Favre, Mannings selected for Pro Bowl
Last Updated: Wednesday, December 17, 2008 | 3:10 AM ET
CBC Sports
Brett Favre of the New York Jets was selected as one of two AFC reserves to quarterback Peyton Manning. (Paul Sakuma/Associated Press)Kurt Warner of the Arizona Cardinals and Peyton Manning of the Indianapolis Colts were named starting quarterbacks on Tuesday for the NFL's annual Pro Bowl contest.
With Eli Manning of the New York Giants selected as an NFC reserve for his first appearance, it is the first time brothers who are both quarterbacks have been chosen for the same all-star game. Peyton was selected for the ninth time in his career.
The game will take place on Feb. 8 in Honolulu.
Quarterback Brett Favre — one of two AFC backups to Manning — was among an NFL-best seven Pro Bowl players from the New York Jets. It is Favre's 10th Pro Bowl selection, but first after a bitter split with the Green Bay Packers in the summer.
Favre is joined by familiar faces on offence, including starters Alan Faneca (tackle), Thomas Jones (running back), Leon Washington (kick returner) and reserve centre Nick Mangold.
AFC
Centre Kevin Mawae, defensive lineman Albert Haynesworth and cornerback Cortland Finnegan are the three starters from AFC-best Tennessee. The Titans also have three reserves: rookie running back Chris Johnson, tackle Michael Roos and safety Chris Hope.
The quartet of AFC receivers has 365 catches combined so far this season. The starters are Andre Johnson (Houston) and Brandon Marshall (Denver), with Wes Welker (New England) and Reggie Wayne (Indianapolis) the reserves. Tony Gonzalez of the Kansas City Chiefs is the tight end selection for the 10th time.
Denver quarterback Jay Cutler and Miami running back Ronnie Brown are reserves at their respective positions.
The defensive line is anchored by ends Mario Williams of Houston and Dwight Freeney of the Colts.
Baltimore veterans Ray Lewis (linebacker) and Ed Reed (safety) return to the Pro Bowl as starters, joined by reserve linebacker Terrell Suggs.
New England's Steven Gostkowski was named kicker, with Shane Lechler of Oakland the punter.
NFC
Arizona quarterback Kurt Warner was named to the NFC team along with two of his receivers, Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald. Drew Brees, who leads the NFC with 4,332 passing yards, was also picked at quarterback.
The running backs starter is Adrian Peterson (Minnesota), backed up by Michael Turner (Atlanta) and Clinton Portis (Washington).
The Vikings had four defensive players selected, including lineman Kevin and Pat Williams, who are both among the players at the centre of a legal wrangle after testing positive for a banned diuretic. Cornerback Antoine Winfield and end Jared Allen also represent Minnesota.
San Francisco's Patrick Willis and Lance Briggs of Chicago lead the corps of linebackers.
Sack leader DeMarcus Ware is joined by Dallas Cowboys teammate Jay Ratliff on the defensive line, while the Philadelphia Eagles and Green Bay Packers both boast two in the secondary — Asante Samuel and Brian Dawkins from Philadelphia, Charles Woodson and Nick Collins from Green Bay.
Also on the NFC team: two Giants with a combined age of 86: their 44-year-old kicker John Carney and 42-year-old punter Jeff Feagles.
With files from the Associated Press
