Peyton Manning is one third of the way to getting lei’d. Again.
Pro Bowl balloting has closed at NFL.com, and the Broncos quarterback has secured the most votes.
The online popularity poll resulted in more than 993,000 votes for Manning, who edged out Pats quarterback Tom Brady for the most total votes.
The others in the top five were Texans running back Arian Foster (829,591 votes), Vikings running back Adrian Peterson (828,225) and Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (777,827).
First-year players, despite many of them having a great year, were not very well represented. Rookie Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III finished sixth overall, with more than 683,000 votes. Vikings rookie tackle Matt Kalil was the NFC leader at his position, with more than 193,000 votes.
Fan voting counts for 33 percent of the total Pro Bowl roster. Player votes and coach votes make up the remaining two thirds.
The team will be announced later this month. The game will be played on the Sunday before the Super Bowl, amid persistent suggestions from the NFL that the plug should be pulled on a game that appears at times to be two-hand-touch in full pads.