Off Topic » NFL spotlight while playing in one of footballs most

For 10 years, Canadian Louis-Philippe Ladouceur has avoided the NFL spotlight while playing in one of footballs most high-profile markets.But the Dallas Cowboys long-snapper is enjoying some attention these days after recently being added to the Pro Bowl roster for the first time. The Montreal native was selected as a need player by Baltimore head coach John Harbaugh and will suit up for the Ravens-coached squad Sunday at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Ariz.There are certain things in football you want to do, the 33-year-old said this week in a phone interview. Obviously, the Super Bowl is the ultimate in football and making it as far as possible in the playoffs, thats always No. 1.But the second thing is to get recognized and the best way to get recognized in this league is either with a Pro Bowl invitation or contract. Ive played 10 years so Ive had many contracts and felt like the next thing was to be invited to the Pro Bowl. Its a big deal for me, a big accomplishment in my career. It had a lot of meaning before and has an even bigger meaning now.Ladouceur will be one of seven Cowboys appearing in the Pro Bowl. The New England Patriots and defending champion Seattle Seahawks will square off in Arizona on Feb. 1 in the Super Bowl.The Pro Bowl invitation is a heady accomplishment for a former defensive lineman who joined the Cowboys three games into the 05 season. Ladouceur originally signed with the New Orleans Saints as an undrafted free agent out of the University of California before being released.Ladouceur signed with Dallas after then-head coach Bill Parcells opted to make a change at long snapper. The Cowboys were staying in California between road games against San Francisco and Oakland and gave the former Cal star a look.The six-foot-five, 255-pound Ladouceur hasnt looked back. Hes been with Dallas ever since, having never missed a punt (493 snaps and counting), field goal (214) or convert (302) attempt.In 2013, Dallas rewarded Ladouceur with a five-year contract.L.P., he does a third of my job, it all starts with him and hes been doing it for a long time, Cowboys kicker Dan Bailey said of Ladouceur on the teams website. Im real lucky to have him.I put him up there with some of the best in the league and I have a lot of respect for what he does. He makes my job easier.Ladouceur has also stayed healthy. The Cowboys third-longest tenured player hasnt missed an NFL game during his career while registering 14 special-teams tackles.Dallas finished atop the NFC East with a 12-4 record to secure its first playoff appearance since 09. But it was an eventful return as both of the Cowboys post-season contests (a 24-20 wild-card win over Detroit on Jan. 4 and 26-21 divisional loss to Green Bay on Jan. 11) included controversial officiating calls.In the wild-card game, Dallas linebacker Anthony Hitchens was flagged for pass interference with 8:25 remaining and Detroit facing third-and-one while leading 20-17. But the officials picked up the flag without explanation.The following weekend at Lambeau Field, Dallas trailed 26-21 with 4:42 remaining when quarterback Tony Romo completed a fourth-down pass to Dez Bryant at Green Bays one-yard line. But the play was overruled as Bryant was deemed to not have made a legal catch. Dallas turned the ball over on downs, allowing Green Bay to advance to the NFC championship game against Seattle. On Sunday, the Seahawks rallied from a 19-7 fourth-quarter deficit for a wild 28-22 overtime victory.But Ladouceur wasnt blaming the officials for Dallass loss to Green Bay.Theres so many more other plays we couldve made in that game to change the outcome, he said. Theres still 60-some plays on offence, 60-some plays on defence and 20 some-odd plays on special teams that couldve made a difference. That call, yeah, couldve made a difference but at the end of the day if we wanted to win that game we shouldve won it at a different spot and time in the game.Ladouceur said his Pro Bowl selection has taken some of the sting away from the Green Bay loss.I wish I wouldve played in that game Sunday, Im not going to lie to you, Ladouceur said. We had a really good season . . . I just thought we had a heck of a chance in Green Bay.To have the Pro Bowl at the end of the season kind of makes it a little bit bittersweet but its still a hell of a deal. C. J. Cron Twins Jersey . -- The Denver Broncos locked up a shutdown cornerback, only his name wasnt Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie. Rod Carew Jersey . First, Ivan Nova decided to have season-ending Tommy John elbow surgery. Then Michael Pineda was suspended for 10 games for using pine tar. http://www.twinssale.com/ . The 36-year-old Colts receiver is going back to the playoffs as a division champion. Addison Reed Jersey . The Blue