SAN DIEGO - The Chargers' elite eight are headed to the Pro Bowl. The player with 10 picks is among them.

Cornerback Antonio Cromartie, a second-year pro, was selected to his first Pro Bowl on Tuesday in voting by players, coaches and fans. Cromartie collected his NFL-high 10th interception -- setting a Chargers' single-season record -- in Sunday's win over the Lions.

Other Chargers selected were running back LaDainian Tomlinson (fifth time), tight end Antonio Gates (fourth), linebacker Shawne Merriman (third), defensive tackle Jamal Williams (third), left guard Kris Dielman (first)and Kassim Osgood (second) as the special teams' pick.

Cromartie was house-hunting when informed by a Chargers official that he was an all-star. The 2006 first-round pick was quick to share credit for the accomplishment.

"It's a great thing," Cromartie said at a press conference. "For me coming in as a rookie, the biggest thing was to try to follow the footsteps of the older guys and learn how to play and how to go about practice.

"This year paid off with the new coaching staff coming in. Everybody is clicking together in our secondary. My biggest help was having (cornerback) Quentin Jammer by my side and also having coach Kevin Ross and coach Bill Bradley by my side. Having those guys around as mentors really helped me out a lot."

Cromartie, a starter for only six games, is the first Chargers cornerback since Ryan McNeil in 2002 to make the squad. He said he'll take Ross, Bradley and Jammer with him to Honolulu.

"What he has done this year really proves he is an elite corner in this league," Tomlinson said. "Any time you get 10 picks, that is special. He is an exciting player."

Cromartie also has scored three touchdowns: on an interception return, a fumble recovery and an NFL record 109-yard return of a failed field goal.

Dielman will head to Hawaii for the first time, too. Dielman, who nearly left the Chargers for Seattle as a free agent last offseason, has shined despite a painful knee injury. The Chargers tend to run the ball to the left side, with Dielman often clearing a path.

Dielman's rugged style isn't lost on his opponents.

"I just know that I'm not making many friends out there when we're playing," Dielman said. "This is an honor to be in this. I have to thank my O-line coaches and my teammates in that O-line room. I did a lot of hard work with Hal (Hunter) and Jack (Henry). I'm extremely honored. This is great."

Tomlinson, Gates and Neal were named AFC starters.

Tomlinson, the NFL's reigning MVP, leads the league with 14 rushing touchdowns and is second with 1,211 rushing yards.

Gates has 68 catches for 898 yards and nine touchdowns; no other tight end has more touchdowns.

Merriman, who led the NFL with 17 sacks last year, has 11 1/2 this year. That ties him for the most among linebackers. Merriman might miss his second straight game Monday with a knee injury.

Neal's Pro Bowl availability is in question after he broke his leg about two weeks ago.

"The Pro Bowl, I have no doubt," he said. "The playoffs, I'm just day-to-day. Today I was able to walk, and I'm walking without the boot and doing some other exercises. I'm optimistic. I really think that I have a legitimate chance of playing the first or second week of the playoffs, without a doubt."

Punter Mike Scifres was selected as a first alternate. Center Nick Hardwick and left tackle Marcus McNeill - Pro Bowlers lastseason - and returner Darren Sproles were named second alternates.

- Contact staff writer Jay Paris at jparis8@aol.com.

Name; Pos.; Pro Bowls

Antonio Cromartie; CB: one

Kris Dielman; LG; one

Antonio Gates; TE; four

Shawne Merriman; LB; three

Lorenzo Neal; FB; four

Kassim Osgood; ST; two

LaDainian Tomlinson; RB; five

Jamal Williams; NT; three