Pro Bowl snub
motivates Titans

No Tennessee players make
the squad, while Houston
and Cincinnati players get in

Kreutz and Mawae make
Pro Bowl squads again

Team rosters
No Fieldturf

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By Dave Goldberg
Associated Press

NEW YORK >> The Tennessee Titans just got new incentive in their quest for an NFL title.

No Pro Bowlers.

Pro Bowl Who: AFC All-Stars vs. NFC All-Stars When: Sunday, Feb. 2 Where:Aloha Stadium Tickets: Can be purchased at any of the 40 statewide Ticket Plus locations, including the Aloha Stadium box office, by visiting www.ticketplushawaii.com or calling 526-4400 Starters: Will be announced on KITV-TV on Jan. 4 at halftime of the AFC and NFC wild-card games

"I'm quite sure a lot of players on this team deserved it, but that's how it works," quarterback Steve McNair said after the AFC South leaders were ignored in Pro Bowl balloting announced yesterday. "We don't have any control over that. This is how it works. But it's a team thing now for us. To solve all this, we just got to go to the Super Bowl and win it."

Chicago center Olin Kreutz, a St. Louis School alumnus, was named to his second straight Pro Bowl. New York Jets center Kevin Mawae, whose father grew up in Hawaii, was named to the AFC squad.

The Philadelphia Eagles, leading the race for the NFC's top playoff seeding, had the most Pro Bowlers with seven, including three-fourths of their secondary. San Francisco and Miami, two other division leaders, each had six.

But the Titans, leading the AFC South at 9-5, were ignored in voting conducted in thirds: one-third by players, one-third by coaches, and one-third by fans on NFL.com.

"We feel we had players who had seasons worthy enough to be selected over there, we just go on," coach Jeff Fisher said. "We're disappointed for Steve's sake. But hey, his play speaks for itself, and we have a lot of unfinished business."

In contrast to Tennessee, the expansion Houston Texans had two players chosen, and the 1-13 Cincinnati Bengals had one, fullback Lorenzo Neal, who used to play for the Titans. The other teams without players chosen were .500 or worse: Cleveland, Detroit and Arizona.

"That we're 11-3 helps," said Philadelphia cornerback Troy Vincent, who was selected along with cornerback Bobby Taylor and safety Brian Dawkins.

The selections cover two generations.

Oakland wide receiver Jerry Rice was chosen for the 13th time at age 40, the first time he's made it since 1999, when he played with the 49ers. Raiders safety Rod Woodson, 37, was chosen for the 11th time. San Diego linebacker Junior Seau made it for the 12th straight season.

At the other end of the spectrum were 22-year-old Atlanta quarterback Michael Vick and 22-year-old Jeremy Shockey, the New York Giants' tight end and the only rookie chosen.

As usual, reputation played a major part in selection.

The St. Louis Rams, 6-8 after being preseason favorite in the NFC, landed offensive tackle Orlando Pace and running back Marshall Faulk on the squad. Pace will miss his sixth game to injury this week and Faulk will miss his sixth straight start.

Yet Faulk was chosen ahead of the Giants' Tiki Barber, who is third in the NFC in rushing and leads in combined rushing and receiving yardage. Barber is the first alternate at running back.

Among those overlooked were McNair, who has carried the team to eight wins in its last nine games, and New England QB Tom Brady, the Super Bowl MVP. McNair is the AFC's first alternate at quarterback.

But Drew Bledsoe, who was traded to Buffalo after being replaced by Brady, did make the team. The other two AFC quarterbacks were Rich Gannon of Oakland and Peyton Manning of Indianapolis.

Manning's favorite target, record-setting Marvin Harrison, also made the AFC team. Harrison already has set a single-season NFL mark with 127 catches.

One of the Eagles not chosen was quarterback Donovan McNabb, who broke his right ankle Nov. 17 and probably will not return until the playoffs. The three NFC quarterbacks were Vick, Green Bay's Brett Favre and San Francisco's Jeff Garcia.

