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If it were all up to the fans, the Ravens would have seven Pro Bowlers this year.
Fullback Vonta Leach, tackle Michael Oher, defensive tackle Haloti Ngata, outside linebacker Terrell Suggs, inside linebacker Ray Lewis, free safety Ed Reed and special teamer Brendon Ayanbadejo all finished atop their respective positions in fan voting.
While that’s quite the accomplishment – and a testament to the fans voting – it doesn’t mean all of them will be going to Hawaii.
Fan voting accounts for one-third of the overall equation. Player and coach voting makes up the other two-thirds and is being accumulated today and tomorrow.
The teams will be announced at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 27 on a special “NFL Total Access 2012 Pro Bowl Selection Show” on NFL Network.
Leach got a final push from fans to overtake San Diego Chargers fullback Jacob Hester, who he trailed heading into the last week of voting. Leach’s running back, Ray Rice, was not able to catch up to Houston’s Arian Foster, however. Rice is third in AFC voting, also trailing Jacksonville’s Maurice Jones-Drew.
Playing in all 14 games compared to 12 for Foster, Rice has 20 more rushing yards, is averaging 0.3 yards more per carry and has one more rushing touchdown. Rice also has 21 more receptions for 47 more yards and each has two receiving touchdowns.
Ngata, Suggs, Lewis, Reed and Ayanbadejo would all be repeat Pro Bowlers. It would be a first for Oher, who has made a smooth transition back to right tackle in his third season.
Baltimore dominates the AFC team overall.
The Patriots have the second-most players on the team with five: quarterback Tom Brady, wide receiver Wes Welker, tight end Rob Gronkowski, guard Logan Mankins and defensive end Andre Carter. The Steelers have two players: center Maurkice Pouncey and strong safety Troy Polamalu.
The NFC Packers have the most players of any team – nine on the 19-man roster.
The Ravens didn’t have any players on the top-10 list of vote-getters. Not surprisingly, Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers led all players with 1,581,982 votes. Fans cast more than 100 million votes.
http://blogs.baltimoreravens.com/2011/12/21/7-ravens-finish-atop-pro-bowl-fan-vote/Michael Oher going to his 1st pro bowl rofl
i dont even