The NFC and AFC Pro Bowl rosters were announced on Tuesday and the New York Jets led all teams in the NFL with seven selections.
The Jets, who are currently in a three-way tie for first place in the AFC East with the Miami Dolphins and New England Patriots, are sending quarterback Brett Favre, guard Alan Faneca, defensive tackle Kris Jenkins, center Nick Mangold, running backs Thomas Jones and Leon Washington with cornerback Darrelle Revis to Honolulu on February 8.
Though Favre will go to Hawaii for the 10th time and first as an AFC member, Colts quarterback Peyton Manning will get the start under center, back for his seventh consecutive Pro Bowl. Joining him on offense will be running backs Ronnie Brown of Miami and Tennessee's Chris Johnson -- both of whom are first- time selections -- along with Ravens fullback Le'Ron McClain.
Chiefs' tight end Tony Gonzalez gets the start, returning for his 10th post- season engagement, the most selections at the position in league history. San Diego's Antonio Gates will be alongside for his fifth straight Pro Bowl. Andre Johnson of Houston and Denver's Brandon Marshall get the starting nods at wide receiver, with New England's Wes Welker and Indy's Reggie Wayne as backups.
Kevin Mawae from the Titans, back for a seventh time and first with the AFC South leaders, was named the starter at center with Mangold the backup. At guard, Faneca will start along with San Diego's Kris Dielman, in his second straight Pro Bowl. Buffalo's Jason Peters and Cleveland's Joe Thomas are the starters at tackle with Tennessee's Michael Roos slated as a reserve.
On defense, Baltimore Ravens inside linebacker Ray Lewis was voted in for the ninth time in his 13 seasons, with Pittsburgh's James Farrior the backup. Farrior's teammate James Harrison and Miami's Joey Porter were picked at outside linebacker.
Lewis' teammate Ed Reed along with Troy Polamalu of the Steelers are the starting safeties, while Oakland's Nnamdi Asomugha and the Titans' Cortland Finnegan -- both first-time selections, are the starting cornerbacks.
Colts defensive end Dwight Freeney will start alongside Houston's Mario Williams, while Jenkins starts as a linesman with the Titans' Albert Haynesworth selected though he will miss the remainder of the regular season with a knee injury.
On special teams, Stephen Gostkowski of the Patriots was named kicker, Oakland's Shane Lechler was tabbed for punter, Washington got the nod for return specialist while Brendan Ayanbadejo from Baltimore filled out the selections.
In the NFC, the New York Giants and Minnesota Vikings tied for the most selections per team with six players apiece.
Eli Manning earned his first Pro Bowl nod at quarterback but Arizona's Kurt Warner will get the start after being selected for the fourth time and first since 2002 with the Rams. They are joined by Drew Brees of the Saints.
NFL-leading rusher and 2008 Pro Bowl MVP Adrian Peterson from Minnesota returns to start at running back, with Atlanta's Michael Turner and Clinton Portis of the Redskins (web | news) also selected. Washington's Mike Sellers got the nod at fullback. For the fifth straight season, Dallas tight end Jason Witten was picked, with Chris Cooley of the Redskins the backup.
A pair of Cardinals wideouts were selected to start -- Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald -- along with Carolina's Steve Smith and Atlanta's Roddy White as reserves.
Andre Gurode of Dallas will be starting at center, while Chris Snee of the Giants and Minnesota's Steve Hutchinson were selected to start at guard. First-timer Jordan Gross from Carolina along with Seattle's Walter Jones start at tackle.
Defensively, Julius Peppers of the Panthers returns for the fourth time as the starting defensive end, joined by New York's Justin Tuck. Patrick Willis of the 49ers will start at inside linebacker while Chicago's Lance Briggs and DeMarcus Ware from the Cowboys got the nod on the outside. Dallas lineman Jay Ratliff earned his first Pro Bowl selection and will start with Minnesota's Kevin Williams.
Arizona's Adrian Wilson and Green Bay's Nick Collins are the starters at safety, while Antoine Winfield from the Vikings and Charles Woodson from the Packers are the starting cornerbacks. Philadelphia Eagles Asante Samuel and Brian Dawkins are reserves at corner ands safety, respectively.
Veteran kicker John Carney, back for his first Pro Bowl since 1995 got the nod at kicker, and the Giants' Jeff Feagles returns to Hawaii for the first time since 1996 as punter. Tampa's Clifton Smith is the returner and Sean Morey from the Cardinals fills out the special teams slots.
The Pro Bowl rosters were compiled in voting from a combination of fans, players and coaches.
