Jan. 2, 2008

Chapel Hill, N.C. ------ Thirteen former North Carolina football players are headed to the NFL playoffs, including Indianapolis starting center Jeff Saturday, who looks to lead the Colts to a second-straight Super Bowl title. Saturday is one of two Pro Bowl Tar Heels in the playoffs. The other, Pittsburgh tailback Willie Parker, broke his leg two weeks ago and has been placed on injured reserve for the remainder of the season.

Place-kicker Jeff Reed and deep snapper Greg Warren will represent the Tar Heels in Pittsburgh's playoff push, which begins this weekend with a rematch against Jacksonville.

Tennessee linebacker David Thornton got into the playoffs with a 16-10 victory over Indianapolis in the team's last regular-season game. Thornton, a former walk-on at Carolina, led the Titans and finished 11th in the league with 122 tackles.

Of the 12 teams in the playoffs, Carolina has at least one player on eight of the teams. Here is a complete list of those players.

AFC
Jacksonville - Gerald Sensabaugh (injured)
Pittsburgh - Willie Parker (injured), Greg Warren, Jeff Reed
Indianapolis - Jeff Saturday, Victor Worsley (injured)
Tennessee - David Thornton

NFC
Washington - Ethan Albright, Tommy Davis (practice squad)
New York Giants - Russell Davis, Madison Hedgecock
Tampa Bay - Ryan Sims
Dallas - Greg Ellis