Five Ravens Named to the Pro Bowl

The Baltimore Ravens will be well represented in the 2009 Pro Bowl Game in Hawaii with five players.

For the 10th time in his illustrious career, future Hall of Famer Ray Lewis has been voted to the Pro Bowl. He will be one of the members of the AFC starting defense with fellow teammate and a strong candidate for NFL Defensive Player of the Year, Ed Reed.  This will be Reed’s 6th appearance in the Pro Bowl in his Hall of Fame career.

Ravens franchise linebacker/defensive end Terrell Suggs has also made the pro bowl for the 4th time in his career.  Brendan Ayanbadejo will make his second pro bowl appearance in his career as a special teams players.

Also, for the first time, the work horse and the heart of the Ravens running game, “The Freight Train” Le’Ron McClain will make the trip to Hawaii to represent the Ravens as a fullback.

Notable snubs would be Haloti Ngata who has played out of his mind and showed great athleticism for a big man with his two interceptions.  Also, Sam Koch, who averages 44.8 yards per punt and has pinned opponents back inside the 20 yard line 31 times this year.

Congratulations to all of these pro bowlers who will be representing the home town team in Hawaii.

Here is the starting lineup for both pro bowl teams. Some I agree with, some I do not agree with. Players in parenthesis are the back-ups:

NFC:
Quarterback: Kurt Warner, ARI (Drew Brees, NO; Eli Manning, NYG)
Runningback: Adrian Peterson, MIN (Michael Turner, ATL, Clinton Portis, WAS)
Fullback: Mike Sellars, WAS
Wide Recievers: Larry Fitzgerald, ARZ; Anquan Boldin, ARZ (Steve Smith, CAR; Roddy White; ATL)
Tight End: Jason Witten, DAL (Chris Cooley, WAS)
Tackle: Jordan Gross, CAR; Walter Jones, SEA (Chris Samuels, WAS)
Center: Andre Gurode, DAL (Shaun O’Hara, NYG)
Guard: Steve Hutchinson, MINN; Chris Snee, NYG (Leonard Davis, DAL)
Defensive End: Julius Peppers, CAR; Justin Tuck, NYG (Jared Allen, MINN)
Defensive Tackle: Kevin Williams, MINN; Jay Ratliff, DAL (Pat Williams, MINN)
Outside Linebacker: DeMarcus Ware, DAL; Lance Briggs, CHI (Derrick Brooks, TB)
Inside Linebacker: Patrick Willis, SF (Jon Beason, CAR)
Cornerback: Charles Woodson, GB; Antoine Winfield, MINN (Asante Samuels, PHI)
Free Saftey: Nick Collins, GB (Brian Dawkins, PHI)
Stong Saftey: Adrian Wilson, ARZ
Punter: Jeff Feagles, NYG
Kicker: John Carney, NYG
Return Specalist: Clifton Smith, TB
Special Teamer: Sean Morey, ARZ

AFC:
Quarterback: Peyton Manning, IND (Brett Favre, NYJ; Jay Cutler, DEN)
Runningback: Thomas Jones, NYJ (Chris Johnson, TENN; Ronnie Brown, MIA)
Fullback: Le’Ron McClain, BAL
Wide Reciever: Andre Johnson, HOU; Brandon Marshall, DEN (Reggie Wayne, IND; Wes Welker, NE)
Tight End: Tony Gonzalez *huh?*, KC (Antonio Gates, SD)
Tackle: Joe Thomas, CLE; Jason Peters, BUF (Michael Roos, TENN)
Center: Kevin Mawae, TENN (Nick Mangold, NYJ)
Guard: Alan Fancea, NYJ; Kris Dielman, SD (Brian Water, KC)
Defensive End: Mario Williams, HOU; Dwight Freeney, IND (Robert Mathis, IND)
Defensive Tackle: Albert Haynesworth, TENN; Kris Jenkins *what?*, NYJ (Shaun Rodgers, CLE)
Outside Linebacker: James Harrison, PIT; Joey Porter, MIA (Terrell Suggs, BAL)
Inside Linebacker: Ray Lewis, BAL (James Farrior, PITT)
Cornerback: Nnamdi Asomugha, OAK; Cortland Finnegan, TENN (Darrelle Revis, NYJ)
Free Saftey: Ed Reed, BAL
Strong Saftey: Troy Polamalu, PIT (Chris Hope, TENN)
Punter: Shane Lechler, OAK
Kicker: Stephen Gostkowski, NE
Return Specalist: Leon Washington, NYJ
Special Teamer: Brendon Ayanbadejo, BAL