The 2010 NFL Pro Bowl Snubs

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Every year there are many talented NFL players that get chosen to represent their team in the Pro Bowl based on individual performances.

Unfortunately, there are many players that make the team just based on popularity, even though they do not have as strong of a statistical performance as other players who get snubbed from playing with the best of the best.

The following is just one journalist's opinion on which players got snubbed from going to the annual game.

(Sorry in advance to all the offensive linemen out there.)

Quarterback, Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh Steelers

Despite his team struggling for a stretch of the 2009 season, Roethlisberger has the Steelers back in the hunt for a playoff spot, and he has also passed for over 4,000 yards for the first time in his career.

2009 stats: 319-479, 66.6-percent completions, 4,108 yards, 23 touchdowns, 12 interceptions

Quarterback, Donovan McNabb, Philadelphia Eagles

McNabb is having the second best year statistically in his career and he has the Eagle riding high at 11-5.

2009 stats: 247-407, 60.7-percent completions, 3,330 yards, 22 touchdowns, 10 interceptions

Running Back, Cedric Benson, Cincinnati Bengals

It is hard to imagine that any division winning team would not have any Pro Bowlers, but that's what happened to the Bengals.

Even though Benson was injured for a couple of games, he has easily put his career back on the right track after his stint with the Chicago Bears.

2009 stats: 301 attempts for 1,251 yards and six touchdowns

Running Back, Ryan Grant, Green Bay Packers

Grant seems to always be right beneath the radar as a running back in his first three years in the NFL, but his numbers speak volumes in 2009, as he has followed up a impressive 2008 season with an equally impressive season.

2009 stats: 271 attempts for 1,202 yards and 10 touchdowns

Full Back, Lawrence Vickers, Cleveland Browns

Some may think, why Vickers?

Vickers has quietly become one of the most punishing and consistent lead blockers in the NFL even though his stats are next to nothing.

A team-first player, Vicker has successfully blocked for a 1,000-plus yard running back in the last two seasons he has been the starter, and he is also the reason that current Browns running back, Jerome Harrison, has found great success in rushing for 434 yards in the last two games.

Wide Receiver, Vincent Jackson, San Diego Chargers

Jackson has finally become one of the top receivers in the NFL over the last two seasons, and with his size (6'5" 230-pounds), he is very difficult to cover.

2009 stats: 68 receptions for 1,167 yards and nine touchdowns

Wide Receiver, Steve Smith, New York Giants

Going into the 2009 season, the Giants didn't really know which of their young receivers were going to step up and become starters, but Smith easily has become the best of the group and in his third season has become quarterback Eli Manning's go-to target.

2009 stats: 97 receptions for 1,163 yards and seven touchdowns

Wide Receiver, Percy Harvin, Minnesota Vikings

Harvin is easily the best rookie receiver in the 2009 NFL Draft class and he has been an explosive addition to an already potent Vikings offense.

2009 stats: Receiving: 53 receptions for 731 yards and six touchdowns

Kick Returns: 42 returns for 1,156 yards and two touchdowns

Wide Receiver, Randy Moss, New England Patriots

So there has been some drama with Moss this season, but his play on the field overshadows all of that.

Even though his teammate, Wes Welker, made the Pro Bowl by being first in receptions and second in yardage, he only has four touchdowns and that's where Moss comes in.

He is a touchdown machine and in the NFL, touchdowns are what matter most.

2009 stats: 78 receptions for 1,189 yards and 13 touchdowns

Tight End, Brent Celek, Philadelphia Eagles

Celek has stepped into the starting tight end position and not looked back since having one of the best seasons compared to all other tight ends in the NFL.

2009 stats: 69 receptions for 875 yards and right touchdowns

Tight End, Tony Gonzlaez, Atlanta Falcons

ESPN analysts and many other experts are outraged that Gonzalez did not go to his 11th straight Pro Bowl and he may be the biggest snub of the bunch.

2009 stats: 80 receptions for 837 yards and six touchdowns

Defensive End, Aaron Schobel, Buffalo Bills

Schobel has been the most consistent and solid defender on a Bills team that has struggled in recent years.

2009 stats: 54 total tackles, 10 sacks, one interception for a touchdown, four passes defended, three forced fumbles, one fumble recovery

Defensive End, Andre Carter, Washington Redskins

Carter should be making the trip to the Pro Bowl and accompanying his teammate Brian Orakpo.

2009 stats: 60 total tackles, 11 sacks, four passes defended, three forced fumbles

Middle Linebacker, Dhani Jones, Cincinnati Bengals

Jones has had one heck of a 2009, with the resurgence of the Bengals into AFC North Champions and a hit television show, "Dhani Tackles the Globe," on the Travel Channel.

More importantly, Jones has become the defensive leader calling all the adjustments and mentoring the younger linebackers on the team.

2009 stats: 106 total tackles, 3.5 sacks, four passes defended, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery

Middle Linebacker, London Fletcher, Washington Redskins

It's amazing that in Fletcher's career he has never made it to the Pro Bowl.

He is the definition of consistency on the defensive side of the ball and once again all fans, fellow players, and coaches should be ashamed that Fletcher has gotten snubbed year in and year out.

Talk about motivation to continue to prove everyone wrong every year.

2009 stats: 134 total tackles, two sacks, one interception, six passes defended, one forced fumble

Outside Linebacker, Clay Matthews, Green Bay Packers

Matthews has put together a solid rookie season and one which his father (who was also a NFL linebacker) would be very proud of.

2009 stats: 50 total tackles, 10 sacks, 7 passes defended, one forced fumble, three fumble recoveries

Cornerback, Sheldon Brown, Philadelphia Eagles

Brown is one of the most complete cornerbacks in the NFL, but he is often overshadowed by teammate Asante Samuel who has made the Pro Bowl.

2009 stats: 51 total tackles, five interceptions with one for a touchdown, 17 passed defended, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery for a touchdown

Cornerback, Leon Hall, Cincinnati Bengals

Hall and teammate Johnathan Joseph make up what could very well be the best cornerback tandem in the NFL, and both could make this list of snubs, but Hall makes it by a slim margin.

2009 stats: 61 total tackles, six interceptions, 26 passes defended, two forced fumbles

Safety, Antoine Bethea, Indianapolis Colts

Whenever someone brings up the Colts' defensive backfield, the first name that comes up is Bob Sanders, but Sanders' injury history has prevented him from playing most of the 2009 season.

Enter Bethea, who is now the leader in the defensive backfield for the Colts' defense.

In charge of adjustments on the back end and making sure the rookie corners know their assignments most of the year, Bethea is the unsung hero of the Colts' defense and is now more of an impact player than Sanders is.

2009 stats: 93 total tackles, four interceptions, five passes defended, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery