Ellis added to Pro Bowl; Cowboys now send 13 to Pro Bowl

[Star-Telegram]

By CLARENCE E. HILL, JR.

IRVING -- A franchise-record tying 11 Cowboys were named to the Pro Bowl Tuesday.

Tight end Jason Witten, wide receiver Terrell Owens, guard Leonard Davis, tackle Flozell Adams, center Andre Gurode, linebacker DeMarcus Ware and kicker Nick Folk were named as starters.

The reserves are quarterback Tony Romo, safety Ken Hamlin, running back Marion Barber and cornerback Terence Newman.

The alternates are linebacker Greg Ellis, safety Roy Williams, punter Mat McBriar and special teams standout Keith Davis.

For the first time in four seasons, Williams did not make the Pro Bowl. Williams is second on the team in tackles with 107 and has two interceptions.

On Monday, Williams was suspended for one game without pay by the NFL for his third horse collar tackle of the season. He will appeal the suspension Wednesday.

Click here for full article from the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.

[Dallas Morning News]

IRVING – The Dallas Cowboys will match a team record Tuesday when 11 players are selected to play in the Pro Bowl, according to sources.

The 11 players are offensive tackle Flozell Adams, running back Marion Barber, guard Leonard Davis, kicker Nick Folk, center Andre Gurode, safety Ken Hamlin, cornerback Terence Newman, wide receiver Terrell Owens, quarterback Tony Romo, linebacker DeMarcus Ware and tight end Jason Witten.

Four Cowboys were picked as Pro Bowl alternates: linebacker Greg Ellis, safety Roy Williams, punter Mat McBriar and special teamer Keith Davis.

The official announcement is set for 3 p.m. (CT) and is being televised by the NFL Network.

The NFC will face the AFC in the Pro Bowl on Feb. 10 in Honolulu.

Click here for the full article from the Dallas Morning News.

[trademaster]

No Roy this year? Not that he deserves it, but hopefully he step up his game.

[Patronus]

Yep - Roy is going to have to settle for being an alternate this year.

He isn't the player that was a couple of years ago and his attitude about it mixed with the decline makes it very hard for me to like him.

[trademaster]

Im happy for Newman, he deserves it, and Im not one to wish any injuries on anyone, but hopefully Greg Ellis also makes it.

[Patronus]

I know what you mean. I wish Ellis had made the squad, but I'm guessing the games played had something to do with it. There are always guys who opt not to go so hopefully he'll get a chance to head to Hawaii if he wants.

[558561]

What shocks me is the fact that Romo did not get voted in over Favre as the starter. I am also shocked Marion Barber got in based on the fact he splits time with Jones.

[DallasCowboys.com]

IRVING, Texas - Disappointed doesn't accurately describe Greg Ellis' reaction when Cowboys head coach Wade Phillips announced the team's 11 Pro Bowl selections following Tuesday's walk-through practice.

But the veteran outside linebacker clearly was a little surprised to learn he wasn't heading to Hawaii for the first time in his 10-year career.

So were his teammates.

"Matter of fact, DeMarcus (Ware) said, 'Greg, I will guarantee you're going to make it. I bet you money you're going to make it,'" said Ellis, who ranks fifth in the NFC with a team-high 11½ sacks, just two off the lead. "These young guys have acted surprised that I've never made the Pro Bowl."

The Pro Bowl has narrowly eluded Ellis since he arrived as a first-round pick in 1998, but he might have made his strongest case for an NFC roster spot this season. Ellis has tallied a career-high sack total despite missing the first three games still rehabbing from last year's torn Achilles' injury.

"Outside linebacker/defensive guys, we're pretty much graded on how many sacks we get," Ellis said. "I don't see how a guy can be No. 1 at one of the major categories at his position and not be considered to be one of the best ones in the league.

"But disappointed? No, because it has happened to me before."

Click here for the full article from Dallas Cowboys.com.