Jackets announced the injury through their official Twitter account Friday afternoon. Gaborik, 31, has scored five goals and six assists in 17 games with the Blue Jackets in 2013-14. Blake Parker Twins Jersey . The United States clinched the final berth into the Ford Worlds, March 28-April 6 at Scotiabank Centre in Halifax, on Saturday in Blaine, Minn.GLENDALE, Ariz. -- The Phoenix Coyotes were on their heels after building a two-goal lead, spending most of the second period in their own zone. After losing a two-goal lead four days earlier, the last thing they wanted was to do it again, particularly this late in the season and against a team theyve struggled against. Instead of folding, the Coyotes fought back, earning a crucial win before they head off on a four-game road trip. Radim Vrbata scored two goals and the Coyotes bounced back from a shaky second period to beat Montreal 5-2 Thursday night, their first win over the Canadiens since 1998. "We talked about coming out like we did in the first and I think we did a pretty good job in the third," said Coyotes defenceman Oliver Ekman-Larsson, who had a goal and an assist. "It wasnt great, but we got two points." With the Canadiens coming off a six-round shootout the night before, the Coyotes want to jump on them early and did just that. Vrbata scored 2:08 in, Lauri Korpikoski had his first goal in 19 games and Ekman-Larsson also scored for his 100th career point to put Phoenix up 3-1. The Canadiens picked up the pressure and the Coyotes spent most of the second period chasing, getting off one shot while serving a string of penalties. Alex Galchenyuk scored midway through the period on a two-man advantage, cutting the Coyotes lead to 3-2. But after blowing a two-goal lead against St. Louis on Sunday, Phoenix stiffened. Vrbata made it a two-goal lead in the third period and Keith Yandle scored less than 2 minutes later to put it out of reach, giving Phoenix its first winning streak since Jan. 16-18. Mike Ribeiro and Kyle Chipchura added a pair of assists for the Coyotes, who hadnt beaten Montreal since Dec. 9, 1998, in Arizona (0-9-2). "These are desperate points for us before we go on the road," Coyotes coach Dave Tippett said. "We needed this one badly." The Canadiens came out flat after beating the NHL-leading Anaheim Ducks in the extended shootout the night before, allowing the Coyotes to dictate play. Montreal dominated the second period, leading to a series of penalties by the Coyotes, but couldnt sustain it in the third when Phoenix picked up the pressure. Andrei Markov had a goal and an assist, and P.K. Subban had a pair of aassists for the Canadiens.dddddddddddd "We started the game like a team who played last night and travelled and came here at 3 oclock in the morning," Montreal coach Michel Therrien. "Before we got going, we were in trouble, so we had to play catch up hockey and its never the solution to win hockey games." Phoenix made one big move at the trade deadline, picking forward Martin Erat, who played on the second line with Chipchura -- in place of injured centre Martin Hanzal-- and Vrbata. Montreal also added a big reinforcement, picking up high-scoring forward Thomas Vanek in a deal that sent a prospect and a draft pick to the New York Islanders. Erat had the impact on his new team first, helping the Coyotes score on his first shift when Vrbata redirected a shot by David Schlemko and sent it bouncing past Peter Budaj. Markov tied it later in the period on a slap shot from the left circle that bounced off the post and out of the net so quickly the officials didnt count it until after reviewing it about a minute later. Korpikoski put Phoenix back on top late in the period on another redirect, this one on a shot by Michael Stone for his first goal since Jan. 11. Ekman-Larsson put the Coyotes up 3-1 with 8.5 seconds left, beating Budaj on a wrister after a pass by Ribeiro from behind the goal. "I think sometimes its travel, but thats not an excuse," Budaj said of Montreals slow start. "Its not an excuse; youve got to be ready and I dont think we were ready right off the hop." The Canadiens fought back in the second period, spent most of the period in Phoenixs end, leading to a series of penalties, including a long 5-on-3 that led to Galchenyuks on a redirect. But, after going more than 21 minutes without a shot, the Coyotes took control back, getting goals by Vrbata and a redirect by Doan to remain ninth in the Western Conference standings. Notes: Hanzal missed his second straight game with an upper-body injury. ... Montreal concludes its four-game Western road swing in San Jose on Saturday. ... A slashing call against Ribeiro early in the second period was the Coyotes first penalty in nearly 90 minutes. ... Montreal had a goal by Brendan Gallagher waved off in the second period when David Desharnais was called for being in the crease. ' ' '