Here is the NFC Pro Bowl roster. Starters are listed in bold.

OFFENSE

QB: Kurt Warner, Cardinals; Drew Brees, Saints; Eli Manning, Giants
RB: Adrian Peterson, Vikings; Michael Turner, Falcons; Clinton Portis, Redskins
FB: Mike Sellers, Redskins
WR: Larry Fitzgerald, Cardinals; Anquan Boldin, Cardinals; Steve Smith, Panthers; Roddy White, Falcons,
TE: Jason Witten, Cowboys; Chris Cooley, Redskins
T: Jordan Gross, Panthers; Walter Jones, Seahawks; Chris Samuels, Redskins
G: Chris Snee, Giants; Steve Hutchinson, Vikings; Leonard Davis, Cowboys
C: Andre Gurode, Cowboys; Shaun O’Hara, Giants

DEFENSE

DE: Justin Tuck, Giants; Julius Peppers, Panthers; Jared Allen, Vikings
DT: Kevin Williams, Vikings; Jay Ratliff, Cowboys; Pat Williams, Vikings
OLB: DeMarcus Ware, Cowboys; Lance Briggs, Bears; Derrick Brooks, Buccaneers
MLB: Patrick Willis, 49ers; Jon Beason, Panthers
CB: Charles Woodson, Packers; Antoine Winfield, Vikings; Asante Samuel, Eagles
S: Nick Collins, Packers; Adrian Wilson, Cardinals; Brian Dawkins, Eagles

SPECIAL TEAMS

K: John Carney, Giants
P: Jeff Feagles, Giants
KR: Clifton Smith, Buccaneers
ST: Sean Morey, Cardinals

Post from: Every Morning Quarterback

2009 NFC Pro Bowl Roster

Blogcasting the National Football League, Blogcasting the NFL

Just in time for the start of training camp (funny how it works out that way), Chicago Bears linebacker and team captain Brian Urlacher signed a one-year contract extension today that will give him a $6 million right now and a $1 million bump in salary each of the next four years. The final season on his contract is now 2012 where his base salary will be $7.5 million.

I knew some kind of deal would get done before camp to keep Brian happy after he skipped voluntary OTAs this past offseason. He’s the heart and soul of the Bears defense and while the team has been very busy keeping their own players happy this offseason (Tommie Harris, Robbie Gould, Alex Brown, Lance Briggs, Desmond Clark, Rashied Davis), locking up Brian (a six-time Pro Bowler and one of the best at his position) was perhaps the biggest no-brainer.

Source: ESPN.com, Photo: Newscom

Post from: Every Morning Quarterback

Brian Urlacher Signs Contract Extension

Blogcasting the National Football League, Blogcasting the NFL

Chicago Bears defensive tackle Tommie Harris signed a four-year, $40 million contract extension ($10 million up-front and $18 million guaranteed) with the team today. The deal was the richest ever for the Bears in terms of money per year. And unlike other high-profile Bears players who have gone public with their financial displeasures in Chicago (Lance Briggs and Brian Urlacher), Tommie kept his negotiations private and eventually found the deal he was looking for:

“I’m so thankful that I am a Bear and I would love to finish my career here also after this next term. Hopefully we can come back here, smile and talk about it all over again. I’m going to enjoy this four-year extension and I look forward to putting on a great display.”

It was also shocking (and somewhat refreshing) to hear Tommie say that NFL players don’t deserve the exorbitant money they get for playing “a kid’s game.” Along with re-signing defensive end Alex Brown and kicker Robbie Gould this offseason (eight veterans have re-signed with the team this offseason), Tommie’s deal was a no-brainer for the Bears’ front office. He was a three-time Pro Bowler set to enter the final season of the five-year deal he signed as a first-round draft pick in 2004. With this early extension, he’ll now be a Chicago Bear through 2012 and I will expect nothing less than stellar play from one of the best — and most humble — defensive tackles in the NFL.

Source: ChicagoBears.com, Photo: Newscom

Post from: Every Morning Quarterback

Chicago Bears’ Tommie Harris Gets $40M

Following a detailed investigation and a hearing, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell today determined that the San Francisco 49ers violated the NFL’s Anti-Tampering Policy by contacting the agent for Chicago Bears linebacker Lance Briggs during the 2007 season without the Bears’ permission. The Bears had filed tampering charges against the 49ers to initiate the proceeding. Chicago re-signed Lance Briggs at the beginning of this year’s veteran free agency signing period. Commissioner Goodell decided on the following disciplinary action to resolve the matter:

• San Francisco will forfeit its fifth-round selection in the 2008 NFL Draft.
• Chicago and San Francisco will switch third-round selections in the 2008 Draft. As a result, Chicago now will have the seventh selection of the third round and San Francisco will have the 12th selection of the third round.

