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SPORTS Thursday 20 december 2018
Chargers lead Pro Bowl selections with 7 players

NEW YORK (AP) — The Los Rodgers and the Rams' Jar-
Angeles Chargers placed ed Goff.
seven players in the Pro Buffalo, Oakland and Tam-
Bowl, including safety Der- pa Bay had no Pro Bowl se-
win James, one of six rook- lections.
ies across the league to Pittsburgh and Kansas City
make the game. each had six players cho-
James, a first-round draft sen, including such first-tim-
choice, will be joined on ers as Steelers running back
the AFC squad by veteran James Conner and Ma-
quarterback Philip Rivers, homes, both having break-
wide receiver Keenan Al- through years.
len, running back Melvin Cleveland has a first overall
Gordon, defensive end draft choice in the game
Melvin Ingram, center — not Baker Mayfield, but
Mike Pouncey and special- 2017 top pick Myles Garrett
teamer Adrian Phillips for at defensive end.
the game, which will be "Football is a team game
played Jan. 27 in Orlando. and you can't do it on your
James and Phillips are the own," said Garrett, who
only starters, though. leads the Browns with 12½
Rivers is a backup to Kan- sacks. "I'm happy to be
sas City's Patrick Mahomes, able to share this experi-
one of 29 first-time Pro Bowl- ence with Denzel because
ers. That, of course, includes this honor is really a testa-
all the rookies: James, Gi- ment to our entire defense."
ants running back Saquon Among the perennial AFC
Barkley, Seahawks punter choices returning to the In this Dec. 13, 2018 file photo Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) flips the ball
Michael Dickson, Broncos game are Houston DE J.J. during the first half of an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Chargers in Kansas City, Mo.
running back Phillip Lindsay, Watt, Pittsburgh WR Anto- Associated Press
Indianapolis guard Quen- nio Brown, Baltimore guard
ton Nelson and Cleveland Marshal Yanda and safety try to play your very best. One of the newcomers, cord, have three Pro Bowl-
cornerback Denzel Wads. Eric Weddle, Cincinnati DT To receive recognition for Chicago DT Akiem Hicks, ers in safety Jamal Adams,
Lindsay is an undrafted Geno Atkins and Denver LB what you do on the field, sounded overwhelmed by kicker Jason Myers and re-
player. Von Miller. even if it may not show up the honor. turn specialist Andre Rob-
New England's Tom Brady is "To get recognized by your in other areas, is awesome." "I have played the game of erts — all first-timers.
the other AFC quarterback, peers, the coaches and the For the NFC, frequent re- football my entire life and Pro Bowl coaching staffs
making it for the 14th time. fans, it means a lot," Wed- peaters include Atlanta this is the greatest acco- will be from the losing
Noticeably missing is the dle said. "It's always special WR Julio Jones and C Alex lade I've ever achieved," teams in the AFC and NFC
Colts' Andrew Luck. to put in the hard work and Mack, Dallas tackle Tyron he said. divisional playoffs with the
New Orleans, led by quar- to try your best and then Smith, inside LBs Luke Kue- There will be a brother com- best regular-season re-
terback Drew Brees, Dallas get recognized. The Pro chly of Carolina and Bobby bination at center for the cords. Each player on the
and Chicago paced the Bowl is something I never Wagner of Seattle, Arizona AFC as Maurkice Pouncey winning Pro Bowl team re-
NFC with five players each. take for granted, and I'm CB Patrick Peterson, Rams of Pittsburgh is the starter ceives $67,000, while each
Brees is the starter, backed pretty stoked about it. Each DT Aaron Donald and Bears ahead of Mike Pouncey. player on the losing squad
up by Green Bay's Aaron year you just work hard and LB Khalil Mack. The Jets, despite a 4-10 re- earns $34,000.q

Hall of Fame President David Baker gets 5-year extension

By BARRY WILNER "smart city. Two major com- At 6-foot-9 and nearly 400 in Mexico this week, where
AP Pro Football Writer ponents already are op- pounds, David Baker is hard 30 recruits will announce
David Baker is remaining erating: Tom Benson Hall to miss. Jerry Kramer called their choice of college. The
president and CEO of the of Fame Stadium and the him "pretty" when Baker Black College Hall of Fame
Pro Football Hall of Fame National Youth Football & knocked on his hotel room is now part of the Canton
under a five-year extension Sports Complex. door to tell the Green Bay campus.
and will take the role of "David has made a pro- Packers great he made the Baker will oversee a mas-
chairman of Johnson Con- found impact on raising the Hall of Fame last year. sive development that re-
trols Hall of Fame Village. profile of the Pro Football Baker describes the hall as ceived a commitment for
Baker will oversee the $889 Hall of Fame," Hall of Fame "more than football and more than $100 million over
million mixed-use develop- running back Curtis Mar- more than the worship 18 years from Johnson Con-
ment project underway tin said. "His leadership has of football heroes. We all trols. The village will include
around the Hall of Fame's created a platform for me might think these guys fell the already completed
campus in Canton, Ohio. and other Hall of Famers to out of bed great, but what stadium; the youth sports
He began running the hall use this game as a way to makes them great is ... they complex; an indoor arena; In this Nov. 1, 2018, file photo,
in 2014. inspire others." have dragged as many a center for athletic perfor- Pro Football Hall of Fame pres-
The Hall of Fame has ex- Baker is a former mayor of people up with them." mance and safety; a play- ident David Baker speaks dur-
panded its imprint through- Irvine, California, and for- Baker points to the growth er care center; and hotel. ing halftime of an NFL football
out football. Baker says mer commissioner of the of the game's popularity "Great progress has been game between the San Fran-
cisco 49ers and the Oakland
the development of the Arena Football League. His beyond the United States. made," he said. "And I Raiders in Santa Clara, Calif.
village will result in the first son Sam played for the At- The Hall of Fame is staging know that the very best is Associated Press
sports and entertainment lanta Falcons. a high school all-star game still ahead."q