Dec 20, 2006 2 min read

PITTSBURGH (AP) – Pittsburgh Steelers guard Alan Faneca was chosen Tuesday for his sixth consecutive Pro Bowl and will be joined in the AFC starting lineup by safety Troy Polamalu. Running back Willie Parker was the only one of the Steelers’ four Pro Bowl players to be chosen for the first time. Nose tackle Casey Hampton, one of the NFL’s top defenders against the run, was picked for the second season in a row and the third time in four seasons.

Polamalu was selected for a third consecutive season despite missing the Steelers’ last three games, all victories, with a sprained knee ligament. Faneca has been chosen every season since the Steelers moved into Heinz Field in 2001.

Parker will be one of the AFC’s three running backs, joining starter LaDainian Tomlinson of San Diego and Larry Johnson of Kansas City. A non-drafted rookie free agent in 2004, Parker has rushed for 1,331 yards this season and his 14 touchdowns are one short of Louis Lipps’ club single-season record set in 1985.

Parker has rushed for 2,533 yards in his first two seasons as a starter, with two games remaining this season. Parker and Jerome Bettis are the only Steelers running backs chosen for the Pro Bowl since Barry Foster in 1994.

The Steelers had five Pro Bowl players during their Super Bowl-winning season a year ago, but linebacker Joey Porter and center Jeff Hartings were not chosen this season. They had nine Pro Bowl players during their 15-1 season in 2004.