An Overview of Players Selected for the 2007 AFC and NFC Pro Bowl Game

The NFL season has come to an end and the only light at the end of the tunnel for some star players whose playoff hopes have diminished is the Pro Bowl game held in sunny skies Hawaii. So which hometown heroes from your favorite team made the roster? Standing number one in votes overall is no other than the potent offensive general Peyton Manning. No brainer right? Although Peyton Manning took a while to get things going at the beginning of the season he still managed to lead the AFC in passing yards and passing touchdowns. Starting in the backfield for Manning is arguably the best back to ever touch a football, which is record breaking leading rusher LaDainian Tomlinson. Anyone who can throw for touchdown, run for a touchdown, and receive for a touchdown consistently will consistently have my vote for the Pro Bowl.

Some other teammates on the AFC offensive starters roster include Johnson and Johnson and no not the baby powder company I am talking about Andre Johnson who leads the NFL in catches and Chad Johnson who leads the NFL in receiving yards as well as trash talking. Accompanying L.T is his very own blocker, full back Lorenzo Neal and other standout running back Larry Johnson. Oh and just for familiarity purposes Manning gets to practice throwing to two of his own receivers (Marvin Harrison and Reggie Wayne) who will play as reserves that will probably receive passes from second and third string quarterbacks Carson Palmer and Phillip Rivers. If you're a fan of the offensive lines in fostering great seasons for QB's and RB's than you will like to see Willie Anderson, Jonathan Ogden, Alan Faneca, and Will Shields protect the backfield. Some other familiar faces include Antonio Gates and Tony Gonzalez at tight end and first time Pro Bowler Willie Parker as a third string running back.

Brian Moorman, Nate Kaeding, Justin Miller, and Kassim Osgood will play the role of punter, place-kicker, kick return specialist, and special teamer respectively.

If you love defense like I do (being that my home town is Baltimore) than you will want to know that Shawne Merriman's four game absences had no effect on his numbers or play which led him to his second consecutive Pro Bowl. Other familiar faces making big plays in the AFC are safeties Ed Reed and Troy Polamalu and cornerbacks Champ Bailey and Rashean Mathis solidifying the secondary. The two raven standouts Adalius Thomas and Terrell Suggs will share the outside linebacker position with Merriman and Al Wilson along with Zach Thomas will sit in the middle linebacker position. The run stuffers and pass rushers include Miami defensive leader Jason Taylor, Aaron Schobel, Richard Seymour, and one of the nine San Diego players going to the Pro Bowl interior lineman Jamal Williams.

What can I say about the NFC starters other than congratulations to Drew Brees for becoming the first QB to make an AFC and NFC roster in the Pro Bowl, leading the Saints to the playoffs, and leading the NFL in passing yards in spite of critics downing his height and torn rotator cuff. Standing in reserve for Drew Brees is the third NFL leading passer Marc Bulger and surprise first year starter Tony Romo who I believe took what would have been Donovan McNabb's spot had it not been for his season ending injury. Rookie Frank Gore has lead the NFC in rushing yards and it has paid off as he will start in front of retiring star Tiki Barber. He will be helped in the backfield with FB Mack Strong who helped Shaun Alexander reach his record breaking season last year. Tight ends Alge Crumpler and Jeremy Shockey, and Receivers Torry Holt and Steve Smith will fill in as targets for the NFC QB's. Olin Kreutz, Steve Hutchinson, and Shawn Andrews will be part of the wall between NFC's offensive weapons and the AFC defense.

Leading the NFC's defense will be MLB Brian Urlacher and DE Julius Peppers. Will Smith will partner Julius Peppers as pass rushers along with Kevin Williams and Tommy Harris filling in as run stoppers. At outside linebacker starting will be Urlacher's teammate Lance Briggs and first time Pro Bowler DeMarcus Ware out of Dallas. Rounding out the secondary are the familiar faces of Brain Dawkins and Roy Williams at the safety position with Adrian Wilson starting, and Ronde Barber and DeAngelo Hall at Corner. Cornerback Lito Sheppard and OLB Julian Peterson reappear at this year's Pro Bowl. Congratulations to Chicago for sending the most players to the Pro Bowl in the NFC

In the Special Teams Unit Mat McBriar, Robbie Gould, Devin Hester, and Brendon Ayanbadeho will fill in as punter, place-kicker, kick return specialist, and special teamer respectively. The big story here is the record setting, Chicago game saving rookie Devin Hester who returned kicks for six touchdowns and tied the longest play in history set by fellow teammate Nathan Vasher.