"It took the most prolific season by a tight end in Indianapolis Colts history, and one of the most prolific in NFL history, for Dallas Clark finally to earn his first Pro Bowl berth.

Clark was one of six Colts -- an AFC high and tied for the second-highest total in the Indy era -- named to the Pro Bowl squad. He joined quarterback Peyton Manning, wide receiver Reggie Wayne, center Jeff Saturday and defensive ends Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis.

That Clark's five teammates were honored is hardly newsworthy; all are repeat honorees. Manning was selected for his 10th Pro Bowl, which is Jan. 31, the week before Super Bowl XLIV in Miami's Dolphin Stadium. Freeney and Saturday were selected for a fifth time, Wayne a fourth and Mathis a second time.

"I'm really happy to make it this year,'' Clark said in an e-mail response to The Indianapolis Star. "It's very exciting, but I really hope that I will be busy that weekend.''

Players on the two teams that reach Super Bowl XLIV won't play in the Pro Bowl.

This is new ground for Clark, the Colts' 2003 first-round draft pick. He has been passed over in previous years as the combined voting of coaches, players and fans routinely favored former Kansas City Chiefs standout Tony Gonzalez, Baltimore's Todd Heap, San Diego's Antonio Gates or Houston's Owen Daniels.

"This is very special to be selected to the Pro Bowl,'' Clark said, "but I don't like to say that I should have made it by now. If I really deserved it, I would have. I did have a couple of good seasons before, but the other tight ends in the AFC just happened to have great seasons.""