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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Favre, Manning heading to Miami


By BARRY WILNER
Associated Press

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser
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NEW YORK — Brett Favre and Peyton Manning have other plans for visiting Miami in early 2010.

Already Pro Bowl regulars, they were selected yesterday to this season's game. Favre was among eight Minnesota Vikings who made the NFC team, while Manning was one of six Indianapolis Colts on the AFC squad. It will be Favre's 11th Pro Bowl and the 10th for Manning. No other quarterbacks have been to 10 all-star games.

Naturally, both of them — and every other player chosen for the Pro Bowl whose team has made the playoffs — are thinking of appearing in another game in South Florida, the Super Bowl. All six of the quarterbacks made the playoffs and, of course, would prefer to be playing in the Super Bowl on Feb. 7 in Miami. The Pro Bowl has been moved to the previous Sunday at Dolphin Stadium, and no Super Bowl participants will play in the all-star game.

As Bengals wide receiver Chad Ochocinco said on Twitter after discovering the AFC North champions have nobody going to the Pro Bowl:

"Just been informed myself nor any of my teammates made the Pro Bowl-bengal fans we wouldn't be (able) to play in it anyway! SUPER BOWL BABY!!!"

Favre will be a backup to New Orleans' Drew Brees. The other NFC quarterback will be Aaron Rodgers.

"When you are voted in as a quarterback, you really represent the entire offense and the team," Brees said, "because there isn't anything I can accomplish without the offensive line, running backs, tight ends and wide receivers. So this is a recognition of what we've been able to achieve as a unit, and I've been thrilled to be a part of an offense that has worked together so well this season."

Manning will be backed up at quarterback by New England's Tom Brady and San Diego's Philip Rivers.

Vikings RB Adrian Peterson will be in the NFC backfield. The other Vikings who made it: wide receiver Sidney Rice, defensive end Jared Allen, guard Steve Hutchinson, defensive tackle Kevin Williams, special teamer Heath Farwell and tackle Bryant McKinnie.

Dallas and Philadelphia, which meet for the NFC East title Sunday, had the next most players on the NFC roster with six each, followed by New Orleans with five. There were 13 first-timers chosen in the NFC in voting by fans, coaches and players.

The other Colts on the AFC roster were tight end Dallas Clark, defensive ends Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis, wide receiver Reggie Wayne and center Jeff Saturday.

San Diego, Denver and Baltimore each had five players chosen for the AFC team. There were eight newcomers in the AFC.

The game was held in Honolulu from 1980 through last season. It is scheduled to return here in 2011.

PRO BOWL ROSTERS

AFC

Offense

Quarterbacks: Tom Brady, New England; Peyton Manning, Indianapolis; Philip Rivers, San Diego. Running Backs: Chris Johnson, Tennessee; Maurice Jones-Drew, Jacksonville; Ray Rice, Baltimore. Wide Receivers: Andre Johnson, Houston; Brandon Marshall, Denver; Reggie Wayne, Indianapolis; Wes Welker, New England. Tight Ends: Dallas Clark, Indianapolis; Antonio Gates, San Diego. Fullback: Le'Ron McClain, Baltimore. Centers: Nick Mangold, N.Y. Jets; Jeff Saturday, Indianapolis. Guards: Kris Dielman, San Diego; Alan Faneca, N.Y. Jets; Logan Mankins, New England. Tackles: Ryan Clady, Denver; Jake Long, Miami; Joe Thomas, Cleveland.

Defense

Ends: Dwight Freeney, Indianapolis; Robert Mathis, Indianapolis; Mario Williams, Houston. Interior Linemen: Casey Hampton, Pittsburgh; Haloti Ngata, Baltimore; Vince Wilfork, New England. Inside-Middle Linebackers: Ray Lewis, Baltimore; DeMeco Ryans, Houston. Outside Linebackers: Brian Cushing, Houston; Elvis Dumervil, Denver; James Harrison, Pittsburgh. Cornerbacks: Nnamdi Asomugha, Oakland; Champ Bailey, Denver; Darrelle Revis, N.Y. Jets. Strong Safety: Brian Dawkins, Denver. Free Safeties: Jairus Byrd, Buffalo; Ed Reed, Baltimore.

Specialists

Punter: Shane Lechler, Oakland. Kick Return Specialist: Joshua Cribbs, Cleveland. Placekicker: Nate Kaeding, San Diego. Special Teamer: Kassim Osgood, San Diego.

NFC

Offense

Quarterbacks: Drew Brees, New Orleans; Brett Favre, Minnesota; Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay. Running Backs: Steven Jackson, St. Louis; Adrian Peterson, Minnesota; DeAngelo Williams, Carolina. Wide Receivers: Miles Austin, Dallas; Larry Fitzgerald, Arizona; DeSean Jackson, Philadelphia; Sidney Rice, Minnesota. Tight Ends: Vernon Davis, San Francisco; Jason Witten, Dallas. Fullback: Leonard Weaver, Philadelphia. Centers: Andre Gurode, Dallas; Shaun OHara, New York Giants. Guards: Leonard Davis, Dallas; Jahri Evans, New Orleans; Steve Hutchinson, Minnesota. Tackles: Bryant McKinnie, Minnesota; Jason Peters, Philadelphia; Jon Stinchcomb, New Orleans.

Defense

Ends: Jared Allen, Minnesota; Trent Cole, Philadelphia; Julius Peppers, Carolina. Interior Linemen: Darnell Dockett, Arizona; Jay Ratliff, Dallas; Kevin Williams, Minnesota. Inside-Middle Linebackers: Jonathan Vilma, New Orleans; Patrick Willis, San Francisco. Outside Linebackers: Lance Briggs, Chicago; Brian Orakpo, Washington; DeMarcus Ware, Dallas. Cornerbacks: Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Arizona; Asante Samuel, Philadelphia; Charles Woodson, Green Bay. Strong Safety: Adrian Wilson, Arizona. Free Safeties: Nick Collins, Green Bay; Darren Sharper, New Orleans.

Specialists

Punter: Andy Lee, San Francisco. Kick Return Specialist: DeSean Jackson, Philadelphia. Placekicker — David Akers, Philadelphia. Special Teamer — Heath Farwell, Minnesota.