And it became the perfect tag for an underachieving season: The Cowboys, who sent 13 players to the Pro Bowl, did not win a playoff game.

And the Super Bowl champion New York Giants had only one player picked last season - defensive end Osi Umenyiora.

On Tuesday, five Cowboys were named to the 2008 Pro Bowl: tight end Jason Witten, linebacker DeMarcus Ware, nose tackle Jay Ratliff, guard Leonard Davis and center Andre Gurode.

Witten, Ware, Ratliff and Gurode were named starters on the NFC all-star team. Davis is a backup. More Cowboys could be named depending on how many alternates the Cowboys have and how many players defer because of injury.

Witten, who leads the Cowboys with 69 catches for 815 yards, earned his fifth straight selection. Ware, who leads the NFL in sacks with 19, and Gurode will make their third consecutive trip; Davis will make his second in a row.

Ratliff, a seventh-round pick in 2005, is making his first trip. Despite being an undersized nose tackle at 6-4, 298, he leads Cowboys' defensive linemen with 72 tackles and has a career-high seven sacks.

As honored as Ratliff was to get the call while reeling in a 50-pound catfish on Lake Lewisville on Tuesday afternoon, his sights are set higher.

"A lot of guys go to the Pro Bowl, but they never won a Super Bowl," Ratliff said. "My main thing is still the main thing. I want to win a Super Bowl. That's what I want to be remembered as - a Super Bowl winner, not a Pro Bowl nominee or whatever."

The New York Jets had the most selections with seven, followed by the Giants, Minnesota and Tennessee with six apiece. The Cowboys and Baltimore, Saturday's opponent in the final regular-season game at Texas Stadium, had five each.

You could make the case that the Cowboys could have had more picks Tuesday.

Despite missing three games, Tony Romo is the NFC's highest-rated passer, and his 24 touchdown passes are third most in the conference behind Arizona's Kurt Warner and New Orleans' Drew Brees.

But the Giants' Eli Manning got the nod as the third quarterback, partially because of his run to the Super Bowl last season.

No other inside linebacker in the NFL has more sacks than Bradie James (six), and Cowboys coaches have credited him with 171 tackles, which leads the team. He also has five tackles for loss, five quarterback pressures, four pass breakups, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.

"It kind of takes something from it that he's not going, because he deserves it," Ratliff said.

How does Ratliff think James will respond?

"I'm pretty sure he'll come out hungrier," Ratliff said. "That's the kind of guy he is. He's a warrior."

That's the kind of attitude the Cowboys will have to take to make sure they get a tag they like: a playoff winner.

PRO BOWL ROSTER

Sunday, Feb. 8 At Honolulu

(s-starter)

NFC

OFFENSE

Wide Receivers - s-Anquan Boldin, Arizona; s-Larry Fitzgerald, Arizona; Steve Smith, Carolina; Roddy White, Atlanta.

Tackles - s-Jordan Gross, Carolina; s-Walter Jones, Seattle; Chris Samuels, Washington.

Guards - s-Steve Hutchinson, Minnesota; s-Chris Snee, New York; Leonard Davis, Dallas.

Centers - s-Andre Gurode, Dallas; Shaun O'Hara, New York.

Tight Ends - s-Jason Witten, Dallas; Chris Cooley, Washington.

Quarterbacks - s-Kurt Warner, Arizona; Drew Brees, New Orleans; Eli Manning, New York.

Running Backs - s-Adrian Peterson, Minnesota; Clinton Portis, Washington; Michael Turner, Atlanta.

Fullback - s-Mike Sellers, Washington.

DEFENSE

Ends - s-Julius Peppers, Carolina; s-Justin Tuck, New York; Jared Allen, Minnesota.

Interior Linemen - s-Jay Ratliff, Dallas; s-Kevin Williams, Minnesota; Pat Williams, Minnesota.

Outside Linebackers - s-Lance Briggs, Chicago; s-DeMarcus Ware, Dallas; Derrick Brooks, Tampa Bay.

Inside Linebackers - s-Patrick Willis, San Francisco; Jon Beason, Carolina.

Cornerbacks - s-Antoine Winfield, Minnesota; s-Charles Woodson, Green Bay; Asante Samuel, Philadelphia.

Strong Safety - s-Adrian Wilson, Arizona.

Free Safeties - s-Nick Collins, Green Bay; Brian Dawkins, Philadelphia.

SPECIALISTS

Punter - Jeff Feagles, New York.

Placekicker - John Carney, New York.

Kick Return Specialist - Clifton Smith, Tampa Bay.

Special Teamer - Sean Morey, Arizona.

AFC

OFFENSE

Wide Receivers - s-Andre Johnson, Houston; s-Brandon Marshall, Denver; Reggie Wayne, Indianapolis; Wes Welker, New England.

Tackles - s-Jason Peters, Buffalo; s-Joe Thomas, Cleveland; Michael Roos, Tennessee.

Guards - s-Kris Dielman, San Diego; s-Alan Faneca, New York; Brian Waters, Kansas City.

Centers - s-Kevin Mawae, Tennessee; Nick Mangold, New York.

Tight Ends - s-Tony Gonzalez, Kansas City; Antonio Gates, San Diego.

Quarterbacks - s-Peyton Manning, Indianapolis; Jay Cutler, Denver; Brett Favre, New York.

Running Backs - s-Thomas Jones, New York; Ronnie Brown, Miami; Chris Johnson, Tennessee.

Fullback - s-Le'Ron McClain, Baltimore.

DEFENSE

Ends - s-Dwight Freeney, Indianapolis; s-Mario Williams, Houston; Robert Mathis, Indianapolis.

Interior Linemen - s-Albert Haynesworth, Tennessee; s-Kris Jenkins, New York; Shaun Rogers, Cleveland.

Outside Linebackers - s-James Harrison, Pittsburgh; s-Joey Porter, Miami; Terrell Suggs, Baltimore.

Inside Linebackers - s-Ray Lewis, Baltimore; James Farrior, Pittsburgh.

Cornerbacks - s-Nnamdi Asomugha, Oakland; s-Cortland Finnegan, Tennessee; Darrelle Revis, New York.

Free Safety - s-Ed Reed, Baltimore.

Strong Safeties - s-Troy Polamalu, Pittsburgh; Chris Hope, Tennessee.

SPECIALISTS

Punter - Shane Lechler, Oakland.

Placekicker - Stephen Gostkowski, New England.

Kick Return Specialist - Leon Washington, New York.

Special Teamer - Brendon Ayanbadejo, Baltimore.