5 Steelers make Pro Bowl

Staff/wire report

Steelers safety Troy Polamalu, center Maurkice Pouncey, wide receiver Mike Wallace, quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and kick returner Antonio Brown have been selected to the 2012 AFC Pro Bowl team.

Polamalu, Pouncey and Wallace were named starters in the NFL’s annual all-star game that will be played on Jan. 29 at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu. The Pro Bowl squads were selected by a combined voting of fans, players and coaches.

Linebacker James Harrison, safety Ryan Clark and linebacker LaMarr Woodley were named as alternates from the Steelers (11-4).

Browns offensive tackle Joe Thomas has been selected for the fifth straight season.

Thomas, who has not missed an offensive snap since he was drafted in 2007, joins Hall of Fame running back Jim Brown as the only Cleveland players to make the Pro Bowl in their first five seasons.

The last Browns player to be selected to five or more consecutive Pro Bowls was Hall of Fame running back Leroy Kelly (1967-72).

Linebacker D’Qwell Jackson and kick returner Josh Cribbs were selected as alternates for the Browns (4-11).

Tom Brady is one of eight Patriots and Patrick Willis one of eight 49ers selected.

Defending Super Bowl champion Green Bay (14-1), led by starting quarterback Aaron Rodgers, and Baltimore (11-4), led by veteran linebacker Ray Lewis, have seven apiece.

Brady is one of seven starters from New England (12-3). The others are receiver Wes Welker, tight end Rob Gronkowski, defensive tackle Vince Wilfork, defensive end Andre Carter, and guards Brian Waters and Logan Mankins all are starters for the AFC from the Patriots. Special teamer Matthew Slater is the other New England representative.

Linebacker Willis, DE Justin Smith, cornerback Carlos Rogers and tackle Joe Staley will start for the NFC from the 49ers (12-3), who had only Smith and Willis make the Pro Bowl last year.

Green Bay’s Rodgers is the starting NFC quarterback, backed by record-setting Drew Brees of New Orleans (12-3).

“It does have special significance, because when I was voted in in 2009, I was the third guy and I was very thankful to be voted in, and got the opportunity to start because of some injuries and guys not going,” Rodgers said.