Falcons tight end Tony Gonzalez selected to the Pro Bowl
Atlanta Falcons Tony Gonzalez is upended by Saints defenders after catching a pass. Curtis Compton, ccompton@ajc.com
Falcons tight end Tony Gonzalez, 35, was selected to his 12th Pro Bowl on Tuesday, the NFL announced.
He was the lone member of the team selected. However, wide receiver Roddy White and special teams player Eric Weems were the first alternates at their positions.
Last season, seven Falcons — Quarterback Matt Ryan, White, running back Michael Turner, Gonzalez, fullback Ovie Mughelli, defensive end John Abraham and Weems — were named to the NFC team. Right tackle Tyson Clabo and cornerback Brent Grimes went as alternates.
This season, no Falcons led at their position in the fan voting.
Gonzalez is turning in another fine season. He has 79 catches for 867 yards and seven touchdowns this season.
Gonzalez, widely considered one of the best tight ends to ever play the position in the NFL, moved into second place on the NFL’s all-time receptions list with a two-yard catch in the second quarter of the Falcons’ win over the Detroit Lions on Oct. 23.
This season, Gonzalez has pushed his total to 1,148 career receptions.
Gonzalez holds a number of NFL records at the tight end position, including most career receiving yards, most career receptions, most receptions in a single season, most touchdown catches, most 100-yard receiving games and most 1,000-yard seasons.
He is the NFL’s second leading receiver overall and his 1,148 career catches are an NFL record for tight ends.
HERE’S THE REST OF THE NFC ROSTER:
Quarterback * Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay
Drew Brees, New Orleans
Eli Manning, N.Y. Giants
Running back * LeSean McCoy, Philadelphia
Matt Forte, Chicago
Frank Gore, San Francisco
Fullback * John Kuhn, Green Bay
Wide receiver * Calvin Johnson, Detroit
* Larry Fitzgerald, Arizona
Steve Smith, Carolina
Greg Jennings, Green Bay
Tight end * Jimmy Graham, New Orleans
Tony Gonzalez, Atlanta
Tackle * Jason Peters, Philadelphia
* Joe Staley, San Francisco
Jermon Bushrod, New Orleans
Guard * Jahri Evans, New Orleans
* Carl Nicks, New Orleans
Davin Joseph, Tampa Bay
Center * Ryan Kalil, Carolina
Scott Wells, Green Bay
Defense
Defensive end * Jared Allen, Minnesota
* Jason Babin, Philadelphia
Jason Pierre-Paul, N.Y. Giants
Interior linemen * Justin Smith, San Francisco
* Jay Ratliff, Dallas
B.J. Raji, Green Bay
Outside linebacker * DeMarcus Ware, Dallas
* Clay Matthews, Green Bay
Lance Briggs, Chicago
Inside/midde linebacker * Patrick Willis, San Francisco
Brian Urlacher, Chicago
Cornerback * Charles Woodson, Green Bay
* Carlos Rogers, San Francisco
Charles Tillman, Chicago
Free safety * Earl Thomas, Seattle
Dashon Goldson, San Francisco
Strong safety * Adrian Wilson, Arizona
Special teams
Punter Andy Lee, San Francisco
Placekicker David Akers, San Francisco
Kick returner Patrick Peterson, Arizona
Special teamer Corey Graham, Chicago
–D. Orlando Ledbetter, The Atlanta Falcons beat blog
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79 comments Add your comment
JSS
December 27th, 2011
7:17 pm
JaMichael Finley, Jimmy Graham, Celek, Vernon Davis, the kid with Giants, and Gonzalez… What is wrong with this picture?
HA!
December 27th, 2011
7:18 pm
Oh well
WestOfAthens
December 27th, 2011
7:31 pm
Of course he is deserving, Are the fans supposed to be shocked?
