Brady Out, Schaub In NFL Pro Bowl

NFL News - January 20th, 2010 - Written by John

Joining the ever-growing list of NFL cohorts spurning the Pro Bowl for health reasons, Tom Brady has elected to sit out the postseason All-Star game and nurse his ailing ribs and fingers.

Houston Texan's quarterback Matt Schaub, who somehow missed the first vote despite leading the NFL in several passing categories, will take his place.

Brady, winner of three Super Bowls, played in every game this season, but faltered at the end of the year. He threw three interceptions and fumbled once in a 33-14 loss to the Baltimore Ravens in the first round of the NFL Playoffs.

It was the first time he had ever lost a home playoff game and was a stunning revelation after he insisted his injuries were minimal and non-intrusive.

Schaub will be making his first trip to the Pro Bowl after leading the NFL in passing yards (4,770), completions (396) and attempts (583). He finished higher than Brady in passer efficiency with a 98.6 rating, and was fourth in the league with a 67.9 completion percentage.

Schaub actually beat Brady in their only meeting in the season finale, throwing for two touchdowns, including a critical eight-yarder to Jacoby Jones midway through the fourth quarter. Houston would have made the playoffs with the win if either the Ravens or New York Jets had lost in their finale.

Patriots receivers Wes Welker and Randy Moss have both opted to pull out of the game, as well, allowing Cincinnati Bengals receiver Chad Ochocinco to replace them.