INDIANAPOLIS – Indianapolis Colts defensive end Dwight Freeney has been selected to the AFC Pro Bowl team.
It is the seventh career honor for Freeney, his fourth consecutive nomination. In 2011, Freeney has 7.5 sacks, pushing his career total to 101.5.
Freeney had two sacks at Baltimore on December 11, pushing him past the 100-sack total for his career. He is one of 27 players to reach the 100 -sack milestone. Freeney has 25 career multiple-sack games. He has leveled 49 different opposing quarterbacks and has sacks against 26 of 31 teams. He has produced seven of the 17 double-digit sack seasons in club history.
"Dwight has been a prolific performer since his arrival here with the Colts," said Head Coach Jim Caldwell. "He has the tenacity, competitiveness, physical aspects and intellect required to be voted by his peers as a member of this prestigious fraternity. Dwight's selection to the Pro Bowl is well deserved."
Freeney has started 128 of his 148 career outings since being the club's first-round pick in 2002. He has sacks in 66 starts and in 75 different games for his career.
"It is always an honor to be selected to the Pro Bowl by the fans and your peers," said Freeney. "No matter how many times you get picked, it is always special and something that I will always cherish. This is something that is not just a personal goal, but an achievement for this team. You do not get there by yourself and it is a credit to my teammates and coaches. I want to thank all of the fans and fellow players who selected me and all of my coaches and teammates who have made this possible."
Freeney's seven career Pro Bowl nominations tie running back Lenny Moore for the sixth-most in Colts history. Defensive end Gino Marchetti and quarterback Peyton Manning rank first with 11 nominations. Quarterback John Unitas had 10 nominations, followed by offensive guard/tackle Jim Parker and wide receiver Marvin Harrison with eight.
Marchetti had a club-record 11 consecutive nominations, while Manning had nine. Unitas, Parker and Harrison had eight straight nominations. Hinton had six, while running back Lenny Moore and wide receiver Reggie Wayne had five. Others joining Freeney with four consecutive nominations are running back Alan Ameche, wide receiver Raymond Berry, tight end John Mackey and center Ray Donaldson.
CONSECUTIVE PRO BOWL NOMINATIONS
11, DE-Gino Marchetti, 1954-64
9, QB-Peyton Manning, 2002-10
8, QB-John Unitas, 1957-64
8, OG/T-Jim Parker, 1958-65
8, WR-Marvin Harrison, 1999-2006
6, OG/T-Chris Hinton, 1983-89
5, RB-Lenny Moore, 1958-62
5, WR-Reggie Wayne, 2006-10
4, RB-Alan Ameche, 1955-58
4, WR-Raymond Berry, 1958-61
4, TE-John Mackey, 1965-68
4, C-Ray Donaldson, 1986-89
4, DE-Dwight Freeney, 2008-11
MOST PRO BOWL NOMINATIONS
11, DE-Gino Marchetti, 1954-64
11, QB-Peyton Manning, 1999-2000, 2002-10
10, QB-John Unitas, 1957-64, 66-67
8, OG/T-Jim Parker, 1958-65
8, WR-Marvin Harrison, 1999-2006
7, RB-Lenny Moore, 1956, 58-62, 64
7, DE-Dwight Freeney, 2003-05, 08-11
6, OG/T-Chris Hinton, 1983-89
6, WR-Raymond Berry, 1958-61, 63-64
5, TE-John Mackey, 1963, 65-68
5, WR-Reggie Wayne, 2006-10
5, Jeff Saturday, 2005-07, 09-10
4, RB-Alan Ameche, 1955-58
4, C-Ray Donaldson, 1986-89