[Dallas Morning News]

IRVING – The roars kept getting louder Tuesday as Wade Phillips read off the list of 11 Dallas Cowboys who were selected to the Pro Bowl.

Some of the names were expected, like wide receiver Terrell Owens, linebacker DeMarcus Ware, tight end Jason Witten, quarterback Tony Romo and guard Leonard Davis. Some of them were hoped, like center Andre Gurode, left tackle Flozell Adams, cornerback Terence Newman and safety Ken Hamlin. And some were surprises, like rookie kicker Nick Folk and running back Marion Barber, who has not started a game this season.

The pain from Sunday's 10-6 loss to Philadelphia, which left the Cowboys with less wiggle room over Green Bay in the race for home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs, seemed to dissipate with the announcements.

"We got our juices flowing again," Phillips said. "I just got a real feeling that we got back over losing a game. Boom, we're excited about our team, and our players were excited for each other."

It marked the third time in franchise history the Cowboys had 11 players selected to the Pro Bowl and first since 1994. With four first alternates, the Cowboys could surpass Miami's record of 12 Pro Bowlers in 1973.

Amid the hoopla, the players talked about putting the individual honors to rest as they head into the final two regular-season games. Home-field advantage would be a big lift for a team that has its sights set on Super Bowl XLII, which will be held Feb. 3 in Glendale, Ariz.

"These accolades come, and it's special, but it's bigger than that. It's about winning a Super Bowl," said Witten, who will make his fourth straight trip to Hawaii on Feb. 10. "It's kind of a tough time because you have that tough loss to Philadelphia the way we did, and you've got a bitter taste in your mouth. Saturday can't be here quick enough."

Greg Ellis, whose 11 ½ sacks are tied for most by an outside linebacker, said he couldn't understand why he was only named a first alternate.

"I don't see how a guy can be No. 1 at a major category at his position and not be selected," said Ellis, who missed the first three games as he recovered from a torn Achilles' tendon. "Disappointed? No, because it has happened to me before."

Safety Roy Williams' Pro Bowl streak was snapped at four, but he was named a first alternate. The Cowboys' other first alternates are special teams ace Keith Davis and punter Mat McBriar.

Linebacker Bradie James said he was "disappointed" that he was not even picked as an alternate.

Six of the Cowboys have made trips to Honolulu before. This will be Owens' sixth appearance, Witten's fourth, Adams' fourth, Gurode's second, Romo's second and Ware's second.

Davis is among those who will be going for the first time.

The No. 2 overall pick out of Texas in 2001, Davis was considered an underachiever during his time in Arizona. However, he has flourished in his first season with the Cowboys. The team's decision to give Davis a seven-year, $49.6 million contract in March that included a franchise-record $16 million signing bonus was criticized at the time.

"You can call it what you want to call it," a chuckling Davis said when asked if he felt vindicated. "I just came here to win some games, and the Pro Bowl is just a small measure of success. It's something you always want to get."

A second free-agent signing has also paid off for the Cowboys in Hamlin. His career nearly ended two years ago in Seattle when he suffered a fractured skull in an off-the-field altercation. This season, he has a career-high five interceptions and needs eight tackles in the final two games to set another career high.

Seven of the Cowboys' 11 Pro Bowl picks were drafted by the team, and Romo joined the club as an undrafted free agent. Like Davis and Hamlin, Owens was free-agent acquisitions.

"I'm definitely happy to finally go, and I'm very proud of the rest of my teammates who are going," said Newman, in his fifth season. "I think a lot of the credit has to go to the people who make us better in practice and the people who push and support us. Todd Bowles is my Pro Bowl coach, for sure."

Click here for the full article from the Dallas Morning News.

[Silver and Blue]

I was very happy to see Newman on the roster finally. He has been snubbed the last 2 years. I would like to have seen Greg Ellis make it. And, how about Barber making the Pro Bowl. He has gained a lot of respect.