Niners, Cowboys Combine Talents As Nfl Stars Converge On Pro Bowl

Now the 49ers and Cowboys get to gang up on the AFC.

Generally conceded to be the NFL’s two best teams, San Francisco and Dallas also dominate the NFC roster for today’s Pro Bowl.

That presents scenarios such as the 49ers’ Steve Young heading off to the NFC bench and the AFC defense sighing in relief, only to see the Cowboys’ Troy Aikman trot on to replace him.

“It’s a great team,” said coach Barry Switzer, who along with his Dallas assistants comprise the NFC staff. “But of course the AFC also has a great team.”

Dallas will have the most players in the game, 10. Eleven Cowboys were voted onto the all-star squad, but injured running back Emmitt Smith isn’t playing.

The 49ers had nine players selected in the three-way balloting by fans and the league’s coaches and players.

The AFC, which hasn’t won a Super Bowl since the Los Angeles Raiders did it in 1984, has matched up well with the NFC in the Pro Bowl during that span.

The AFC has won five of the last 11 games, although the NFC won 17-3 a year ago and leads the series 14-10. AFC coach Bill Cowher, like Switzer, is making his Pro Bowl debut.

The AFC quarterback corps will counter the NFC trio of Young, Aikman and Warren Moon of Minnesota with an impressive threesome of its own - Denver’s John Elway, New England’s Drew Bledsoe and the Los Angeles Raiders’ Jeff Hostetler. Miami’s Dan Marino was voted in as the starter, but Marino is ailing and was replaced by Hostetler.