Samuels headed to Hawaii again

But he righted himself a year later. And he’s continued to remain near the top of the list of tackles in the NFC. Tuesday proved that point again when he was named to the Pro Bowl for the second straight year and fourth time overall.

Samuels was voted in as a reserve for the game, which will be played Feb. 10 in Hawaii. He’s the only Redskin on the list, though safety Sean Taylor was named as a first alternate. Linebacker Marcus Washington, tight end Chris Cooley and punt returner Antwaan Randle El are third alternates.

Samuels also made the Pro Bowl after the 2001 and ’02 seasons. This season, he was a key part of a rushing attack that ranks fifth in the NFL. Also, Washington has allowed just 18 sacks.

Sunday’s win over New Orleans was a good test for Samuels. Matched against fellow Pro Bowler and defensive end Will Smith, Samuels, playing with a sore right wrist, pitched a shutout. Though Smith appliedsome pressure, he did not record a sack.

Samuels’ bid was also helped by the fact that perennial Pro Bowler Orlando Pace suffered a season-ending injury earlier this year. New Orleans’ Jammal Brown and Seattle’s Walter Jones are the other tackles; both will start.

Samuels could not be reached for comment — Tuesday is the players’ day off — but said last week “everyone wants to go [to the Pro Bowl], but it’s not my top priority at this point. I just want to play better. I want to win.”

Several players with local ties made it to the Pro Bowl as well. In the AFC, San Diego linebacker Shawne Merriman (Douglass High /University of Maryland), Oakland defensive end Derrick Burgess (Eleanor Roosevelt High) and Baltimore left tackle Jonathan Ogden (St. Albans) made it to Hawaii. In the NFC, Seattle linebacker Julian Peterson (Crossland High) and Carolina defensive tackle Kris Jenkins (Maryland) earned the honor.

Also, Kansas City running back Larry Johnson, son of the former T.C. Williams High coach Larry Johnson Sr., will play in the game.