NEW YORK -- Donovan McNabb may be one of the leading
candidates for the NFL's MVP award. But the fans, players and
coaches who vote for the Pro Bowl consider him only the fourth-best
quarterback in the NFC.
The Philadelphia QB, who has been a one-man offense for a team
that is 10-5 and has clinched a playoff berth after going 8-24 the
past two seasons, was the most conspicuous absentee in the Pro Bowl
voting, announced Thursday.
|  | | Donovan McNabb didn't jump into the minds of enough voters. |
He finished as the first alternate behind Minnesota's Daunte
Culpepper San Francisco's Jeff Garcia and St. Louis' Kurt Warner.
Warner missed 5½ games with an injury and threw four interceptions
in his first game back, while Garcia, who's had a breakout year,
plays for a team that is 5-9.
"I think Donovan is the best quarterback in the league," said
Chad Lewis, the Eagles' little-known tight end, who made the NFC
team. "There's nobody I'd rather have playing. The other
quarterbacks had big numbers so I guess that held Donovan back, but
there's no doubt in my mind Donovan deserves to go."
Warner, the league and Super Bowl MVP last season, didn't seem
to have strong feelings.
"It was one of those things where I felt I played well when I
played," he said. "But if I didn't make it, I could understand
that as well."
McNabb's absence was one of several quirks in the Pro Bowl
voting, which annually has strange selections and absentees.
This time:
Mike Alstott, among an NFC-high eight Tampa Bay Buccaneers
selected (Tennessee led the AFC with eight), was chosen as the
fullback, even though he plays running back. Alstott also was
benched after a series of fumbles and missed the last three games
with a knee injury.
Carolina's Wesley Walls was voted the first alternate at tight
end in the NFC. He has missed most of the second half of the season
after undergoing major knee surgery.
Brian Griese of Denver was selected as one of the AFC
quarterbacks, along with Oakland's Rich Gannon, who will start, and
Indianapolis' Peyton Manning. Griese, who was having an outstanding
year, has been out since Nov. 13 with a shoulder separation and the
Broncos have won four straight with Gus Frerotte at quarterback.
There was one milestone: 39-year-old guard Bruce Matthews of
Tennessee made it for the 13th straight time, tying Reggie White
for the most appearances.
Another veteran, 35-year-old defensive end Trace Armstrong of
Miami, made it for the first time in his 12th NFL season.
Armstrong, who leads the NFL with 16½ sacks, will start for the AFC
even though he's been a third-down specialist for several years.
"This game thrills you every Sunday," said Armstrong, who is
president of the NFL Players Association. "This is the great
addiction. And then to get something like this is obviously a
tremendous feeling."
But there was a changing of the guard in other places.
Second-year-man Champ Bailey made the NFC team at cornerback
ahead of teammates Deion Sanders and Darrell Green, each of whom
has made it seven times. Dallas' Emmitt Smith, who last week became
the third running back ever go rush for more than 15,000 yards,
also missed out to Minnesota's Robert Smith, St. Louis' Marshall
Faulk, and San Francisco's Charlie Garner.
Five teams do not have players in the game, to be played Feb. 4
in Honolulu: Atlanta and Chicago in the NFC; Cleveland, Seattle and
New England in the AFC.
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ALSO SEE
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AFC Pro Bowl squad
NFC Pro Bowl squad
Users sound off on Pro Bowl picks
Moss, Culpepper garner most fan votes for Pro Bowl
AthletesDirect: Eddie George's official Web site
AthletesDirect: Emmitt Smith's official Web site
AthletesDirect: Peyton Manning's official Web site
AthletesDirect: Edgerrin James' official Web site
VIDEO
  Minnesota's Daunte Culpepper comments on being selected as the NFC QB in the Pro Bowl. wav: 227 kRealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6 Kansas City's Tony Gonzalez is excited to be selected as the starting AFC tight end in the Pro Bowl. wav: 178 kRealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6 |
