hree Eagles Make Pro Bowl


December 19, 2006
By DAVE SPADARO

Safety Brian Dawkins, offensive guard Shawn Andrews and cornerback Lito Sheppard have been named to the NFC's Pro Bowl squad. Dawkins and Andrews were named as starters.

Brian Westbrook, L.J. Smith and Jeremiah Trotter were named as alternates.

Dawkins makes his sixth Pro Bowl, and it certainly well deserved. He is likely to be a strong candidate for NFC Defensive Player of the Month award for his play in December while leading the Eagles to three consecutive victories.

Dawkins has a career-high 144 tackles, including five for a loss, one sack, three interceptions, and five forced fumbles. He also earned Pro Bowl honors after the 1999, 2001-02, and 2004-05 seasons. Dawkins' six Pro Bowl appearances tie him with Pete Pihos for third in team history behind Chuck Bednarik (8) and Reggie White (7).

Brian Dawkins: Pro Bowl Number 6
With those three interceptions, Dawkins has moved into fourth place on the team's all-time list with 31, three behind leaders Eric Allen and Bill Bradley.

Dawkins has won a franchise-record 91 games in an Eagles uniform since joining the team as a second-round draft pick in 1996. Leading the team with five interceptions and the entire NFL with 156 interception return yards, Sheppard notched his second Pro Bowl berth in just his third season as a full-time starter.

Philadelphia's first-round draft pick in 2002 also earned a spot on the NFC squad after the 2004 campaign. In 2006, Sheppard returned from a three-game hiatus (ankle injury) with a two-interception outing vs. Dallas, including a dramatic, 102-yard return for the game-clinching touchdown in the waning seconds.

As a result, Sheppard became the first player in NFL history to post two 100-yard-plus interception returns for touchdowns in a career. Sheppard also clinched a win vs. Carolina by intercepting a Jake Delhomme pass in the end zone with 28 seconds to play in a 27-24 victory.

Earning his first career Pro Bowl berth, Andrews has started 31 games at right guard for the Eagles, including all 14 this year, after being the club's first-round draft choice in 2004. He landed a starting role during his rookie season and one year later was voted as an alternate to the NFC Pro Bowl squad.

Andrews missed all but one game in 2004 after suffering a fractured fibula in the season opener. In 2006, Andrews has paved the way for the NFL's third-ranked offense in total yards (377.4 yards per game) and sixth-ranked offense in terms of scoring (25.1 points per game).

Westbrook, having a brilliant season with 1,756 yards from scrimmage and averaging 6.1 yards per touch, was named a first alternate to the NFC team. Smith, who has 48 receptions and 5 touchdowns, and Trotter, who has been to four Pro Bowls, were named second alternates to the NFC team.

We will have more coverage as we have player interviews later in the day. Stay tuned to PhiladelphiaEagles.com for complete reaction to the news.

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