NFL notebook: Six Hawks go Bowling
Early February trips to Hawaii are old habit for Seattle’s Lofa Tatupu, Julian Peterson and especially Walter Jones.
They’ll have plenty of advice for Marcus Trufant. Six Seahawks were named to the NFC roster for the Pro Bowl on Tuesday, including Washington State University product Trufant, who will make his first trip and start at cornerback.
Accompanying those four will be defensive end Patrick Kerney, the NFL leader in sacks, and quarterback Matt Hasselbeck, having the best season of his career. All but Hasselbeck will be starters in the Feb. 10 all-star event.
Seattle’s six selections were third in the NFC behind Dallas (11) and Minnesota (seven).
Kerney leads the league in sacks with 13 1/2. Peterson has added nine sacks from his outside linebacker position. Meanwhile, Trufant is second in the NFC in interceptions with seven.
Of Seattle’s selections, Hasselbeck may be having the best season – throwing for 3,620 yards and 25 touchdowns – but will play behind Green Bay’s Brett Favre and Dallas’ Tony Romo.
Dallas’ starters on the NFC team include wide receiver Terrell Owens, tackle Flozell Adams, guard Leonard Davis, center Andre Gurode, tight end Jason Witten and outside linebacker DeMarcus Ware.
Slain Washington Redskins star Sean Taylor was named the starting free safety by voters, honoring him for his outstanding season leading up to his Nov. 27 murder.
Other offensive starters on the NFC squad included Arizona receiver Larry Fitzgerald, Minnesota guard Steve Hutchinson, Minnesota fullback Tony Richardson and Vikings rookie running back Adrian Peterson.
Defensive starters include Green Bay’s Aaron Kampman at end, Minnesota’s Kevin Williams and Pat Williams at the tackles, Green Bay’s cornerback Al Harris and Minnesota strong safety Darren Sharper.
For the AFC, San Diego and New England each had eight named.
For New England, Tom Brady starts at quarterback, Randy Moss starts at wide receiver, and on the offensive line Matt Light (T) and Logan Mankins (G) start. New England’s defensive starters are tackle Vince Wilfork, outside linebacker Mike Vrabel and cornerback Asante Samuel.
San Diego’s offensive starters included tight end Antonio Gates, running back LaDainian Tomlinson and full back Lorenzo Neal.
The remaining AFC offensive starters are Indianapolis wideout Reggie Wayne, Buffalo tackle Jason Peters, Pittsburgh guard Alan Faneca and Indianapolis center Jeff Saturday.
Kansas City defensive end Jared Allen, Tennessee end Kyle Vanden Bosch, defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth, Pittsburgh outside linebacker James Harrison, Houston middle linebacker DeMeco Ryans, Denver cornerback Champ Bailey, Baltimore free safety Ed Reed and Indianapolis strong safety Bob Sanders round out the starting AFC defensive unit.
Around the league
Denver released punter Todd Sauerbrun, bringing in his training camp rival Paul Ernster to replace him. Denver wide receiver Brandon Marshall also pleaded not guilty to driving under the influence. … Steve Smith (illness) and Julius Peppers (knee), missed practice for Carolina. … Roddy White and four other Atlanta Falcons were fined for violating uniform regulations with tributes to Michael Vick during last week’s Monday night game. … Bill Parcells is considering an offer to become Atlanta’s vice president of football operations, a role that would put him in charge of finding the team’s next coach.