5 Rams, 1 Raider Named to Pro Bowl Teams

The Rams, who have placed more players in the Pro Bowl than any other National Football League team in the 1980s, added five more to the list Wednesday when the teams were announced.

Representing the Rams on the National Football Conference team in the game Jan. 29 at Honolulu will be tackle Jackie Slater and center Doug Smith, both for the fourth time; cornerback Jerry Gray for the third; wide receiver Henry Ellard for the second, and guard Tom Newberry for the first.

Only one Raider was selected, rookie kick returner-wide receiver Tim Brown, who was named to the American Football Conference team. Brown has returned 34 kickoffs for 943 yards and a touchdown, and 49 punts for 444 yards.

Ellard was the least surprising of the Ram choices. He ranks second in the NFC with 80 catches and leads the conference with 1,340 receiving yards.

More interesting was the omission of tailback Greg Bell. He is the NFL’s fourth-leading rusher with 1,124 yards and leads the league with 17 touchdowns.

The NFC backs chosen were San Francisco’s Roger Craig, Dallas’ Herschel Walker, Chicago’s Neal Anderson and Atlanta’s John Settle.

Quarterback Jim Everett also did not make the NFC squad, despite leading the conference in touchdown passes, 27, and yardage, 3,763. The NFC quarterbacks are Minnesota’s Wade Wilson and Philadelphia’s Randall Cunningham.

The Pro Bowl teams are selected by NFL players and coaches.

The Rams have placed 46 players in the Pro Bowl since 1980. San Francisco ranks second with 43 players selected.