Seahawks divided by scrimmage line

Russell Wilson made sure to give his Seattle teammates credit for helping him earn his third Pro Bowl selection in four years.

When the Seahawks quarterback lines up behind center on Sunday, he’ll have one of said teammates looking back at him from across the line of scrimmage.

One of the intriguing quirks of the Pro Bowl’s unconferenced format introduced in 2014 is the possibility of teammates being separated by the draft preceding the game. Sure enough, the five Seattle players who made the trip to Hawaii find themselves split, with three suiting up for Team Irvin and two for Team Rice.

“It’s going to be cool. I’m pretty sure we’re going to talk a lot of trash, especially 25,” said Team Rice linebacker Bobby Wagner, referencing outspoken cornerback Richard Sherman, a member of the Team Irvin secondary.

The playful banter started soon after the rosters were finalized.

Wagner, an inside linebacker, and receiver/return specialist Tyler Lockett were picked by the team headed by Jerry Rice on Tuesday in the non-televised portion of the Pro Bowl draft.

Wilson was taken with the first pick of Wednesday’s draft show at Wheeler Army Airfield by Dallas Cowboys Hall of Famer Michael Irvin. Team Irvin selected Sherman with the fifth overall pick and added Seahawks defensive end Michael Bennett four picks later.

“We always thought we were going to be on the same team,” Wagner said after Thursday’s practice at the Turtle Bay Resort. “But as soon as I found we were on (different) teams we started talking trash about (Sherman’s) going to run a route in my face. If he does that I’m just going to clothesline him.”

For his part, Sherman downplayed the possibility of playing receiver.

“That’s not gonna happen,” he said. “Unfortunately, it’s too much of a good thing.”

As for Wagner’s comment?

“Bobby says a lot of things. I just want a chance to block him,” Sherman said.

Seattle has a presence in the Pro Bowl for the first time since the 2013 game at Aloha Stadium, when Wilson closed his rookie year by completing eight of 10 pass attempts for 98 yards and three touchdowns in the NFC’s 62-35 rout in the last Pro Bowl divided by conferences.

The Seahawks were busy preparing for the Super Bowl during Pro Bowl week the past two years and return to Hawaii this January after falling to Carolina in the divisional round of the NFC playoffs.

While selected for the third time, Wilson will make his second appearance in the game on Sunday as the veteran in Team Irvin’s quarterback rotation, which also features Tampa Bay rookie Jameis Winston and Minnesota second-year pro Teddy Bridgewater.

“Hopefully I can help lead those guys, they’re great players obviously,” said Wilson, the only quarterback among the original six selected who made the trip. “So I’m looking forward to continuing to grow. It’s another opportunity to grow every time you come on the field, you a have a chance to hopefully make a mark.”

Wagner’s history at Aloha Stadium goes back to his college career at Utah State. He posted seven tackles to help the Aggies to a 35-31 win over Hawaii in 2011 and left the field with aspirations of returning as a pro.

“I thought if I can make it to the league and play well I could possibly come back to this stadium,” Wagner said. “I didn’t leave something in there and come find it, but I definitely wanted to come back.”

That said, Bennett owns the strongest rights to home field advantage among the players considering he actually lives in the Hawaii Kai area when not in Seattle.

“Yeah, I’m kind of the tour guide,” Bennett said. “I take them to Tita’s Grill. Junior (AhYou) is my cousin, on my wife’s side.”

Wilson won’t have to worry about having Bennett coming after him off the edge on Sunday. Wagner might be another matter.

“I’m going to hit Russell. I already told him,” Wagner said.

Wilson’s response, “First of all he’s gotta catch me.”

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Dave Reardon contributed to this story.