Austin Among Six Cowboys Pro Bowlers
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IRVING, Texas - This time last year, Miles Austin had zero starts and 18 career catches.
In 2009, he's been the Cowboys' most explosive offensive target - and now he's got his first career Pro Bowl selection to prove it.
Joining Austin at the Jan. 31 NFL all-star game in Miami will be tight end Jason Witten, outside linebacker DeMarcus Ware, nose tackle Jay Ratliff, center Andre Gurode and right guard Leonard Davis. Ware and Gurode will start.
One notable omission is quarterback Tony Romo, whose 97.0 passer rating trails only the three NFC selections: New Orleans' Drew Brees (109.6), Minnesota's Brett Favre (104.3) and Green Bay's Aaron Rodgers (102.4). Through 15 games, Romo (4,172) has produced his second career 4,000-yard season (the only two in franchise history) with 24 touchdowns and a career-low 8 interceptions.
Second-year cornerback Mike Jenkins (tied for sixth in the NFC with six interceptions) also had garnered support for his first career trip, and Tuesday's announcement snapped a three-year streak for five-time selection Flozell Adams.
Fan, coaches and players each comprise one-third of the voting process. Alternates could be used more than ever this year because the game will be held a week before the Super Bowl
Austin is the only first-time selection of the group. The Cowboys' six overall picks matched last year's total, the lowest since 2005.
But the Cowboys are clearly more focused on team goals. At 10-5, they can clinch the NFC East with a win this Sunday against Philadelphia, and still have an outside chance at a first-round bye.
Here is a closer look at the Cowboys' six Pro Bowlers:
WR Miles Austin: Like Romo's first Pro Bowl season in 2006, Austin didn't become a starter until mid-season. In only 11 starts, Austin leads the NFC in receiving yardage (1,230) with 74 catches. He's only the sixth Cowboys receiver to score at least 10 touchdowns (11) in a season, and has 20 of the offense' 56 total 20-plus-yard receiving gains this year.
G Leonard Davis: Playing primarily tackle his first six NFL seasons with Arizona, Davis has now made the Pro Bowl in each of his three seasons with the Cowboys. Anchoring the right side of the offensive line with tackle Marc Colombo and Colombo's injury replacement, Doug Free, Davis' physical style has helped establish the Cowboys' eighth-ranked rushing attack (128.3).
C Andre Gurode: With his fourth straight appearance, Gurode is one of 32 players in franchise history to make at least four Pro Bowl appearances. Gurode has started 61 of the Cowboys' 63 regular-season games since 2006.
NT Jay Ratliff: One of the league's most underrated linemen, Ratliff didn't rank among the top five defensive tackles in fan voting. Ratliff is well deserving of his second Pro Bowl appearance, though, with six sacks and eight tackles for loss in the middle of the Cowboys' 3-4 scheme.
OLB DeMarcus Ware: The only Cowboys player to lead fan voting at his respective position, Ware has played through a variety of injuries: a stress fracture in his foot, a chip fracture in his wrist and most recently, a strained neck muscle that prompted a precautionary trip to the hospital Dec. 13 against San Diego. Through it all, Ware has produced a team-high 11 sacks (tops among NFC linebackers), five forced fumbles and 43 quarterback pressures. This is his fourth straight Pro Bowl appearance.
TE Jason Witten: With 954 yards, Witten is approaching his second career 1,000-yard season. In Sunday night's playoff-clinching win over the Redskins, his game-high 117 receiving yards passed Mike Ditka and Todd Christensen for eighth on the NFL's all-time tight ends list (5,889). His one touchdown ties the lowest total of his career, but with 88 catches, he has a chance Sunday to match or break his career high of 96 (2007). Witten becomes the 14th player in team history with at least six Pro Bowl selections.