Three New York Jets players, RB Curtis Martin, C Kevin Mawae and DE John Abraham have been selected to represent the American Football Conference in the Pro Bowl.
RB Curtis Martin, who leads the NFL in rushing (1,511) and could become the league’s all-time oldest rushing champion (31), will play in his fifth career Pro Bowl in his 10th NFL season.
C Kevin Mawae, a key reason for the Jets owning the league’s No. 2-ranked rushing offense, earns his sixth consecutive spot on the AFC roster.
DE John Abraham will make his third trip to Hawaii. He was also selected to the Pro Bowl in 2001 and 2002. Abraham is tied for third in the AFC with 9.5 sacks.
Also, LB Eric Barton was named the AFC Defensive Player of the Week for games played the 15th week of the 2004 season (December 18-20), the NFL announced today. Barton made his 50th career start and registered nine tackles, one sack, one interception, two passes defensed, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery in a 37-14 win against Seattle. Barton recorded his first interception as a Jet in the second quarter and returned it seven yards to set up a Jets’ touchdown drive. The 6-2, 245-pounder forced a fumble at the Jets’ one-yard line that was recovered in the end zone by teammate DE Shaun Ellis at the end of the third quarter. Barton went on to notch a fourth-quarter quarterback sack for a six-yard loss before recovering a fumble two plays later to set up another Jets’ touchdown drive.