Kicker Sebastian Janikowski, punter Shane Lechler and defensive tackle Richard Seymour from the Raiders were named to the 2012 Pro Bowl, the NFL announced Dec. 27.
Janikowski was chosen to the American Football Conference Pro Bowl team for the first time in his 12-season NFL career, all with the Raiders. Both Lechler and Seymour were named for the seventh time.
The Pro Bowl rosters are selected by a vote of fans, players and coaches. Each counts one-third toward determining the AFC and NFC 42-player rosters. A 43rd “need” player will be chosen by the two head coaches and must be a long snapper, according to the NFL.
This season's Pro Bowl will be played Jan. 29 in Honolulu, Hawaii.
Janikowski, right, leads the Raiders with 115 points and has converted 27 of 31 field goal attempts this season. His only misses were from 58 yards (ball hit the crossbar), 56 yards while attempts from 49 and 65 yards were blocked. In Oakland's season opener, Janikowski tied an NFL record held by Tom Dempsey of New Orleans (1971) and Jason Elam of Denver (1998) with a 63-yard field goal in a 23-20 win over Denver.
Janikowski, 33, has kicked three of more field goals four times this season, all Raiders wins. He also set a franchise record with six field goals in a 25-20 victory over the Chicago Bears on Nov. 27.
The former Florida State star has led the Raiders in scoring in each of his 11 seasons and is the all-time scoring leader in franchise history with 1,247 points.
"It took me awhile, but it feels great and it’s a great honor and I’m happy to be there," Janikowski said in a Raiders’ news release.
Janikowski and Lechler, 35, won the Pro Bowl fan balloting at their respective positions. Seymour, 32, was chosen to his second straight Pro Bowl as a Raider despite reportedly being hampered by a knee injury this season.
Lechler, right, was named to his fourth straight Pro Bowl. The 12-season veteran leads the NFL in gross punting with a 50.7 average and is sixth in net punting at 40.9. Of Lechler's 77 punts this season, 27 have been downed inside the 20-yard line with only eight touchbacks. He had an career-long 80-yard punt against Chicago this season and had a 76-yarder against Kansas City on Dec. 24.
His career average of 47.6 yards is the highest in NFL history.
"I’m happy to go with my teammates who made it and I’m definitely super-excited for Seabass," Lechler said in a Raiders news release. "It’s been so overdue for him, he’s probably the best kicker in the league for at least the last five or six years."
Seymour, right, has six sacks and 27 total tackles this season. The former New England Patriot blocked 49-yard field goal attempts by Kansas City’s Ryan Succop just before halftime and at the end of regulation as the Raiders prevailed 16-13 in Week 16 to stay alive in contention for the AFC West title and the wild card race.
The blocks earned Seymour the honor of AFC special teams player of the week.
The Raiders announced that safety Tyvon Branch, defensive tackle Tommy Kelly, running back Darren McFadden and fullback Marcel Reece had been selected as Pro Bowl alternates, meaning they could be called because of injury or to substitute for players who are playing in the Super Bowl the following week in Indianapolis.
McFadden hasn’t played since Oct. 23 because of a mid-foot sprain.
Note: On Jan. 19, Raiders long snapper Jon Condo was named to the 2012 AFC Pro Bowl team. Condo, 30 was also chosen for the Pro Bowl at the dend of the 2009 season.
Click here for the 2012 Pro Bowl rosters
Contra Costa Times
