TOP PRO BOWL SNUBS, DUDS, NEWBIES, STUDS

by Mac G, Mac G's World

The NFL Pro Bowl selections were announced yesterday. They are made up of the consensus of votes from fans, players and coaches. Each group's vote counts one-third toward determining each conferences' 43-man rosters.

The Pro Bowl game is awful viewing entertainment and I have no idea why they do not wait until AFTER the season to make these picks but the Pro Bowl selections are highly important for these players. They are the only true form of recognition for some and they factor prominently into contract negotiations.

As with every professional sports All-Star team, there were some worthy players left off the team and some eye brow raisers. The Cowboys (12-2) had 11 players and the Vikings (8-6) had seven, but the Packers (12-2) had only four.

The Bucs (9-5) and Jags (10-4) were completely shut out while the Bears (5-9) earned four selections. The surprising Browns(9-5) were only rewarded with two Pro Bowlers.

I have decided to break the rosters down into four sections: The Top Snubs, Duds, Newbies, and Studs.

Snubs are obviously the top players who should have earned Pro Bowl honors. Duds are players who do not deserve to make the squad at all. Newbies are players that are rightly gaining the trip to Hawaii for the first time. Studs are the top players in 2007. Also, this is my list of candidates for League Offensive and Defensive MVPs.


Top Snubs
Eric Steinbach, G, Browns
Omitting Steinbach was the most egregious error. "Steiny" was the top AFC fans vote getter at the AFC guard position and he has been an alternate the past few seasons. He has been key leader on a stellar Browns offensive line and has lived up to his big off season contract.

It was not pure coincidence that Steinbach's new team (Browns) drastically improved on offense while his old team (Bengals) declined.

My biggest problem is not arguing Chris Dielman (SD) and Logan Mankins (NE) are not worthwhile selections but that it was Steinbach's turn to make the team. The hardest group to crack in the Pro bowl selection process seems to be the offensive line and once you do, you can make it for years on reputation alone.

The same Offensive Lineman make it every year and no way this is representative of the best offensive lineman in each league. Will Shields, Alan Faneca, and Brian Waters had been the guards two years in a row. Faneca is still playing at a high level but Shields retired and Waters is apart of a very sub par KC offensive line.

Thus, two spots was finally open for Steinbach to grab. Somehow the coaches and players disagreed. I hope it does not have anything to do with him calling out Mike Vrabel in press for cheap shots.

Nick Barnett, MLB (GB)
The Packers are tied with the second best record in the NFL and tops in the NFC. Barnett is the main engine of the Packers' defense. He excels in pass coverage, run downs and blitzes. Barnett has made a team-leading 153 tackles to go along with 3.5 sacks, two interceptions and six pass break-ups. No way he should have been was beaten out by San Francisco rookie LB Patrick Willis.

Kellen Winslow, TE (Browns)
K2 has been an absolute stud this season and should have made this team. As a fantasy owner of Antonio Gates, he had three games with just one catch in each of them. Tony Gonzalez had solid numbers for a bad team. Winslow was a vital member of an explosive offense and that should have boosted him to Hawaii.

Keith Bulluck, LB (Titans)
I absolutely love this guy and I do not know why he does not get more publicity. The Titans D has been pretty solid all season and kept their team's playoff hope's alive in a tough AFC conference. Bulluck has played several different LB positions this season and he can do it all effectively. Shawn Merriman should not be selected over Bulluck, when he is just a pass rusher and not true a OLB.

Marques Colston, WR (Saints)
I did not realize what a solid season he was compiling until I looked at his numbers. 87 catches for 1,092 yards and nine touchdowns are solid. TO was the only lock member at this position in the NFC. Driver, Holt and Fitzgerald beat Colston out by name recognition.

Honorable Mention By Team
Jags- RB Fred Taylor, CB Rasheed Mathis
Packers- CB Charles Woodson, OT Chad Clifton,WR Greg Jennings, TE Donald Lee
Browns- OT Joe Thomas, QB Derek Anderson
Eagles- DE Trent Cole
Jets-S Kerry Rhodes, KR Leon Washington
Texans-DE Demorio Williams
Pats- WR Wes Welker
Bucs- DE Greg White, CB Ronde Barber, LB Derrick Brooks, S Shaun Phillips
Raiders- LB Thomas Howard
Panthers- S Chris Harris
Redskins- RB Clinton Portis
Vikings- LB, EJ Henderson
Saints- QB, Drew Brees

Top Duds
Jonathan Ogden, OT (Ravens)
Ogden has been injury prone all season the has been regularly beat like a drum every Sunday. Ravens offense is horrible too. He is lock HOF but no longer plays anywhere close to a Pro Bowl level. He is an aforementioned example of majority of Offensive lineman making it just on reputation each season.

