ORCHARD PARK, NY – Buffalo Bills RB C.J. Spiller, S Jairus Byrd and DT Kyle Williams are headed to Hawaii after all.
The NFL announced Monday that the Bills trio have been added to the 2013 AFC Pro Bowl roster in place of Ravens RB Ray Rice, S Ed Reed and DT Haloti Ngata, who earned a trip to the Super Bowl with their win over New England in the AFC Championship game at Foxboro.
Byrd tied for the AFC-lead with a team-best five interceptions in 2012 and made 76 tackles (53 solo). He received AFC Defensive Player of the Week accolades in Week Six after registering two interceptions, four solo tackles and two passes defensed in the team’s 19-16 overtime win at Arizona. Since entering the NFL as a second-round draft pick of the Bills in 2009, Byrd is tied for third in the NFL with 18 interceptions.
“It’s always an honor to represent your team and the city of Buffalo in the Pro Bowl,” said Williams. “To be recognized by the fans, your peers and the coaches you play against means a lot. Our goal next year, as it is every season, is to still be competing at this time. It would be great for us, the fans and the city of Buffalo if we’d be able to watch the Pro Bowl next year as we’re continuing our journey for a Super Bowl.”
Spiller rushed for a career-high 1,244 yards on 207 carries and six touchdowns in 2012 - the first 1,000 yard season of his NFL career. He tied for the NFL-lead among running backs in 2012 with a 6.0 yards per carry average. Spiller eclipsed 100 yards from scrimmage in 11 games in 2012 - the first such season by a Bill since 1993 (Thurman Thomas - 13) and the third player to do so (O.J. Simpson).
Courtesy Buffalobills.com
