Rookie QBs Luck, Wilson make Pro Bowl as replacements
With players from the Super Bowl-bound Baltimore Ravens and San Francisco 49ers no longer available for the Pro Bowl, and others bowing out due to injuries, the NFL announced numerous replacements to the rosters for the league's annual all-star game.
Heading the list of additions are two rookie quarterbacks, the Indianapolis Colts' Andrew Luck and the Seattle Seahawks' Russell Wilson.
The No. 1 overall selection in last year's draft, Luck led the Colts to an 11-5 record and a playoff berth one year after the team went 2-14. He became the fifth rookie quarterback in the Super Bowl era to post a double-digit win total.
Luck became the all-time rookie leader in passing yards (4,374), attempts (627) and 300-yard passing games (six), and his 433-yard game against the Miami Dolphins on Nov. 4 set a single-game rookie record.
He takes the place of New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady.
Wilson replaces the Atlanta Falcons' Matt Ryan, who injured his left (non-throwing) shoulder during the NFC Championship Game. Wilson's 100 passer rating ranked fourth in the league this season. He threw for 3,118 yards and 26 touchdowns, and he was intercepted just 10 times.
Wilson also rushed for 489 yards and four touchdowns on 94 carries.
Other changes to the rosters for the Pro Bowl, which will be played Sunday in Honolulu at 7 p.m. EST:
--Falcons safety Thomas DeCoud and safety William Moore were added to the NFC roster, the first selection for both.
DeCoud is replacing 49ers safety Dashon Goldson. He led Atlanta with six interceptions, the second-best total in among NFL safeties.
Moore takes the place of San Francisco safety Donte Whitner. He recorded 105 tackles (74 solo), four interceptions, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and a sack.
--Buffalo Bills running back C.J. Spiller and defensive tackle Kyle Williams were added to the AFC roster. Spiller takes the place of Ravens running back Ray Rice, while Williams is stepping in for Baltimore defensive tackle Haloti Ngata.
Spiller ran for a career-best 1,244 yards on 207 carries with six touchdowns this season. He tied for the NFL lead among running backs with 6.0 yards per carry.
Williams had five sacks and 46 tackles (27 solo) in 2012.
--Cleveland Browns kick returner Joshua Cribbs joined the AFC roster in place of the Ravens' Jacoby Jones.
It is Cribbs' third career Pro Bowl selection. He finished fourth in the league in kickoff-return average (27.4 yards) and sixth in punt-return average (12.0). He also had nine special teams tackles. Cribbs also became just the sixth player in league history to total 12,000 or more career kick and punt return yards.
--Miami Dolphins offensive guard Richie Incognito was named to the AFC Pro Bowl roster, stepping in for Ravens guard Marshal Yanda.
It is Incognito's first Pro Bowl selection.
--Denver Broncos offensive guard Zane Beadles and wide receiver Demaryius Thomas were selected to represent the AFC in their first career Pro Bowls.
Beadles and Thomas will replace Patriots guard Logan Mankins and wide receiver Wes Welker, respectively.
Beadles started all 16 games for the Broncos at left guard in 2012. He allowed just one sack and finished as the only Bronco to play every offensive or defensive snap.
Thomas was fourth in the league with 1,434 receiving yards with 10 touchdowns on 94 catches.
