Holt: Have a great time

The Rams receiver tells first-timers you never know if you'll be back

His presence is nearly an annual tradition in Hawaii. Now, through a twist of fate, Torry Holt is the unexpected senior ambassador for the NFC in today's Pro Bowl -- and it couldn't ask for a better representative.

Holt Profile Name: Torry Holt Born: June 5, 1976 Greensboro, NC Height: 6-0 Weight: 190 Age: 31 Pos: WR Experience: 9 years College: North Carolina State

Green Bay's Brett Favre and Seattle's Walter Jones had more all-star credentials than the Rams wide receiver, but were among the five players in the conference to pull out from their invitation to Honolulu because of injuries or personal reasons.

Thus, the role of the wise elder falls to Holt, in his seventh Pro Bowl in nine NFL seasons, all with St. Louis.

With 15 first-time invitees on his team, including rookies Adrian Peterson, Nick Folk and Patrick Willis, he's taken it up on himself to make sure everyone appreciates their stay in Hawaii.

"Nah, you know, I talked to a few of them," said Holt, 31.

"I told 'em just to enjoy it man. Take it all in, you never know if you'll be back. You hope to play (well enough) that you'll be back -- but you never know. While you're here, take it all in, enjoy it, and then go out there on Sunday and play the game, have a great time and do what you do."

Three of his teammates -- Ethan Albright, Greg Ellis and Al Harris -- actually have more NFL years than he does but were invited for the first time.

While commissioner Roger Goodell was noncommittal this week in his support for the Pro Bowl's appearance at Aloha Stadium beyond 2009, Holt stuck up for the Islands.

"Well you know, I think it's great here," he said. "I love it here, coming to Hawaii. Hawaii's beautiful. Everybody just associates the Pro Bowl with Hawaii, or Hawaii with the Pro Bowl.

"But I'm not the one to pull the trigger as far as those decisions."

Holt, a consensus All-America pick out of North Carolina State, boasts the most receiving yards per game (84.7) in NFL history. He's had eight straight 1,000-yard campaigns, and was the first player to collect 1,300-plus yards in six straight seasons.

Since the turn of the century, no receiver has gone for more than his 9,887 yards. Holt's yardage has dipped slightly over the last two years and his gains-per-catch aren't quiet as eye-popping. His Rams struggled to a 3-13 record in 2007, but Holt's touchdowns remained consistent and his all-around stats are still Pro Bowl-caliber.

"I have to thank the coaches, and the players, and the fans for voting me in and saying I'm worthy of this pick," Holt said humbly. "So, it's always great to come over here. You get the opportunity to meet so many great guys, new guys."

Long considered one of the best receivers in the league, the 6-footer's hands and awareness are considered his top physical attributes. Beyond that, though, he's known throughout the NFL for his upbeat personality. In 1999, his first season in the NFL, he established the Holt Foundation to assist children in the fight against cancer.

If flying out to the middle of the Pacific Ocean gets tiresome at all, he wouldn't show it.

"Hopefully in '09, I'll get voted in and wherever it's at, I'll go there to play," Holt said. "But, Hawaii is a great host. Hopefully they'll be able to keep it here.

"The (state) is very receptive -- they put on a good show for us. It's always a treat to come over here to represent the National Football League."