• Manning leads fans’ Pro Bowl voting • Robinson resigns as N.J. Devils coach Manning leads fans’ Pro Bowl voting By ASSOCIATED PRESS NEW YORK — Two-time NFL MVP Peyton Manning received a record 1,184,142 votes to lead the fans’
• Manning leads fans’ Pro Bowl voting
• Robinson resigns as N.J. Devils coach
Manning leads fans’ Pro Bowl voting
By ASSOCIATED PRESS
NEW YORK — Two-time NFL MVP Peyton Manning received a record 1,184,142 votes to lead the fans’ balloting for the 2006 Pro Bowl.
Fan voting concluded on Friday with a record 70.5 million votes cast.
While the Colts’ star quarterback got the most votes, he was trailed closely by four more AFC players:
Seattle Seahawks running back Shaun Alexander (1,110,575 votes); San Diego Chargers running back LaDainian Tomlinson (1,044,360); Cincinnati Bengals receiver Chad Johnson (987,650); and Chargers tight end Antonio Gates (941,846).
New York Giants tight end Jeremy Shockey received the most votes for any NFC player, 872,102.
Tops among defensive players was Chicago Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher with 447,145, followed by Denver Broncos cornerback Champ Bailey (379,477).
Players and coaches also vote for Pro Bowlers. The teams will be announced Wednesday. The game is in Honolulu on Feb. 12.
Robinson resigns as N.J. Devils coach
ASSOCIATED PRESS
WEST ORANGE, N.J. — Larry Robinson resigned as coach of the New Jersey Devils on Monday because of stress and “horrible headaches,” two days after his team lost for the seventh time in nine games.
Devils president and general manager Lou Lamoriello said he will take over for Robinson on a temporary basis. New Jersey’s next game is today, against the New York Rangers.
Robinson, a Hall of Fame defenseman who coached the Devils to the Stanley Cup championship in 2000, returned to the team in July.
New Jersey was 14-13-5 and fourth in the Atlantic Division.
“A lot of things were getting to me. I want this team to be successful, but if I can’t be at my best and it’s bothering me healthwise, I can’t do that,” he said.
The 54-year-old Robinson missed two games this month with flu and sinus problems. He said he continued to have what he called “horrible headaches” and recently underwent tests, including a CAT scan.
Robinson was told the symptoms were stress-related.
Robinson, a former star with the Montreal Canadiens in the 1970s and ’80s, took over as coach last summer after Pat Burns was diagnosed with cancer.
Before taking the job, Robinson had served as a special assignment coach with the Devils and worked with players at the franchise’s minor league affiliate in Albany.