Minnesota Vikings quarterback DAUNTE CULPEPPER, with 325,383 votes, leads all NFL All-Stars in balloting for the 2005 Pro Bowl, NFL.com announced today. Sponsored by Ameriquest Mortgage, Pro Bowl voting will continue on NFL.com, in stadiums and via wireless text message through Sunday, December 19.
Indianapolis Colts quarterback PEYTON MANNING (310,236 votes), the NFL's leader in passing yards with 2,749 and touchdowns with 31, ranks second overall while Philadelphia Eagles quarterback DONOVAN MC NABB (300,503), Eagles wide receiver TERRELL OWENS (272,759) and New York Giants running back TIKI BARBER (260,568) round out the top five.
The teams will be announced at 7 p.m. (ET) Wednesday, Dec. 22 on the 2005 Pro Bowl Selection Show on ESPN. The Pro Bowl will be played in Hawaii on Sunday, February 13 and televised by ESPN at 7:30 p.m. (ET).
Fans can cast their Pro Bowl ballots and vote for their favorite quarterback, tight end, wide receiver, running back and kicker on NFL.com, in stadiums and via their wireless device. To participate, fans must send a message with the text "NFL VOTE" to 69847. Each completed ballot is packaged with exclusive NFL Shield wallpaper for $0.99.
Fans who vote for their Pro Bowl players will then be able to enter for a chance to win the Ameriquest Pro Bowl in Paradise Sweepstakes with a trip to the Pro Bowl. The Grand Prize includes an all expense paid trip to the game in Honolulu and includes exclusive experiences such as the chance to throw a football with a Pro Bowl player, a tour of Aloha Stadium, sideline passes at the game and more.
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 20-21.
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 15:
NFL ALL-STAR TOP-TEN VOTE-GETTERS
QB Daunte Culpepper, Vikings - 325,383
QB Peyton Manning, Colts - 310,236
QB Donovan McNabb, Eagles - 300,503
WR Terrell Owens, Eagles - 272,759
RB Tiki Barber, Giants - 260,568
RB Priest Holmes, Chiefs - 251,686
RB Shaun Alexander, Seahawks - 232,032
WR Randy Moss, Vikings - 220,854
QB Ben Roethlisberger, Steelers - 215,681
K David Akers, Eagles - 212,551
AFC LEADING VOTE-GETTERS
Offense
QB Peyton Manning, Colts - 310,236
RB Priest Holmes, Chiefs - 310,236
FB Jerald Sowell, Jets - 132,893
WR Marvin Harrison, Colts - 187,766
TE Tony Gonzalez, Chiefs - 200,476
T Jonathan Ogden, Ravens - 68,823
G Alan Faneca, Steelers - 75,237
C Kevin Mawae, Jets - 77,219
K Adam Vinatieri, Patriots - 107,046
KR B.J. Sams, Ravens - 44,619
Defense
DE John Abraham, Jets - 123,067
IL Marcus Stroud, Jaguars - 80,398
OLB Keith Bulluck, Titans - 47,598
ILB Ray Lewis, Ravens - 83,817
CB Champ Bailey, Broncos - 88,326
SS Ed Reed, Ravens - 58,798
FS John Lynch, Broncos - 39,787
P Shane Lechler, Raiders - 72,151
ST Larry Izzo, Patriots - 37,009
NFC LEADING VOTE-GETTERS
Offense
QB Daunte Culpepper, Vikings - 325,383
RB Tiki Barber, Giants - 260,568
FB Justin Griffith, Falcons - 94,783
WR Terrell Owens, Eagles - 272,759
TE Eric Johnson, 49ers - 151,286
T Orlando Pace, Rams - 58,267
G Larry Allen, Cowboys - 67,179
C Matt Birk, Vikings - 50,832
K David Akers, Eagles - 212,551
KR Eddie Drummond, Lions - 63,018
Defense
DE Charles Grant, Saints - 78,042
IL Shaun Rogers, Lions - 64,970
OLB Derrick Brooks, Buccaneers - 82,694
ILB Brian Urlacher, Bears - 91,707
CB Ken Lucas, Seahawks - 60,398
SS Adam Archuleta, Rams - 40,699
FS Darren Sharper, Packers - 63,207
P Mitch Berger, Saints - 68,246
ST Jeremiah Trotter, Eagles - 49,987
