Pro Bowl Rosters Take On Local Flavor

Two Spokane placekickers will start opposite one another in the Pro Bowl next month - and two Apple Cup rivals will be back on the same team.

Spokane’s contributions are Jason Hanson of Detroit and Mike Hollis of Jacksonville, two placekickers who honed their skills in the Greater Spokane League (for Mead and Central Valley, respectively) before moving on to college careers at Washington State and Idaho.

Both were first-time selections, and Hanson was one of three former Cougars named to the game.

New England quarterback Drew Bledsoe was named as an AFC backup, as was Kansas City cornerback James Hasty, another first-timer.

Joining Bledsoe as an AFC backup to Denver’s John Elway will be Jacksonville quarterback Mark Brunell, who played against Bledsoe in the 1992 Apple Cup for Washington. One other former Husky was selected, guard Kevin Gogan of San Francisco as an NFC backup.

Those selections, as rosters were announced Thursday, give the National Football League’s annual all-star game in Honolulu a decidedly Washington flavor, though there will be other flavors as well.

Like Tampa Bay.

The once lowly Buccaneers topped all teams with seven Pro Bowl selections, though only one - linebacker Hardy Nickerson - will start. Even defending Super Bowl champion Green Bay managed just six selections.

The Seattle Seahawks will be represented by two defensive standouts. Free safety Darryl Williams was voted in as a starter and defensive end Michael Sinclair is on the squad as a reserve.

In all, the Feb. 11 game will feature 25 first-time picks - including 10 starters and five specialists. That means Reggie White, playing in his record-setting 11th Pro Bowl, might not recognize many of the players.

“It is definitely an honor to be picked, but to be picked 12 straight years is an extreme honor and I really appreciate it,” said the NFL’s career sacks leader, who missed the 1994 game with an injury. There were some games that I had that were great games and there were some games that weren’t great. That happens every year. I wouldn’t say this was one of my better years, but it’s been a good year for me.”

Among those chosen for the first time in the balloting by fans, players and coaches were Tampa Bay running back Warrick Dunn, the only rookie in the game, and teammates Warren Sapp (defensive end), Mike Alstott (fullback), Derrick Brooks (linebacker), Trent Dilfer (quarterback) and Tony Mayberry (center).

“If the team didn’t have the success, individuals wouldn’t get noticed,” Mayberry said. “The success of the team, the cohesion of the team is what allowed the players to get noticed. And nobody here will forget that.”

The Packers had six players selected, including White and fellow starters Brett Favre at quarterback, Dorsey Levens at running back and LeRoy Butler at strong safety. The other Packers were tight end Mark Chmura and special teams player Travis Jervey.

San Francisco and Dallas each had five players, but only two starters each: defensive end Dana Stubblefield and free safety Merton Hanks for the 49ers, cornerback Deion Sanders and guard Larry Allen for the Cowboys. None are newcomers.

The AFC has 13 first-timers, including starters Ted Washington of Buffalo and Joel Steed of Pittsburgh at defensive tackle; linebacker Chris Slade of New England; tackle Jonathan Ogden of Baltimore; cornerback Aaron Glenn of the New York Jets; and Seattle’s Williams.

“I am very surprised,” said Glenn, whose strong play was overlooked when the team was at the bottom of the league. “I wasn’t expecting to be the one to go. I think winning helps. With Bill (Parcells) here, and with the attitude he brought here, and the winning, we got helped a lot.”

Six members of the Chiefs and Steelers made the AFC squad. Along with Steed, the Steelers were starters Dermontti Dawson at center, receiver Yancey Thigpen, Jerome Bettis at running back, Levon Kirkland at linebacker and Carnell Lake at strong safety.

Starting from the Chiefs will be cornerback Dale Carter and guard Will Shields, with cornerback James Hasty, linebacker Derrick Thomas, fullback Kimble Anders and receiver Andre Rison as reserves.

Denver has starters Elway at quarterback, Terrell Davis at running back, Shannon Sharpe at tight end and Neil Smith at defensive end among its five selections.

Jacksonville and New England also had five players selected.

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