Commissioner Goodell noted that both the 49ers and Bears fully cooperated with his investigation and hearing.

This is a costly mistake for the Niners. Just when they were putting the finishing touches on what has been a great offseason of valuable additions, they get nailed for tampering and lose key positioning in this upcoming Draft. But the punishment fits the crime and the outcome serves as a reminder to other teams to play by the rules or else.

Post from: Every Morning Quarterback

49ers Forfeit Draft Pick for Tampering

Blogging the National Football League, Blogging the NFL

With free agency just hours away, I still can’t believe the New England Patriots don’t have a deal in place for wide receiver Randy Moss. His record-setting 2007 more than earned him the right to have been signed to a long-term deal by the Pats. He kept his nose clean and was a leader and good teammate. He’s Tom Brady’s favorite target. What more needs to be said? I feel like as soon as I publish this, news will break of his signing … with the Patriots. Still, New England has a lot to consider. They have a slew of free agents and have the difficult task of deciding who they can keep. Remember, this was an 18-1 team last season. A roster overhaul isn’t really an ideal game plan. Who am I to question the mighty Patriots, though. They seem to find a way to make it work.

It’s always easy to assume the teams with the most money to spend will do the most spending in free agency. But what each team must do is look at their needs and decide what holes can be filled best in free agency or the upcoming Draft. And for those teams without a lot of cash to spend, it doesn’t mean they won’t be active. Obviously they have fewer options, but if there’s a player out there they want, they’ll do what they have to to get after him.

Here are my Top 10 free agents heading into tomorrow’s free-for-all:

1. Randy Moss, WR, Patriots
2. Michael Turner, RB, Chargers
3. Alan Faneca, G, Steelers
4. Lance Briggs, LB, Bears
5. Asante Samuel, CB, Patriots
6. Marion Barber, RB, Cowboys
7. Justin Smith, DE, Bengals
8. Bernard Berrian, WR, Bears
9. Tony Richardson, FB, Vikings
10. Derek Anderson, QB, Browns

Other players I really like (in no particular order) are Daunte Culpepper (QB, Raiders); Chris Brown (RB, Titans); Jerry Porter (WR, Raiders); Ernest Wilford (WR, Jags); Donte Stallworth (WR, Patriots); Jesse Chatman (RB, Dolphins); Julius Jones (RB, Cowboys); Atari Bigby (DB, Packers); and Lorenzo Neal (FB, who was released by the Chargers) and DeShaun Foster (RB, who was released by the Panthers). There are a lot of good players that will be available soon.

Post from: Every Morning Quarterback

Randy Moss Leads Top 10 NFL Free Agents

Blogging the National Football League, Blogging the NFL

The Dallas Cowboys placed a league-high 12 players on the NFC All-Star team. Among the players selected to the NFC squad was Washington Redskins safety Sean Taylor, who died last month. Sean received the most votes at his position and was chosen as the starting free safety for the NFC team. A replacement will be announced at a later date. Eleven NFC players will participate in their first Pro Bowl, including Minnesota Vikings rookie running back Adrian Peterson, who leads the NFC in rushing yards with 1,278.

Five of the Cowboys’ Pro Bowl players – running back Marion Barber, guard Leonard Davis, rookie kicker Nick Folk, safety Ken Hamlin and cornerback Terence Newman – are also first-time All-Stars. They join tackle Flozell Adams (fourth Pro Bowl), center Andre Gurode (second), wide receiver Terrell Owens (sixth), quarterback Tony Romo (second), linebacker DeMarcus Ware (second) and tight end Jason Witten (fourth) to equal the largest Dallas Pro Bowl contingent ever. Dallas also had 11 players named to the All-Star team in 1993 and 1994.

The starting quarterback for the NFC is nine-time All-Star Brett Favre of the Green Bay Packers. Brett, also the leading vote-getter among fans, ties Pro Football Hall of Famers John Elway, Dan Marino, Warren Moon and Norm Van Brocklin for the second-most Pro Bowl selections by a quarterback behind Johnny Unitas with 10. Joining Brett at QB are Dallas’ Tony Romo and Seattle’s Matt Hasselbeck. Tony is the first Cowboys QB to be chosen for back-to-back Pro Bowls since Hall of Famer Troy Aikman (1992-97). Matt joins Dave Krieg as the only Seahawks quarterbacks to be named to three Pro Bowls.

Starting at running back for the NFC is AD, who seeks to become the first rookie to lead the NFC in rushing since Pro Football Hall of Famer Barry Sanders (1989). He is joined by Dallas’ Marion Barber and two-time Philadelphia Eagles All-Star Brian Westbrook, who has an NFL-best 1,896 yards from scrimmage. I kind of scratched my head at Marion’s selection, but he is the first Cowboys RB to be chosen since the 2000 Pro Bowl (Emmitt Smith) and Brian is the sixth Eagles running back with multiple All-Star selections. Filling out the backfield is Minnesota fullback Tony Richardson, who makes his third Pro Bowl appearance (Kansas City, 2004-05) and first for the NFC.

