Panthers have NFL-best 10 players selected for Pro Bowl
NEW YORK (AP) — The undefeated Carolina Panthers led the NFL with 10 players selected for the Pro Bowl on Tuesday.
The Panthers are two wins away from a perfect regular season. Quarterback Cam Newton was picked for the third time, and five of his teammates were first-time selections, including cornerback Josh Norman and linebacker Thomas Davis.
"It's truly an honor to be selected to the Pro Bowl," Davis said. "All the hard work and dedication I've put into the game has paid off. I'm extremely excited and I couldn't be more thankful to the fans who took their time to vote me in, as well as my fellow players and coaches.
"To have 10 guys selected says a lot about our team. It says a lot about our fans and how highly they thought of us this season, and I think it says a lot about the way our season has gone. I'm excited and thankful to be part of the 10."
Joining them will be center Ryan Kalil, who was picked for the fifth time, and linebacker Luke Kuechly, who earned his third selection.
Seattle, Arizona and New England each had seven players selected, and Cincinnati had five players picked.
Leading the way for the Seahawks was quarterback Russell Wilson, who was the only member of the offense picked. The rest of the selections were defensive end Michael Bennett, safety Kam Chancellor, special teamer Tyler Lockett, cornerback Richard Sherman, safety Earl Thomas and linebacker Bobby Wagner.
Patriots star Tom Brady was selected for the 11th time, most of any player this year. Among the other Patriots honored were tight end Rob Gronkowski and cornerback Malcolm Butler, whose last-minute interception clinched New England's Super Bowl win over Seattle.
Raiders safety Charles Woodson, who announced on Monday that he will retire after the season, was selected for the ninth time.
Also selected was Giants receiver Odell Beckham Jr., who has 91 catches for 1,396 yards and 13 touchdowns, tied for the league lead. Beckham was given a one-game suspension on Monday for his conduct on Sunday against Carolina, when he drew three personal foul penalties.
Twenty-five players selected were first-timers, including three rookies: the Rams' Todd Gurley, Lockett and the Chiefs' Marcus Peters.
Hall of Famers Jerry Rice and Michael Irvin will serve as alumni team captains for their Pro Bowl teams. The draft will be on Jan. 27.
The Pro Bowl will be held on Jan. 31 in Aloha Stadium in Honolulu, Hawaii.
Here's the full list of players:
QUARTERBACKS (6)
Tom Brady, New England
Cam Newton, Carolina
Carson Palmer, Arizona
Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay
Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh
Russell Wilson, Seattle
WIDE RECEIVERS (8)
Odell Beckham, Jr., New York Giants
Antonio Brown, Pittsburgh
Larry Fitzgerald, Arizona
A.J. Green, Cincinnati
DeAndre Hopkins, Houston
Calvin Johnson, Detroit
Julio Jones, Atlanta
Brandon Marshall, New York Jets
RUNNING BACKS (6)
Devonta Freeman, Atlanta
Todd Gurley, St. Louis
Doug Martin, Tampa Bay
LeSean McCoy, Buffalo
Adrian Peterson, Minnesota
Jonathan Stewart, Carolina
FULLBACKS (2)
Marcel Reece, Oakland
Mike Tolbert, Carolina
TIGHT ENDS (4)
Tyler Eifert, Cincinnati
Rob Gronkowski, New England
Travis Kelce, Kansas City
Greg Olsen, Carolina
TACKLES (6)
Jason Peters, Philadelphia
Tyron Smith, Dallas
Joe Staley, San Francisco
Joe Thomas, Cleveland
Andrew Whitworth, Cincinnati
Trent Williams, Washington
GUARDS (6)
David DeCastro, Pittsburgh
Mike Iupati, Arizona
Zack Martin, Dallas
Josh Sitton, Green Bay
Trai Turner, Carolina
Marshal Yanda, Baltimore
CENTERS (4)
Travis Frederick, Dallas
Ryan Kalil, Carolina
Alex Mack, Cleveland
Mike Pouncey, Miami
———
DEFENSEDEFENSIVE ENDS (6)
Ezekiel Ansah, Detroit
Michael Bennett, Seattle
Chandler Jones, New England
Khalil Mack, Oakland
J.J. Watt, Houston
Muhammad Wilkerson, New York Jets
INSIDE/MIDDLE LINEBACKERS (4)
NaVorro Bowman, San Francisco
Luke Kuechly, Carolina
Clay Matthews, Green Bay
Bobby Wagner, Seattle
CORNERBACKS (8)
* Malcolm Butler, New England
Chris Harris, Jr., Denver
* Josh Norman, Carolina
* Marcus Peters, Kansas City
Patrick Peterson, Arizona
Darrelle Revis, New York Jets
Richard Sherman, Seattle
Aqib Talib, Denver
INTERIOR LINEMEN (6)
Geno Atkins, Cincinnati
Calais Campbell, Arizona
Fletcher Cox, Philadelphia
Aaron Donald, St. Louis
Gerald McCoy, Tampa Bay
Kawann Short, Carolina / FREE SAFETIES (3)
Tyrann Mathieu, Arizona
Reggie Nelson, Cincinnati
Earl Thomas, Seattle
OUTSIDE LINEBACKERS (6)
Jamie Collins, New England
Thomas Davis, Carolina
Tamba Hali, Kansas City
Justin Houston, Kansas City
Von Miller, Denver
DeMarcus Ware, Denver
STRONG SAFETIES (3)
Eric Berry, Kansas City
Kam Chancellor, Seattle
———
SPECIALISTSPUNTERS (2)
Sam Koch, Baltimore
Johnny Hekker, St. Louis
RETURN SPECIALISTS (2)
Tyler Lockett, Seattle
Darren Sproles, Philadelphia
PLACEKICKERS (2)
Dan Bailey, Dallas
Stephen Gostkowski, New England
SPECIAL TEAMERS (2)
Justin Bethel, Arizona
Matthew Slater, New England