New Orleans Saints QB Drew Brees and TE Jimmy Graham rank in the top 10 of NFL All-Stars in balloting for the 2014 Pro Bowl with three weeks left to vote, the NFL announced Wednesday.
Brees ranks second overall (793,685) and Graham ranks seventh (534,867).
Fan voting for the 2014 Pro Bowl, presented by McDonald's, will continue online and on web-enabled mobile phones by going here until 5 pm CT on Thursday, December 26.
Denver Broncos QB Peyton Manning, with 926, 432 votes, currently leads Pro Bowl voting. Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch (643,363), Kansas City Chiefs running back Jamaal Charles (636,575) and Detroit Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson (634,819 votes) round out the top five in fan votes.
In 2013, Brees is once again enjoying a standout season, as he's completed 323-of-477 passes (67.7%) for 3,794 yards, 29 touchdowns, eight interceptions, one rushing TD and a 104.9 rating. He's ranked second in the NFL in touchdown passes, third in completions, TD passes and completion percentage, fifth in rating and second in third down passer rating (105.0)
Graham has enjoyed one of the most prolific campaigns for a tight end in 2013, leading the team in receiving with 69 receptions for 988 yards (14.5 avg.) with a team-record 12 touchdowns, tied for the league lead. Leading tight ends in virtually every receiving category, tied for tenth in the NFL in receptions, ranked tenth in receiving yardage, tied for sixth in third down receptions (21), first in touchdown receptions and 17th in first downs (49).
Pro Bowl balloting will conclude on Thursday, December 26, just three days prior to an exciting slate of Week 17 NFL games. The Pro Bowl players will be announced on Friday, December 27.
Players will later be assigned to teams through the first-ever Pro Bowl Draft, which will air on NFL Network during the week leading up to the game.
The 2014 Pro Bowl will be played on Sunday, January 26, 2014 and televised live on NBC at 7:00 PM ET from Aloha Stadium in Honolulu, Hawaii.
For the first time ever, the Pro Bowl will be "unconferenced."
Gone is the familiar AFC vs. NFC match-up that has existed since 1971. Instead, players will be selected without regard to conference in voting by fans, coaches and players. For example, the top six quarterbacks following voting will earn distinction as All-Stars, regardless of how many are from AFC or NFC teams.
The Pro Bowl players are determined by the consensus votes of fans, players and coaches. Each group's vote counts one-third toward determining the 88 All-Star players who will be eligible for the Pro Bowl Draft.
NFL players and coaches will cast their votes on December 23-26. The NFL is the only sports league that combines voting by fans, coaches and players to determine its all-star teams. It was the first professional sports league to offer online all-star voting in 1995.
Continue to vote for your favorite Saints here!
