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The Bucs set a team record and equal the Titans for tops in the NFL by getting eight players named to the Pro Bowl roster.
By RICK STROUD
© St. Petersburg Times, published December 15, 2000
TAMPA -- On Monday when his team and peers around the NFL were meeting to vote for the Pro Bowl, Donnie Abraham's wife, Tunisia, gave birth to the couple's third child, a son named Micah Aaron.
If that wasn't enough to celebrate, the occasion also was marked by the arrival to the NFL All-Star game of Abraham, who has delivered eye-popping numbers at cornerback for five seasons.
Abraham was among eight Tampa Bay players -- tying the Titans for the most in the NFL -- to be named to the 2001 AFC-NFC Pro Bowl on Thursday.
Placekicker Martin Gramatica is the other Bucs player who will make his first appearance in the game played Feb. 4 at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu.
The six other selections by the Bucs are NFC starters, three on each side of the ball. Tackle Warren Sapp, linebacker Derrick Brooks and safety John Lynch will start on defense; fullback Mike Alstott, center Jeff Christy and guard Randall McDaniel on offense.
But nobody was happier than Abraham, who leads NFC cornerbacks in interceptions with seven. His 25 career interceptions are more than Deion Sanders had in his first five pro seasons.
Abraham's wait ended when Bucs coach Tony Dungy gathered his team to announce the Pro Bowl players. But Dungy made Abraham wait a little longer.
"I didn't jump to any conclusions. I wanted to wait and get the word from Coach Dungy," Abraham said. "And that happened (Thursday morning). He made me wait a little. He made me squirm a little because he announced the secondary last. I was sweating a little bit on it.
"It's great. It really hasn't sunk in yet. Probably tonight it'll sink in. I'll probably go jump in the pool naked or something."
Gramatica, who was named NFC special-teams player of the week on Wednesday, edged veteran Vikings placekicker Gary Anderson for the honor. Gramatica leads the NFC with 112 points and has connected on 25 of 30 field-goal attempts this season.
"I can't believe it," Gramatica said. "I didn't expect it and it caught me by surprise. You always want to be there, but with all the great kickers in the NFC, I just didn't expect it.
"No, I don't really compare stats with what the other kickers are doing. I just see what I'm doing and try to get better and make all my kicks."
McDaniel and Christy, signed as free agents from the Vikings, were deemed the best at their positions despite switching teams and offensive systems.
McDaniel will make his NFL-record 12th consecutive start in the Pro Bowl, tying Reggie White for the most all-star games played.
"This one feels like the first one to me right now, after what happened in Minnesota," said McDaniel, who will be 36 on Tuesday. "To come here and make it back again, after (they) said I was too old to play anymore and all that, it's just kind of nice."
Christy will make his third consecutive appearance: "I don't think it ever becomes old hat, with new players coming in every year getting bigger, stronger and faster.
"I definitely feel good about going back with Randall and it's going to be a good thing."
Brooks and Sapp will be making their fourth consecutive appearance in Hawaii, but this time they are looking forward to bringing along two new teammates.
"That's something I don't want to get used to. I never want to take that for granted," Brooks said. "We're always thankful and set another team record. We added Martin and Donnie for the first time. I look forward to spending a week over there with those guys."
Perhaps the most surprising choice was Alstott, who has missed the past three games with a strained ligament in his left knee. Alstott returned to practice wearing a large brace on his knee and is expected to play Monday night against the Rams.
"I think you have to put it all in perspective," Alstott said. "The only reason I got to the Pro Bowl was because I out here on the field. I'd rather be out here in a Bucs uniform any day than be stuck with just the Pro Bowl ... but I'll take both."
Abraham should not have to make apologies for his first-time selection. He beat out Cardinals cornerback Aeneas Williams for the honor.
"Considering my stats, I should be there," said Abraham, a third-round pick from East Tennessee State in 1996. "I don't think it's really sunk in yet. You never really think it's going to happen. Especially a guy like me. I come from a small town from small school and you never think it's going to happen. Then it does happen and it feels great.
"I can be ignored at the cornerback position all I want to, but the one thing that can't be ignored is the numbers I've put up."
