Three Broncos will be adding a little pineapple to their diet next month, one for the first time.
Champ Bailey, Elvis Dumervil and Von Miller were voted to the 2012 Pro Bowl, it was announced Tuesday. Bailey and Miller are starters. Dumervil, currently a reserve, might end up a starter as New England’s Andre Carter — who is on injured reserve — is slated to be a Pro Bowl starter ahead of him.
“It’s always exciting when you have guys going to the Pro Bowl,” Executive Vice President of Football Operations John Elway said. “They’re three guys that are very deserving.”
Tim Tebow, Willis McGahee, Ryan Clady, Brian Dawkins Matt Prater and Britton Colquitt are alternates for the all-star game.
The selection is Bailey’s 11th, extending the record he set last season for trips by a cornerback. It makes him one of just six players in NFL history with that many selections.
It’s also Bailey’s seventh Pro Bowl as a Bronco, which ties him for third in franchise history with Shannon Sharpe and Randy Gradishar. Only Elway and Steve Atwater went to more withDenver.
“Champ is obviously a guy that has tremendous respect around the league,” Elway said. “Again, it just shows with this 11th Pro Bowl what people think of him around the league, but also he continues to play at a Pro Bowl level. It’s great for him as well as the Broncos.”
Dumervil, who suffered an injury before the team’s season-opener against the Oakland Raiders and was hampered early in the year, will make his second trip.
The defensive end recovered from the injury quickly and is currently on an eight-game streak of notching at least a half sack. For the season, he has 9.5 quarterback takedowns.
“This year is one of those examples — you never stop, you never quit,” Dumervil said. “It’s all about how you finish.”
Two years ago, Dumervil made the Pro Bowl — which was held in his hometown of Miami— before missing all of last season with a pectoral injury.
That’s why he said this selection means even more to him.
“The first one is your first, so it’s special in that way,” he said. “But this year is different with the adversity and playing through pain, and to be able to give the team a chance to go to the playoffs. This one means a lot, to overcome that adversity.”
Dumervil’s partner in crime, Miller, will be making his first trip to the Pro Bowl.
Miller currently leads all AFC rookies with 11.5 sacks.
“I’m so happy for him,” Dumervil said. “He worked for it and he definitely earned it. Coming in as the No. 2 pick is a lot of pressure and a lot of hype and he delivered. A lot of guys can’t handle the pressure, but he’s had a great year. He’s been banged up with his thumb but he’s definitely been a Pro Bowler and he deserves it.”
– Gray Caldwell/DenverBroncos.Com –