KIRKLAND – The most likely and least likely members of the Seattle Seahawks were honored with Pro Bowl invitations Wednesday afternoon.
Left tackle Walter Jones, widely-regarded as one of the best offensive linemen in the NFL, was chosen for the fourth consecutive year. The other honoree was a bit less expected, considering he is a wide receiver who has five career receptions, including one this season.
Alex Bannister was named to the NFC squad not for his receiving skills but for his play on special teams. He will join Fredd Young (1984-85) and Rufus Porter (1988-89) as Seahawks special teamers who have gone to the Pro Bowl.
Bannister admitted that he was a bit surprised by the honor.
“I don’t look at myself as an entertainer,” he said. “I go out and make plays, and I like my work to speak for itself. For them to recognize me for my skills and the job that I’ve done, that feels real good.”
Bannister leads the Seahawks with 17 special teams tackles and has downed three punts inside the opponent’s 20-yard line.
“No doubt he was deserving,” special teams coach Pete Rodriguez said. “It would have been a crime had he not gotten it. He was the outstanding guy in the National Football League covering punts.”
Jones, 29, has been invited to the Pro Bowl in four of his seven NFL seasons.
“Every year it’s a great feeling,” he said. “My family looks forward to it. Everybody that supports me is looking forward to it. So every time I make it, it feels just as good as it did the first time.”
Despite missing training camp for the second year in a row due to a contract dispute, Jones has had another solid season. His reputation is such that Jones is basically penciled in to the Pro Bowl every year.
“He’d have to have a bad year” not to make it, offensive line coach Tom Lovat said, “but that’s not going to happen.”
There is a good chance that they won’t be the only two Seahawks in Hawaii for the Pro Bowl, as three teammates were named first alternates. Quarterback Matt Hasselbeck, running back Shaun Alexander and guard Steve Hutchinson are all an injury away from getting an invite.
“Other teams have four or five guys,” said Jones, who was the Seahawks’ lone representative last year but did not attend because he underwent shoulder surgery. “So it would be great to have a couple more guys come over there with me.”
Hutchinson is the most likely to go from that group. The New Orleans Saints’ LaCharles Bentley, one of three guards named to the NFC squad, is scheduled to undergo anterior cruciate ligament surgery this weekend and should be out of action for up to five months.
The other two guards are Larry Allen (Dallas) and Marco Rivera (Green Bay).
“You can’t be disappointed,” Hutchinson said of not getting the official invitation Wednesday. “I was named to the fourth spot. Of course, you want to be the starter, but that’s still pretty good.
“It’s hard to get your foot in the door when you’ve got guys like Larry Allen and Rivera that have gone in the past. With the offensive line, it’s hard to break into that group. I guess this is the first step.”
Hasselbeck could also find himself in Hawaii if Green Bay’s Brett Favre opts not to attend. Favre, who has played through a thumb injury this season, has skipped the last two Pro Bowls.
Alexander ranks fourth in the NFC with 1,216 rushing yards, but finished behind Deuce McAllister (New Orleans), Ahman Green (Green Bay) and Stephen Davis (Carolina) in the voting.
Pro Bowl rosters are decided by fans, players and coaches. The official team announcements were made last night on ESPN.
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