The official Pro Bowl rosters are out, so let’s break them down by conference, starting with the AFC.
We’ll list the position, the players that made it with the starters first, and any random comment that comes to mind. Feel free to skip the comments.
Quarterbacks: Peyton Manning, Philip Rivers, and Tom Brady made it. Ben Roethlisberger has a good argument that he deserved the final spot.
Running backs: Chris Johnson, Maurice Jones-Drew, and Ray Rice are in. Great picks because they are all versatile. Cedric Benson’s injury ultimately cost him a chance.
Fullback: Le’Ron McClain. Lousaka Polite was a big snub from the Dolphins.
Wide Receivers: Andre Johnson, Reggie Wayne, Brandon Marshall, and Wes Welker made the team. Randy Moss has something else to be grumpy about. Although Vincent Jackson may have a bigger beef.
Tight ends: Dallas Clark and Antonio Gates. This is amazingly Clark’s first Pro Bowl. He should send Chiefs head honcho Scott Pioli a thank you note for trading Tony Gonzalez to the NFC.
Tackle: Jake Long, Ryan Clady, and Joe Thomas. There are other deserving players like D’Brickashaw Ferguson, but it’s hard to argue with this trio.
Guard: Logan Mankins, Alan Faneca, and Kris Dielman. Faneca has become the poster boy for making the Pro Bowl on reputation rather than production.
Center: Nick Mangold and Jeff Saturday. Mangold could be the Pro Bowl starter for a long time.
Defensive end: Robert Mathis, Dwight Freeney, and Mario Williams make it. I wouldn’t argue if the two Colts were the All Pro starters.
Interior Lineman: Haloti Ngata, Vince Wilfork, and Casey Hampton. Shaun Rogers should have made it, even with his injury.
Outside Linebacker: Elvis Dumervil, James Harrison, and Brian Cushing. An amazing accomplishment by the rookie from Houston and well deserved.
Inside Linebacker: Ray Lewis and DeMeco Ryans.
Cornerback: Darrelle Revis, Nnamdi Asomugha, and Champ Bailey. A Bengal should have gone over Bailey! We’d say Johnathan Joseph.
Free safety: Ed Reed, Jairus Byrd.
Strong safety: Brian Dawkins. No argument with the safety picks.
Punter: Shane Lechler
Placekicker: Nate Kaeding
Kick Returner: Josh Cribbs
Special Teamer: Kassim Osgood.
5 Ravens and zero Bengals, hmmm.
…Quarterbacks: Peyton Manning, Philip Rivers, and Tom Brady made it. Ben Roethlisberger could argue with that final spot…
So could Matt Schaub.
No Bengals on the entire team?
No Bengals.
McClain makes it over Polite.
Jackson gets left out.
They should just call it the Name Recognition Bowl.
Why no special mention of Byrd’s accomplishments but the extra kudos for Cushing’s rookie campaign?
I do, however, agree that at least one of the Bengal’s DB’s should have gone. Usually teams that get slighted in the Pro Bowl voting make a good playoff run, so this might be a good and necessary motivator for Cincy.
“Ben Roethlisberger has a good argument that he deserved the final spot. ”
And so does the NFL’s leading passer who has better stats than Roethlisberger all the way across the board…
Congratulations to Jairus Byrd!!!!
Too bad he is injured and won’t be able to play, but he was one of very very few bright spots for the Bills this season, and it’s nice to see the payoff.
Quarterbacks: Peyton Manning, Philip Rivers, and Tom Brady made it. Ben Roethlisberger has a good argument that he deserved the final spot.
Don’t worry Florio. Your binky will be playing since odd are great one of these guys will be busy preparing for the Super Bowl that week.
Shit! What was that noise?! Oh, just Big Ben getting sacked again. Never mind. Carry on.
Shaun Rogers should not have made it even if he played all season. His run defense has dropped off bigtime — just look at CLE’s stats as an example plus from other stuff I’ve read — and then after he was hurt his replacement Rubin has done better in run defense (you have posted a link to an article about that a week or two ago). D’Brick also does not deserve it, he’s not close to being elite although he’s fairly good.
