Six Rams, One Raider Pro Bowl-Bound
Six Rams and one Raider were named to the Pro Bowl today, and the Minnesota Vikings led the selections with seven players honored.
The Vikings, who had nine players in the Pro Bowl last season, led this year’s selections despite a disappointing season in which their playoff chances are still in doubt going into the final weekend.
And Cincinnati, which is only 8-7 and in danger of missing the playoffs, led the AFC squad with six players for the game, to be played at Honolulu Feb. 4.
The Rams named to the NFC squad are wide receiver Henry Ellard; offensive linemen Jackie Slater, Tom Newberry and Doug Smith; outside linebacker Kevin Greene and cornerback Jerry Gray.
Defensive end Howie Long was the only Raider named to the AFC squad.
The Vikings (9-6), who need a win over the Bengals Monday night or a Green Bay loss to Dallas Sunday to clinch the NFC Central, will have six starters--defensive end Chris Doleman, defensive tackle Keith Millard, cornerback Carl Lee, safety Joey Browner, tackle Gary Zimmerman and guard Randall McDaniel. Tight end Steve Jordan made it as a backup.
The Bengals’ contingent is led by tackle Anthony Munoz, the first offensive lineman ever to play in nine straight Pro Bowls. Three other Bengals will start--running back James Brooks, tight end Rodney Holman and safety David Fulcher, while quarterback Boomer Esiason and guard Max Montoya are backups.
San Francisco, which has clinched the NFC West and home field advantage in the playoffs with a 13-2 mark, placed six players on the team, including quarterback Joe Montana.
Denver (11-4), which has won the AFC West and will have home field throughout the playoffs, got four onto the squad--safety Dennis Smith, linebacker Karl Mecklenburg, nose tackle Greg Kragen and kicker David Treadwell.
But the New York Giants, who lead the NFC East and have the NFC’s second-best record, had only two--linebacker Lawrence Taylor and kick returner David Meggett. For Taylor, it was his ninth Pro Bowl selection in nine seasons, tying a record for most appearances held by seven others, including Munoz.
Meggett, a fifth-round draft pick from Towson State who has had three touchdown runs of 50 or more yards with short passes, was one of two rookies named to the NFC team. The other was Detroit’s Barry Sanders, last year’s Heisman Trophy winner, who will start at running back.
Derrick Thomas of Kansas City, who will start at outside linebacker, is the only rookie on the AFC team.
Here are the teams (the first two at two-player position are starters, the others backups; the first at one-player positions are starters, the others backups. One additional “wild-card” player will be named and will be a linebacker unless the coach can determine a greater need exists):
AFC
Wide receivers: Andre Reed, Buffalo; Webster Slaughter, Cleveland; Anthony Miller, San Diego; Brian Blades, Seattle.
Tight ends: Rodney Holman, Cincinnati; Ferrell Edmunds, Miami.
Tackles: Anthony Munoz, Cincinnati; Chris Hinton, Indianapolis; Tunch Ilkin, Pittsburgh.
Guards: Mike Munchak and Bruce Matthews, Houston; Max Montoya, Cincinnati.
Centers: Ray Donaldson, Indianapolis; Kent Hull, Buffalo.
Quarterbacks: Warren Moon, Houston; Boomer Esiason, Cincinnati.
Running backs: Christian Okoye, Kansas City; James Brooks, Cincinnati; Thurman Thomas, Buffalo; Eric Dickerson, Indianapolis.
Defensive ends: Bruce Smith, Buffalo; Lee Williams, San Diego; Howie Long, Raiders.
Interior linemen: Michael Dean Perry, Cleveland; Greg Kragen, Denver.
Outside linebackers: Derrick Thomas, Kansas City; Clay Matthews, Cleveland; Leslie O’Neal, San Diego.
Inside linebackers: Karl Mecklenburg, Denver; John Offerdahl, Miami; Shane Conlan, Buffalo.
Cornerbacks: Albert Lewis, Kansas City; Frank Minnifield, Cleveland; Kevin Ross, Kansas City.
Safeties: David Fulcher, Cincinnati; Erik McMillan, New York Jets; Dennis Smith, Denver.
Punter: Reggie Roby, Miami.
Kicker: David Treadwell, Denver.
Kick returner: Rod Woodson, Pittsburgh.
Special teams player; Rufus Porter, Seattle.
NFC
Wide Receivers--Jerry Rice, San Francisco; Sterling Sharpe, Green Bay; Henry Ellard, Rams; John Taylor, San Francisco.
Tight Ends: Keith Jackson, Philadelphia; Steve Jordan, Minnesota.
Tackles: Gary Zimmerman, Minnesota; Jackie Slater, Rams; Luis Sharpe, Phoenix.
Guards: Randall McDaniel Minnesota; Tom Newberry, Rams; Guy McIntyre, San Francisco.
Centers: Jay Hilgenberg, Chicago; Doug Smith, Rams.
Quarterbacks: Joe Montana, San Francisco; Don Majkowski, Green Bay.
Running Backs: Barry Sanders, Detroit; Neal Anderson, Chicago; Dalton Hilliard, New Orleans; Roger Craig, San Francisco.
Defensive ends: Chris Doleman, Minnesota; Reggie White, Philadelphia; Charles Mann, Washington.
Interior linemen: Keith Millard, Minnesota; Jerry Ball, Detroit.
Outside linebackers: Tim Harris, Green Bay; Lawrence Taylor, N.Y. Giants; Kevin Greene, Rams.
Cornerbacks: Jerry Gray, Rams; Carl Lee, Minnesota; Eric Allen, Philadelphia.
Safeties: Joey Browner, Minnesota; Ronnie Lott, San Francisco; Tim McDonald, Phoenix.
Punter: Rich Camarillo, Phoenix.
Place kicker: Eddie Murray, Detroit.
Kick returner: David Meggett, N.Y. Giants.
Special teams Player: Ron Wolfley, Phoenix.