London Fletcher leads my list of players that should be headed for Hawaii. Matt Bowen
The NFL's Pro Bowl voting is always a suspect process (including the player's vote). One that leads to plenty of questions every year after the rosters are announced. And after checking out the squads for both the AFC and NFC last night, there are some obvious names missing from my perspective. Here is a list of five players I felt deserved a plane ticket to Hawaii.
ICONFletcher's production should earn him a invite to the Pro Bowl.
1. London Fletcher, LB, Redskins: The Redskins’ MLB is productive, accountable and continues to play the Mike Backer position as good as any player in this league. 193 tackles, 2 sacks, 2 INTs and 3 forced fumbles. Those are Pro Bowl numbers for a player that stands out each and every time you turn on the tape. No question I would have selected Fletcher over the Bears’ Brian Urlacher.
2. Matthew Stafford, QB, Lions: Stafford over Eli Manning? That’s how I see it. The Lions’ QB has his team in the playoff for the first time since the 1999 season and has the numbers to go along with it: 4,518-yards, 36 TDs and 14 INTs. Detroit has done an excellent job of adding talent around the QB position, but this offense still runs through Stafford. Can’t leave him off the NFC roster.
3. Victor Cruz, WR, Giants: Cruz doesn’t have the rep of a Greg Jennings, but he has the numbers and was a consistent big play threat all season for the Giants. The WR caught 76 passes for 1,358-yards (good for a 17.9 yard per catch average) to go along with 8 TDs. Hard to ignore those numbers when casting a vote.
4. Jermaine Gresham, TE, Bengals: I’m taking Gresham over San Diego’s Antonio Gates this season. The second-year player caught 6 TD passes on 51 receptions in Jay Gruden’s new offensive system and is going to continue to develop with Andy Dalton at QB. Gates may have slightly better numbers, but Gresham was the better overall player at this position this season.
5. D’Qwell Jackson, LB, Browns: How much longer is the Ravens’ Ray Lewis going to get a free pass when it comes to Pro Bowl voting? Again, we are talking about production in the 2011 season—and that’s what you get with the Browns’ LB. Jackson posted 145 tackles, 3.5 sacks, 1 INT and 1 forced fumble. Didn’t play on a great team, but the numbers are legit.
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Just goes to prove that some of the people that vote either don't watch or don't know what they're watching. Matthew Stafford throws the best out in the game and can effectively throw the entire route tree. If you think Eli is the better QB then you have not been watching.
Joe B
Aldon Smith!
I would add Geno Atkins to that list. Better numbers than Seymour and Wilfork, but doesn't have the name recognition. Get rid of fan voting!
Probowls should be based on Stats only!!!!! Its now just a popularity contest.
I can't believe that Doug Atkins was left off this years Pro Bowl Team!
I can't believe that Doug Atkins was left off this years Pro Bowl Team!
"Probowls should be based on Stats only!!!!! Its now just a popularity contest."
Stat-based selections would be even worse than the current popularity contest. It's not fantasy football, it's football football.
Absolutely Stafford over Eli. Eli is not even a top ten QB.
The fact that people can vote as early as October makes the Pro Bowl even more of a joke.
/Yawn.
Stafford and Cruz I think were out for the same reason: that their success was due more to their complement (Megatron and Eli) than vice-versa. Also, Cruz probably split votes with Nicks, who put up similar numbers.
I absolutely don't get what Jennings is doing there. That's completely a reputation selection, despite having good numbers while missing two games.
Solid article Matt, and I agree 100% on all. London Fletcher just can't do enough to get recognition, that's sad. Too many guys getting in on name and past performance only.
Keep up the strong work Bowen, another accurate and excellent read.
Chris Long Defensive End for the STL Rams. Grant you the Rams pretty much suck this year. But look up Chris's individual stats................ Pretty awesome.
Stafford couldn't carry Eli Manning's jock and he plays on a team of crybabies coached by a crybaby jerk.
gravedigger , you must be a big time Giants fan , or blind , or you think all Mannings are Peyton . No matter which you're still wrong .
How about Corner Lardarius Webb? 5 interceptions, countless pass deflections and 1 punt return for a TD. That's better than most.
How about Corner Lardarius Webb? 5 interceptions, countless pass deflections and 1 punt return for a TD. That's better than most.
How about Corner Lardarius Webb? 5 interceptions, countless pass deflections and 1 punt return for a TD. That's better than most.
How about Corner Lardarius Webb? 5 interceptions, countless pass deflections and 1 punt return for a TD. That's better than most.
RoboT - that was awesome!
Any comments on Jermon Bushrod? Davon Joseph?
Gravedigger: Very insightful analys. The thin air up in the last row that you sit in at MetLife Stadium obviously starting to affect you.
Ill take Urlacher.....he does a lot thats not on the stat page. But Fletcher deserves mention. Willis was best linebacker this year, though hands down. Ray lewis is a joke at this point for the pro bowl. Agree about Gresham. What about Sapoega for the niners at NT.......solid all year. His best season for sure. yes to Cruz, but brandon marshall got very little ink for a mediocre team but is a beast.
Dec 28, 2011
06:33 AM
Yes, Victor Cruz has been excellent this season. Because of him, watching the Giants is actually fun. His production would make a 16-game starter a lot of money. Victor Cruz began the season as the 4th WR, and worked his way up. I don't he actually started a game until they played the Packers in week 13.