Six selected to premature Pro Bowl

The Cowboys have six Cowboys named to the Pro Bowl. Mainstays DeMarcus Ware, Jason Witten, Andre Gurode and Leonard Davis join second-timer Jay Ratliff and first-time selection Miles Austin as NFL all-stars. And while all six may be honored by their selections, these players and their fans would rather see them bypass the Pro Bowl the week before the Super Bowl to play for the Lombardi Trophy.

I'm not a fan of this year's Pro Bowl taking place a week ahead of the Super Bowl. Super Bowl participants will not be playing in the game, and there's a good chance a healthy dose of conference championship game participants will skip the game as well.

For Miles Austin, this selection validates how great his out-of-nowhere season has been. He's been a potential Pro Bowler since his first career start against Kansas City, a 10-catch, 250-yard, two-touchdown explosion that jump-started his season. His selection mirrors that of Tony Romo in 2006, when the quarterback took over for Drew Bledsoe and led Dallas back to the playoffs.

Ware and Ratliff continue to lead one of the NFL's stingiest defenses, as Dallas gives up under 17 points per game, tops in the NFC. More surprising however was that there were the only two selections for the Dallas defense. Not only was Mike Jenkins left off the roster despite a breakout season in his second year in the league, but there was not one other linebacker joining Ware. Keith Brooking? Bradie James? I would have thought at least one of them would have gone as well. While I can see Bradie James being overlooked -- hey, it happened last year too -- but Brooking has been the focal point of the Cowboys defense on so many broadcasts, that I assumed his increased exposure would go along with his high-intensity on the field to earn a selection.

Not surprisingly, Jason Witten made his sixth Pro Bowl appearance. The tight end is now tied for sixth among Cowboys with the most Pro Bowl selections. He's been Romo's favorite target since 2006 and just put up another 80+ catch season.

Seeing Andre Gurode and Leonard Davis each make the Pro Bowl reminds me what the Cowboys should be able to do. With the Cowboys not being able to move the ball efficiently on 3rd & 1 or 4th & 1 over the last few weeks, perhaps these selections will put some pep back in the step of an offensive line capable of overrunning a defense for one measly yard. Gurode and Davis are each going to a third-straight Pro Bowl.

For quarterback Tony Romo, he just missed out on a third-straight Pro Bowl, giving way to Drew Brees, Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers. He has a career-low in interceptions this year while being super-efficient under center. He has matured into a steady hand at QB, and if the Cowboys don't make the Super Bowl and one of the other three quarterbacks selected does, look for Romo to be the alternate who plays in Miami on January 31.

See the 2010 Pro Bowl selections:
NFC Pro Bowl Roster

NFC Offense Position Player(s) Quarterback * Drew Brees, New Orleans Brett Favre, Minnesota Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Running back * Adrian Peterson, Minnesota Steven Jackson, St. Louis DeAngelo Williams, Carolina Fullback * Leonard Weaver, Philadelphia Wide receiver * Larry Fitzgerald, Arizona * DeSean Jackson, Philadelphia Miles Austin, Dallas Sidney Rice, Minnesota Tight end * Vernon Davis, San Francisco Jason Witten, Dallas Tackle * Jason Peters, Philadelphia * Bryant McKinnie, Minnesota Jonathan Stinchcomb, New Orleans Guard * Steve Hutchinson, Minnesota * Jahri Evans, New Orleans Leonard Davis, Dallas Center * Andre Gurode, Dallas Shaun O'Hara, N.Y. Giants Defense Position Player(s) Defensive end * Jared Allen, Minnesota * Julius Peppers, Carolina Trent Cole, Philadelphia Interior linemen * Kevin Williams, Minnesota * Darnell Dockett, Arizona Jay Ratliff, Dallas Outside linebacker * DeMarcus Ware, Dallas * Lance Briggs, Chicago Brian Orakpo, Washington Inside/midde linebacker * Patrick Willis, San Francisco Jonathan Vilma, New Orleans Cornerback * Charles Woodson, Green Bay * Asante Samuel, Philadelphia Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Arizona Free safety * Darren Sharper, New Orleans Nick Collins, Green Bay Strong safety * Adrian Wilson, Arizona Special teams Position Player(s) Punter Andy Lee, San Francisco Placekicker David Akers, Philadelphia Kick returner DeSean Jackson, Philadelphia Special teamer Heath Farwell, Minnesota

AFC Pro Bowl Roster

AFC Offense Position Player(s) Quarterback * Peyton Manning, Indianapolis Philip Rivers, San Diego Tom Brady, New England Running back * Chris Johnson, Tennessee Maurice Jones-Drew, Jacksonville Ray Rice, Baltimore Fullback * Le'Ron McClain, Baltimore Wide receiver * Andre Johnson, Houston * Reggie Wayne, Indianapolis Brandon Marshall, Denver Wes Welker, New England Tight end * Dallas Clark, Indianapolis Antonio Gates, San Diego Tackle * Jake Long, Miami * Ryan Clady, Denver Joe Thomas, Cleveland Guard * Logan Mankins, New England * Alan Faneca, N.Y. Jets Kris Dielman, San Diego Center * Nick Mangold, N.Y. Jets Jeff Saturday, Indianapolis Defense Position Player(s) Defensive end * Dwight Freeney, Indianapolis * Robert Mathis, Indianapolis Mario Williams, Houston Interior linemen * Haloti Ngata, Baltimore * Vince Wilfork, New England Casey Hampton, Pittsburgh Outside linebacker * Elvis Dumervil, Denver * James Harrison, Pittsburgh Brian Cushing, Houston Inside/midde linebacker * Ray Lewis, Baltimore DeMeco Ryans, Houston Cornerback * Darrelle Revis, N.Y. Jets * Nnamdi Asomugha, Oakland Champ Bailey, Denver Free safety * Ed Reed, Baltimore Jairus Byrd, Buffalo Strong safety * Brian Dawkins, Denver Special teams Position Player(s) Punter Shane Lechler, Oakland Placekicker Nate Kaeding, San Diego Kick returner Josh Cribbs, Cleveland Special teamer Kassim Osgood, San Diego