
Last season, the Cowboys sent an NFL-record 13 players to the Pro Bowl. Eleven were selected by a vote of fans, players, coaches and management. Two were added as injury replacements.
And it became the perfect tag for an underachieving season: The Cowboys, who sent 13 players to the Pro Bowl, did not win a playoff game.
And the Super Bowl champion New York Giants had only one player picked last season - defensive end Osi Umenyiora.
On Tuesday, five Cowboys were named to the 2008 Pro Bowl: tight end Jason Witten, linebacker DeMarcus Ware, nose tackle Jay Ratliff, guard Leonard Davis and center Andre Gurode.
Witten, Ware, Ratliff and Gurode were named starters on the NFC all-star team. Davis is a backup. More Cowboys could be named depending on how many alternates the Cowboys have and how many players defer because of injury.
Witten, who leads the Cowboys with 69 catches for 815 yards, earned his fifth straight selection. Ware, who leads the NFL in sacks with 19, and Gurode will make their third consecutive trip; Davis will make his second in a row.
Ratliff, a seventh-round pick in 2005, is making his first trip. Despite being an undersized nose tackle at 6-4, 298, he leads Cowboys' defensive linemen with 72 tackles and has a career-high seven sacks.
As honored as Ratliff was to get the call while reeling in a 50-pound catfish on Lake Lewisville on Tuesday afternoon, his sights are set higher.
"A lot of guys go to the Pro Bowl, but they never won a Super Bowl," Ratliff said. "My main thing is still the main thing. I want to win a Super Bowl."
The New York Jets had the most selections with seven, followed by the Giants, Minnesota and Tennessee with six apiece.
DMN
Pro Bowl Cowboys
Pro Bowl selections made Tuesday:
G Leonard Davis
(2nd selection)
C Andre Gurode
(3rd selection)
TE Jason Witten
(5th selection)
DL Jay Ratliff
(1st selection)
OLB DeMarcus Ware
(3rd selection)
Snubbed?
LB Bradie James: He leads all inside linebackers with six sacks.
QB Tony Romo: Missing three games hurt his cause but still has 24 TD passes.
One less luau ...
Cowboys who went to the Pro Bowl last season but did not get an invite Tuesday:
OT Flozell Adams PK Nick Folk QB Tony Romo
RB Marion Barber FS Ken Hamlin WR Terrell Owens
LB Greg Ellis CB Terence Newman SS Roy Williams
PRO BOWL ROSTER
Sunday, Feb. 8 At Honolulu (s-starter)
NFC
OFFENSE
Wide Receivers - s-Anquan Boldin, Arizona; s-Larry Fitzgerald, Arizona; Steve Smith, Carolina; Roddy White, Atlanta.
Tackles - s-Jordan Gross, Carolina; s-Walter Jones, Seattle; Chris Samuels, Washington.
Guards - s-Steve Hutchinson, Minnesota; s-Chris Snee, New York; Leonard Davis, Dallas.
Centers - s-Andre Gurode, Dallas; Shaun O'Hara, New York.
Tight Ends - s-Jason Witten, Dallas; Chris Cooley, Washington.
Quarterbacks - s-Kurt Warner, Arizona; Drew Brees, New Orleans; Eli Manning, New York.
Running Backs - s-Adrian Peterson, Minnesota; Clinton Portis, Washington; Michael Turner, Atlanta.
Fullback - s-Mike Sellers, Washington.
DEFENSE
Ends - s-Julius Peppers, Carolina; s-Justin Tuck, New York; Jared Allen, Minnesota.
Interior Linemen - s-Jay Ratliff, Dallas; s-Kevin Williams, Minnesota; Pat Williams, Minnesota.
Outside Linebackers - s-Lance Briggs, Chicago; s-DeMarcus Ware, Dallas; Derrick Brooks, Tampa Bay.
Inside Linebackers - s-Patrick Willis, San Francisco; Jon Beason, Carolina.
Cornerbacks - s-Antoine Winfield, Minnesota; s-Charles Woodson, Green Bay; Asante Samuel, Philadelphia.
Strong Safety - s-Adrian Wilson, Arizona.
Free Safeties - s-Nick Collins, Green Bay; Brian Dawkins, Philadelphia.
SPECIALISTS
Punter - Jeff Feagles, New York.
Placekicker - John Carney, New York.
Kick Return Specialist - Clifton Smith, Tampa Bay.
Special Teamer - Sean Morey, Arizona.
AFC
OFFENSE
Wide Receivers - s-Andre Johnson, Houston; s-Brandon Marshall, Denver; Reggie Wayne, Indianapolis; Wes Welker, New England.
Tackles - s-Jason Peters, Buffalo; s-Joe Thomas, Cleveland; Michael Roos, Tennessee.
Guards - s-Kris Dielman, San Diego; s-Alan Faneca, New York; Brian Waters, Kansas City.
Centers - s-Kevin Mawae, Tennessee; Nick Mangold, New York.
Tight Ends - s-Tony Gonzalez, Kansas City; Antonio Gates, San Diego.
Quarterbacks - s-Peyton Manning, Indianapolis; Jay Cutler, Denver; Brett Favre, New York.
Running Backs - s-Thomas Jones, New York; Ronnie Brown, Miami; Chris Johnson, Tennessee.
Fullback - s-Le'Ron McClain, Baltimore.
DEFENSE
Ends - s-Dwight Freeney, Indianapolis; s-Mario Williams, Houston; Robert Mathis, Indianapolis.
Interior Linemen - s-Albert Haynesworth, Tennessee; s-Kris Jenkins, New York; Shaun Rogers, Cleveland.
Outside Linebackers - s-James Harrison, Pittsburgh; s-Joey Porter, Miami; Terrell Suggs, Baltimore.
Inside Linebackers - s-Ray Lewis, Baltimore; James Farrior, Pittsburgh.
Cornerbacks - s-Nnamdi Asomugha, Oakland; s-Cortland Finnegan, Tennessee; Darrelle Revis, New York.
Free Safety - s-Ed Reed, Baltimore.
Strong Safeties - s-Troy Polamalu, Pittsburgh; Chris Hope, Tennessee.
SPECIALISTS
Punter - Shane Lechler, Oakland.
Placekicker - Stephen Gostkowski, New England.
Kick Return Specialist - Leon Washington, New York.
Special Teamer - Brendon Ayanbadejo, Baltimore.
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