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Four from Tampa Bay's defense, two from the offense going to Hawaii.
By RICK STROUD, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times, published January 3, 2002
TAMPA -- If the teams with the most Pro Bowl players met in the Super Bowl each season, Tampa Bay would be Titletown.
For the second straight season the Bucs placed the most players in the Pro Bowl. On Wednesday their six selections tied the defending Super Bowl champion Ravens for tops in the NFL.
Not surprisingly, four of the selections are from the Bucs defense: linebacker Derrick Brooks, tackle Warren Sapp, safety John Lynch and cornerback Ronde Barber, who is making his first trip to the all-star game in Hawaii.
Receiver Keyshawn Johnson, who has just one touchdown despite leading the NFL with 106 receptions, and fullback Mike Alstott were the representatives of the Bucs offense.
"I think it's a statement of what people think about your players and I think it's great," Bucs coach Tony Dungy said. "When you have individuals who get honored, it means they're performing well, but their units are performing well, too. We're happy about that, happy for the individuals. But there's always guys who play well and don't make it."
Notably absent is guard Randall McDaniel, whose string of 12 straight starts in the Pro Bowl is over.
Johnson is the first receiver to be named to Pro Bowl teams from both conferences since Andre Rison, who last played in the Pro Bowl after the '97 season for the Chiefs. Alstott makes his fifth straight appearance and leads the Bucs in rushing with 669 yards and has scored a club-record 10 rushing touchdowns.
In keeping with a tradition he began during two Pro Bowl appearances for the Jets, Johnson said he will buy his quarterbacks Rolexes and will pay for his teammates on the receiving corps to accompany him to Hawaii.
"Yeah, it's good. It lets you know that you've done something for your team, especially the fact that you're in the playoffs," Johnson said. "So it means a whole lot that you're going to the Pro Bowl and also to the playoffs. ... "I think I've had better years in the past on the other team that I played on. But any time you go to the playoffs, it makes it that much better. So it's a pretty good season for me. I would've liked to maybe lose two games or one game and not have six losses on your record. But we're in the playoffs and that's all that really matters to me."
Brooks' selection to his fifth straight Pro Bowl acknowledges his perseverance, playing through a painful foot sprain.
Brooks is coming off his best game of the season in the Bucs' 22-10 win over Baltimore. He had 20 tackles, two passes defensed and returned an interception 53 yards to set up a touchdown.
"It's an honor, every year," Brooks said. "To me, it's more of a personal testament -- colleagues and coaches (recognize) playing through when you're hurt, still many play, though not as many. People were able to see that. Just getting healthy these past three or four weeks -- I thank God I was voted in. It's very satisfying, of course, to see my teammates in -- Ronde, Warren. (Sapp's) numbers are down, but he's probably having one of his better seasons."
Sapp saw his sack total plummet from 161/2 in 2000 to six this season. But he is recognized by players and fans as perhaps the most dominant player at his position.
"I'd like to think I'm a pretty good player," Sapp said. "It's one of those things where, in any profession, you want your peers to say, 'I respect his game and I like the way he plays the game.' It does mean something that way."
Lynch, who has at least 100 tackles for the sixth straight season, made four game-clinching plays this season.
"It's one honor that never gets old," Lynch said of the Pro Bowl.
Lynch will have a new teammate accompany him on his fourth trip to Honolulu. After re-signing with the Bucs in the offseason, Barber produced MVP numbers, leading the NFL with 10 interceptions. He also is on pace to finish with more than 100 tackles.
"You get interceptions and you play my position, people take notice," Barber said. "I don't think I'll come out of this season saying it's been any better than other seasons, but statistically, it has been."
Sapp said Barber will have an opportunity to post some other big numbers in Honolulu.
"We've got to take him out to dinner and show him the good places to eat. We've got to see how his credit card works," Sapp said. "We've always got to get the new guy"