Rams only put five players in Pro Bowl

ST. LOUIS -- Though the St. Louis Rams have the best record in the NFL, somehow they're also-rans in the Pro Bowl balloting.

The Baltimore Ravens and Tampa Bay Buccaneers each landed six players on the team, one more than the Rams. And both teams are 9-6, a marginal record for the playoffs.

Plus, the rebuilt Rams defense that has risen from seventh-worst in NFL history to second in the league only has one representative, cornerback Aeneas Williams.

Coach Mike Martz, in effect, threw up his hands when the teams were announced Wednesday. The Rams (13-2) are sending all of their biggest offensive stars: quarterback Kurt Warner, running back Marshall Faulk wide receiver Isaac Bruce and offensive tackle Orlando Pace.

But the team's emerging stars had to settle for alternate status. Offensive guard Adam Timmerman is a first alternate, linebacker London Fletcher, defensive end Grant Wistrom and kicker Jeff Wilkins are second alternates, and wide receiver Torry Holt and tight end Ernie Conwell are third alternates.

"What can you say?" Martz said. "I feel bad for some of these players that I think are deserving of being on that list."

For three straight seasons the Buccaneers had had the most or tied for the most representatives. The Ravens also have six despite a dropoff from their Super Bowl championship season.

Fletcher believes the Rams got shortchanged because teams around the league are envious of their success. St. Louis won the Super Bowl two years ago and for years has been criticized as a finesse team.

"It's obvious people around the league just don't like the Rams," Fletcher said. "I guess it's maybe the way we play.

"That's the way they feel they can get at us, to snub us with Pro Bowl selections. But hey, we're still going to win the Super Bowl."

Fletcher, who leads the Rams with 174 tackles, joked that a publicity campaign might help him in the future. He hasn't been that popular in past seasons, in part perhaps because of his often flamboyant nature after plays.

Toning down his sugarfoot dance didn't help this year.

"Maybe I need to hire a P.R. rep and have my agent sending faxes out to all those TV production meetings, telling those guys how great a player I am and stuff like that," Fletcher said. "Which is what some of the other guys do around the league."

Martz said Fletcher, who has never made it to the Pro Bowl, took the news well.

"I said 'Sorry, London,' and he just shrugged," Martz said. "He said 'That's not my goal.' It's nice to be recognized, but we've got some unfinished business and that's what their focus is."

Players and coaches vote for the Pro Bowl, with fan balloting serving as a tie-breaker. Martz said he realized the process was flawed in 1995 when Bruce caught 119 passes for 1,781 yards -- second-highest in NFL history -- and didn't make the Pro Bowl.

Now, Bruce has a reputation, so he can go with a so-so year of 63 receptions for 1,101 yards. Holt didn't make it despite catching 73 passes for a 17.3-yard average with seven touchdowns.

"So the validity of some of that has got to be questioned, at least in my mind," Martz said.

Warner, Faulk, Bruce and Pace each were selected for the third straight year. Warner leads the NFL in passer rating and touchdown passes and Faulk needs 79 yards in the season finale to become the first player with four straight 2,000-yard seasons.

"Every time you get selected, it's always a great feat," Pace said. "It's something I strive to accomplish every year and fortunately enough I made it."

Williams made it for the seventh time, and first time in three seasons. He has four interceptions, returning two for touchdowns.

Bruce made the Pro Bowl for the fourth time overall and it's the sixth time in eight seasons for Faulk.