DWare News

Miles Austin started this season as a third-string receiver for the Dallas Cowboys. Now, he's a Pro Bowler.  Austin was among six Dallas players chosen to the all-star squad Tuesday, and the team's lone first-time honoree. He's earned it by leading the NFC with 1,230 yards receiving. He also has 11 touchdowns among his 74 catches.

Austin is only the second Cowboys receiver to make the Pro Bowl since Michael Irvin. The other was Terrell Owens in 2007.

Outside linebacker DeMarcus Ware and center Andre Gurode were chosen as starters, while tight end Jason Witten, nose tackle Jay Ratliff and guard Leonard Davis made it as reserves.

This was the 30th time the Cowboys have had at least five honorees.

This is Ware's and Gurode's fourth straight year on the squad. Ware has been a starter all four times. Gurode's four straight invitations is a club record for centers.

Witten will make his sixth straight appearance -- the most invitations for a tight end in Cowboys history. Davis will make his third straight, and Ratliff was tapped for the second straight year.

Tony Romo has thrown for more than 4,000 yards, but was bypassed in favor of the three quarterbacks with higher ratings than his 97.0: Drew Brees of New Orleans, Minnesota's Brett Favre and Green Bay's Aaron Rodgers.

The Pro Bowl will be played in Miami on Jan. 31, one week before the Super Bowl is held there.

Copyright Associated Press / NBC Dallas-Fort Worth

First Published: Dec 29, 2009 7:11 PM CST

USA Football, the sport’s national governing body on youth and amateur levels, and the NFL Players Association have selected linebacker DEMARCUS WARE of the Dallas Cowboys and 25 other NFL players to the inaugural USA Football/NFLPA “All-Fundamentals” Team. This 26-man roster honors the NFL’s most fundamentally-sound players who also commit themselves to service in their communities.

This honor recognizes Ware as an example for youth players – particularly linebackers – to emulate due to his extraordinary pass rush skills.

The USA Football/NFLPA “All-Fundamentals” Team was selected by a six-person selection committee:

• JASON BELSER, former NFL player, USA Football board member, and NFLPA senior regional director
• TOM CARTER, former NFL player and NFLPA regional director
• HERMAN EDWARDS, former NFL head coach and player, ESPN NFL analyst
• SCOTTIE GRAHAM, former NFL player and NFLPA regional director
• LARRY KENNAN, former NFL assistant coach and NFL Coaches Association executive director
• CARL PETERSON, USA Football chairman, former NFL team executive and assistant coach

In addition to his fundamentally-strong play, Ware does exemplary work in the Dallas area. Ware participates in an array of events benefitting the Cowboys’ numerous charitable initiatives.

As part of this honor, Ware will designate a youth or high school football program to receive a $1,500 equipment grant from USA Football. USA Football is the official youth football development partner of the NFLPA, the NFL, the Dallas Cowboys and the league’s 31 other teams. Each player also receives a pewter-dipped “All-Fundamentals” Team helmet trophy produced by Riddell, USA Football’s official helmet and equipment partner.

A video clip of each of the 26 players, spotlighting their sound football technique for young players to emulate, resides at AllFundamentalsTeam.com. These exciting game-action clips offer visual instruction for youth players and coaches alike.

The USA Football/NFLPA “All-Fundamentals” Team consists of:
• All 11 offensive positions
• All 11 defensive positions
• Four (4) special teams positions (LS, K, P, KR/PR)

USA Football teaches the game’s fundamentals and inherent values through more than 80 annual training events and innovative football training resources employed by its members who reside in all 50 states and Washington, D.C.

2009 USA Football/NFLPA “All-Fundamentals” Team:

NAME	POSITION	TEAM	FOOTBALL FUNDAMENTAL
Tony Gonzalez	TE	Atlanta Falcons	Catching in traffic
Ryan Clady	T	Denver Broncos	Hands in pass protection
Joe Thomas	T	Cleveland Browns	Pass blocking footwork
Alan Faneca	G	New York Jets	Combo/zone blocking
Steve Hutchinson	G	Minnesota Vikings	Pulling, run blocking
Jeff Saturday	C	Indianapolis Colts	Snapping and blocking
Larry Fitzgerald	WR	Arizona Cardinals	Proper catching with hands
Wes Welker	WR	New England Patriots	Proper catching with hands
Ryan Grant	RB	Green Bay Packers	Ball security/proper cuts
Moran Norris	FB	San Francisco 49ers	Run blocking
Drew Brees	QB	New Orleans Saints	Throwing mechanics
Osi Umenyiora	DE	New York Giants	Takeoff and pass rush
Kyle Vanden Bosch	DE	Tennessee Titans	Playing the run
Darnell Dockett	DT	Arizona Cardinals	Defeating blocks
Haloti Ngata	DT/NT	Baltimore Ravens	Footwork and leverage
Mike Vrabel	LB	Kansas City Chiefs	Shedding blocks
London Fletcher	LB	Washington Redskins	Angle tackling
DeMarcus Ware	LB	Dallas Cowboys	Pass rush/bull rush
Cortland Finnegan	CB	Tennessee Titans	Man-to-man coverage
Nnamdi Asomugha	CB	Oakland Raiders	Breaking up the pass
Troy Polamalu	S	Pittsburgh Steelers	Playing the ball
Eric Weddle	S	San Diego Chargers	Open-field tackling
David Akers	K	Philadelphia Eagles	Kicking mechanics
Brian Moorman	P	Buffalo Bills	Punting mechanics
David Binn	LS	San Diego Chargers	Long-snapping mechanics
Clifton Smith	KR	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	Kick catching and returning

About USA Football
USA Football, the sport's national governing body on youth and amateur levels, hosts more than 80 football training events annually offering education for coaches and game officials, skill development for players and resources for youth football league commissioners. The independent non-profit is the official youth football development partner of the NFL Players Association, the NFL, and its 32 teams. USA Football manages U.S. national teams within the sport for international competition and provides $1 million annually in equipment grants and subsidizes youth league volunteer background checks. Endowed by the NFL and NFLPA in 2002 through the NFL Youth Football Fund, USA Football is chaired by former NFL team executive Carl Peterson.