Seven Patriots selected to AFC Pro Bowl Squad
Patriots Release
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – Seven
members of the New England Patriots have been selected to the AFC Pro
Bowl squad. Quarterback Tom Brady, TE Rob Gronkowski, G Logan Mankins,
LB Jerod Mayo, WR Matthew Slater (special teams), WR Wes Welker and DT
Vince Wilfork have been selected to represent the New England Patriots
and the AFC in the 2013 Pro Bowl on Jan. 27, 2013 at Aloha Stadium in
Hawaii.
It is the eighth Pro Bowl selection for Brady (2001, 2004, 2005, 2007,
2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012) and fifth for Mankins (2007, 2009, 2010, 2011
and 2012), Welker (2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012) and Wilfork (2007,
2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012).
Gronkowski and Slater earned their second straight Pro Bowl
invitations, while Mayo (2010 and 2012) also earned a Pro Bowl berth for
the second time.
Gronkowski, Mankins, Mayo and Wilfork were selected as starters.
Brady
was named to the Pro Bowl for the eighth time, including four straight
seasons. John Hannah (9) is the only Patriots player with more Pro Bowls
than Brady. Brady enters the final week of the season with 4,543 yards
passing and 32 touchdowns. Brady became just the fifth player in NFL
history to reach 4,000 yards in five or more seasons and the fifth
player with at least 30 or more touchdown passes in four seasons. Brady
needs one touchdown pass in the season finale vs. Miami to extend his
streak to 48 straight games with at least one touchdown pass and move
past Johnny Unitas (47) for the second longest streak behind Drew Brees
(54). He will also become the first NFL player to throw at least one
touchdown pass in all 16 games for three consecutive seasons.
Gronkowski
is going to his second Pro Bowl. Despite missing the last five games,
Gronkowski leads all NFL tight ends with 10 touchdowns on 53 receptions
for 748 yards. He is the first tight end in NFL history to have three
straight 10-plus touchdown seasons after his 10 in 2010, 18 in 2011 and
10 in 2012. Gronkowski had three 100-yard games in 2012 to increase his
career total to nine, tying Ben Coates for the most 100-yard games by a
New England tight end.
Mankins
is going to his fifth Pro Bowl, including his fourth consecutive. He
went to his first Pro Bowl in 2007 when he became the first Patriots
guard to earn a Pro Bowl selection since 1985 when Pro Football Hall of
Famer John Hannah went to his ninth career Pro Bowl. The Fresno State
product is in his eighth season with the Patriots since being selected
in the first round (32nd overall) of the 2005 NFL Draft. Since entering
the starting lineup in 2005, Mankins has helped the New England offense
finish in the Top 10 on offense six times. The 2012 New England offense
is currently ranked first in the NFL. Mayo earned his
second Pro Bowl honor after being selected for the first time in 2010.
Mayo enters the final week of the season with a team-leading 179 total
tackles. He is the first Patriots player to start his career with five
straight 100-tackle seasons and his five straight 100-tackle seasons are
tied with Lawyer Milloy and Vincent Brown for second, behind the six
straight 100-tackle seasons by Fred Marion. Mayo has registered 10 or
more tackles in 10 of the first 15 games to tie a career-high. He also
had ten 10-tackle games in 2010.
Slater is
going to his second Pro Bowl. He enters the final week of the season
with a team-leading 20 special teams tackles, one behind his career-high
of 21 special teams tackles set in 2010. Slater, a Special Teams
Captain for the last two seasons, has been a productive member of the
Patriots special teams units since joining the team as a fifth round
draft pick out of UCLA in 2008. He has led the Patriots in special teams
tackles for the past two seasons with 21 in 2010 and 17 in 2011.
Welker
has been selected to the Pro Bowl five straight seasons. He enters the
final week of the season with 110 receptions for 1,260 yards and five
touchdowns. Welker became the first player in NFL history with five
100-catch seasons. Welker also added four 10-catch games in 2012 to set
an NFL record with 18-career 10-catch games. He extended his team record
with his fifth 1,000-yard season. He also became the Patriots' all-time
leader in receptions, surpassing Troy Brown in Week 2 vs. Arizona.
Wilfork earned his fifth Pro Bowl selection overall and fourth straight Pro Bowl honor. Since being selected in the first round (21st
overall) of the 2004 draft out of Miami, Wilfork has helped the
Patriots defense finish in the top 10 in points allowed on six occasions
(2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010). The Patriots own a 106-31
(.774) record in Wilfork's 137 career regular-season games.
Vince Wilfork
“To
be selected to my fifth Pro Bowl is amazing. I am honored and humbled.
More importantly, I am proud that the other guys on my team are getting
the recognition they deserve.”
Jerod Mayo
“It's
an honor to be recognized by my peers, the coaches and the fans, but
it's more of an honor to be one of seven of my teammates going to
Hawaii, since that is a reflection of our overall team success. We'll
all enjoy the recognition tonight with our families and be right back to
focusing on the Dolphins in the morning.”
Matthew Slater
“I
am very thankful to be selected to the Pro Bowl. God has blessed me
with this opportunity and the ability to stay healthy. I have a lot of
people to thank. An honor like this does not come without your teammates
next to you making plays. I want to thank coach Belichick for believing
in me and taking a chance on me so I can live out my childhood dreams
of playing in the NFL. Coach Scott O'Brien has pretty much changed my
career with the way he teaches and coaches me. I also need to thank Joe
Judge for what he has been able to teach me.”
Logan Mankins:
“We
have a lot of guys who earned the honor this year, so that is pretty
cool. It's always nice to have your peers, coaches and fans select you
to the Pro Bowl. Getting voted in is always a reflection of our team
success. While I do appreciate this recognition, we need to get ready
and keep our focus on the game this week against Miami.”
Tom Brady
“It
is flattering to be selected, but I have always considered Pro Bowl
recognition as a reflection of the team's overall success. I am happy
for my many teammates who were selected again this year. I know that
there are many others who are equally deserving of the opportunity. One
day, I am sure I will have a greater appreciation for individual
accomplishments, but this week my focus is simply on our preparations
for Miami.”