If “shocked” is the intention, whoops, the season dictates
John
December 27th, 2011
7:31 pm
No RESPECT. Non from the National Media. Just a popularity contest. If Urlacher got on…. Lofton should have been there too along with Spoon
Falcons tight end Tony Gonzalez selected to the Pro Bowl | NFL Online News
December 27th, 2011
7:33 pm
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Falcon Fan
December 27th, 2011
7:35 pm
No HiramSaint, it’s all good. Tony won’t have to head on over to Hawaii, he’s trying to get to Indianapolis. Brees can go on over there, maybe they’ll give him a plaque for setting records.
CGD..
December 27th, 2011
7:39 pm
Whoopie!
bravesfansince1961
December 27th, 2011
7:40 pm
I really can’t complain about the selections. I think they got it right.
WestOfAthens
December 27th, 2011
7:40 pm
9-6 enough said
StevoDeg
December 27th, 2011
7:40 pm
Well, JSS, seeing as you dont know the names of the other tight ends in the league (JaMichael? Seriously? Then not knowing the name of the Giants TE? Jake Ballard? He has not had anywhere near the year of Tony G.), I’d say something is very wrong with you claiming that there are so many better tight ends. But welcome to AJC, along with all of the other Saints trolls.
I’m happy for Tony G. Hopefully he doesn’t get to attend (cause that means we’re in the super bowl. not saying I want him hurt).
Go Falcons!
CGD..
December 27th, 2011
7:43 pm
Where’s the ELITE MATT ICE RYAN? He’s got to get in! 4000 yards through the air?
From the 20 to the 20, one of the best in the business this year? C’mon Man!
Mr Rosenberg would agree…That’s his sports idol you know….
OldTimer
December 27th, 2011
7:43 pm
The only man on the team.
CGD..
December 27th, 2011
7:45 pm
Any news like heads rolling yet?…Oh yea give it 2 more weeks after another Leavenworth visit…Ouch!
JSS
December 27th, 2011
7:45 pm
Well, I knew one of the “Quorum” would show up in full spin cycle… Tony Gonzalez can book his normal suite, he certainly won’t in Indy preparing for the game as a player! Lofton hasn’t outplayed Willis or the overrated Urlacher. Ask Ryan how good Urlacher is, he read him like a book…
JSS
December 27th, 2011
7:54 pm
“Is that right up there with the 99% of Falcons fans that can’t spell “Gonzalez?”
giantdawg
December 27th, 2011
7:57 pm
after watching brees destroy your falcons falcon fan your dillusional. victor cruz outplayed both your stud wr’s. lookin forward to brees putting up another 300 yrds. and both your lack of talent oline and your small dline getting destroyed again. all 4 wide outs for the saints are better then yours
CGD..
December 27th, 2011
8:02 pm
Its a QB driven league!
He’ll get in.. He wont have to worry about a SB, that’s for darn sure…..
I'm a moron according to Schultz
December 27th, 2011
8:10 pm
Enter your comments here
hiramsaint
December 27th, 2011
8:18 pm
@ failclown fan – you sound bitter! why?
Loserville USA
December 27th, 2011
8:22 pm
Spoon should be going.
But voters see what I see — a sub .500 undercoached team lucky to be in the postseason.
Maybe this will motivate the non-selectees — if Mularkey and Van Deliverance don’t pull the rug out from underneath.
ijonathan
December 27th, 2011
8:28 pm
JSS, why is Urlacher overrated?
Falcons
December 27th, 2011
8:34 pm
I think all falcons should be listed on this roster because there is not a way that they will be on the other roster. Superbowl’s roster is for winners and Probowl’s roster is for the falcons or you can call them losers.
JSS
December 27th, 2011
8:36 pm
Scheme…. I love his skill set, but plays are funneled to him… He supposed to make those plays, ask Hardy Nickerson
ijonathan
December 27th, 2011
8:37 pm
Sort of like Ray Lewis playing behind some D-line monsters who clean up all the mess? (at least during their hey day)?
JSS
December 27th, 2011
8:39 pm
Will Jimmy Graham and Jennings be taking the Falcons secondary as their special guests as a bonus?
ijonathan
December 27th, 2011
8:40 pm
JSS, I’m pretty sure Grimes could fit in Graham’s suitcase.
