Arian Foster, J.J. Watt top Texans in Pro Bowl voting

Posted Nov 28, 2012

PRO BOWL VOTING

With three weeks of fan voting for the Pro Bowl remaining, Texans running back Arian Foster and defensive end J.J. Watt continue to rake in the votes.

Foster leads all running backs and ranks third among all NFL players with 519,261 votes. Only Peyton Manning (586,523) and Tom Brady (534,020) have more. Watt leads all NFL defensive players with 320,236 votes, almost 100,000 more than the next-closest defensive player, Clay Matthews (228,494).

Foster and Watt are the only members of the 10-1 Texans who lead the AFC in fan voting at their respective positions. Fan voting accounts for one-third of the Pro Bowl selection process, along with voting from players and coaches.

Texans wide receiver Andre Johnson, left tackle Duane Brown and quarterback Matt Schaub are among those who would not be in the Pro Bowl if fan voting ended today and was the sole basis for selection.

Johnson, a five-time Pro Bowler who ranks third in the NFL in receiving yards, does not rank in the top-five in fan voting among AFC wide receivers. Schaub ranks fifth among quarterbacks (three make the AFC Pro Bowl roster); Colts rookie Andrew Luck ranks fourth. Brown ranks fourth, one spot away from a Pro Bowl selection.

At tight end, where the top two vote-getters make the Pro Bowl, Owen Daniels ranks second behind New England’s Rob Gronkowski. At fullback, where one player makes the Pro Bowl, James Casey ranks second behind former Texan Vonta Leach.

At guard, where the top three make it, Texans right guard Antoine Caldwell ranks third and left guard Wade Smith fourth. At center, where the top two make it, 2011 Pro Bowler Chris Myers ranks fifth.

At cornerback, where the top three make it, Kareem Jackson ranks fourth and 2011 Pro Bowler Johnathan Joseph ranks fifth. At strong and free safety, which both have two Pro Bowl roster spots per conference, Glover Quin and Danieal Manning both rank fourth at their respective positions.