Fan balloting for the 2004 Pro Bowl, the NFL's annual All-Star Game, begins October 29, the NFL announced Wednesday.
This year, fans can vote online at NFL.com, in-store at select AT&T Wireless stores nationwide and via AT&T Wireless text messaging with a Motorola or other text messaging capable handset.
Fans may vote on the NFL's website, NFL.com, to help select the AFC and NFC All-Star Teams.
Sponsored by Motorola and AT&T Wireless, online balloting for the Pro Bowl to be played in Hawaii on Sunday, February 8 at 7:30 p.m. (ET), will conclude Friday, December 12.
This season fans can also cast their Pro Bowl ballots through November 30 at more than 1,000 AT&T Wireless stores nationwide.
And for those on the go, Motorola and AT&T Wireless will offer "TEXTdown" wireless balloting, giving fans the option to vote on their Motorola handsets via AT&T Wireless service for their favorite players in the quarterback, running back, wide receiver, defensive end, outside linebacker and cornerback positions.
All fans voting through "TEXTdown" and at participating AT&T Wireless stores will be automatically entered for a chance to win one of four trips for two to the Pro Bowl in Motorola's "Hawaiian Vacation" sweepstakes.
The winners will be announced December 18 on the 2004 Pro Bowl Selection Show on ESPN. No purchase is necessary to enter the sweepstakes, restrictions apply. For complete details and official rules, visit www.motorola.com/probowl.
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 15-16.
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.
Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre topped all players in fan voting last season, while Kansas City Chiefs running back Priest Holmes was the fans' top AFC choice.
The 2004 Pro Bowl Selection Show will be televised on ESPN on Thursday, December 18. The network will provide live coverage of the 25th Pro Bowl game in Hawaii.
Following is a breakdown of positions and corresponding number of players who will be selected in each conference (43 per conference):
OFFENSE
Wide Receivers (4)
Tight Ends (2)
Tackles (3)
Guards (3)
Centers (2)
Quarterbacks (3)
Running Backs (3)
Fullback (1)
DEFENSE
Ends (3)
Interior Linemen (3)
Outside Linebackers (3)
Inside Linebackers (2)
Cornerbacks (3)
Safeties (3)
Need Player (1-Coach's Choice)
SPECIAL TEAMS
Punter (1)
Placekicker (1)
Kick Returner (1)
Special Teamer (1)
