Janikowski, Lechler, Seymour headed to Pro Bowl

Placekicker Sebastian Janikowski, taken with the 17th overall pick in the 2000 draft by the Raiders, has been selected to his first Pro Bowl as rosters were announced by the NFL late Tuesday afternoon. Janikowski joins his holder and teammate, punter Shane Lechler, on the AFC squad, as well as defensive tackle Richard Seymour.Both specialists won the fan vote, which counted for one-third of the selection, for their respective positions.
It is the seventh Pro Bowl selection for both Lechler and Seymour.Janikowski, the Raiders' all-time leading scorer, tied the NFL record for longest field goal when he kicked a 63-yarder at Denver in the season opener on Sept. 12.Known for having the strongest leg in the game, Janikowski has converted 27 of his 31 field-goal attempts thus far, including six of nine from at least 50 yards. Two misses came on kicks from 56 and 59 yards, at home against the New York Jets and at Kansas City, respectively, and he's had two blocked, from 49 yards at Minnesota and 65 yards at home against Detroit. Janikowski missed the Oct. 23 game against Kansas City with a hamstring strain to his left (kicking) leg and was slowed for the next month or so.Lechler, meanwhile, is leading the NFL with a 50.7-yards-per-punt average and had an 80-yard punt at home against Chicago. His 40.9 yards net average is third in the AFC. He was in the same draft class as Janikowski.Seymour, in his 11th season, has six sacks, his most as a member of the Raiders, and blocked two field goals last weekend in Kansas City.The Pro Bowl is scheduled for Jan. 29 at Honolulu's Aloha Stadium, the week before the Super Bowl. Thus, members of teams playing in Super Bowl XLVI will not play in the Pro Bowl.

Also, strong safety Tyvon Branch, defensive tackle Tommy Kelly, running back Darren McFadden and fullback Marcel Reece were all named as alternates.Pittsburgh's Troy Polomalu was the lone strong safety named while Baltimore's Haloti Ngata and New England's Vince Wilfork are the starting interior defensive linemen, with Seymour backing them up. Baltimore's Vonta Leach was the lone fullback whole Baltimore's Ray Rice, Jacksonville's Maurice Jones-Drew and Houston's Arian Foster were the three running backs named.The Pro Bowl is scheduled for Jan. 29 at Honolulu's Aloha Stadium, the week before the Super Bowl. Thus, members of teams playing in Super Bowl XLVI will not play in the Pro Bowl.