Two other Bucs players -- defensive end Marcus Jones and cornerback Ronde Barber -- had a chance but were left off the NFC squad.
"I felt very happy, especially for the first-time guys," Dungy said. "I thought it was well deserved -- Donnie Abraham and Martin Gramatica. I think the rest of the guys have all been.
"There's times when you have guys you think deserve to go and don't go. No one can be totally satisfied because you can't have everybody there. But I thought it was great for our guys and having eight guys is a tribute to the way our guys have worked."
Tackles -- x-Orlando Pace, St. Louis; x-William Roaf, New Orleans; Korey Stringer, Minnesot
Guards -- x-Larry Allen, Dallas; x-Randall McDaniel, Tampa Bay; Ron Stone, N.Y. Giants
Centers -- x-Jeff Christy, Tampa Bay; Matt Birk, Minnesota
Tight ends -- x-Chad Lewis, Philadelphia; Stephen Alexander, Washington
Quarterbacks -- x-Daunte Culpepper, Minnesota; Jeff Garcia, San Francisco; Kurt Warner, St. Louis
Running backs -- x-Marshall Faulk, St. Louis; Robert Smith, Minnesota; Charlie Garner, San Francisco
Fullback -- x-Mike Alstott, Tampa Bay
Ends -- x-Hugh Douglas, Philadelphia; x-Joe Johnson, New Orleans; Marco Coleman, Washington
Interior linemen -- x-Warren Sapp, Tampa Bay; x-La'Roi Glover, New Orleans; Luther Elliss, Detroit
Outside linebackers -- x-Derrick Brooks, Tampa Bay; x-Jessie Armstead, Giants; Keith Mitchell, New Orleans
Inside linebackers -- x-Stephen Boyd, Detroit; Jeremiah Trotter, Philadelphia
Cornerbacks -- x-Champ Bailey, Washington; x-Troy Vincent, Philadelphia; Donnie Abraham, Tampa Bay
Strong safties -- x-John Lynch, Tampa Bay; Robert Griffith, Minnesota
Free safety -- x-Darren Sharper, Green Bay
Punter -- Scott Player, Arizona
Placekicker -- Martin Gramatica, Tampa Bay
Kick return specialist -- Desmond Howard, Detroit
Special teamer -- Michael Bates, Carolina
Wide receivers -- x-Marvin Harrison, Indianapolis; x-Eric Moulds, Buffalo; Rod Smith, Denver; Jimmy Smith, Jacksonville
Tackles -- x-Jonathan Ogden, Baltimore; x-Tony Boselli, Jacksonville; Brad Hopkins, Tennessee
Guards -- x-Bruce Matthews, Tennessee; x-Ruben Brown, Buffalo; Steve Wisniewski, Oakland
Centers -- x-Kevin Mawae, N.Y. Jets; Tom Nalen, Denver
Tight ends -- x-Tony Gonzalez, Kansas City; Frank Wycheck, Tennessee
Quarterbacks -- x-Rich Gannon, Oakland; Peyton Manning, Indianapolis; Brian Griese, Denver
Running backs -- x-Edgerrin James, Indianapolis; Eddie George, Tennessee; Corey Dillon, Cincinnati
Fullback -- x-Richie Anderson, N.Y. Jets
Ends -- x-Jason Taylor, Miami; x-Trace Armstrong, Miami; Jevon Kearse, Tennessee
Interior linemen -- x-Trevor Pryce, Denver; x-Sam Adams, Baltimore; Ted Washington, Buffalo
Outside linebackers -- x-Junior Seau, San Diego; x-Mo Lewis, N.Y. Jets; Jason Gildon, Pittsburgh
Inside linebackers -- x-Ray Lewis, Baltimore; Sam Cowart, Buffalo
Cornerbacks -- x-Sam Madison, Miami; x-Samari Rolle, Tennessee; Charles Woodson, Oakland
Strong safety -- x-Blaine Bishop, Tennessee
Free safeties -- x-Rod Woodson, Baltimore; Brock Marion, Miami
Punter -- Darren Bennett, San Diego
Placekicker -- Matt Stover, Baltimore
Kick return specialist -- Derrick Mason, Tennessee
Special teamer -- Larry Izzo, Miami
x-starter