35 MILLION VOTES CAST ON MORE THAN 873,000 BALLOTS
Green Bay Packers quarterback BRETT FAVRE, with 458,837 votes, leads all NFL All-Stars in balloting for the 2008 Pro Bowl, NFL.com announced Thursday. 2008 Pro Bowl voting will continue on NFL.com and on wireless phones with Sprint service through Tuesday, December 11.
There have been 35 million votes cast on NFL.com and on wireless phones with Sprint service using more than 873,000 ballots.
Indianapolis Colts quarterback PEYTON MANNING (441,852 votes) ranks second overall while, New England Patriots quarterback TOM BRADY (440,354 votes), New England Patriots wide receiver RANDY MOSS (342,250 votes) and Dallas Cowboys quarterback TONY ROMO (319,959 votes) round out the top five on NFL.com. TONY ROMO received the highest number of votes from voters using Sprint's service.
The teams will be announced at 4 p.m. (ET) Tuesday, December 18 on a special NFL Total Access 2008 NFL Pro Bowl Selection Show on NFL Network. The Pro Bowl will be played at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu, Hawaii on Sunday, February 10 and will be televised by FOX.
In addition to casting ballots on NFL.com/probowl, fans can cast their Pro Bowl ballot by sending the text message "PRO" to 7777 from a phone with Sprint wireless service to vote for their favorite players at select positions. Standard text messaging and data rates apply.
Fans who vote for their Pro Bowl players will then be able to enter for a chance to win a trip to Hawaii to attend the NFL Pro Bowl in the 2008 NFL Pro Bowl Sweepstakes sponsored by Sprint. The Grand Prize includes an all-expense paid 5-day, 4-night trip for the winner and one guest to the 2008 NFL Pro Bowl in Honolulu. In addition to air transportation, ground transportation, hotel accommodations and two game tickets, the winner and guests will experience an insider tour of the sidelines and locker room at Aloha Stadium. There is no purchase necessary to enter or win. See NFL.com for details and official rules.
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 December 13-14.
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 overall All-Star vote-getters and the players with the most votes at each position through November 13:
NFL ALL-STAR TOP-TEN VOTE-GETTERS
QB Brett Favre -- 458,837
QB Peyton Manning -- 441,852
QB Tom Brady -- 440,354
WR Randy Moss -- 342,250
QB Tony Romo -- 319,959
RB Adrian Peterson -- 317,388
RB Joseph Addai -- 297,504
RB LaDainian Tomlinson -- 261,259
WR Terrell Owens -- 255,490
KR Devin Hester -- 249,212
**
NFC LEADING VOTE-GETTERS
Offense
QB Brett Favre, Packers -- 458,837
RB Adrian Peterson, Vikings -- 317,388
FB Tony Richardson, Vikings -- 79,499
WR Terrell Owens, Cowboys -- 255,490
TE Jason Witten, Cowboys -- 238,598
T Flozell Adams, Cowboys -- 138,986
G Leonard Davis, Cowboys -- 124,316
C Andre Gurode, Cowboys -- 121,462
K Nick Folk, Cowboys -- 107,372
KR Devin Hester, Bears -- 249,212
Defense
DE Osi Umenyiora, Giants -- 166,529
IL Tommie Harris, Bears -- 96,227
OLB DeMarcus Ware, Cowboys -- 151,589
ILB Nick Barnett, Packers -- 96,140
CB Charles Woodson, Packers -- 137,925
SS Roy Williams, Cowboys -- 108,450
FS Sean Taylor, Redskins -- 93,639
P Mat McBriar, Cowboys -- 85,609
ST Keith Davis, Cowboys -- 70,490
**
AFC LEADING VOTE-GETTERS
Offense
QB Peyton Manning, Colts -- 441,852
RB Joseph Addai, Colts -- 297,504
FB Lorenzo Neal, Chargers -- 194,880
WR Randy Moss, Patriots -- 342,250
TE Antonio Gates, Chargers -- 199,593
T Matt Light, Patriots -- 179,054
G Eric Steinbach, Browns -- 188,052
C Jeff Saturday, Colts -- 168,502
K Adam Vinatieri, Colts -- 82,922
KR Wes Welker, Patriots -- 69,590
Defense
DE Dwight Freeney, Colts -- 209,272
IL Vince Wilfork, Patriots -- 100,032
OLB Shawne Merriman, Chargers -- 148,287
ILB Tedy Bruschi, Patriots -- 121,099
CB Champ Bailey, Broncos -- 183,109
SS Troy Polamalu, Steelers -- 134,868
FS Ed Reed, Ravens -- 110, 412
P Chris Hanson, Patriots -- 52,131
ST Larry Izzo, Patriots -- 105,147
