''I was sitting in a rehab clinic in Birmingham, Alabama, when I should have been going to the Pro Bowl last year,'' said Brees, who was selected to play in the game last season but couldn't make the trip because of a shoulder injury suffered in Week 17. ''That entire week I remember thinking, 'I could be in Hawai'i right now. But I have to deal with this dang shoulder.'

''So this year, I am going to be in Hawai'i, and I'm going to be doing the backstroke, and I'm going to be doing all kinds of things with this shoulder.''

Brees is scheduled to start in Saturday night's game, joining offensive tackle Jammal Brown and defensive end Will Smith on the NFC roster.

Of the three, only Brees has played in the Pro Bowl before, earning an invite when he was with the San Diego Chargers two years ago.

He threw two passes, serving as a backup to Peyton Manning and Tom Brady, but he completed both for a combined 58 yards during a fourth-quarter touchdown drive that helped clinch the AFC's 38-27 victory.

This time around, Brees will be squaring off against Manning, who arrived late Wednesday, after leading his Indianapolis Colts to the Super Bowl title.

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