It's bittersweet for some Houston Texans players this week. They are in Hawaii for the Pro Bowl but are only there because they aren't in the Super Bowl.
Players whose teams are in the big game have to miss it and alternates take their spots. A record eight were voted to the Pro Bowl while tight end Owen Daniels, originally an alternate, was added to the AFC roster earlier this week to replace New England tight end Rob Gronkowski (broken arm).
Texans at the 2013 Pro Bowl are: wide receiver Andre Johnson (six), running back Arian Foster (three), quarterback Matt Schaub (two, Pro Bowl MVP in 2009), center Chris Myers (two), tight end Owen Daniels (two), and cornerback Johnathan Joseph (two). They join first-time selections defensive end J.J. Watt, left tackle Duane Brown and left guard Wade Smith.
Watt, Johnson, Foster, Brown and Joseph were voted as starters. Defensive tackle Antonio Smith, fullback James Casey, safety Danieal Manning and special teams player Bryan Braman were voted as alternates.
"Obviously, I'm excited," Watt said. "I get to go to Hawaii and spend some time with my family, play with some of the best players in the world, but it's bittersweet."
“It's a tremendous honor to be bestowed upon and it's a great experience," Myers said. "It's a pleasure to be a part of because you're with tremendous talent and all your peers who actually helped vote you in as well. So, going to enjoy time with my family and have a good time with a lot of teammates that are going too."
"I'm very excited," Brown said. "It's my first year I got the nod. I'm looking forward to it. I've never been to Hawaii. I always told myself I wouldn't go on my own, that I'd wait to get a Prol Bowl berth so I'm looking forward to it."
Aloha... twitter.com/JJWatt/status/…
— JJ Watt (@JJWatt) January 23, 2013
Truly is #Paradise! Very fortunate and humbled to be here. #ProBowl #Hawaii instagr.am/p/U2ivLLEkFZ/
— Chris Myers (@CMyers55) January 24, 2013
Goodbye, mainland. Aloha, paradise.
— Arian Foster (@ArianFoster) January 22, 2013
Good Morning World! Wheels Up #HonoluluBound w/ the fam #UGottaLuvIt instagr.am/p/UypFfeibI_/
— Wade Smith (@Smitty74allday) January 22, 2013
ALOHA!!! yfrog.com/g06ihmvj
— Duane Brown (@DuaneBrown76) January 23, 2013
Greetings@ Hawaii instagr.am/p/U1aZBGN3jO/
— Duane Brown (@DuaneBrown76) January 23, 2013
Me and my dawg arianfoster just out here tryna function @ Hawaii instagr.am/p/U2MRGiN3pI/
— Duane Brown (@DuaneBrown76) January 24, 2013
