Six Cowboys were selected to the NFC Pro Bowl team announced on Tuesday, two as starters.

The starters include center Andre Gurode, and linebacker Demarcus Ware.

Four others, nose tackle Jay Ratliff, tight end Jason Witten, wide receiver Miles Austin, and guard Leonard Davis were selected as backups.

Click here for the entire team, NFC-AFC Pro Bowl Team

Minnesota had the most selections with eight, with Dallas, Indianapolis, and Philadelphia second with six each.

Two East Texans were named starters on the NFC team, including Vikings running back Adrian Peterson from Palestine, and Eagles left tackle Jason Peters of Queen City.

David Smoak

Stephen Hodge told me over and over again, “I felt like a chicken with his head cut off,” after his first practice in pads at training camp.

Hodge, who has been in rehab from a calf and knee injury, returned to the field for the first time since June mini-camp.

After his first practice, Hodge was smiling when he told me, “I’m just glad to get out here with everyone else, it’s been frustrating and I need to play catch up.” Hodge continued, “I keep feeling like I was going in every direction, like a chicken with his head cut off, but I’ll get back into the flow sooner or later.”

When asked if he felt like he had to make-up for lost time, Hodge said, “Yes, I do, I lost a lot of reps and I don’t like other players taking my reps.”

Hodge also told me he compared today’s first training camp practice to the first practice at Valley Ranch after he was drafted.

Meanwhile, while walking off the field after the early special teams session on Monday afternoon, I asked special teams coach Joe DeCamillus if it was nice to get Hodge on the field and he responded, “I liked seeing #55 out there, Hodge, I’m glad he’s back he can help us.”

Tatum's Stephen Hodge at first practice

Cowboys center Andre Gurode signs autographs

Cowboys CB Terence Newman signs autographs

Todd Archer, Dallas Morning News:

** Before practice rookie safety DeAngelo Smith spent time fielding punts. At one point he caught punts one handed while holding a ball in his other hand. It reminded me of Adam Jones juggling six footballs while catching punts in last year’s camp..

** With Montrae Holland missing practice for personal reasons, rookie Greg Isdaner worked with the second team at left guard.

** Miles Austin had a productive morning. His best catch – and Tony Romo’s best throw – came when Romo waited for the last second as the pocket collapsed and threw a fastball in a tight window.

** Romo had a similar type throw earlier to Martellus Bennett that eluded Orlando Scandrick and Bobby Carpenter. Overall Romo was 10 of 14 in the morning work out.

** In a four-play span center Andre Gurode injured his left ankle and left tackle Flozell Adams grabbed his right knee. Both players missed at least the next play. It will be interesting to see if Adams practices in the afternoon. He’s been given some two-a-days off in the past.

** Alonzo Coleman was flung to the ground by Mike Jenkins, leading Coleman to flip the ball angrily at Jenkins. Coleman had some words with Jenkins and Ken Hamlin and was upset after practice too.

** The morning practice focused on third down work.

** Roy Williams found the end zone on a Jon Kitna pass inside the red zone. Williams made the snatch between Jenkins and Mike Hamlin.

** Defensive end Derreck Robinson made his first play that I noticed, stopping Coleman behind the line of scrimmage.

** Felix Jones is fast. Real fast. With Bradie James waiting for him in the hole he took one step back to his right and accelerated through the line of scrimmage in a ‘Did he really do that?’ type of moment.

** Of the five kickoffs I saw David Buehler hit in the morning, all of them went at least 2 yards deep in the end zone. He hit one Tiger Woods-like low stinger but the rest had the desired height and depth.