CGD..
December 27th, 2011
8:50 pm
LeSean McCoy, looks like a newer version of Gayle Sayers…I only saw Gayle on film but this dude LeSean is a very special back! Wish we had him…
bird
December 27th, 2011
8:53 pm
Giantdog, please. The Saints receivers are eating off of Drew Brees’ talent. Julio and Roddy can hold their own against any WR tandem in the league.
ijonathan
December 27th, 2011
8:56 pm
Lesan is indeed special. He’s right up there with Turner among the top backs in the NFL.
CGD..
December 27th, 2011
8:57 pm
Turner and Matt were ignored this season.. Guess somebody came to their senses…
Last year was fluke for real? Ya think?
CGD..
December 27th, 2011
9:01 pm
As Coach Clean Shot put it an “aberration”.
ijonathan
December 27th, 2011
9:01 pm
They weren’t “ignored”…they are who they are. Matt isn’t one of the top 3 QBs in the NFC, Turner doesn’t sniff the top 5 RBs.
CGD..
December 27th, 2011
9:06 pm
I like Urlacher a lot! He’s better than any linebacker the Falcons have had since the Hammer retired!
JSS
December 27th, 2011
9:08 pm
In his prime days Ray Lewis was as good as Huff… You may not want him as a neighbor, but he is a really, really, really smart backer who is a student of the game…
CGD..
December 27th, 2011
9:09 pm
JSS, Hawks are up by 30! Guess they trying to make a statement? I know its the Nets…lol
ijonathan
December 27th, 2011
9:10 pm
Agreed JSS, Ray is one of the greats. But I think at least part of his greatness was aided by the scheme and personnel of the Ravens. Remember, Ed Hartwell apparently looked pretty good in the Ravens linebacking corps…
JSS
December 27th, 2011
9:17 pm
Yep it is the Nets… But scary thing was there’s been Marvin Williams sighting (equivalent to Dunta Robinson having a 3 interception/6 passes defensed game)!
Falcons TE Tony Gonzalez Voted As Team's Lone Pro Bowler
December 27th, 2011
9:20 pm
[...] went as alternates. This season, no Falcons led at their position in the fan voting. Source: Atlanta Journal-Constitution [...]
JSS
December 27th, 2011
9:20 pm
Still, he (Lewis) was quarterbacking that D… No matter the change in coordinator or line personnel, he continued to make plays… And obviously carried Edgar…
Supes
December 27th, 2011
9:21 pm
Congrats to Tony G. and lets remember that several Falcons will have a shot at being selected as pro bowl alternates if need be. I think Roddy is one, Spoon another.
hiramsaint
December 27th, 2011
9:34 pm
alternates…sounds about right
Infamousfalcon
December 27th, 2011
9:45 pm
the whole world knows the pro bowl is garbage
falcon fan 24/7
December 27th, 2011
9:48 pm
Ryan became just the second quarterback in franchise history to throw for more than 4,000 yards in a season after posting a career-high with 373 passing yards. This season, Ryan has thrown for 4,065 yards, which trails QB Jeff George’s club record of 4,143 yards, set in 1995, by just 78 yards. Ryan, also tied his career highs with 32 completions and 52 pass attempts, and finished the game with a 92.9 passer rating.
The third-year signal caller has completed 339 of 557 pass attempts this season and is on pace to break his franchise records of 357 completions and 571 attempts set in 2010.
Ryan has thrown for 300-or-more yards in six games this season breaking George’s team record of four 300 yard games in 1995.
CGD..
December 27th, 2011
9:52 pm
He’s one of the best in the Business from the 20 to the 20. Only in his 4th season?
Imagine what the next 4 years will look like?
CGD..
