Green Bay Packers tight end Bubba Franks has been named to the National Football Conference squad for the Pro Bowl, replacing injured tight end Jeremy Shockey of the New York Giants, the National Football League announced Tuesday.
Shockey withdrew because of season-ending knee injury suffered Nov. 9.
Franks, an elected starter for the NFC squad each of the past two years, had been named a first alternate at the position in last month's Pro Bowl voting. A standout blocker, the 6-6, 263-pound former Miami Hurricane caught 30 passes for 241 yards, an 8.0-yard average, and 4 touchdowns during the regular season and added 3 catches for 39 yards and 1 touchdown in the playoffs.
"I'm very happy to have the opportunity to represent the Packers in Hawaii," Franks said. "It's an honor to be voted in by your fellow peers, people you kind of look up to sometimes, so it's a definitely an honor."
The fourth-year professional was named to the NFC Pro Bowl squad for the first time following the 2001 season, in which he led all NFL tight ends with 9 touchdown receptions, and again following the '02 season, when he led all NFC tight ends with 7 TD catches.
Franks is due to join three Packers teammates -- quarterback Brett Favre, running back Ahman Green and guard Marco Rivera -- on the NFC all-star squad.
"I really enjoy the fans (at the Pro Bowl)," Franks said. "They really take it serious. There's a lot of autographs to sign and it's all for the fans, so I'm excited about it."
The AFC-NFC Pro Bowl will be played in Honolulu, Hawaii, Sunday, Feb. 8.
