Jason Witten Official Website

MIAMI – The families of Cowboys players and coaches sat mostly in Sections 121 and 122, tucked into a corner of Sun Life Stadium on Sunday.

 

Hardly noticed, they mixed in among the fans around them, enjoying the experience for the first time or the sixth time, laughing and smiling as some rain fell early in the game and even later as the AFC left the Pro Bowl with a 41-34 victory.

 

"Absolutely fantastic," Miles Austin Jr. said, wearing his son's blue game jersey. "This has been an experience of a lifetime about five times over."

 

A few rows back sat Ramiro Romo wearing a faded blue Cowboys hat. He watched as Tony attempted to drive the NFC down the field for a possible game-tying or winning drive. But it wasn't meant to be. Romo was hit as he let a pass fly toward the sideline to Philadelphia's DeSean Jackson. The ball fluttered and was intercepted by Pittsburgh linebacker James Harrison to kill the threat.

 

"This is quite a bit different than a regular-season game," Ramiro said. "There's not as much pressure as a regular-season game. You know everyone is here to have fun and enjoy themselves. It's really pretty special to be around all of this."

 

Tony Romo completed 13 of 18 passes for 154 yards and directed the NFC to a touchdown on his first drive, completing all seven passes. His second drive nearly ended up with a touchdown pass to Jason Witten, but the six-time Pro Bowl tight end could not hold on to the ball.

"It was right there," said Witten, who missed out on a chance for his first Pro Bowl touchdown. "And especially because Tony threw it, you never want to have that as a tight end."

Throughout the second half, Witten's wife, Michelle, was cheering for Eagles, Redskins and Giants players.

 

"I love sitting in the stands," Michelle said. "It's fun just being here with the different families and seeing them cheer for London Fletcher or DeSean Jackson. I love this game because there's no real pressure."

 

For the players, there was no pressure either, although Romo noticed the play of the AFC defensive line pick up on the final two series, on which he was sacked twice.

 

"I think Ray Lewis said something to them," Romo joked.

Mike Jenkins, playing in his first Pro Bowl, talked afterward of being exhausted. He finished the game with five tackles and a pass deflection after allowing a first-half touchdown pass to Brandon Marshall.

 

But Jenkins had to take part in every special teams play, something he rarely did for the Cowboys. Even as tired as he felt, he was happy.

 

"I want to get back again," Jenkins said, "but not play all the special teams."

 

After the game, Leonard Davis took a Cowboys' helmet around the locker room for the NFC all-stars to sign. Austin, who finished with six catches for 49 yards, sucked on an orange in a side room after throwing his gloves and even his chin strap into the stands to some fans.

 

Inside that room was executive vice president Stephen Jones, who flew down with his son, John Stephen, and nephews Shy and Paxton Anderson, for the game. He talked briefly to head athletic trainer Jim Maurer to see if any Cowboys were injured.

 

He was told everybody was OK.

 

"That's the first thing, no injuries," Jones said. "We accomplished the most important part."