Friday, December 22, 2006

Football: Romo, three other Cowboys named to Pro Bowl

Tom Orsborn
Express-News Staff Writer

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo is Hawaii-bound.

Romo and three of his teammates were selected Tuesday to play in the Pro Bowl on Feb. 11 in Honolulu.

Romo is the first Cowboys quarterback to be selected for the all-star game since Troy Aikman in 1996.

It's quite an achievement for a fourth-year player who had never attempted a pass in the regular season until this year. Romo was named despite not starting the first six games of this season.

Joining Romo in Hawaii will be safety Roy Williams, linebacker DeMarcus Ware and punter Mat McBriar.

Williams will be making his fourth-straight trip to Honolulu. Ware and McBriar are newcomers.

Romo is the NFC's highest-rated passer (98.4) and has 16 touchdown passes. He is the sixth quarterback in team history to make the Pro Bowl, joining Eddie LeBaron (one), Don Meredith (three), Roger Staubach (six), Danny White (one) and Aikman (six).

Williams leads the Cowboys with seven takeaways, including a team-high five interceptions.

Ware leads the team in sacks with 7½. The second-year player has also scored two touchdowns, including a 41-yard interception return in the Cowboys' 38-28 victory over Atlanta last week.

McBriar, who played his college ball at Hawaii, leads the league with a 48.3 gross average and is tied for league lead in net average at 39.5.

Tight end Jason Witten, cornerback Terence Newman, receiver Terrell Owens and center Andre Gurode are candidates to be named as alternates.

Starters will be announced on wild-card weekend early next month. The other NFC quarterbacks are New Orleans' Drew Brees, an Austin Westlake graduate, and St. Louis' Marc Bulger.

In his eight starts, Romo has a 100.1 passer rating. The Cowboys are 6-2 with him in the huddle and have clinched a playoff spot with two games left.

The Cowboys (9-5) can clinch their first NFC East title by beating Philadelphia (8-6) on Monday at Texas Stadium in Irving.