Pro Bowl Rosters: Four Named To Represent NFC West

The sorriest division in football will be represented by four players, as a St. Louis Ram, an Arizona Cardinal, and two San Francisco 49ers were named to the 2011 NFC Pro Bowl roster ahead of the January 30 contest at Aloha Stadium. Running back Steven Jackson of the Rams, Cardinals safety Adrian Wilson, and 49ers defenders Patrick Willis and Justin Smith were named to the roster to represent the NFC West, which will be won, this weekend, by a team with either seven or eight wins.

Jackson leads the NFL in rushing attempts and carries 1196 yards into his final game of the regular season. Wilson has two interceptions and two sacks. Willis has a career-high six sacks in his fourth season since being chosen with the 11th pick of the 2007 NFL draft, and Justin Smith has 5.5. All have been Pro Bowlers at least once before.

The NFC West’s total of four is matched or exceeded by nine teams: the Baltimore Ravens, the Indianapolis Colts, the New England Patriots, the Atlanta Falcons, the Chicago Bears, the Dallas Cowboys, the Green Bay Packers, the New York Giants, and the Philadelphia Eagles.

Pro Bowl Rosters: Steven Jackson Among NFC Picks

St. Louis Rams running back Steven Jackson might be dealing with the lowest yards-per-carry average of his career, but Tuesday night he learned that he'd also be representing his surprising club in the 2011 NFL Pro Bowl. Pro Bowl rosters revealed what the fan vote didn't—that Jackson, who was picked in 2006 and 2009, had earned his third selection in 2010. In a year dominated by coverage of rookie quarterback Sam Bradford, he's again the Rams' sole representative. 

Jackson leads the NFL in rushing attempts in 2010, with 319, but for all the Rams' attempts to get him going he's averaged a career-low 3.7 yards per carry. That's still good for 1196 yards, eighth in the NFL, and his sixth consecutive 1000 yard season. Jackson also has 42 receptions for 344 yards, the third-highest total of his career.

Earlier this season Jackson broke Eric Dickerson's career rushing record in a Rams uniform. Since joining the club in 2004 as the 24th pick in the NFL Draft Jackson has rushed for 7903 yards, with 47 touchdowns and 2631 receiving yards.

This year's Pro Bowl will take place on January 30, 2011, at Aloha Stadium. The game returns to Hawaii after a one-year absence.