Buffalo running back Marshawn Lynch is headed to the Pro Bowl as an injury replacement for Tennessee's Chris Johnson. Lynch finished fifth in the AFC with 1,036 yards rushing and ninth with eight touchdowns rushing in 15 games last season. He was named an alternate last month, and Johnson is unable to play because of an ankle injury.

Cardinals' receiver Larry Fitzgerald has 419 yards in three postseason games, setting the new mark for yardage in a single playoffs. The record was previously held by Jerry Rice, and Fitzgerald will add to his total in the Super Bowl against the Steelers. Fitzgerald also became the third receiver in NFL history to catch three touchdowns in an NFC championship game in Sunday's win over the Eagles.

New Orleans' left tackle Jammal Brown has been selected to the Pro Bowl as a replacement for injured Washington tackle Chris Samuels. The appearance will be Brown's second at the Pro Bowl.

DeMarcus Ware has become the first NFL player to receive the Butkus Award as the league's best linebacker. Named after Hall of Fame Bears linebacker Dick Butkus, the award has been given out every year since 1985 to the top collegiate linebacker in the country. This is the first year there is a high school and a professional winner. "It's a great thing to be the first of anything, especially to be nominated for something like the Butkus Award," said Ware. "To be known as the most well-rounded linebacker, you have to able to drop into coverage, rush the passer but also to be able to stop the run when it comes at you."

There were 15 first-timers on The Associated Press 2008 NFL All-Pro team, which was announced Friday. While Peyton Manning and Ray Lewis made the squad, there was plenty of room for newcomers. Ten of the 14 offensive players and five of the 13 on defense had never been All-Pros. And there was room for one unanimous selection by a nationwide panel of 50 sportswriters and broadcasters who cover the NFL: safety Ed Reed, Lewis' teammate in Baltimore. "He has a tremendous feel for the game," Ravens' Coach John Harbaugh said of Reed, who made his third All-Pro squad. "Very, very intelligent player, studies it as well or better than anybody. And he's a highly disciplined player. He plays his position as well as anybody I've ever seen." All-Pros on offense included running backs Michael Turner of Atlanta and Adrian Peterson of Minnesota, fullback Le'Ron McClain of Baltimore, wideouts Larry Fitzgerald of Arizona and Andre Johnson of Houston, tackles Michael Roos of Tennessee and Jordan Gross of Carolina, guard Chris Snee of the Giants, placekicker Stephen Gostkowski of New England, and kick returner Leon Washington of the New York Jets. "When you think about the Pro Bowl, it's the coaches, players, and fans voting and recognizing you to represent your conference," said Washington, who averaged 25.6 yards per kickoff runback, with one touchdown, and 10.4 on punt returns. "But with the AP All-Pro team you're representing the whole league, that's a pretty sweet deal." Also getting a sweet deal were six repeaters from last year's team: Reed, Dallas linebacker DeMarcus Ware, defensive tackles Albert Haynesworth of Tennessee and Kevin Williams of Minnesota, defensive end Jared Allen of Minnesota, who was with the Chiefs in 2007, and Vikings' guard Steve Hutchinson. Kansas City tight end Tony Gonzalez made his fifth All-Pro team. Titans' center Kevin Mawae was chosen for the third time. Punter Shane Lechler of Oakland made his fourth team.

Drew Brees understood what breaking a record set by Dan Marino would mean to the Saints. So coming up 15 yards short was disappointing to the quarterback, who won The Associated Press NFL Offensive Player of the Year award, as reported by the AP on Tuesday. Brees threw for 5,069 yards, 15 fewer than Marino?s 1984 mark and only the second time someone has eclipsed 5,000 yards passing in a season.

James Harrison won the The Associated Press 2008 Defensive Player of the Year award. The linebacker who had a career-high 16 sacks, setting a team record, and led the NFL with a career-high seven forced fumbles, beat Dallas' DeMarcus Ware in balloting by a nationwide panel of 50 sports writers and broadcasters announced Monday. Pittsburgh defense was the league's stingiest in total defense, pass defense, and points allowed. Harrison was its main hammer. "That's something that everybody in the league would love to have, to be voted the top player in the league for that year," Harrison said. "In my mind, I think I do ? and it's going to sound boring ? what the defense allows me to do and what my teammates allow me to do." Harrison earned 22 votes to 13 for Ware. Baltimore safety Ed Reed, the 2004 winner, got eight votes. Tennessee defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth had five, and Harrison's teammate safety Troy Polamalu got two.

Mike Smith of the Falcons edged Tony Sparano of the Dolphins by one vote Sunday for The Associated Press 2008 NFL Coach of the Year award. Both coaches oversaw sensational turnarounds, leading their teams from last-place finishes in 2007 to playoff berths this year.

Peyton Manning has joined Brett Favre as the only three-time winners of The Associated Press NFL Most Valuable Player Award. The Indianapolis Colts quarterback was a landslide winner Friday in balloting by a nationwide panel of 50 sports writers and broadcasters who cover the NFL. Manning also was the league MVP in 2004, and when he shared it with Tennessee quarterback Steve McNair in 2003.

A clause in Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops? contract provided for the 48-year-old coach to receive a so-called ?stay bonus? of $3M after completing 10 seasons as the Sooners? coach, the Associated Pres reported on Thursday. Stoops was scheduled to receive the bonus if he remained at Oklahoma through 2008, which ended Wednesday. No. 2 Oklahoma plays No. 1 Florida in the BCS championship game in Miami next Thursday.