2012 Pro Bowl Roster Announced -- Patriots & 49ers Land Eight Players Each

By Randall Stevens ♦ Published 12/28/2011

Selections for the 2012 Pro Bowl have been announces, and both New England Patriots and the San Francisco 49ers led the NFL with eight players chosen from each roster -- including quarterback Tom Brady and the Niners' Patrick Willis. Behind the Pats and Niners is defending Super Bowl champion Green Bay (led by QB Aaron Rodgers) and Baltimore (led by linebacker Ray Lewis) have seven apiece for the upcoming game, set to go down on January 29th in Honolulu, Hawaii. AFC's starters including Brady at QB, as well as his teammates reciever Wes Welker, tight end Rob Gronkowski, defensive tackle Vince Wilfork, defensive end Andre Carter, and guards Brian Waters and Logan Mankins, as well as special teamer Matthew Slater. Linebacker Willis, DE Justin Smith, cornerback Carlos Rogers and tackle Joe Staley will start for the NFC from the 49ers, who had only Smith and Willis make the Pro Bowl last year. The NFC's starting QB will be Green Bay's Rodgers, who will be backed by record-setting Drew Brees of New Orleans. NFC starters will be Rodgers, Eagles RB LeSean McCoy, Packers FB John Kuhn, Graham, Panthers C Ryan Kalil, Saints guards Jahri Evans and Carl Nicks, Eagles tackle Jason Peters and Staley, Cardinals WR Larry Fitzgerald and Lions WR Calvin Johnson on offense. On defense, it will be Vikings DE Jared Allen and Eagles DE Jason Babin, Cowboys DT Jay Ratliff and Smith, Packers OLB Clay Matthews and Cowboys OLB DeMarcus Ware, ILB Willis, Packers CB Charles Woodson and Rogers, Seahawks safety Earl Thomas and Cardinals safety Adrian Wilson. AFC starters will be Brady, Ravens RB Ray Rice and FB Vonta Leach, Gronkowski, Steelers C Maurkice Pouncey, Mankins and Waters at guard, Browns tackles Joe Thomas and Dolphins tackle Jake Long, Welker and Steelers WR Mike Wallace. On defense, it will be Broncos DE Elvis Dumervil replacing Carter, Colts DE Dwight Freeney, Wilfork and Ravens DT Haloti Ngata, Miller and Ravens OLB Terrell Suggs, Lewis, Jets CB Darrelle Revis and Broncos CB Champ Bailey, Steelers safety Troy Polamalu and Ravens safety Ed Reed. Fourteen teams from each conference were represented, with St. Louis (2-13) and Washington (5-10) drawing blanks in the NFC, Buffalo (6-9) and Tennessee (8-7) shut out in the AFC. Pittsburgh (11-4), New Orleans and Chicago (7-8) each had five players selected. Three rookies were chosen: Denver linebacker Von Miller, Cincinnati receiver A.J. Green, and Arizona cornerback Patrick Peterson, selected as a kick return specialist (who has tied an NFL record with four punt runbacks for TDs this season). However, headline grabbers, Panthers rookie QB Cam Newton and Denver QB Tim Tebow, were not chosen for the game. But, The Denver Post reports that Tebow is a second alternate for the AFC, meaning if two quarterbacks from the conference decline to attend the game, he will be added to the roster. The Bengals announced Tuesday night that rookie Andy Dalton is the AFC's first alternate at quarterback. Via:Vallerstatus