The NFL kicked Vikings left tackle Bryant McKinnie off the Pro Bowl roster on Saturday, and didn’t replace him. Thus, Giants left tackle David Diehl and Philadelphia’s Jason Peters were forced to play more. A lot more.
Diehl and Peters were both in for every single one of the NFC’s 62 offensive snaps on Sunday night.
Diehl wasn’t upset by his admittedly unexpected full-time role in the meaningless game.
“This is something you wanted to do when you were a kid,” the first-time Pro Bowler said. “I’m honored to be here. Granted I wasn’t expecting to play the whole game, but I got here doing it as a Giant, being a blue collar guy. I’m not in the condition I was in during the football season, but when you’re called upon, you do it.”
Diehl’s attitude is refreshing, and the complete opposite of McKinnie’s.
Forced to compensate for McKinnie’s absence with no backup on the three-deep offensive tackle depth chart, Diehl and Peters are also lucky they didn’t get hurt.