COLTS' MANNING, WAYNE, FREENEY AND MATHIS NAMED TO PRO BOWL
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind.—Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning, wide receiver Reggie Wayne and defensive ends Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis have been named to the 2011 AFC Pro Bowl team, the NFL announced Tuesday.
Each of the four Colts players was selected to last year's Pro Bowl.
QB-Peyton ManningManning has been named to the game for the 11th time in his 13-year NFL career, tying DE-Gino Marchetti's club record for most nominations. It also marked Manning's ninth consecutive selection. He was named to the Pro Bowl in 1999 and 2000 and from 2002 to present. Manning finished third overall in fan balloting, receiving 1,130,399 votes.
In 2010, Manning has completed 423 of 638 passes for 4,436 yards and 31 touchdowns with 17 interceptions for a 91.4 passer rating. He leads the NFL in passing yards and attempts and ranks 2nd second in completions, 3rd in passing touchdowns and 4th in completion percentage. Manning set single-season franchise records in completions and attempts, and he became the first quarterback in NFL history to open a career with 13 consecutive seasons with 25 touchdowns and 3,500 passing yards. Manning also extended his NFL record with his 11th 4,000-yard passing season. He was named AFC Offensive Player-of-the-Week for December 9 at Tennessee.
WR-Reggie WayneThe Pro Bowl selection marks the fifth consecutive for Wayne. Wayne has 102 receptions for 1,287 yards and five touchdowns this season. In 2010, Wayne became the seventh NFL player with three or more 100-plus-reception seasons and the 11th player to post consecutive 100-plus-catch seasons. Wayne also became the eighth NFL player to record 1,000 receiving yards in seven consecutive seasons, and he owns the longest streak among active wide receivers. Wayne ranks second in NFL receptions, third in receiving yards and second in first-down receptions (68). Wayne this season surpassed 700 career receptions and 10,000 receiving yards.
DE-Dwight FreeneyFreeney led all defensive ends in fan balloting with 501,021 votes, and it marks his sixth career Pro Bowl nomination and third consecutive. Freeney was selected to the Pro Bowl from 2003-05 and 2008-present. Freeney has started 15 games this season and has nine sacks, 17 quarterback hurries and leads the Colts with five forced fumbles. Freeney has recorded two multiple-sack games in 2010, including a two-sack, two-forced fumble performance against the New York Giants in the Colts' home-opener. Freeney also had two sacks and a forced fumble against Houston on November 1, earning him AFC Defensive Player-of-the-Week honors. The ninth-year veteran is the Colts' career sack leader with 93, and with one more sack this season, Freeney would extend his franchise record with a seventh career double-digit sack season. Since he entered the league in 2002, Freeney leads all NFL players in sacks (93) and forced fumbles (41).
DE-Robert MathisMathis has been selected to his third consecutive Pro Bowl. Mathis has started 15 games this season and leads the club with 11 sacks and 19 quarterback hurries, while he leads Colts defensive linemen with 56 tackles. The eighth-year veteran has recorded a sack in nine of 15 games this season and has recorded more than one sack three times. Mathis had a sack in each of the first three games of 2010, earning him AFC Defensive Player-of-the-Month honors for September. With 1.5 sacks last Sunday at Oakland, Mathis recorded his fourth career double-digit sack season. With one more sack, Mathis would set a career-best, surpassing his 11.5 sacks in 2005 and 2008. Mathis ranks second in franchise history with 74 career sacks.
The Pro Bowl will be played at 7:00 p.m. (EST) on Sunday, January 30, 2011 at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu, Hawaii, and be broadcast nationally on FOX.
