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Mannings Together At Pro Bowl

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The Associated Press

Published: February 8, 2009

HONOLULU - Peyton Manning's first Pro Bowl experience came when he was 3 years old.

He watched his father, Archie, from the stands of Aloha Stadium in the NFL's first all-star game in Hawaii. Little brother Eli wasn't born yet.

This time, Dad is the one proudly cheering on his sons in the final game in Honolulu - at least for now, as the NFL experiments with moving the game to the mainland.

"We're very proud," Archie Manning said.

The Manning brothers are on opposite sidelines and the first quarterback-playing brothers in Pro Bowl history.

Colts quarterback Peyton is making his ninth appearance in Hawaii in 11 seasons and will start for the AFC. Eli is representing the Giants and is making his Pro Bowl debut as a reserve for the NFC.

So who is Dad pulling for?

"No. No. No. No. It doesn't matter," Archie Manning said. "I just don't want anybody to get hurt in this game. I don't care if they play for the Colts or Giants or Patriots or Titans, I don't want anybody to get hurt."

Today's Pro Bowl also features another intriguing matchup for fans who didn't get enough from the Super Bowl: The Steelers' defense versus the Cardinals' offense.

"Maybe the fans want to see an exciting game like that, but I don't know if my heart can take it anymore," Steelers linebacker James Farrior said. "This is the closest they can get, but this don't even come close to what they want to get back from us."

The world champion Steelers have three members on the AFC squad, and they're all on defense: Farrior, Troy Polamalu and James Harrison, who's still trying to catch his breath from his Super Bowl-record 100-yard interception return for a touchdown.

They will go against an NFC offense featuring three starters from the Cardinals: quarterback Kurt Warner and receivers Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin.

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