By Greg Beacham
The Associated Press

HONOLULU - Marshall Faulk sprinted upfield as Michael Strahan chased after him, bellowing with mock fury until both stars tripped themselves with their laughter. Just another midweek workout at the Pro Bowl, where the NFL's best players practice their trade in Hawaii with almost none of the pressures of real life.

"It's more fun every time I come out here," said Chicago linebacker Brian Urlacher, making his third Pro Bowl appearance. "You spend a lot of time with guys you respect during the season, but you don't really get to know until you get out here."

Not all of the NFL's stars feel the same way - or feel good enough to play another game after the rigors of the season. Warren Sapp, Tampa Bay's gregarious All-Pro defensive tackle, dropped out of his sixth straight trip to the Pro Bowl on Wednesday, allowing Carolina's Kris Jenkins to be added to the NFC roster.

Faulk became the St. Louis Rams' only representative in Honolulu when tackle Orlando Pace dropped out with injuries. But because the Rams missed the playoffs, Faulk wasn't about to miss the week of near-vacation - or a shot at the $30,000 awarded to each player on the winning team.

"This is an honor that not everybody appreciates," said Faulk, who earned his seventh Pro Bowl trip in nine NFL seasons. "I'm well rested, which isn't really the way you want to come here, but hopefully I'll play that much better."

Except for the warm weather and the quiet fans, Brian Dawkins' third trip to the Pro Bowl has been a whole lot like a Philadelphia Eagles minicamp. The All-Pro safety's teammates and coaches were everywhere he looked during the NFC's brief workout at Aloha Stadium.

The Eagles lost the conference championship game to Tampa Bay, giving them plenty of time to make it to Honolulu in an impressive Philly contingent.

"Seems like half the team is here," Dawkins said after signing autographs for a few hundred mellow fans. "I'm not surprised everybody got on the plane. It was 10 degrees when I left town. There's a comfort level for all of us, especially on defense. I wish our coaching staff wasn't here, though."

There are 10 Philadelphia players at the Pro Bowl, and they'll be led by the Eagles' coaching staff - the dubious honor given to the coaches of the losing teams in the conference title games. Though defensive end Hugh Douglas missed Wednesday's workout because of a minor illness, green helmets and hats dominated the field.

Eight Philadelphia players were among the original 43 selections to the NFC team, and tackle Jon Runyan and quarterback Donovan McNabb were added as injury replacements. Even Green Bay tight end Bubba Franks left practice wearing an Eagles T-shirt - the result of the traditional gear-trading rituals of Pro Bowl week.

Coach Andy Reid still is awaiting the arrival of Tampa Bay's five remaining Pro Bowl players. Some of the Buccaneers were expected to begin practicing Thursday, two days after their victory parade in Tampa.

"It's a good opportunity to keep things simple and have some fun," said Reid, coaching the NFC for the second straight year. "Having so many of our guys here is a help to us, but we're just doing basic things and trying to enjoy the week."

The only rookie at the Pro Bowl is tight end Jeremy Shockey of the New York Giants. Fans eagerly sought the long-haired All-Pro's autograph, shouting his name and waving photos.

"It's a great honor to be here with all of these great players in my first year," Shockey said. "A lot of guys who aren't here don't enjoy another week of football, but I don't want to take it for granted, because you never know when you'll get another chance to get back here. It's special."

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