3 Bucs, Freeman, Winslow, and Penn make Pro Bowl alternate roster

Many times alterates get to play in the Pro Bowl, especially with it being played BEFORE the Superbowl, where SuperBowl contestants do not play in the game. The Pro Bowl is scheduled for Jan 29th. QB Josh Freeman has the best chance to get in, with Michael Vick, Drew Brees, and Matt Ryan a good possibility for the SuperBowl. Donald Penn is the alternate at left tackle.If Philadelphia or Green Bay make the SuperBowl, expect Penn to start. Kellen Winslow is the Tight End alternate, where again the starter Falcons Tony Gonzalez could either be injured due to age or be Superbowl eligible. Despite the crys of foul, the Pro Bowl is a popularity contest, where players who have been in the league for many years say is an event you usually get left off a few times early in your career you should make it, and make it a few times late in your career when you shouldn’t make the roster. Teams with the most wins almost always have their rosters littered with pro bowl invites, as do teams with the most nationally exposed games. The Bucs with a winning record and an exciting offense should find themselves with more 4pm and 8pm games next season as opposed to recent years where 14 or 13 games start at 1pm. This year the Bucs were flex scheduled 3 time to a prime time slot. Teams with exciting offenses get more prime time Sunday night or Monday night appearances, and thats how you get Pro Bowl exposure. Here are the Pro Bowl Rosters for the AFC /NFC

AFC Offense Position Player(s) Quarterback * Tom Brady, New England Philip Rivers, San Diego Peyton Manning, Indianapolis Running back * Maurice Jones-Drew, Jacksonville Arian Foster, Houston Jamaal Charles, Kansas City Fullback * Vonta Leach, Houston Wide receiver * Andre Johnson, Houston * Reggie Wayne, Indianapolis Brandon Lloyd, Denver Dwayne Bowe, Kansas City Tight end * Antonio Gates, San Diego Marcedes Lewis, Jacksonville Tackle * Jake Long, Miami * Joe Thomas, Cleveland D’Brickashaw Ferguson, N.Y. Jets Guard * Kris Dielman, San Diego * Logan Mankins, New England Brian Waters, Kansas City Center * Nick Mangold, N.Y. Jets Maurkice Pouncey, Pittsburgh Defense Position Player(s) Defensive end * Dwight Freeney, Indianapolis * Robert Mathis, Indianapolis Jason Babin, Tennessee Interior linemen * Haloti Ngata, Baltimore * Vince Wilfork, New England Richard Seymour, Oakland Outside linebacker * James Harrison, Pittsburgh * Cameron Wake, Miami Terrell Suggs, Baltimore Inside/midde linebacker * Ray Lewis, Baltimore Jerod Mayo, New England Cornerback * Nnamdi Asomugha, Oakland * Darrelle Revis, N.Y. Jets Devin McCourty, New England Free safety * Ed Reed, Baltimore Brandon Meriweather, New England Strong safety * Troy Polamalu, Pittsburgh Special teams Position Player(s) Punter Shane Lechler, Oakland Placekicker Billy Cundiff, Baltimore Kick returner Marc Mariani, Tennessee Special teamer Montell Owens, Jacksonville

NFC Offense Position Player(s) Quarterback * Michael Vick, Philadelphia Matt Ryan, Atlanta Drew Brees, New Orleans Running back * Michael Turner, Atlanta Adrian Peterson, Minnesota Steven Jackson, St. Louis Fullback * Ovie Mughelli, Atlanta Wide receiver * Roddy White, Atlanta * Calvin Johnson, Detroit DeSean Jackson, Philadelphia Greg Jennings, Green Bay Tight end * Jason Witten, Dallas Tony Gonzalez, Atlanta Tackle * Jason Peters, Philadelphia * Jordan Gross, Carolina Chad Clifton, Green Bay Guard * Jahri Evans, New Orleans *Chris Snee, N.Y. Giants Carl Nicks, New Orleans Center * Andre Gurode, Dallas Shaun O’Hara, N.Y. Giants Defense Position Player(s) Defensive end * Julius Peppers, Chicago * John Abraham, Atlanta Justin Tuck, N.Y. Giants Interior linemen * Ndamukong Suh, Detroit * Jay Ratliff, Dallas Justin Smith, San Francisco Outside linebacker * Clay Matthews, Green Bay * DeMarcus Ware, Dallas Lance Briggs, Chicago Inside/midde linebacker * Patrick Willis, San Francisco Brian Urlacher, Chicago Cornerback * Asante Samuel, Philadelphia * Charles Woodson, Green Bay DeAngelo Hall, Washington Free safety * Nick Collins, Green Bay Antrel Rolle, N.Y. Giants Strong safety * Adrian Wilson, Arizona Special teams Position Player(s) Punter Mat McBriar, Dallas Placekicker David Akers, Philadelphia Kick returner Devin Hester, Chicago Special teamer Eric Weems, Atlanta