Four Seahawks punch their tickets to Hawaii

The week ahead figures to be a grind, with the AFC-leading San Diego Chargers coming to town and the Seahawks having to address their inconsistent play in back-to-back losses.

But the players will reconvene for practice today at team headquarters with at least one positive note: Four of their own were named to the NFC Pro Bowl roster Tuesday.

Left tackle Walter Jones and fullback Mack Strong were named starters, joined by linebackers Lofa Tatupu and Julian Peterson as reserves.

Jones, 32, was named to his sixth consecutive Pro Bowl and is one selection away from tying Cortez Kennedy for most times chosen in a career in Seahawks history. Jones' seven overall selections ties him with Steve Largent for second in franchise annals.

Strong, 34, was honored for the second time in two seasons after not being chosen for the first 11 seasons of his career.

Peterson, 28, leads the Seahawks in sacks with nine. His best performances this season came in the first eight games, but Peterson has been the team's top defensive player overall and heads to the Pro Bowl for the third time in his seven-year career, the first as a Seahawk. Peterson represented the San Francisco 49ers in 2002 and 2003.

Tatupu, Seattle's middle linebacker, is off to Hawaii for the second time in his two-year career. The 24-year-old was a fan favorite at last season's event and leads the Seahawks in tackles with 104.

Fans, players and NFL head coaches voted on the Pro Bowl rosters until the end of last week. Players were not allowed to vote for teammates.

Some might argue the Seahawks' honorees, with the exception of Peterson, had better performances in 2005. But it's hard to argue that kicker Josh Brown wasn't deserving of his first selection.

Brown, who was snubbed in favor of Chicago's Robbie Gould, has four winning field goals this season.

Perhaps the reason for Brown's nonselection was that he is 21 for 27 on field-goal attempts in 2006; Gould, who kicked the winner for the Bears this past Sunday, was perfect on field goals (24) and extra points (30) over the first 10 games of the season and is 28 for 32 on field goals overall.

Seahawks wide receiver Darrell Jackson was also left off the roster despite leading the league in receiving touchdowns for much of the season before a foot injury sidelined him for last week's game.

Pro Bowl alternates had yet to be announced Tuesday afternoon.

The Seahawks sent seven players to the game last season, but injuries hampered the return chances of quarterback Matt Hasselbeck, running back Shaun Alexander and center Robbie Tobeck. The 2007 Pro Bowl is set for Feb. 10 at 3 p.m. at Honolulu's Aloha Stadium.

José Miguel Romero: 206-464-2409 or jromero@seattletimes.com