PITTSBURGH – Greenville resident Shaun Suisham is an alternate for the Pro Bowl, Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette has reported.

Suisham, the kicker for the Pittsburgh Steelers, is a second team alternates for the Pro Bowl meaning the two kickers ahead of him would have to drop out of the game for Suisham to make his first Pro Bowl. Cleveland Browns kicker Phil Dawson was voted as the AFC’s kicker for the Pro Bowl.

Suisham has made 27 of his 30 field goal attempts through the first 15 games of the 2012 NFL season, which is a 90 percent success rate. He missed two field goals in a 13-10 loss to the Browns last week, one from 24 yards and one from 53 yards.

Two of Suisham’s three misses this season have come from 50-plus yards – the 53-yard attempt against the Browns last week and a 54-yard attempt against the Tennessee Titans on Oct. 11. Both of those field goal attempts fell short and would have been a career best for him. Suisham’s career long field goal is from 52 yards, which he accomplished in 2006 with the Washington Redskins and this year against the Titans.

Suisham’s 90 percent success rate is tied for eighth best in the NFL along with Alex Henry of the Philadelphia Eagles. Prior to his misses last week Suisham led the league in field goal percentage but now trails Kai Forbath of the Redskins, Dawson of the Browns, Rian Lindell of the Buffalo Bills, Justin Tucker of the Baltimore Ravens, Dan Bailey of the Dallas Cowboys, Blair Walsh of the Minnesota Vikings and Sebastian Janikowski of the Oakland Raiders.

The Steelers conclude their 2012 season at 1 p.m. today as they play host to the Cleveland Browns.

The 2013 Pro Bowl will be held Pro Bowl Jan. 27 in Honolulu, one week before the Super Bowl.