OK, so we have the Pro Bowl Rosters out now. As always there are some people who got snubbed and some who had no business making the team this year. I for one am happy that Dan Snyder's 'vote early, vote often' trick didn't work. As a Skins fan I would have been embarassed if we had eleven or twelve starters from a soon to be 7-9 team. (Yes, I've given up on the season. I'm getting fitted for my paper bag to wear over my head as I type this.) But anyway, what are the biggest outrages, and the best calls? Let's see:
Good Call: NFC Wide Receivers
They got all the right guys here: Steve Smith and Roddy White in addition to starters Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald. I don't see how anyone can make an argument for anyone else. TO is having an off year, and may be finally starting to decline. Santana Moss is good, but not dominant like the four winners. Calvin Johnson has some numbers, but is the king of the meaningless touchdown catch in Detroit.
Outrage: Wes Welker
Look, I'm not a Wes Welker hater or anything; he's a good player and is great at he does. But what he does isn't Pro Bowl worthy. The man catches a boatload of 10 yard passes in the slot because opposing defenses are focusing on Randy Moss. Basically, he does what Art Monk was accused of doing by all the Hall of Fame voters over all those years (yes, I'm still salty over that). There are a lot of receivers out there who cold rack up similar numbers playing that exact same role. If Welker had to make his living going downfield he'd be out of job. Or look at it this way: Welker is the kind of they guy the Eagles would sign to be their number one receiver. That should tell you all you need to know. Who should have gone in his place? How about the guy who makes it possible for him to get his numbers, Randy Moss?
Good call: No LT
We all love LT, but he just isn't cutting the mustard this season. His numbers are down across the board, and some are wondering if the decline is starting to kick in for him now. He could have very easily made it on reputation, but thankfully the voters made the right choice and kept him off.
Outrage: Brett Favre OK, he's seventh in the AFC in passer rating, seventh in passing yards, ninth in yards per attempt (the best stat to judge QB's on), but is the conference leader in......you guessed it, interceptions! And for that he's second in the Pro Bowl voting behind only Peyton Manning. Here are five guys who are better than Brett this year across multiple categories: Peyton (rating, yards, yds/attempt, TDs, Jay Cutler (rating, yards, yds/attempt, TDs), Matt Cassel (rating, yards, yds/attempt), Philip Rivers (all the same ones as Peyton), and Chad Pennington (yards, yds/attempt, rating). Rivers getting snubbed is absolutely ridiculous; he leads the AFC in TD passes, yards, passer rating, and yards per attempt. And yet we get our yearly dose of man love for old number four. Thanks a lot.
Good call: The Williams Boys It's good to see both Pat and Kevin Williams rewarded for their work on the Minnesota D-line. They really do work as a tandem, and might be the main reason (outside of Adrian Peterson, of course) that the Vikings are leading their division right now.
Outrage: Derrick Brooks
We all love Derrick Brooks; he's been a great player and a great guy off the field. I especially owe him for winning me a fantasy football title when he scored 4 defensive touchdowns back in 2002. But he doesn't come close to the leaderboard in any major category defensively. Now I know that defensive numbers are often misleading, but the other guys who made it are in least in the neighborhood of first place in sacks, tackles, etc. I'm sure he's playing well and all, but the are other guys who were more deserving than him, like Chad Greenway in Minnesota.
One thing about the NFC running backs, it's tough but I've got to feel bad for DeAngelo Williams. It's hard to argue against Adrian Peterson, Michael Turner, and Clinton Portis... but DeAngelo deserved to go so much this season. As bad as Denver's defense is, Steve Smith only got so open so many times because they were selling out to stop Williams, and Williams still had a great day. Again, I don't want to argue any of the guys who got in out, but it was rough in the NFC this year, especially when you consider that Brandon Jacobs, Brian Westbrook, Frank Gore, and Marion Barber all aren't going already.
if they gonna put brett farve in the pro bowl then aaron rogers shouls go because he has way better stats then him he has 24 td passes and 13 int and a 91.0 passing rating
I'm mad that Keith Bulluck of the Titans continues to get snubbed. I can't argue with the AFC LB picks this year, but Bulluck deserves national recognition. Call it blasphemy, but I'd rather see him in there rather than Ray Lewis. I think Ray-Ray is great, but he lost some luster with me after Eddie George trucked over him in the 2003 playoffs.