NFC Pro Bowl Roster - Snubs / Analysis
Look, it’s simple, the fans just do not get it right and never will. There is always going to be too many snubs with the online polls so lets just get to it…
Offense
QB
Starter: Kurt Warner - Arizona
Backups: Drew Brees - New Orleans, Eli Manning - New York (Giants)
Snub 1: Tony Romo - Dallas
Look, I know the Giants are on top of the world but Manning is not the reason. Brandon Jacobs, Derrick Ward, and the defense gets the Giants to where they need to be. Tony Romo has been excellent this year leading the NFC in QB Rating (98.3), yards per completion (8.2), and is a 63% passer. Manning has a rating of 86.4, is completing 60%, and is only averaging 6.8 a completion. Eli isn’t having a bad year necessarily but Romo has been much better and more vital for his team.
RB
Starter: Adrian Peterson - Minnesota
Backups: Michael Turner - Atlanta, Clinton Portis - Washington
These are 3 very good picks. There is an argument to choose DeAngelo Williams of the Carolina Panthers over Portis but it’s not a snub. Pretty dangerous trio in the NFC back field.
FB
Starter: Mike Sellers - Washington
Sellers is a solid player in a spot that is often over looked and has blocked well for Portis this year.
WR
Starters: Larry Fitzgerald - Arizona, Anquan Boldin - Arizona
Backups: Steve Smith - Carolina, Roddy White - Atlanta
There’s a lot going on here. Boldin and Fitzgerald are both 80+ receptions this year for 1000+ and have been great with Warner. I was happy to see Roddy White make it since I thought he was going to get overlooked. Steve Smith is averaging almost 18 yards a catch which is great. I was going to argue for Calvin Johnson but I have a feeling his numbers are a little inflated from “garbage time.”
TE
Starter: Jason Witten - Dallas
Backup: Chris Cooley - Washington
Probably the easiest position to pick in the NFC. Both of these guys have easily been the top tight ends for the National Conference.
T
Starters: Jordan Gross - Carolina, Walter Jones - Seattle
Backup: Chris Samuels - Washington
I’m pretty iffy on the Samuels pick. Jamaal Brown did a better job protecting Brees than Samuels of Jason Campbell. Then again, Brees does get rid of the ball a hell of a lot quicker.
G
Starters: Steve Hutchinson - Minnesota, Chris Snee - New York (Giants)
Backup: Leonard Davis - Dallas
These are the big names right now at the Gaurd position. They are mostly pretty deserving. Davis is also bigger than a Sherman tank so I will just cower in fear.
C
Starter: Andre Gurode - Dallas
Backup: Shaun O’Hara - New York (Giants)
No real argument here on these. I think Matt Birk of the Minnesota Vikings was pretty fundamental in the Viking success
Defense
DE
Starters: Julius Peppers - Carolina, Justin Tuck - Giants
Backup: Jared Allen - Minnesota
A lot of people are complaining here that John Abraham wasn’t included since he has 15.5 sacks. My only problem with Abraham over any of these guys is that he only has 33 tackles which tells me he’s not playing the run that great.
DT
Starters: Kevin Williams - Minnesota, Jay Ratliff - Dallas
Backup: Pat Williams - Minnesota
Jay Ratliff has to be the surprise defensive lineman of the year. Ratliff has 7 sacks and 44 tackles which is absolutely outstanding in a 3-4 defense.
OLB
Starters: DeMarcus Ware - Dallas, Lance Briggs - Chicago
Backup: Derrick Brooks - Tampa Bay
Snub 2: Karlos Dansby - Arizona
I understand Derrick Brooks is a Hall of Famer and is really a fantastic player but he’s only here on reputation. Brooks has 63 tackles on the year while Dansby is pushing the Cardinals D to a very good level with 102 tackles, 3 sacks, and 2 interceptions. Those numbers are really good playing outside backer and he’s absolutely vital to the Cardinals D. Brooks, while still good, was not even close this year.
ILB
Starter: Patrick Willis
Backup: Jon Beason
Snubs 3 and 4: Bradie James - Dallas, Barrett Ruud - Tampa Bay
Don’t get me wrong here, Willis and Beason are having excellent seasons but Ruud and James are on a whole different level right now. James has 99 tackles, 6 sacks, and 2 forced fumbles. 6 Sacks as an inside linebacker is really pretty rare. Ruud has already stepped up to replace Brooks as the leader of the Tampa Bay defense and has 3 sacks, 3 interceptions, and 117 tackles. He’s been absolutely excellent at stopping the run and controlling the pass and is only off the list because he is the new comer. A great example of why fan voting just does not work
CB
Starters: Charles Woodson - Green Bay, Antoine Winfield - Minnesota
Backup: Asante Samuel - Philadelphia
Snub 5: Chris Gamble - Carolina
Samuel is another guy riding the wave of one very good season and a name. Gamble has 82 tackles as a cornerback which is nearly unheard of. There are very few, if any other corners who are so instrumental in stopping the run. He has 3 ints and a forced fumble. Just to drive the real football guys crazy, Samuel has a whole 30 tackles on the year. Ridiculous.
FS
Starter: Nick Collins - Green Bay
Backup: Brian Dawkins - Philadelphia
Dawkins is pretty much here because of his name as well. I’m not going to name another player as being snubbed, however, since he is credited with 4 forced fumbles which is game changing.
SS
Starter: Adrian Wilson - Arizona
Special Teams:
Punter: Jeff Feagles - New York (Giants)
Kicker: John Carney - New York (Giants)
Returner: Clifton Smith - Tampa Bay
Special Teams Specialist: Sean Morey - Arizona
There you have a full list of the NFC Pro Bowl Roster and analysis complete with guys who should really be going to the Hawaiian party.
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3 Responses to “NFC Pro Bowl Roster - Snubs / Analysis”
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December 18th, 2008 at 11:15 pm
I used to get all huffy about this kind of stuff, but ultimately, any system where the fans have a say or vote in it is essentially a popularity contest. Of the major sports, the Pro Bowl is absolutely the most unwatchable anyway. They should just give those guys a free trip to Hawaii, a check and just tag them “All Pro” for a year.
December 19th, 2008 at 10:56 am
Actually, Scuzz, the “All-Pro” is usually pretty good. That is a team that is put together by the Associate Press and usually lacks the snubs and disses that the Pro Bowl ends up having.
December 19th, 2008 at 11:11 am
Eh, but, I guess I was nitpicking there and moved beyond your point to be honest ahha. You’re exactly right in what you say. There will always be problems with the fans voting and it’s definitely a popularity contest.
Be on the look out for the real All-Pro though as mentioned.