I’m not saying Freeney doesn’t deserve to go, just making an observation here: Freeney has just 24 total tackles on the year, or five more than Antwan Odom had in six games. I know there are contributions that don’t show up on the stat sheet (pressures, hurries, forcing a runner into oncoming teammates, etc) but there is more to playing DE than sacking the QB.
Ray Lewis and Ed Reed are there on reputation only. Randy Moss’ snub is for the same reason. Still gets double teamed on every play.
Polite is WAY more deserving than McLain
Byrd should start too
Matt Schaub snubbed. Mario Williams probably didnt deserve to go but I guess a makeup of a few years back when he wasnt voted in. A little surprised no Bengals made it.
Though, with all that said, nothing surprises me. I still say it’s a popularity contest.
B-Dawk for the HOF!
What a stud.
Well deserved.
J. Joseph and V. Jackson are the only two real snubs, IMO. An argument could be made for Scifres… but Lechler is just as good and plays on an inferior team.
Colts are pussies. Even if they made the Pro Bowl. It just makes them Pro Bowl Pussies.
Janikowski should get a lifetime achievement award at some point.
Bout time Dallas Clark made it.
2 BROWNS made it, and NO BENGALS
Congratulations, to BRIAN DAWKINS, future HALL OF FAMER
Where’s Tyvon Branch?
I voted, but I wonder why…
Janokowski shouldve made it over Kaeding. If a GM was building a team, they would take Jano in a heartbeat over KAeding. Kaeding scores points on a great offense in SD of all places.
Jano plays for a horrible offense, plays on a dirt field in wet NOCal for half the season, and kicks 60+ yarders in 20 degree weather in Ohio in December.
What is Roethlisberger’s case? His teams record? His civilian stats? Oh, neither of those things? You can’t make a cas for him because you shouldn’t. The three spots were filled by the three best; simple as that.
Brandon Merriweather had a breakout season at Free Safety for the Patriots. He should take Byrd’s place when they fill in for his injury. (Bills fans, Byrd deserved to be in over Merryweather. he had a great rookie year.)
So, you have a problem with Bailey making it. But wouldn’t argue if both Colts are starters at DE, over sack leader Elvis Dumervil, likely to have 20+ sacks, but didn’t get the nod period.
dowens11 says: “Why no special mention of Byrd’s accomplishments but the extra kudos for Cushing’s rookie campaign? ”
Because Byrd was over hyped. Most of his picks came in a 5 game stretch, and he didn’t even start the season. He also had a bunch of 0 stat days and blew as many coverages/gave up more touchdowns than he had picks. Cushing was dominate from week 1, and even his worst game against the Cardinals he played well.
No David Harris???!!! That might be the biggest snub!!!!
It’s gonna be a killer AFC offense.
With the Pro Bowl coming before the Super Bowl … will any of the superbowl players even play? Why would you risk an injury to a meaningless game.
… and Florio is a douche … I just wanted to say that since so many others do.
No David Harris???!!! That might be the biggest snub!!!!
now I have seen it all, some idiot talking about Byrd being overhyped.
Sebastian Janikowski was hands down the best kicker in the NFL this season.
– Made 24 of 27.
– Made more FGs from 50+ than anyone else (5/6 from 50-59 yards out).
– Longest FG of the year (61 yards) in harsh wintry conditions off the grass in Cleveland.
– His 3 misses were from 45, 57 and 66 yards. Virtually no other kicker in the league even tries the 57 and 66 yarders.
– Top 5 in the NFL in touchback percentage.
– Kaeding on the other hand had 18 chip-shot FGs inside the 30 to Seabass’s 3. Kaeding also had 33 more extra-point tries than Seabass.
– Janikowski converted 15 FGs from 40+ yards. Kaeding converted 7.
Hopefully the voters for the more prestigous All-Pro team were paying more attention than Pro Bowl voters.
