Twenty-seven of 32 NFL teams have at least one initial representative for the 2014 Pro Bowl.
Then there are the Falcons, Packers, Jaguars, Jets and Giants, who each didn’t have a single player among the 86 Pro Bowl selections named Friday night.
In the case of Atlanta and Green Bay, injuries had something to do with the lack of Pro Bowl representation. One obvious example: Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers was playing at a Pro Bowl level when injured in November. Also, Falcons wideout Julio Jones made the Pro Bowl last year and looked on his way to another outstanding campaign before suffering a season-ending foot injury.
The Jaguars, meanwhile, are in rebuilding mode. While they have played hard for coach Gus Bradley, and while their future appears bright, they don’t have any real standouts right now.
This brings us to the Jets and Giants, teams with good defenses and shaky offenses. Were either club to have a representative, it would seem most likely to come on the defensive side of the ball. Moreover, it’s possible both teams could eventually have a player or two added to the club; the Pro Bowl talent pool is always subject to change.
Nevertheless, for now, the Giants and Jets are not only going to be home for the playoffs, but none of their players are Hawaii-bound.