?With Pittsburgh and Green Bay set to face off in Super Bowl XLV, a long list of NFL players have been named as Pro Bowl replacements for their Steelers and Packers counterparts in this Sunday’s Pro Bowl at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu:
??» Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Tamba Hali and rookie safety Eric Berry were added Sunday after the Super Bowl teams were decided. Hali, who led the AFC with 14.5 sacks this season, will replace Steelers linebacker James Harrison. Hali also had 50 tackles, 19 quarterback pressures and four forced fumbles this season. Berry, who replaces Steelers safety Troy Polamalu, was the Chiefs’ top pick in last year’s draft and had four interceptions and 126 total tackles in 2010. He’s the first Chiefs rookie to reach the Pro Bowl since Derrick Thomas after the 1989 season.
» Minnesota Vikings cornerback Antoine Winfield, the Star Tribune reported Sunday. Winfield will either replace cornerback Charles Woodson or Tramon Williams, both from the Green Bay Packers. Winfield joins teammate Adrian Peterson on the NFC roster. Defensive tackle Kevin Williams was picked as an injury replacement but won’t participate because his wife is expecting a baby. Winfield was selected to the Pro Bowl in 2008 and 2009 but did not go last season because of a foot injury. He had 91 tackles, two sacks, two forced fumbles and two interceptions this season.
» Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald. After initially being selected as an alternate, Fitzgerald will replace Packers receiver Greg Jennings. This will be the fifth career Pro Bowl appearance for Fitzgerald.
» Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Tamba Hali and safety Eric Berry. The duo will make their initial Pro Bowl appearance, joining wide receiver Dwayne Bowe, quarterback Matt Cassel, running back Jamaal Charles and guard Brian Waters on the AFC squad. Hali started all 16 games in 2010, setting a career high with 14.5 sacks to lead the AFC and rank second in the NFL. Berry becomes the first Chiefs rookie to earn Pro Bowl honors since Derrick Thomas in 1989.
» Washington Redskins linebacker London Fletcher will replace injured Chicago Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher and Redskins linebacker Brian Orakpo will replace Packers linebacker Clay Matthews. The Redskins announced the news Monday. This will be Fletcher’s second trip to the Pro Bowl. Orakpo led the team with 8.5 sacks. Coupled with the 11 sacks he had in 2009, Orakpo is the first Redskins defender since Ken Harvey (1996-97) to register at least eight sacks in consecutive seasons.
» Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive tackle Donald Penn will replace Packers offensive tackle Chad Clifton, according to the Bucs on Monday. Penn started all 16 games this season and served as the anchor for the Tampa Bay offensive line, which had to overcome several key injuries and featured eight different starting lineups.
» Atlanta Falcons announced Monday that cornerback Brent Grimes will replace Packers cornerback Charles Woodson. With the addition of Grimes, the Falcons have nine players selected to the Pro Bowl, which is a league-high and a franchise record.
» Carolina Panthers linebacker Jon Beason has replaced injured Chicago Bears linebacker Lance Briggs, the Panthers confirmed Monday. Beason has started every game for Carolina since being drafted in the first round in 2007 and his 64-consecutive game-starting streak is fourth longest in team history. He has led the Panthers in tackles for four straight seasons.
» Cleveland center Alex Mack will replaces New York Jets center Nick Mangold, who was injured in the Jets’ AFC Championship Game loss, the Browns announced Monday. Mack started every game for the Browns this season.
» Colts center Jeff Saturday has been chosen to this year’s Pro Bowl as a replacement for injured Steelers center Maurkice Pouncey. It will be Saturday’s first Pro Bowl appearance since 2007. He was voted to the AFC team in 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2009, but didn’t play last year when the Colts won the AFC title.
The annual contest of the AFC and NFC’s best will take place Sunday at 7 p.m. ET.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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