Along with Dallas’ TO, now chosen as an All-Star with three teams (San Francisco, Philadelphia), the NFC’s other starting wide receiver is Arizona’s Larry Fitzgerald, who played in the 2006 Pro Bowl. Rounding out the position are a pair of Pro Bowl veterans in seven-time All-Star Torry Holt of the St. Louis Rams and three-time All-Star Donald Driver of Green Bay.

The starting tight end for the NFC is Jason Witten, making his fourth consecutive appearance in Hawaii. He is joined by Washington’s Chris Cooley, who deservedly will make his Pro Bowl debut.

Minnesota’s Steve Hutchinson will make his fifth consecutive trip to the Pro Bowl and start at guard along with the Cowboys’ Leonard Davis. Philadelphia’s Shawn Andrews was named an All-Star for the second year in a row and fills out the position.

Starting at center is Dallas’ Andre Gurode, joined by Minnesota’s Matt Birk, a six-time Pro Bowl selection.

The starting tackles are Seattle’s Walter Jones, an eight-time All-Star, and the Cowboys’ Flozell Adams. Washington’s Chris Samuels, making his fifth Pro Bowl appearance, is the NFC’s third tackle.

A pair of two-time All-Stars will start at defensive end for the NFC in Green Bay’s Aaron Kampman and Seattle’s Patrick Kerney. New York Giants defensive end Osi Umenyiora, making his second trip to Hawaii, also was chosen to represent the NFC.

Two Vikings will start on the interior defensive line in three-time All-Star Kevin Williams and two-time Pro Bowl selection Pat Williams. These two combine to make the Vikings the best in the league against the run. Chicago’s Tommie Harris was chosen for the third time in his career.

Seattle’s Lofa Tatupu makes his third Pro Bowl trip and will start at inside linebacker. He will be joined at the position by rookie Patrick Willis of the San Francisco 49ers, the No. 11 overall selection in the 2007 NFL Draft. The outside linebackers are Chicago’s Lance Briggs (third Pro Bowl), Seattle’s Julian Peterson (fourth) and Dallas’ DeMarcus Ware. Julian and DeMarcus were chosen as the starters.

All three cornerbacks on the NFC team are Pro Bowl newcomers. Green Bay’s Al Harris and Seattle’s Marcus Trufant will start with Dallas’ Terence Newman coming off the bench.

At free safety, the late Sean Taylor was selected as the starter. Dallas’ Ken Hamlin also was chosen at free safety and four-time All-Star Darren Sharper of the Minnesota Vikings will be the starting strong safety.

Two Bears are among the quartet of players who will handle special teams duties for the NFC. For the second consecutive year, Chicago’s Devin Hester will be the return specialist and Brandon Ayanbadejo will be the coverage specialist. Dallas’ rookie Nick Folk is the kicker and San Francisco punter Andy Lee was selected for the first time in his career.

Post from: Every Morning Quarterback

Dallas Cowboys Lead NFL With 12 All-Stars, 11 First-Time Selections For NFC

“History tells me that guys will occasionally miss minicamp. History will tell you that they’re sometimes late for training camp, some maybe miss training camp. History tells me that players don’t miss an entire football season. Lance is a part of us. We would like to have him here. Hopefully in time we’ll get him back.”

Hopefully in time we’ll get him back? That doesn’t sound good, but it does sound accurate. Lance has said he’ll holdout for 10 games and report for the final six to qualify as serving one year as a franchise player. Are the Bears really going to be happy with that scenario? Again, I say pay the guy. But trade him if you’re not going to pay him what he wants so you can get someone on the football field for all 16 games.

Post from: Every Morning Quarterback

Lance Briggs: Bad News Bear?

The “non-exclusive” franchise tag guarantees Briggs $7.2 million next season, but it also deters other teams from signing him. The Bears could match any offer for Briggs or receive two number one draft picks in his place. If he sits out next season, as he is threatening, the Bears could use the franchise tag again. Briggs reportedly rejected a six-year, $33 million offer last spring. The deal was reportedly for seven years, and he turned it down because it was “below market value.” He proceeded to turn-in a Pro Bowl season with 117 solo tackles. I’m sure he was hoping such stellar play was worthy of a permanent home in Chicago. Not so.

My take? Give Lance Briggs his due. He’s earned it. He’s one of the best linebackers in the league and he’s still a very young player with only four seasons under his belt. Why would you not make that commitment to keeping such a talent on your team? This was the wrong franchise designation by the Bears. They should keep Lance Briggs for the long-haul.

Post from: Every Morning Quarterback

Briggs Deserves Long-Term Deal