2007 nfl pro bowl

December 19, 2006 - Middle linebacker Zach Thomas and defensive end Jason Taylor have consistently been among the best at their respective positions in the NFL for the last decade. This year has been no different, and today they were recognized for their stellar seasons as they were selected to the AFC Pro Bowl squad. Taylor was named as a starter. The game will be played on Saturday, February 10, at Honolulu’s Aloha Stadium starting at 6:00 p.m. (ET), and will be televised live by CBS-TV.
It is Thomas’ seventh selection to the Pro Bowl, including his second in a row, while Taylor has now been chosen on five occasions, including three straight times. It is also the fifth time that he has been picked as a starter. Thomas is now tied with former tackle Richmond Webb for the second-most Pro Bowl selections in franchise history. Only quarterback Dan Marino (9) was voted to more. Taylor’s five selections as a starter tie him with center Jim Langer for the second-most in club annals, trailing only Marino (7).
“We’re very happy for both Jason and Zach,” said Dolphins Head Coach Nick Saban. “Those are two guys who have played great football for us all year. They’ve made lots of plays, but they also represent the organization professionally in every respect, both on the field and off the field. They are great leaders on the team, and it’s always good to see guys who go about things in a first-class way get a lot of positive self-gratification in getting to the Pro Bowl. It certainly is a standard of excellence that every player aspires for.”
Thomas has started all 14 games in 2006, and leads the NFL with 144 tackles. It is his 11th time in as many NFL seasons that he has reached the triple-digit tackle plateau, and he is well on his way to leading the team in tackles for the 10th time in 11 years. Thomas has been an integral part of a defense that has allowed an average of only 3.5 yards per rush attempt, the third-lowest figure in the AFC and fourth in the NFL. Thomas also has recorded an interception and a forced fumble on the season. He has registered double-digit tackle figures in seven of his 14 games this year, including a season-high 21 last Sunday at Buffalo.
Taylor is having perhaps the best all-around season of his 10-year career. His 14-game totals consist of 55 tackles, 12.5 sacks, two interceptions (both for TDs), 11 passes defensed, 10 forced fumbles and a fumble recovery. His sack total is tied for second in both the AFC and in the NFL, marking the fifth time in his career that he has reached double-digit sack totals, and his fourth in the last five years. He was named AFC Defensive Player of the Month for November when he amassed two sacks, two interceptions, three forced fumbles and six passes defensed as the Dolphins went 4-0 in the month. He was named AFC Defensive Player of the Week in two of those wins, both when he returned interceptions for touchdowns. His first came in a 31-13 win at Chicago on November 5 when he picked off a Rex Grossman pass and returned it 20 yards for his first NFL touchdown via an interception. His second came two weeks later in a 24-20 victory over Minnesota, when he snared a Brad Johnson pass and raced 51 yards for a score. Taylor now has seven career touchdowns, tied with former New York Giant George Martin for the most by an NFL defensive lineman who entered the league in 1970 or later.
The AFC and NFC All-Star squads are made up of the consensus votes of fans, players and coaches. Each group’s vote counts one-third towards determining the 43-man rosters that represent the American Football Conference and National Football Conference in the Pro Bowl.
Thomas and Taylor both stand among the top five among all-time Dolphin defenders in Pro Bowl selections.
Jason Taylor
(On where he was when he found out and if it was a surprise) – “I was actually at my foundation’s office when Coach Saban called. I don’t want to call it a surprise because I thought I was having a good enough year to go, but it’s always a great compliment when you’re selected because it’s done by so many people – the fans, the coaches and the players. They all come together to make a selection. It’s a great individual honor in a team game, but like I said for the last few weeks, ‘I would trade all of this in for a chance to play in January, but unfortunately we can’t do that now. I am definitely appreciative of it.”
(On Zach Thomas finding out he was selected to the Pro Bowl while shopping for a gift for him) – “That’s what he says, but he must have been at the local convenient store or something.”
(On if he already has purchased a gift for Zach Thomas) – “To be honest, no. I’m not getting him a gift. I think his gift is getting to play with me every day, at least that’s what I tell him.”
(On if he’s taking credit for getting Zach Thomas into the Pro Bowl) – “No. I really don’t deserve all the credit anyways. The guys that I play with – I say this all the time – Keith Traylor, Vonnie (Holliday), Kevin Carter, Matt Roth, Jeff Zgonina and Dan Wilkinson, all the guys that have played with me this year and throughout my career, have really made me what I am and allowed me to be able to go out and do what I do and make plays. It’s kind of a bittersweet day because you always are appreciative to get the Pro Bowl nomination and all that, but it also blows my mind that Vonnie Holliday isn’t on the team or even an alternate on the Pro Bowl team. For the life of me I don’t understand how that can happen. Even a guy like Keith Traylor, who is playing at such a high level – he and Vonnie, it’s really disappointing to me that they’re not on the team and they don’t even have an alternate position. It’s just a crying shame.”