Pace only St. Louis player in Pro Bowl

ST. LOUIS -- St. Louis Rams offensive tackle Orlando Pace was voted to his sixth consecutive Pro Bowl, making him the only representative from this year's 6-8 team scrambling to make the playoffs.

Pace, in results announced Wednesday, became the first Rams player to earn six consecutive Pro Bowl invitations since Hall of Fame offensive lineman Jackie Slater accomplished the feat from 1985 to 1990.

Pace, the first overall pick of the 1997 draft, has started 113 of 117 career regular-season games and eight playoff games.

He has been a holdout in three of his eight seasons, including this season before he agreed to a one-year, $7.02 million contract as the Rams' franchise player.

St. Louis players named as alternates for the Pro Bowl Feb. 13 in Honolulu are wide receivers Torry Holt and Isaac Bruce, defensive end Leonard Little, safety Adam Archuleta and quarterback Marc Bulger.

Donovan McNabb and Terrell Owens were among nine Philadelphia Eagles players chosen for the game, the most representatives voted in for one team since 1998.

The Pittsburgh Steelers had six Pro Bowlers in results released Wednesday.

Joining quarterback McNabb and wide receiver Owens, who had ankle surgery Wednesday and is out for the rest of the regular season and perhaps the playoffs, were tackle Tra Thomas, linebacker Jeremiah Trotter, placekicker David Akers, special teamer Ike Reese, and three of four secondary starters: cornerback Lito Sheppard and safeties Michael Lewis and Brian Dawkins.

The Eagles already clinched home-field advantage for the NFC playoffs. Pittsburgh owns the AFC North crown and had the next-most selections in balloting by players, coaches and fans. The Steelers had six: linebackers Joey Porter and James Farrior, safety Troy Polamalu, center Jeff Hartings, guard Alan Faneca and wide receiver Hines Ward.