December 27th, 2011
9:59 pm
Would somebody @ the AJC try and set up an interview with Arthur Blank? Get his take on what’s going on with the state of his Falcons…
Alex Hawkins
December 27th, 2011
10:41 pm
I think this is a who cares kind of topic. Do not wake me from my dirt nap. Pro Bowl do not happen for players who have no will to win. 2011, like 2010 is a another step backward. The Falcons are looking like 1966 all over again. Douche bags.
Alex Hawkins
December 27th, 2011
10:48 pm
Dun-ta, what a waste of money and space. Shut down corner, not. WTF kind of name is Dun-ta? Sounds like a punishment, like “Hey Leroy, sit in the corner and put your Dun-ta hat on, you dumb turd.”
Enough Already
December 27th, 2011
11:15 pm
Man, when will you guys realize that the Falcons are simply inferior. First you blame the “Return to the Dome” on the refs and the league. Then you blame the Super Bowl year on the refs and the league. Then you blame the latest victory against your team on the refs and the league…Are you guys noticing a trend here??? There are countless other examples of placing blame in all the wrong places, but I will stop there. Just deal with the fact that you read your own headlines, courtesy of Peter King, and you failed. Its just that simple. F.A.L.C.O.N.S. = Fans Always Left Counting On Next Year.
2012 NFL Pro Bowl Rosters Announced: Tony Gonzalez Atlanta’s Only Rep – SB Nation | Daily Articles Trends and News
December 27th, 2011
11:57 pm
[...] to this story in your Facebook News Feed? The likeliest candidates could be linebackers …Falcons tight end Tony Gonzalez selected to the Pro BowlAtlanta Journal Constitution (blog)all 5 news [...]
D-Man
December 28th, 2011
12:03 am
Super glad Gonzo got in, he’s a true class act and brings his lunch pail to work everyday. J Graham, Finley, V Davis and the rest of em those TEs that idiot JSS (just super stupid) mentioned, owe their careers to TG. He set the blueprint for them to be doing what they are doing AND at 35 is still putting in major work. Now, as far as the rest of the Falcons, that loss to the Pack last season in the playoffs has damaged them more than they know. Fans and media pundits alike are turning away from reg season paper warriors like them that can put up numbers against weak teams in meaningless reg season games and THEN when the national spotlight is on them be it a MNF game or a playoff game their tails go between their legs. It is easy to look good against the Jags 1 o’clock on any given reg season Sunday, but when its time to play with the big boys in the playoffs, MNF, or whenEVER it really counts, its hard to watch them fold like those brown chairs in church and I’m a diehard Falcon fan. It’s like that with all these Atl teams – Braves, Hawks, and hell even the Dream have caught on to the act. Hell, I feel good for the Thrashes! Year after freaking year the same thing. THATS why the fans here are apathetic, they know when the rough gets going, all our teams are going to choke like Ron Gant or run their motorbike into a tree like an idiot, David Justice (when the anyone was on base), Lonnie Smith thinking a ball that sailed 20 ft above his head is all of sudden in the 2nd baseman’s hands, drop passes like Julio or Roddy, go TJ Duckett or go look for some hookers like Eugene Robiinson. It doesn’t matter if its J Anderson knees buckling when no one touches him or the ASG owning the Hawks, or Dominique Wilkins getting traded for two no knees Danny Manning or Rankin Smith letting Deion walk for nothing or 14 division titles with only one WS ring (when no one cared about baseball due to the ‘94 strike) or the debacle the Falcons had back in the early 80s to the Cowgirls. Let’s not talk about the dog killer or the coach who snuck out and quit in the middle of the night or the Dream getting swept in the finals. Whether its Mookie getting caught with a brick of weed, or hell J.R. Rider smoking it, when EVER THE moment shows up, all these teams *itch up every time. Dam, we had Rasheed Wallace on our squad for ONE day and he was the best player on the team. I just hope I live long enough to see that b.s. ends. When it does, maybe more than one player will go to the pro-bowl until then, ESPECIALLY after the way the Falcons played like girls last night losing to the Aints, we will continue to show up late to games, leave early and let other teams fans come to Atlanta and be louder than us…why not?