Bengals' Green gets Pro Bowl nod

CINCINNATI - The Bengals announced Tuesday that wide receiver A.J. Green was voted to the AFC team for this year's Pro Bowl.

The player is the first Bengals rookie in any position to be elected since Cris Collinsworth in 1981. Green is also the first rookie WR voted to the Pro Bowl since 2003 when Anquan Boldin of the Arizona Cardinals made the list.

Green, who attended the University of Georgia, was the Bengals first round selection in the 2011 draft.

Green has played 14 of 15 games this season, only missing one due to an injury.

Seven other Bengals players were selected as Pro Bowl alternates. First alternates include DT Geno Atkins, QB Andy Dalton and K Mike Nugent. Second alternate is OT Andrew Whitworth, third is TE Jermaine Gresham, and RB Cederic Benson and NT Domata Peko are elected as fifth alternates.

“As I’ve said before, A.J. is the best first-round draft pick that I’ve ever been around,” said Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis. “He has shown the other players in this league, and the fans, that he deserved this honor. I have not seen a receiver better than he is at getting to the ball.”

The game will be televised nationally on NBC at 7 p.m. EST on Jan. 29, a week in advance of Super Bowl XLVI.