New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, with 141,750 votes, is leading all players in voting by fans for the 2016 Pro Bowl.
NFL.com announced Wednesday that Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (120,242 votes) ranks second overall, followed by Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton (114,368 votes), Atlanta Falcons running back Devonta Freeman (103,334 votes), Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski (101,674 votes) and Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton (94,810 votes).
Fan voting for the 2016 Pro Bowl will continue online and on web-enabled mobile phones at www.NFL.com/probowl/ballot until it concludes on Tuesday, Dec. 15. NFL players and coaches will cast their votes on Dec. 18. The Pro Bowl players will be announced Dec. 22 on NFL Network.
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.
Players will later be assigned to teams through the Pro Bowl Draft during the week leading up to the game. The 2016 Pro Bowl will be played on Sunday, Jan. 31.
The Pro Bowl will continue using the revised game format that debuted in 2014, with NFL Legends captains having final say over Pro Bowl Draft decisions. The Pro Bowl will remain “unconferenced,” with several playing rules changed. Players will be selected without regard to conference in voting by fans, coaches and players, and later assigned to Pro Bowl teams via a fantasy football-style draft.
Four leading vote getters — comprised of two offensive and two defensive player captains — will be joined by two NFL.com fantasy football champions to draft players.
The fantasy football champion will have Hall of Fame help. Two Pro Football Hall of Fame wide receivers — Michael Irvin and Jerry Rice — will serve as NFL Legends captains for the 2016 Pro Bowl.