10/16 — The National Football League has declared that the polls are now open. Fans can begin to cast their votes for the 2008 NFL Pro Bowl. Last year, the Jets sent Justin Miller to Hawaii and they might have another “return” trip in store for Leon Washington.

When Miller was forced to injured reserve in September with a knee injury, many wondered who would replace the Green & White’s lone ’06 Pro Bowl representative. Miller took two kickoffs back for touchdowns last season and averaged an NFL-leading 28.3 yards an attempt.

Special teams coordinator Mike Westhoff, in his seventh season in New York, turned to Leon Washington. The explosive second-year running back, who led the Jets in rushing as a rookie, scored from 98 yards out just five days after Miller was placed on IR.

“As a runner and a competitor, I feel like every time I touch the ball I’m going to score,” Washington said after reaching the end zone in the win over the Dolphins. “Mike Westhoff does a great job coaching us. You saw the play — it was wide open.”

Two weeks later, Washington answered a Giants touchdown with another 98-yard score. In just a few weeks, he tied Miller's and Leon Burton’s franchise record for most kickoff-return TDs in a season.

"That’s a part of the game we have been able to execute so far this season,” he said.

Washington, a fourth-round choice of Florida State, leads the NFL in kickoff return average at 36.4 yards per return. He also has returned six punts and totaled 150 yards of offense (78 rushing, 72 receiving).

In addition to Washington, a few other Jets will also receive serious consideration from voters.

Playmaking safety Kerry Rhodes scored a touchdown against the Giants, recovering his own forced fumble of RB Brandon Jacobs. He also has 29 tackles and a sack. Nick Mangold, who in his rookie season was selected to the All-Rookie Team by Pro Football Weekly and the Pro Football Writers Association, has been steady at center.

And the Green & White boast one of the NFL's top receiving tandems in Laveranues Coles and Jerricho Cotchery. Coles became the first Jets receiver to record four touchdowns in the first four games of a season since Keyshawn Johnson in 1998 and Cotchery is 10th in the league in both receptions (35) and yards (485).

Here are the Jets' Pro Bowl representatives from 2000 through last season:

The 2008 NFL Pro Bowl will be played at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu, Hawaii, on Feb. 10 and televised by FOX, Balloting for the game at the NFL.com Probowl site will conclude at 12 midnight EST on Dec. 11. The teams will be announced at 4 p.m. EST Dec. 18 on a special NFL Total Access 2008 NFL Pro Bowl Selection Show on NFL Network.

Vote Now!