selections: quarterback Tony Romo, running back DeMarco Murray, wide receiver Dez Bryant, center Travis Frederick, tackle Tyron Smith and rookie guard Zack Martin.
Only the Broncos and Cowboys had more than five selections overall.
In addition to Martin, two other rookies were chosen: St. Louis Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald and Baltimore Ravens linebacker C.J. Mosley.
Snubs include Super Bowl-winning quarterback Russell Wilson of the Seattle Seahawks, Oakland Raiders linebacker Khalil Mack, Broncos wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders, New York Giants rookie wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. and Green Bay Packers wide receiver Randall Cobb.
For the second year in a row, the teams won’t be determined by the players’ conferences. Hall of Fame receivers Cris Carter and Michael Irvin will serve as captains and select teams, drafting alternately until all players are taken.
With the game scheduled for the week before the Super Bowl, players from the two conference championship teams will be replaced on the Pro Bowl roster.
PRO BOWL PLAYER LIST BY POSITION:
Offense
—Quarterback: Tom Brady, Patriots; Andrew Luck, Colts; Peyton Manning, Broncos; Aaron Rodgers, Packers; Ben Roethlisberger, Steelers; Tony Romo, Cowboys.
—Running back: Le’Veon Bell, Steelers; Jamaal Charles, Chiefs; Arian Foster, Texans; Marshawn Lynch, Seahawks; LeSean McCoy, Eagles; DeMarco Murray, Cowboys.
—Wide receiver: Antonio Brown, Steelers; Dez Bryant, Cowboys; A.J. Green, Bengals; T.Y. Hilton, Colts; Calvin Johnson, Lions; Julio Jones, Falcons; Jordy Nelson, Packers; Demaryius Thomas, Broncos.
—Tight end: Jimmy Graham, Saints; Rob Gronkowski, Patriots; Greg Olsen, Panthers; Julius Thomas, Broncos.
—Fullback: John Kuhn, Packers; Marcel Reece, Raiders.
—Tackles: Ryan Clady, Broncos; Jason Peters, Eagles; Tyron Smith, Cowboys; Joe Staley, 49ers; Joe Thomas, Browns; Trent Williams, Redskins.
—Guard: Jahri Evans, Saints; Mike Iupati, 49ers; Kyle Long, Bears; Zack Martin, Cowboys; Josh Sitton, Packers; Marshal Yanda, Ravens.
—Center: Travis Frederick, Cowboys; Jason Kelce, Eagles; Nick Mangold, Jets; Maurkice Pouncey, Steelers.
Defense
—Defensive end: Calais Campbell, Cardinals; Robert Quinn, Rams; Cameron Wake, Dolphins; DeMarcus Ware, Broncos; J.J. Watt, Texans; Mario Williams, Bills.
—Interior linemen: Marcell Dareus, Bills; Aaron Donald, Rams; Gerald McCoy, Buccaneers; Dontari Poe, Chiefs; Ndamukong Suh, Lions; Kyle Williams, Bills.
—Outside linebacker: Connor Barwin, Eagles; Elvis Dumervil, Ravens; Tamba Hali, Chiefs; Justin Houston, Chiefs; Clay Matthews, Packers; Von Miller, Broncos.
—Inside linebacker: Luke Kuechly, Panthers; C.J. Mosley, Ravens; Lawrence, Timmons, Steelers; Bobby Wagner, Seahawks.
—Cornerback: Vontae Davis, Colts; Brent Grimes, Dolphins; Joe Haden, Browns; Chris Harris, Broncos; Patrick Peterson, Cardinals; Darrelle Revis, Patriots; Richard Sherman, Seahawks; Aqib Talib, Broncos.
—Free safety: Tashaun Gipson, Browns; Glover Quin, Lions; Earl Thomas, Seahawks; Eric Weddle, Chargers.
—Strong safety: Kam Chancellor, Seahawks; T.J. Ward, Broncos.
Special Teams
—Punter: Kevin Huber, Bengals; Pat McAfee, Colts.
—Placekicker: Stephen Gostkowski, Patriots; Adam Vinatieri, Colts.
—Return specialist: Devin Hester, Falcons; Darren Sproles, Eagles.
—Special teamer: Justin Bethel, Cardinals; Matthew Slater, Patriots.
