The Steelers had four players named as starters on the 2012 AFC Pro Bowl team, and one as a back-up.
SS Troy Polamalu, WR Mike Wallace, KR Antonio Brown and C Maurkice Pouncey were selected as starters, and QB Ben Roethlisberger is a back-up QB behind Tom Brady, the AFC’s starting QB.
Brown had a great year as a receiver, but he was named to the Pro Bowl team as a kick returner.
It marks the first year since 2006 the Steelers did not have an outside linebacker named to the team.
While neither Polamalu nor Wallace are seen as surprise starters, Pouncey is somewhat of a surprise. The Steelers running game has dropped off a bit from where it was last year. Pouncey has had several different players lining up at both guard positions throughout the year, and he has been the Steelers’ best run and pass defender.
Roethlisberger and Brady are joined by San Diego’s Phillip Rivers.
Baltimore’s Ray Rice, Houston’s Arian Foster and Jacksonville’s Maurice Jones-Drew are the running backs with Batimore’s Vonta Leach is the fullback.
Wallace is joined by New England’s Wes Welker, Miami’s Brandon Marshall and Cincinnati’s A.J. Green as the receivers.
The tight ends are Rob Gronkowski and San Diego’s Antonio Gates.
Cleveland’s Joe Thomas, Miami’s Jake Long and New York’s D’Brickashaw Ferguson are the offensive tackles. Marshal Yanda (Baltimore), Brian Waters (New England) and Logan Mankins (New England) are the offensive guards for the AFC.
Pouncey is joined by New York’s Nick Mangold at the center position.
On the defensive side of the ball are some familiar names in the AFC.
At defensive end, Indianapolis’ Dwight Freeney and New England’s Andre Carter joined Denver’s Elvis Dumervil. Baltimore’s Haloti Ngata, New England’s Vince Wilfork and Oakland’s Richard Seymour are the defensive tackles.
Baltimore’s Terrell Suggs, Kansas City’s Tamba Hali and Denver rookie Von Miller are the outside linebackers.
The inside linebackers are Baltimore’s Ray Lewis and Kansas City’s Derrick Johnson.
At cornerback, New York’s Darrelle Revis, Houston’s Jonathan Joseph and Denver’s Champ Bailey were named to the team.
Polamalu is joined by Baltimore’s Ed Reed and San Diego’s Eric Weddle at the safety positions.
Source: Behind the Steel Curtain
