RECORD 61 MILLION ALL-STAR VOTES CAST ON NFL.COM
Packers linebacker Nick Barnett, wide receiver/kick returner Robert Ferguson and fullback William Henderson are among the leading vote-getters for the 2005 Pro Bowl, NFL.com announced Monday.
Indianapolis Colts quarterback PEYTON MANNING received a record 1,075,089 votes to lead all NFL All-Stars in balloting. Sponsored by Ameriquest Mortgage, Pro Bowl voting on NFL.com, in stadiums and via wireless text message ended on Friday, December 17.
There were a record 61 million votes cast on NFL.com - an 11 percent increase over the 55 million cast last year.
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback DONOVAN MC NABB (993,530 votes) ranked second overall while Minnesota Vikings quarterback DAUNTE CULPEPPER (902,877), Eagles wide receiver TERRELL OWENS (900,220) and Seattle Seahawks running back SHAUN ALEXANDER (804,172) completed the top five. Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback BEN ROETHLISBERGER (690,306) led all rookies and finished tenth overall.
The AFC and NFC All-Star teams will be announced at 7 p.m. (ET) Wednesday, December 22 on the 2005 Pro Bowl Selection Show on ESPN. The Pro Bowl will be played in Hawaii on Sunday, February 13 and televised by ESPN at 7:30 p.m. (ET).
In addition to casting ballots on NFL.com and in stadiums, fans cast their Pro Bowl ballot and voted for their favorite quarterback, tight end, wide receiver, running back and kicker via their wireless device. To participate, fans sent a message with the text "NFL VOTE" to 69847.
Fans who voted for their Pro Bowl players were able to enter for a chance to win the Ameriquest Pro Bowl in Paradise Sweepstakes with a trip to the Pro Bowl. The Grand Prize includes an all-expense paid trip to the game in Honolulu and includes exclusive experiences such as the chance to throw a football with a Pro Bowl player, a tour of Aloha Stadium, sideline passes at the game and more.
The AFC and NFC All-Star squads are made up of the consensus votes of fans, players and coaches. Each group's vote counts one-third towards determining the 43-man rosters that represent the American Football Conference and National Football Conference in the Pro Bowl. NFL players and coaches will cast their votes on December 20-21.
The NFL is the only sports league that combines voting by fans, coaches and players to determine its all-star teams. It was the first professional sports league to offer online all-star voting in 1995.
Listed below are the top 10 offensive and defensive vote-getters, the top five rookie vote-getters and the players with the most votes at each position:
NFL ALL-STAR TOP-10 OFFENSIVE & DEFENSIVE VOTE-GETTERS
TOP-TEN OFFENSIVE
QB Peyton Manning, Colts - 1,075,089
QB Donovan McNabb, Eagles - 993,530
QB Daunte Culpepper, Vikings - 902,877
WR Terrell Owens, Eagles - 900,220
RB Shaun Alexander, Seahawks - 804,172
RB Tiki Barber, Giants - 792,163
WR Marvin Harrison, Colts - 722,477
TE Antonio Gates, Chargers - 705,751
TE Tony Gonzalez, Chiefs - 703,124
QB Ben Roethlisberger, Steelers - 690,306
TOP-TEN DEFENSIVE
DE John Abraham, Jets - 368,514
ILB Ray Lewis, Ravens - 281,341
OLB Derrick Brooks, Buccaneers - 272,842
ILB Brian Urlacher, Bears - 272,159
CB Champ Bailey, Broncos - 263,863
ILB Nick Barnett, Packers - 237,079
SS Ed Reed, Ravens - 219,067
DE Patrick Kerney, Falcons - 203,484
DE Jevon Kearse, Eagles - 197,310
DE Dwight Freeney, Colts - 195,572
NFL ALL-STAR TOP-FIVE ROOKIE VOTE-GETTERS
QB Ben Roethlisberger, Steelers - 690,306
WR Roy Williams, Lions - 158,967
FB Chris Cooley, Redskins - 150,600
CB Dunta Robinson, Texans - 122,177
RB/KR B.J. Sams, Ravens - 86,068
AFC LEADING VOTE-GETTERS BY POSITION
Offense
QB Peyton Manning, Colts - 1,075,089
RB Curtis Martin, Jets - 587,444
FB Jerald Sowell, Jets - 332,742
WR Marvin Harrison, Colts - 722,477
TE Antonio Gates, Chargers - 705,751
T Jonathan Ogden, Ravens - 190,876
G Alan Faneca, Steelers - 238,993
C Kevin Mawae, Jets - 206,565
K Adam Vinatieri, Patriots - 512,102
KR Terrence McGee, Bills - 163,857
Defense
DE John Abraham, Jets - 368,514
IL Marcus Stroud, Jaguars - 182,436
OLB Keith Bulluck, Titans - 191,749
ILB Ray Lewis, Ravens - 281,341
CB Champ Bailey, Broncos -263,863
SS Ed Reed, Ravens - 219,067
FS John Lynch, Broncos - 119,680
P Shane Lechler, Raiders - 251,192
ST Larry Izzo, Patriots - 115,837
NFC LEADING VOTE-GETTERS BY POSITION
Offense
QB Donovan McNabb, Eagles - 993,530
RB Shaun Alexander, Seahawks - 804,172
FB William Henderson, Packers - 221,421
WR Terrell Owens, Eagles - 900,220
TE Alge Crumpler, Falcons - 573,769
T Orlando Pace, Rams - 164,254
G Larry Allen, Cowboys - 198,026
C Hank Fraley, Eagles - 157,320
K David Akers, Eagles - 680,644
KR Eddie Drummond, Lions - 315,936
Defense
DE Patrick Kerney, Falcons - 203,484
IL Kevin Williams, Minnesota - 185,509
OLB Derrick Brooks, Buccaneers - 272,842
ILB Brian Urlacher, Bears - 272,159
CB Lito Sheppard, Eagles - 186,029
SS Michael Lewis, Eagles - 101,947
FS Brian Dawkins, Eagles - 176,798
P Mitch Berger, Saints - 214,896
ST Robert Ferguson, Packers - 112,932
