The Panthers have been rewarded for their undefeated start with 10 players being selected to the Pro Bowl on Tuesday night. The Patriots, Cardinals and Seahawks each had seven Pro Bowlers.
Patriots quarterback Tom Brady — who leads the NFL with 4,405 passing yards and 35 touchdowns — received the most votes, followed by Panthers quarterback Cam Newton, who is the favorite to be NFL MVP. Newton has thrown for 3,402 yards and 33 touchdowns and rushed for 580 yards and seven scores to lead the 14-0 Panthers.
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Carolina linebacker Thomas Davis was selected to the Pro Bowl for the first time in his 11-year NFL career.
“It’s truly an honor to be selected to the Pro Bowl," Davis said. "All the hard work and dedication I’ve put into the game has paid off. I’m extremely excited and I couldn’t be more thankful to the fans who took their time to vote me in, as well as my fellow players and coaches.
"To have 10 guys selected says a lot about our team. It says a lot about our fans and how highly they thought of us this season, and I think it says a lot about the way our season has gone. I’m excited and thankful to be part of the 10."
Three rookies were selected as well: Rams running back Todd Gurley, Seahawks return man Tyler Lockett and Chiefs cornerback Marcus Peters. The Bears, Jaguars, Saints, Chargers, Colts and Titans were not represented.
While the Panthers and Patriots dominate the initial rosters, none of the players hope to be on the final roster. Selected players whose teams advance to the Super Bowl will be replaced for the NFL's all-star game, which will be played Jan. 31 at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu.
The Pro Bowlers revealed Tuesday will be assigned to teams on Jan. 27 during a draft led by NFL Legends captains Jerry Rice and Michael Irvin. The Pro Bowl will be without conferences for the third straight year.
The players selected for the 2016 Pro Bowl:
OFFENSE
Quarterbacks
Tom Brady, Patriots
Cam Newton, Panthers
Aaron Rodgers, Packers
Russell Wilson, Seahawks
Ben Roethlisberger, Steelers
Carson Palmer, Cardinals
Running backs
Adrian Peterson, Vikings
Devonta Freeman, Falcons
Jonathan Stewart, Panthers
Todd Gurley, Rams
LeSean McCoy, Bills
Doug Martin, Buccaneers
Fullbacks
Mike Tolbert, Panthers
Marcel Reece, Raiders
Wide receivers
Brandon Marshall, Jets
Larry Fitzgerald, Cardinals
Julio Jones, Falcons
Calvin Johnson, Lions
Deandre Hopkins, Texans
A.J. Green, Bengals
Antonio Brown, Steelers
Odell Beckham Jr., Giants
Tight ends
Greg Olsen, Panthers
Travis Kelce, Chiefs
Rob Gronkowski, Patriots
Tyler Eifert, Bengals
Offensive tackles
Jason Peters, Eagles
Tyron Smith, Cowboys
Joe Staley, 49ers
Joe Thomas, Browns
Andrew Whitworth, Bengals
Trent Williams, Redskins
Guards
David DeCastro, Steelers
Mike Iupati, Cardinals
Zack Martin, Cowboys
Josh Sitton, Packers
Trai Turner, Panthers
Marshal Yanda, Ravens
Centers
Travis Frederick, Cowboys
Ryan Kalil, Panthers
Alex Mack, Browns
Mike Pouncey, Dolphins
DEFENSE
Defensive ends
Ezekiel Ansah, Lions
Michael Bennett, Seahawks
Chandler Jones, Patriots
Khalil Mack, Raiders
J.J. Watt, Texans
Muhammad Wilkerson, Jets
Interior linemen
Geno Atkins, Bengals
Calais Campbell, Cardinals
Fletcher Cox, Eagles
Aaron Donald, Rams
Gerald McCoy, Bucs
Kawann Short, Panthers
Outside linebackers
Jamie Collins, Patriots
Thomas Davis, Panthers
Tamba Hali, Chiefs
Justin Houston, Chiefs
Von Miller, Broncos
DeMarcus Ware, Broncos
Inside/middle linebackers
NaVorro Bowman, 49ers
Luke Kuechly, Panthers
Clay Matthews, Packers
Bobby Wagner, Seahawks
Cornerbacks
Malcolm Butler, Patriots
Chris Harris, Broncos
Josh Norman, Panthers
Marcus Peters, Chiefs
Patrick Peterson, Cardinals
Darrelle Revis, Jets
Richard Sherman, Seahawks
Aqib Talib, Broncos
Free safeties
Tyrann Mathieu, Cardinals
Reggie Nelson, Bengals
Earl Thomas, Seahawks
Strong safeties
Eric Berry, Chiefs
Kam Chancellor, Seahawks
Charles Woodson, Raiders
SPECIAL TEAMS
Kickers
Stephen Gostkowski, Patriots
Dan Bailey, Cowboys
Punters
Sam Koch, Ravens
Johnny Hekker, Rams
Return specialists
Darren Sproles, Eagles
Tyler Lockett, Seahawks
Special teamers
Matthew Slater, Patriots
Justin Bethel, Cardinals