PRO BOWL SELECTIONS BY TEAM
(Team, number of players: Player, position, Pro Bowls)
ARIZONA (3):
Justin Bethel, Special Teamer, 2
Calais Campbell, Defensive End, 1
Patrick Peterson, Cornerback, 4
ATLANTA (2):
Devin Hester, Return Specialist, 4
Julio Jones, Wide Receiver, 2
BALTIMORE (3):
Elvis Dumervil, Outside Linebacker, 4
C.J. Mosley, Inside/Middle Linebacker, 1
Marshal Yanda, Guard, 4
BUFFALO (3):
Marcell Dareus, Interior Lineman, 2
Kyle Williams, Interior Lineman, 4
Mario Williams, Defensive End, 4
CAROLINA (2):
Luke Kuechly, Inside/Middle Linebacker, 2
Greg Olsen, Tight End, 1
CHICAGO (1):
Kyle Long, Guard, 2
CINCINNATI (2):
A.J. Green, Wide Receiver, 4
Kevin Huber, Punter, 1
CLEVELAND (3):
Tashaun Gipson, Free Safety, 1
Joe Haden, Cornerback, 2
Joe Thomas, Tackle, 8
DALLAS (6):
Dez Bryant, Wide Receiver, 2
Travis Frederick, Center, 1
Zack Martin, Guard, 1
DeMarco Murray, Running Back, 2
Tony Romo, Quarterback, 4
Tyron Smith, Tackle, 2
DENVER (9):
Ryan Clady, Tackle, 4,
Chris Harris, Cornerback, 1
Peyton Manning, Quarterback, 14
Von Miller, Outside Linebacker, 3
Aqib Talib, Cornerback, 2
Demaryius Thomas, Wide Receiver, 3
Julius Thomas, Tight End, 2
T.J. Ward, Strong Safety, 2
DeMarcus Ware, Defensive End, 8
DETROIT (3):
Calvin Johnson, Wide Receiver, 5
Glover Quin, Free Safety, 1
Ndamukong Suh, Interior Lineman, 4
GREEN BAY (5):
John Kuhn, Fullback, 2
Clay Matthews, Outside Linebacker, 5
Jordy Nelson, Wide Receiver, 1
Aaron Rodgers, Quarterback, 4
Josh Sitton, Guard, 2
HOUSTON (2):
Arian Foster, Running Back, 4
J.J. Watt, Defensive End, 3
INDIANAPOLIS (5):
Vontae Davis, Cornerback, 1
T.Y. Hilton, Wide Receiver, 1
Andrew Luck, Quarterback, 3
Pat McAfee, Punter, 1
Adam Vinatieri, Placekicker, 3
KANSAS CITY (4):
Jamaal Charles, Running Back, 4
Tamba Hali, Outside Linebacker, 4
Justin Houston, Outside Linebacker, 3
Dontari Poe, Interior Lineman, 2
MIAMI (2):
Brent Grimes, Cornerback, 3
Cameron Wake, Defensive End, 4
NEW ENGLAND (5):
Tom Brady, Quarterback, 10
Stephen Gostkowski, Placekicker, 3
Rob Gronkowski, Tight End, 3
Darrelle Revis, Cornerback, 6
Matthew Slater, Special Teamer, 4
NEW ORLEANS (2):
Jahri Evans, Guard, 6
Jimmy Graham, Tight End, 3
NEW YORK JETS (1):
Nick Mangold, Center, 6
OAKLAND (1):
Marcel Reece, Fullback, 3
PHILADELPHIA (5):
Connor Barwin, Outside Linebacker, 1
Jason Kelce, Center, 1
LeSean McCoy, Running Back, 3
Jason Peters, Tackle, 7
Darren Sproles, Return Specialist, 1
PITTSBURGH (5):
Le’Veon Bell, Running Back, 1
Antonio Brown, Wide Receiver, 3
Maurkice Pouncey, Center, 4
Ben Roethlisberger, Quarterback, 3
Lawrence Timmons, Inside/Middle Linebacker, 1
ST. LOUIS (2):
Aaron Donald, Interior Lineman, 1
Robert Quinn, Defensive End, 2
SAN DIEGO (1):
Eric Weddle, Free Safety, 3
SAN FRANCISCO (2):
Mike Iupati, Guard, 3
Joe Staley, Tackle, 4
SEATTLE (5):
Kam Chancellor, Strong Safety, 3
Marshawn Lynch, Running Back, 5
Richard Sherman, Cornerback, 2
Earl Thomas, Free Safety, 4
Bobby Wagner, Inside/Middle Linebacker, 1
TAMPA BAY (1):
Gerald McCoy, Interior Lineman, 3
WASHINGTON (1):
Trent Williams, Tackle, 3
Note: Minnesota, Jacksonville, Tennessee and the New York Giants had no Pro Bowl selections.
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