Pro Bowl rosters 2014: 41 players selected from the NFC

The Pro Bowl selections were announced on Friday with Drew Brees, Marshawn Lynch and Richard Sherman among the players picked from the NFC.

By Jeff Gray@Jeff_GraySBN Dec 27, 2013, 9:18pm EST

The NFL announced the 2014 Pro Bowl selections and 41 were chosen from the NFC to play in this season's All-Star game.

For the first time ever, the Pro Bowl is not organized by conference. The top vote-getters from across the league were chosen regardless of conference and have been put into a draft pool. Jerry Rice and Deion Sanders will serve as team captains to select the two rosters.

Saints quarterback Drew Brees returns to the Pro Bowl and will be joined by Cam Newton and Russell Wilson from the NFC. Marshawn Lynch was second in the conference and one of five NFC running backs to make the All-Star game. Three members of Seattle's secondary were picked with Richard Sherman, Earl Thomas and Kam Chancellor all selected.

Pro Bowl selections were determined by the consensus voting of fans, coaches and players. The NFL is the only professional sports league to incorporate all three votes in the selection.

The changes to the Pro Bowl selection process are part of a larger makeover designed to reinvigorate the struggling game. The league has even revamped the rules in an effort to make it safer for players and more exciting for fans. Kickoffs have been removed, two-minute warnings instituted every quarter and the play clock shortened.

More Pro Bowl: AFC roster Snubs

Teams will be finalized during the inaugural Pro Bowl Draft, which will air live at 8 p.m. ET Jan. 22 on the NFL Network. The game itself will be played in Hawaii on Jan. 26.

NFC Pro Bowl selections:

Position	Player
Offense
Quarterback	Drew Brees, New Orleans Russell Wilson, Seattle Cam Newton, Carolina
Running back	Marshawn Lynch, Seattle LeSean McCoy, Philadelphia Matt Forte, Chicago Frank Gore, San Francisco Adrian Peterson, Minnesota
Fullback	Mike Tolbert, Carolina
Wide receiver	Calvin Johnson, Detroit Brandon Marshall, Chicago Dez Bryant, Dallas
Tight end	Vernon Davis, San Francisco Jimmy Graham, New Orleans
Tackle	Trent Williams, Washington Jason Peters, Philadelphia Tyron Smith, Dallas Joe Staley, San Francisco
Center	Ryan Kalil, Carolina Max Unger, Seattle
Guard	Jahri Evans, New Orleans Ben Grubbs, New Orleans Mike Iupati, San Francisco
Defense
Position	Player
Defensive end	Robert Quinn, St. Louis Greg Hardy, Carolina Cameron Jordan, New Orleans
Defensive tackle	Ndamukong Suh, Detroit Gerald McCoy, Tampa Bay Justin Smith, San Francisco
Outside linebacker	John Abraham, Arizona Ahmad Brooks, San Francisco
Inside linebacker	NaVorro Bowman, San Francisco Luke Kuechly, Carolina Patrick Willis, San Francisco
Cornerback	Darrelle Revis, Tampa Bay Richard Sherman, Seattle Patrick Peterson, Arizona
Free safety	Earl Thomas, Seattle
Strong safety	Kam Chancellor, Seattle
Special teams
Position	Player
Punter	Johnny Hekker, St. Louis
Kicker	N/A
Return man	N/A
Special teamer	Justin Bethel, Arizona