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Thursday, January 24, 2008

Brett Favre to NOT Start In the 2008 Pro Bowl

For those who watch the Pro Bowl after the Super Bowl....there have been major changes to the rosters.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jeff Garcia, Buffalo Bills defensive end Aaron Schobel, Arizona Cardinals defensive tackle Darnell Dockett, Philadelphia Eagles defensive end Trent Cole and Washington Redskins long snapper Ethan Albright are going to the Pro Bowl.

Garcia will replace Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre on the NFC roster.

I ask why Garcia? Why no Tony Romo. That's my quarterback man! (I do a great imitation of Terrell Owens).

Garcia finished the season as the NFL's seventh-rated passer with a 94.6 rating. In 13 starts, he completed 209-of-327 attempts with 13 touchdowns and four interceptions. His 197 consecutive pass attempst without an interception to begin the season was a team record.

The Pro Bowl appearance will be the fourth of Garcia's career and his first as a Buc; he played in three consecutive Pro Bowls from 2000-02 when he was with the San Francisco 49ers. He becomes the third Tampa Bay QB in the Pro Bowl, joining Trent Dilfer (1997) and Brad Johnson (2002).

Schobel, who will appear in the Pro Bowl for the second straight year, was added to the AFC roster Thursday in place of injured Miami Dolphins end Jason Taylor.

Dockett has been added to the NFC Pro Bowl roster, replacing Tommie Harris of the Chicago Bears. Harris is out with a knee injury.

Cole was added to the NFC Pro Bowl roster in place of injured Seattle Seahawks end Patrick Kerney.

Schobel had been selected as a Pro Bowl alternate last month despite a down season statistically. In 16 starts, he finished fourth on the team with 95 tackles and led the Bills with 6½ sacks, a considerable drop after 14 sacks last season.

Taylor is unable to play after tearing his left plantar fascia -- an injury that brings pain to the bottom of the foot and heel -- against Baltimore on Dec. 16.

Schobel will be Buffalo's lone representative at the game, to be played Feb. 10 in Honolulu. Bills left tackle Jason Peters was selected as a starter but will miss the game with a groin injury.

It will be the first Pro Bowl appearance for Dockett, who joins wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald as Cardinals representatives for the game.

In his fourth NFL season, Dockett led the Cardinals and all NFL interior linemen with a career-high nine sacks. He had 75 tackles, forced two fumbles, recovered two fumbles and had 14 sacks while starting all 16 games.

Dockett was initially chosen as a Pro Bowl first alternate.

Cole, who was sixth in the NFL with 12½ sacks, had been selected as a Pro Bowl alternate. His total was the most by an Eagle since Hugh Douglas had 12½ in 2002.

A fifth-round draft pick by the Eagles in 2005, Cole recorded 103 tackles this season and earned the Eagles defensive MVP award.

Albrightt, the long snapper best known for his bright red hair and the fact he hasn't messed up a snap in ages, was selected for the NFC team.

"I really didn't think I'd ever be going," said Albright, a 12-year NFL veteran.

Albright will join tight end Chris Cooley and left tackle Chris Samuels as Redskins representatives. All three will wear jersey No. 21 during the game to pay tribute to former Washington safety Sean Taylor, who died Nov. 27 and was posthumously voted as a starter.

The long snapper position isn't subject to Pro Bowl voting, so the coaching staffs for each team have to select a snapper if there isn't one among the linemen already chosen. Green Bay's staff will coach the NFC, and Packers special teams coordinator Mike Stock held the same position when Albright joined the Redskins in 2001.

"They need a long snapper," Albright said. "Mike Stock is the one who brought me to Washington, and he thought of me."

Albright won't say the last time he had an errant snap, but all have been on target during his seven seasons in Washington.



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