Broncos' Manning leads Pro Bowl picks
NEW YORK - Agence France-Presse
Denver Broncos' Peyton Manning (L) throws under pressure from Cleveland Browns' Jabaal Sheard (R) during their NFL football game in Denver, Colorado December 23, 2012. REUTERS photo
Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning earned American Conference starting honors for the NFL Pro Bowl all-star game Wednesday, with Green Bay's Aaron Rodgers getting the National Conference nod.The AFC and NFC are scheduled to clash in the post-season exhibition in Honolulu on January 27.
That's a week before the Super Bowl decides the NFL championship, so players from the teams who reach the title game won't participate.
The San Francisco 49ers led all teams with nine selections, followed by the Houston Texans with eight.
Among the Houston players selected was quarterback Matt Schaub, who will join the Patriots' Tom Brady as the other signal-callers on the AFC roster.
Atlanta's Matt Ryan and rookie quarterback sensation Robert Griffin III of Washington will serve as NFC reserves.
Manning received his 12th Pro Bowl selection, a testament to the success of his comeback with Denver after he missed all of 2011 for the Indianapolis Colts recovering from a series of neck surgeries.
The Colts, where Manning played for his first 14 NFL seasons, let him go last off-season and he was snapped up by Denver.
He has helped the Broncos win the AFC West division, throwing for 4,355 yards and 34 touchdowns, and Denver head into their season finale against Kansas City this weekend on a 10-game winning streak.
Rodgers, the 2011 NFL MVP, is bound for his third Pro Bowl after throwing for 3,930 yards and 35 touchdowns with just eight interceptions.
Among the notable names who didn't get the nod in voting by players, coaches and fans was rookie quarterback Andrew Luck -- Mannings' successor at Indianapolis.
Seattle's rookie signal-caller Russell Wilson also did not get voted in, although he, like Luck, has guided his team to a playoff berth.
Griffin and the Redskins were heading into the final weekend of the season still fighting for a berth and facing division rivals Dallas in their season finale.
