Montreal native savours spotlight of Pro Bowl
For 10 years, Canadian LouisPhilippe Ladouceur has avoided the NFL spotlight while playing in one of football’s 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-yearold 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, that’s 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. I’ve played 10 years so I’ve had many contracts and felt like the next thing was to be invited to the Pro Bowl. It’s 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 2005 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 hasn’t looked back. He’s been with Dallas ever since, having never missed a punt (493 snaps and counting), field goal (214) or convert (302) attempt.