Michael Vick, the Eagles quarterback who sat out two seasons while serving a federal sentence for his role in a dogfighting operation, will start for the N.F.C. in the Jan. 30 Pro Bowl in Honolulu. The honor is yet another major step in Vick’s resurgence.
Vick made three Pro Bowls with Atlanta before he was suspended by the league and served jail time for running a dogfighting ring. This season, he has gone from a seldom-used backup to the N.F.C.’s leading passer, the catalyst for Philadelphia’s dynamic offense. Besides Vick, the Eagles had four other players selected.
Atlanta, which leads the N.F.C. with a 12-3 record, had the most Pro Bowlers with seven, including quarterback Matt Ryan, receiver Roddy White and defensive end John Abraham.
New England (13-2), the A.F.C. leader, had six Pro Bowlers, led by Tom Brady, the league’s top passer. Brady will make his sixth trip to the game — providing the Patriots do not reach the Super Bowl. The Pro Bowl will be played the Sunday before the league’s championship game at Dallas Cowboys Stadium.
Baltimore, Green Bay and Dallas also had five players voted in by players, coaches and fans. The results were announced Tuesday.
Four rookies were chosen, with defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh of Detroit elected as a starter for the N.F.C. Cornerback Devin McCourty of New England, kick returner Marc Mariani of Tennessee and center Maurkice Pouncey of Pittsburgh made the A.F.C. team.
The only teams not represented were Buffalo, Cincinnati, Seattle and Tampa Bay.
Colts quarterback Peyton Manning made his 11th Pro Bowl as a backup to Brady. He joined Brett Favre as the only quarterbacks selected to at least 11 games.
Three Jets — center Nick Mangold, tackle D’Brickashaw Ferguson and cornerback Darrelle Revis — were named to the A.F.C. team, with both Mangold and Revis voted in as starters.
The Giants put four players on the N.F.C. team. Guard Chris Snee, who will start, will be joined in Honolulu by center Shaun O’Hara, defensive end Justin Tuck and safety Antrel Rolle.