Polite this season was the most dominating player at fullback I have ever seen. Blocking was INCREDIBLE. and he was STRAIGHT CASH HOMIE on short yardage. you can check those stats too. 3rd and 1 or 4th and 1…. cash. highest percentage in the league and the other team knew it was coming.
One of the bengals CB shoulda been reserve
Buffalo Mike says: “now I have seen it all, some idiot talking about Byrd being overhyped.”
Take off the homer goggles: how many zero stat days did Brian Cushing have? Byrd didn’t even start the season. He had 7 of his 9 picks between week 5 and week 8, and had only 2 after week 8. He also had a one tackle game and a zero stats game. BTW, how does that Aaron Maybin pick taste?
Lou got robbed.
@florio – “Faneca has become the poster boy for making the Pro Bowl on reputation rather than production.” ………..
No sh!t!! This fatass didn’t deserve the trips to Hawaii when he was a Steeler, let alone now. Pro Bowl is nothing but a popularity contest.
No Bungles you say? ……………….bawwaaaaaahhaaaaaaaaaaa.
Too bad, so sad.
Big Ben had an excellent season, but so did the 3 QBs who made it. Shaub , too. You can only take 3. Besdes, Ben will be there, as one of the three that made it will be playing in the SB….
sorry to all. but i never liked the pro bowl voting being allowed to the fans. the voting should only be by the players/coaches only. the way it use to be. that leaves me out also fellow voters.
Thomas Jones? more yards and touchdowns than Jones-Drew and Rice, plus leads the NFL’s leading rush team. WTF?
What do all these QB’s have in common besides Big Ben? They get all day to stand statuesque in the pocket and take their time and find the right reads. Ben has about 0.7 seconds to make his read then start running.
He’ll never get the respect (I.E. ProBowls) he deserves. Put Matt Schaub on the Steelers this year and they go 4-12.
D’Brick is having a great year for the Jets. Those other guys are studs but some made it more on rep than on talent this year.
Thomas Jones is the fourth leading rusher and is only 29 yards away from being the leading rusher. Obviously Chris Johnson is going to make it and so is MJD because he is up there in rushing to. Ray Rice is so flashy and has to carry that offense so no one notices work horses like Thomas Jones who have other 1300 yards and 12 touchdowns. How is that pro bowl worthy last year and not this year?
Don’t even get me started on Ray Lewis. He made it on rep. He had a decent year but the Jets MLB David Harris has more tackles, more sacks and more interceptions. How does he make the pro bowl over Harris? Because it is expected.
Matt Schaub is most definitely the biggest pro bowl snub this year. Manning and Rivers surely deserve it but Schaub is leading the NFL in passing yards and has 250 more than Brady. Brady is having a solid year but Schaub just exploded and definitely deserves the recognition.
How does Ed Reed make it over Kerry Rhodes? Not saying Rhodes should have gotten it but they have the same amount of INTs and Reed has less tackles and less passes defensed.
The pro bowl is a joke because so many guys make it on their rep…
Lousaka Polite was robbed. McClain gets in because of Ray Rice.
Shame.
Polite was the most clutch FB in the entire NFL this year.
Matt Schaub is most definitely the biggest pro bowl snub this year. Manning and Rivers surely deserve it but Schaub is leading the NFL in passing yards and has 250 more than Brady. Brady is having a solid year but Schaub just exploded and definitely deserves the recognition.
Put Brady on a warm weather/dome team and we’re not even having this conversation.
Janikowski has a big leg, no brain, no heart (typical Raider).
Kaeding is the most accurate kicker in NFL history. Check it.
Gotta love raiders fans… all they have to complain about is their kicker not making it to the probowl. I feel bad for Asomugha… what a waste of talent. Imagine him on ANY other team!
I’m glad to see Brady on here. Although I don’t think he was in Manning/Rivers (shudder to say this) company consistently enough, I’m still happy to see him get the nod. Although he probably won’t show even if the Pats don’t make the final dance.
