Lions' Stafford, Tate picked for Pro Bowl

As of Saturday, Glover Quin was the only Lions player scheduled to represent the team in the Pro Bowl, but on Sunday, two players earned a spot in the game.

Wide receiver Golden Tate and quarterback Matthew Stafford will make their Pro Bowl debuts next Sunday at University of Phoenix Stadium.

Fellow Lions Ndamukong Suh and Calvin Johnson declined invitations. Johnson and Tate are the first Lions receiver tandem to earn Pro Bowl honors in the same season.

The Lions announced Stafford's selection Sunday night after Peyton Manning bowed out due to injury. Stafford will be the first Lions quarterback to play in the annual all-star game since Greg Landry in 1972. Stafford, Landry and Bobby Layne (1953-54, 1957) are the only Lions quarterbacks to receive the honor.

Tate, whose invitation was announced Sunday afternoon, was certainly worthy of the honor after having 99 catches for 1,331 yards and four touchdowns in his first season with the Lions. His receptions and yardage were career highs after he played four years in Seattle.

Stafford, meanwhile, didn't jump off the stat sheet, ranking 21st in passer rating (85.7), 19th in yards per attempt (7.07) and 25th in completion percentage (60.3). But he did finish ninth with 4,257 yards and 14th with 22 touchdowns, and with Manning and the two Super Bowl quarterbacks unable to play, Stafford will play in the all-star game.

This is the first time since 2000 the Lions have five Pro Bowlers. Kicker Jason Hanson, linebacker Stephen Boyd, defensive tackle Luther Elliss, defensive end Robert Porcher and tight end Davis Sloan all made it that year.

Linebacker DeAndre Levy could still make the team as an alternate, too.

jkatzenstein@detroitnews.com

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