Miami's Ricky Williams, traded by the Saints to make room in the backfield for Deuce McAllister, made the AFC team. McAllister made the NFC team.

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2003 Pro Bowl Rosters

AFC

Offense

Wide Receivers -- Marvin Harrison, Indianapolis; Jerry Rice, Oakland; Hines Ward, Pittsburgh; Eric Moulds, Buffalo.
Tackles -- Jonathan Ogden, Baltimore; Willie Roaf, Kansas City; Lincoln Kennedy, Oakland.
Guards -- Will Shields, Kansas City; Alan Faneca, Pittsburgh; Ruben Brown, Buffalo.
Centers -- Kevin Mawae, N.Y. Jets; Barrett Robbins, Oakland.
Tight Ends -- Tony Gonzalez, Kansas City; Todd Heap, Baltimore.
Quarterbacks -- Rich Gannon, Oakland; Drew Bledsoe, Buffalo; Peyton Manning, Indianapolis.
Running Backs -- Priest Holmes, Kansas City; Ricky Williams, Miami; LaDainian Tomlinson, San Diego.
Fullback -- Lorenzo Neal, Cincinnati.

Defense

Ends -- Jason Taylor, Miami; Trevor Pryce, Denver; John Abraham, N.Y. Jets.
Interior Linemen -- Gary Walker, Houston; Richard Seymour, New England; Tim Bowens, Miami.
Outside Linebackers -- Joey Porter, Pittsburgh; Junior Seau, San Diego; Peter Boulware, Baltimore.
Inside Linebackers -- Zach Thomas, Miami; Al Wilson, Denver.
Cornerbacks -- Aaron Glenn, Houston; Patrick Surtain, Miami; Ty Law, New England.
Strong Safety -- Lawyer Milloy, New England.
Free Safeties -- Rod Woodson, Oakland; Brock Marion, Miami.

Specialists

Punter -- Chris Hanson, Jacksonville.
Place-kicker -- Adam Vinatieri, New England.
Kick Return Specialist -- Dante Hall, Kansas City.
Special Teamer -- Larry Izzo, New England.

NFC

Offense

Wide Receivers -- Terrell Owens, San Francisco; Joe Horn, New Orleans; Randy Moss, Minnesota; Marty Booker, Chicago.
Tackles -- Tra Thomas, Philadelphia; Walter Jones, Seattle; Orlando Pace, St. Louis.
Guards -- Ron Stone, San Francisco; Jermane Mayberry, Philadelphia; Marco Rivera, Green Bay.
Centers -- Olin Kreutz, Chicago; Jeremy Newberry, San Francisco.
Tight Ends -- Bubba Franks, Green Bay; Jeremy Shockey, N.Y. Giants.
Quarterbacks -- Brett Favre, Green Bay; Michael Vick, Atlanta; Jeff Garcia, San Francisco.
Running Backs -- Deuce McAllister, New Orleans; Ahman Green, Green Bay; Marshall Faulk, St. Louis.
Fullback -- Mike Alstott, Tampa Bay.

Defense

Ends -- Simeon Rice, Tampa Bay; Michael Strahan, N.Y. Giants; Hugh Douglas, Philadelphia.
Interior Linemen -- Warren Sapp, Tampa Bay; La'Roi Glover, Dallas; Bryant Young, San Francisco.
Outside Linebackers -- Derrick Brooks, Tampa Bay; LaVar Arrington, Washington; Julian Peterson, San Francisco.
Inside Linebackers -- Brian Urlacher, Chicago; Keith Brooking, Atlanta.
Cornerbacks -- Troy Vincent, Philadelphia; Champ Bailey, Washington; Bobby Taylor, Philadelphia.
Strong Safety -- John Lynch, Tampa Bay.
Free Safeties -- Darren Sharper, Green Bay; Brian Dawkins, Philadelphia.

Specialists

Punter -- Todd Sauerbrun, Carolina.
Place-kicker -- David Akers, Philadelphia.
Kick Return Specialist -- Michael Lewis, New Orleans.
Special Teamer -- Fred McAfee, New Orleans.