Green Bay Packers quarterback BRETT FAVRE received 1,140,863 votes to lead all NFL All-Stars in balloting for the 2008 NFL Pro Bowl, NFL.com announced Thursday. Presented by Sprint, 2008 NFL Pro Bowl voting on NFL.com and on wireless phones with Sprint service ended on Tuesday, December 11.
There was a record 83.7 million votes cast on NFL.com and on wireless phones with Sprint service using more than 2,262,000 ballots. There were nearly 14 million more votes cast this year than last year.
New England Patriots quarterback TOM BRADY (1,037,608 votes) ranks second overall while Indianapolis Colts quarterback PEYTON MANNING (991,418 votes), Dallas Cowboys quarterback TONY ROMO (830,789 votes) and New England Patriots wide receiver RANDY MOSS (806,455 votes) round out the top five on NFL.com. TONY ROMO received the highest number of votes from voters using Sprint's service.
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 are casting 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.
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 cast their Pro Bowl ballot by sending the text message "PRO" to 7777 from a phone with Sprint wireless service and voting for their favorite players at select positions.
Fans who voted for their Pro Bowl players were 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.
Listed below are the top 10 offensive and defensive vote-getters, the top five rookie vote-getters and the players with the most votes at each position:
NFL ALL-STAR TOP VOTE-GETTERS
TOP TEN OFFENSIVE
QB Brett Favre, Packers -- 1,140,863
QB Tom Brady, Patriots -- 1,037,608
QB Peyton Manning, Colts -- 991,418
QB Tony Romo, Cowboys -- 830,789
WR Randy Moss, Patriots -- 806,455
RB Adrian Peterson, Vikings -- 753,294
WR Terrell Owens, Cowboys -- 700,779
RB Joseph Addai, Colts -- 698,484
RB LaDainian Tomlinson, Chargers -- 606,381
TE Jason Witten, Cowboys -- 596,867
**
TOP TEN DEFENSIVE
DE Dwight Freeney, Colts -- 413,999
CB Champ Bailey, Broncos -- 410,567
OLB DeMarcus Ware, Cowboys -- 385,031
OLB A.J. Hawk, Packers -- 355,420
DE Osi Umenyiora, Giants -- 350,148
CB Charles Woodson, Packers -- 348,063
OLB Shawne Merriman, Chargers -- 337,150
CB Al Harris, Packers -- 329,745
ILB Brian Urlacher, Bears -- 325,073
OLB Mike Vrabel, Patriots -- 321,742
**
NFL ALL-STAR TOP FIVE ROOKIE VOTE-GETTERS
RB Adrian Peterson, Vikings -- 753,294
K Nick Folk, Cowboys -- 263,635
T Tony Ugoh, Colts -- 187,802
K Mason Crosby, Packers -- 174,038
T Joe Thomas -- 166,599
**
NFC LEADING VOTE-GETTERS
Offense
QB Brett Favre, Packers -- 1,140,863
RB Adrian Peterson, Vikings -- 753,294
FB Tony Richardson, Vikings -- 204,168
WR Terrell Owens, Cowboys -- 700,779
TE Jason Witten, Cowboys -- 596,867
T Flozell Adams, Cowboys -- 370,073
G Leonard Davis, Cowboys -- 330,942
C Andre Gurode, Cowboys -- 321,511
K Nick Folk, Cowboys -- 263,635
KR Devin Hester, Bears -- 607,075
Defense
DE Osi Umenyiora, Giants -- 350,148
IL Tommie Harris, Bears -- 207,686
OLB DeMarcus Ware, Cowboys -- 385,031
ILB Brian Urlacher, Bears -- 325,073
CB Charles Woodson, Packers -- 348,063
SS Roy Williams, Cowboys -- 271,505
FS Sean Taylor, Redskins -- 258,544
P Mat McBriar, Cowboys -- 224,345
ST Brendon Ayanbadejo, Bears -- 226,962
**
AFC LEADING VOTE-GETTERS
Offense
QB Tom Brady, Patriots -- 1,037,608
RB Joseph Addai, Colts -- 698,484
FB Lorenzo Neal, Chargers -- 450,571
WR Randy Moss, Patriots -- 806,455
TE Antonio Gates, Chargers -- 465,239
T Matt Light, Patriots -- 430,981
G Eric Steinbach, Browns -- 450,284
C Jeff Saturday, Colts -- 379,438
K Adam Vinatieri, Colts -- 155,853
KR Joshua Cribbs, Browns -- 164,096
Defense
DE Dwight Freeney, Colts -- 413,999
IL Albert Haynesworth, Titans -- 261,260
OLB Shawne Merriman, Chargers -- 337,150
ILB Tedy Bruschi, Patriots -- 283,128
CB Champ Bailey, Broncos -- 410,567
SS Troy Polamalu, Steelers -- 301,341
FS Ed Reed, Ravens -- 287,611
P Chris Hanson, Patriots -- 125,272
ST Larry Izzo, Patriots -- 250,130