Tommie Harris, DT (Bears)
The Bears D has been a sieve all season. Harris is a good player but I do not remember him making that many plays in the backfield this year.

Donald Driver, WR (Packers)
I have owned Driver in one of my fantasy leagues and I have not started him in months. Colston and Jennings deserve the nod more than Driver

Patrick Willis, LB (49ers)
Willis is a solid rookie and has a bright future but he plays on a horrible team. Rookie's need to make a bigger splash to make this squad.

Ray Lewis, LB (Ravens)
Ravens D has been average and this is another reputation pick.

Shawn Merriman, LB (SD)
See description for Ray Lewis above

Troy Polamalu, S (Steelers)
Great player but he missed too many games due to injury to be selected. Jets safety Rhodes was a better pick.

Honorable mention
S Darren Sharper (Vikings), WR Torry Holt (Rams), DE Jason Taylor (Fins), RB Marion Barber (Cowboys), OT Walter Jones (Seattle)

Top Newbies
Mike Vrabel, OLB (NE)
Every game Pats game that I watched this season, Vrabel is wrecking havoc in the backfield.

Albert Haynesworth, DT (Titans)
Haynesworth has bounced back from an embarrassing 2006 and has played up to his potential. He blows past double teams and deserves his first Pro Bowl berth.

Adrian Peterson, RB (Vikings)
What more adjectives can you say about AD/Purple Jesus/All Day than WOW!

CBs Al Harris (GB), Asante Samuel (NE)
Two of the best shut down corners in the whole league finally get their due.

LB, James Harrison (Steelers)
Joey Porter who? Harrison had some LT like performances this season.

DE Jarred Allen (Chiefs)
Allen's non stop motor is highly effective against the pass and run.

Honorbale mention:
G Leonard Davis (Dallas), DT Vince Willfolk (NE), WR Braylon Edwards (Browns), CB Antonio Cromartie (SD), CB Marcus Trufant (Seattle) K Rob Bironas (Titans), RB Joseph Addai (Colts)

Top Studs
Tom Brady, QB (Pats)
Magical is the one word fitting for Brady's play this season. His accuracy, pocket sense, and decision making are some of the best ever out of the QB position. No one player has been better this season either.

Bob Sanders, S (Colts)
Bobby "da hitman" Sanders came back from injury last season and led the remarkable Colts defense's turn around to a Super Bowl title. This season he has stayed healthy and kept the a injury plagued Colts defensive together with his hard hitting play. No one player is more important to his team's defense than Sanders.

Peyton Manning, QB (Colts)
He is the offensive equivalent to Sanders and without him the Colts repeat chances would evaporate as quickly as it takes to utter, "Jim Sorgi."

DeMarcus Ware, OLB (Cowboys)
The best player on the whole Cowboys and just a total physical freak. Ware is pretty much unstoppable to block off the edge and is the prototypical 3-4 LB.

Randy Moss, WR (Pats)
I have never seen any player make plays out of nothing like Moss. Throw the ball up there and he will go after it. His new found connection with Brady has been downright scary.

Brett Favre, QB (Packers)
The "Ole gunslinger" proved all the haters wrong while leading the Packers to the NFC North title and a possible NFC one seed in the playoffs. Before Ryan Grant's mid season arrival, Favre carried the offense on his arm and broke the NFL touchdown record along the way.

Tony Romo, QB (Cowboys)
Romo struggled last week but his arm and mobility are two of the main reasons that they Cowboys have the best record in the NFC and a good shot at the Super Bowl. Romo went from not having a contract at the beginning of the season to a legitimate MVP candidate. (I tried my best not to mention his "chicken of the sea" love interest.)

Honorable Mention
WR Terrell Owens (Cowboys), OLB Vrabel (Pats)