Because the Seahawks are coming to New York and North Jersey, Nick Mangold is going to Hawaii.
Mangold has been named a Jets Pro Bowl representative for next Sunday's annual all-star game in Honolulu. As first alternate at center, he moves up to the Pro Bowl roster while Seahawks C Max Unger prepares for the next two weeks to play in Super Bowl XLVIII at MetLife Stadium.
This will be Mangold's fifth Pro Bowl since arriving as the Jets' starting center with the 29th overall selection of the 2006 NFL Draft out of Ohio State. Mangold was selected for four consecutive Pro Bowls, after the 2008-11 seasons, and started in the '08, '09 and '11 games.
Mangold is shown above between fellow Jets Pro Bowlers Brandon Moore (left) and D'Brickashaw Ferguson during a practice for the Pro Bowl in early 2012.
The other three centers in the Pro Bowl in this year's unconferenced game are Mike Pouncey of Miami, Alex Mack of Cleveland and Ryan Kalil of Carolina.
Mangold is likely to be the Jets' only representative in this year's game at Aloha Stadium. Our only other first alternate is DE Muhammad Wilkerson, but none of the six DEs ahead of him will be playing in the Denver-Seattle Super Bowl. At cornerback, Antonio Cromartie is second alternate but only the Seahawks' Richard Sherman is among the eight CBs who will be advancing to MetLife Stadium in two weeks.
