The Dallas Cowboys placed five players on the Pro Bowl team, which was announced Wednesday. None appeared happier than defensive tackle Leon Lett and left guard Nate Newton. I'm just thankful the fans, the guys I play against and the coaches who see me on film when they prepare for us have enough respect for me to put me on the team. Lett and Newton will be joined by safety Darren Woodson, cornerback Deion Sanders and tackle Larry Allen.
None has incentive clauses in their contract for making the Pro Bowl.
Sanders and Allen will start. Minnesota and Denver, the NFL's two best teams this season, each placed nine players on their respective Pro Bowl teams. With five apiece, Atlanta, Green Bay and Dallas had the next highest representation on the teams, which are composed of 42 players. Lett and Newton were among the happiest Cowboys because of what each experienced last season. Lett, who played in the Pro Bowl following the 1994 season, missed the first 13 games last season after violating the NFL's substance-abuse policy for the second time.