I didn’t see Richard Seymour’s name here; wasn’t he the second coming of Jesus in Oakland this year??? Thought I read that a bazillion times here on PFT from “Cheatriots” haters……
LOUSAKA GOT ROBBED!!!!!!! ABSOLUTELY ROBBED!
Kaeding is no more accurate than Janikowski this year. Less actually. Each kicker has missed 3 tries. Two of Janikowski’s misses were from 57 and 66 yards — attempts that probably no other kicker in the league even tries.
Kaeding built his point leads on having a ridiculous 18 FG tries inside 30 yards. Janikowski has just 3 tries from that range. Kaeding also has 32 more extra points. So Kaeding is a Pro Bowler because he got a million gimmie tries this season that inflated his overall scoring numbers?
Janikowski made more from 40+
Janikowski made more from 50+
Janikowski made more from 60+
Really a no-brainer. Hopefully the All-Pro team voters get it right.
If you’re in the hospital holding your newborn baby and the doctor asks what name to put on the birth certificate, and you say D’Brickashaw, you should be shot in the face.
And to those who says Janikowski should have made it over Kaeding, Kaeding is the most accurate kicker in the history of the NFL. It’s hard to argue that Kaeding shouldn’t make it but Jans had a great year too. He has a big leg and has gotten better and better. He has just had less exposure. Also, Kaeding also kicks 60+ FG’s pretty regularly, similar to Jans but the Chargers just aren’t stupid enough to have him attempt it during the game. Jans just has had the opportunities at the end of the half. I just don’t remember a time where the Chargers ended the half at that 60+ FG range, honestly, with Kaeding as their kicker. If he had the opportunity to kick a 60-65 yarder though it would be pretty cool.
I’ve actually seen him kick a 65 yarder in mini camp. Of course that’s with really all the time in the world with no rushers, but I’ve heard Jans has kicked from 70.
Isn’t kicker wars fun?
pdxbolt4life says:
December 30, 2009 1:55 PM
Like it’s Kaeding’s fault that SD offense can get the ball a little closer than Oakland’s?? The most accurate kicker..indisputable…look at the stats. If the faiders didn’t suck ass so bad…maybe that fatass would’ve stood a chance. By the way raider fans…13 in a row lost to the Chargers….how’s that commitment to excellence going for ya??
——————-
And how’s that 0 Super Bowl titles going for ya?
Can’t wait to watch you guys choke it away again and flame out at home against the Pats in a few weeks.
Kaeding ain’t gonna be in the pro-bowl anyway, null point.
Brady is the biggest joke to me, along with Reed, a Ray Lewis. As a Steelers fan I hate the Bengals. Everything about them is a joke, most of their players have been or will be in jail, Marvin is awful, Chad is the biggest league douche since Favre but for them to have 0 pro bowlers when they handled their division and could easily end up as the 3 seed is an absolute disgrace. I would say Benson deserves to go WAY more than Rice, Chad could easily be going, three or four guys on their D should be going. Like I said I hate everything about the Bengals but I don’t base who I think should go to the pro bowl on who I like. I think Ray Lewis is a great LB one of the best of all time and certainly one of the best now but he isn’t the best this year. I think the Pro Bowl process should be changed. I don’t have an answer but the way its done now is just boring and stupid and leads to things like this, a play off team having 0 pro bowlers when a team like the Ravens that might not even make the playoffs has around 17 it seems.
Kaeding can’t attempt anything over 29 yards it appears. Check it! Over half his kicks are from 29 or less. Jano is clutch and should be in the pro bowl. Compare their kickoff touchbacks and it’s not even close.
Jano should be going–
http://www.sacbee.com/sports/story/2429737.html
Just sayin’.
You should have given more credit to Byrd! Can we please remember he’s also a rookie and very well deserving of this, even though he’s injured. He’s played incredibly well on a team that really has nothing else going for them. I can’t wait to see him play healthy!
I definitely agree with this class sucks.
But one thing is that just because your team plays well doesn’t mean that someone deserves to be on the probowl. But I do think that they got snubbed. Not as much as Schaub though.