Now with the Big Game all done and over with, the 2006-07 season is just about at its end. Just one more game left to play, as the AFC all-stars play against the NFC all-stars in this weekend's Pro Bowl. Nearly 70 million votes were cast to help determine the teams for each conference. But I have put together my own 2006 all-star team, the best of the whole league into one team.

Quarterback:
Peyton Manning (IND) - He led his team to a Super Bowl victory, passed for over 4300 yards, 31 touchdown passes, and a 101.0 rating; he was the best QB of 2006.

Reserves: Drew Brees (NO)
Tom Brady (NE)
Brees led the league in passing yards(4418) and brought the Saints all the way to the NFC Championship game. The modern day Joe Montana and 3-time Super Bowl winner Tom Brady had another great year, ending just short of his 4th Super Bowl.


Running Back:
LaDainian Tomlinson (SD) - LT led the league in rushing with 1,815 yards, averaging 5.2 yards per carry. The NFL's MVP also set the single season rushing touchdown record with 28.

Reserves: Larry Johnson (KC)
Tiki Barber (NYG)
Larry Johnson finished just second in rushing this year with 1,789 yards. Barber ended his career on an excellent note, averaging 5.1 yards per carry to get his team into the playoffs.


Wide Receivers:
Marvin Harrison (IND)
Andre Johnson (HOU)
Harrison is one of the best receivers of this time. He and Peyton connected 95 times for 1,366 yards. Despite playing with an average quarterback on a bad team, Johnson still makes it happen. He caught the most passes this season with 103.

Reserves: Chad Johnson (CIN)
Donald Driver (GB)
Johnson had 1,369 yards receiving in 2006 to top the league. Driver had 1,295 yards on 92 catches from the great Brett Favre.


Tight End:
Antonio Gates (SD) - Gates led all tight ends with 924 receiving yards and 9 touchdowns. He and his Chargers won their division before losing in the divisional play-off round.

Reserve: Kellen Winslow (CLE)
Winslow caught more passes than any other tight end this year with his 89.


Fullback:
Lorenzo Neal (SD) - He averaged 4.8 yards per carry in 2006. Even more, he blocks for LaDainian Tomlinson.

Reserve: Justin Griffith (ATL)
Griffith averaged 5.6 yards a carry playing behind Michael Vick.


Offensive Line:
T- Tarik Glenn (IND)
G- Larry Allen (SF)
C- Jeff Saturday (IND)
G- Will Shields (KC)
T- Jonathan Ogden (BAL)
Glenn and Saturday helped the Colts' offensive line protect Manning, allowing a league low 15 sacks. Ogden and his line only allowed 17 sacks.


Defensive Line:
DE- Aaron Kampman (GB)
DT- Jamal Williams (SD)
DT- Kevin Williams (MIN)
DE- Jared Allen (KC)
Aaron Kampman had a big season leading defensive ends with 15.5 sacks. He also had 59 tackles. Jared Allen had 65 tackles, leading defensive ends.


Outer Linebackers:
Lance Briggs (CHI)
Adalius Thomas (BAL)
Briggs contributed to a great Bears defense. He had 109 tackles, forced 4 fumbles, and also intercepted two passes. Adalius Thomas had 64 tackles, but sacked the quarterback 11 times.

Reserves: Shawn Merriman (SD)
Derrick Brooks (TB)
Merriman had 17 sacks and forced 4 fumbles for the Chargers, while Brooks had 96 tackles with 3 interceptions.


Inside Linebacker:
London Fletcher-Baker (BUF) - He intercepted 4 passes this season to go along with his 104 tackles.

Reserves: Zach Thomas (MIA)
Brian Urlacher (CHI)
Thomas had 103 tackles with an interception and 2 forced fumbles. Urlacher was the leader of the Bears defense that went to the Super Bowl. He had 92 tackles and 3 interceptions.


Cornerbacks:
Champ Bailey (DEN)
Asante Samuels (NE)
Bailey intercepted 10 passes this season with 73 tackles. Samuels tied him for the league lead with 10 interceptions. Samuels also is always valuable to New England in the post-season.

Reserves: Ronde Barber (TB)
Rashean Mathis (JAC)


Safeties:
FS- Brian Dawkins (PHI)
SS- Chris Hope (TEN)
Dawkins had 71 tackles and 4 interceptions for the Eagles. Hope had an amazing 89 tackles with 5 interceptions.

Reserves: Sean Jones (CLE)
Roy Williams (DAL)


Kicker:
Robbie Gould (CHI) - Gould made 32 field goals for the Bears this season and was the most accurate in the NFL at 88.9 PCT. I would take his season any day.


Punter:
Jason Baker (CAR) - had 98 punts this season and had a net average of 39.0. He even put it inside the 20 yard line 31 times.


Kick/Punt Returner:
Devin Hester (CHI) - Who else? He returned 6 kicks for touchdowns this season and has put Rex Grossman and the Bears in great field position all year long.


Head Coach:
Bill Belichik (NE) - He may not have made it to yet another Super Bowl this year, but he is still as good a coach as one could be. He knows exactly what to do to get what he needs out of his players and make his schemes work.


Of the players I selected for this team, 16 were from the NFC and 25 from the AFC. I would say the AFC is certainly more talented. They won 8 of the last 10 Super Bowls. This Saturday at 6PM in Honolulu, the NFC will have a chance to restore a little balance in this year's Pro Bowl.