Birds' Cole is added to Pro Bowl

Defensive end Trent Cole has become the third member of the Eagles to receive a ticket to the Pro Bowl, joining running back Brian Westbrook and guard Shawn Andrews on the NFC's roster.

Cole, selected as a first alternate in the voting by fans, players and coaches, will replace Seattle's Patrick Kerney, who has backed out of the game because of an injury. This will be Cole's first Pro Bowl appearance.

The third-year defensive end admitted to being disappointed last month when he was not among the NFC's three choices to go to the Pro Bowl.

"My opinion of alternate and reserve is that it is second team," Cole said when asked about the snub. "I want to be number one. That's how it is. I don't like second. I don't like anything later than number one."

With Kerney out of the game, Cole will join Green Bay's Aaron Kampman and the New York Giants' Osi Umenyiora as the NFC's defensive ends. Either Kampman or Umenyiora also will play the week before in Super Bowl XLII because their teams will face each other in Sunday's NFC championship game.

Cole, 25, finished the season tied for fourth in the NFC with 12½ sacks. Only Kerney (14½), Dallas linebacker DeMarcus Ware (14), and Umenyiora (13) had more.

- Bob Brookover