AFC Pro Bowl Roster 2012: Ray Lewis Among Players Whose Names Earned Roster Spot

The Pro Bowl should be about players who have had excellent seasons playing against players who were the best of their conference.

However, there are players like Ray Lewis, who made this year’s Pro Bowl team because of their name, not necessarily because of how good they played. 

Here is an analysis of Lewis and some of those other players.

Ray Lewis, Baltimore Ravens

Leading up to Week 17’s game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Lewis has only played in 11 games. Because of this, Lewis will have one of the lowest number of tackles in his career. 

He has only has two sacks and only two tackles for a loss, which place him well behind fellow linebacker and Pro Bowler Terrell Suggs. 

Lewis should have been passed over for either Cleveland Browns' D’Qwell Jackson, or Indianapolis Colts' Pat Angerer. Both players have over 130 tackles, and played in every game.

Instead, Jackson and Angerer will have to sit at home after having a great season because of Lewis, who heads to another Pro Bowl based on what he has done in the past. 

Antonio Gates, San Diego Chargers

Gates has had another injury-plagued season with the Chargers.

While Gates has only been able to play in 12 games this year, he still has put up good stats. But, his 59 receptions, 672 yards and six touchdowns were sub-par numbers compared to the other tight ends in the NFL.

However the AFC is thin, with only a few tight ends having better statistical years than Gates.

Nonetheless, Gates should have been passed over for a player like the New England Patriots' Aaron Hernandez. 

Even if the AFC Pro Bowl roster already contains another Patriots tight end in Rob Gronkowski, they still should have selected Hernandez.

Hernandez had better stats than Gates did across the board, with more receptions (72), more yards (772) and equal touchdowns (six).

Hernandez did, however, play in one more game than did Gates. 

Champ Bailey, Denver Broncos

Bailey makes this team after having another year where has low stats. But, as a feared shutdown corner back, stats are hard to come by.

However, Bailey has been dealing with injuries that have held Bailey to only playing in 12 games this year. That has made his tackling numbers drop for a second straight year. He had 63 in 2009, 41 in 2010, and only 36 so far in 2011. 

While his tackling numbers have dropped, his interception numbers have stayed at a consistent two. Having two interceptions is good, considering he missed time and doesn't get thrown at too much, but the fact that he had those two in one game is kind of disappointing. 

Instead of Bailey, New England Patriots’ Kyle Arrington should have made the Pro Bowl roster. 

Arrington led cornerbacks in the AFC this year with seven interceptions and 82 tackles. He would have made for a better selection than Bailey, who is not only taking up a roster spot, but is starting. 

These three players are clogging up the roster this year, holding younger players back from shining on a big stage.

Hopefully, we will get to see some of the younger stars shine in the NFL’s all-star game in the future, after they make a name for themselves like the players listed here.

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