2012 NFL Pro Bowl Selections: Players That Have No Business on Pro Bowl Roster

The following players had no business having their names included on the 2012 Pro Bowl roster:

D'Brickashaw Ferguson, New York Jets

This isn't as much a knock on Ferguson as it is an outrage that Duane Brown was left off the AFC roster. The Houston Texans' left tackle hasn't given up a sack this season and is a cog in an offensive line has paved the way for the best one-two rushing attack in football. Fine year for Ferguson, but he isn't deserving of a trip to Hawaii over Brown. 

Davin Joseph, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

It's hard for me to understand the love affair for Joseph. He's far from a dominant guard, but he certainly gets treated like one. Joseph has a negative grade on Pro Football Focus. According to the site, he has had 10 games with a negative blocking performance.

Yet he's a selection for the NFC at guard? Really?

B.J. Raji, Green Bay Packers

Raji's inclusion is more proof that making the Pro Bowl is as much about what you did last year as it is about the current year.

Raji broke out last year, intercepted a pass for a touchdown and did an awesome dance in the NFC championship game en route to winning a Super Bowl ring with the Packers.

This year, he's been a shell of himself. Raji rarely gets pressure on the quarterback and he's no longer a force in the running game. There were plenty of more deserving candidates than Raji this year. 

Brian Urlacher, Chicago Bears

I'm sure Bears fans will jump all over me for this, but there's no way Urlacher should have made the Pro Bowl this season. Depending which site you use, Urlacher ranks somewhere in the 30 to 40 range for total tackles. No sacks, either. Plus, the Bears defense he leads hasn't been as dominant in 2012 as in year's past. There's no doubt that Navorro Bowman or London Fletcher would have made a lot more sense.

Dwight Freeney, Indianapolis Colts

Since when does 7.5 sacks and 18 (I repeat: one-eight) tackles get you into the Pro Bowl? What's more, on a defense that has been amongst the worst in football?

This is just another example of name recognition trumping actual play on the field. No way Freeney should be going to Hawaii.  

Ray Lewis, Baltimore Ravens

Lewis has had another good year when he's been on the field, but missing five weeks of the season is too much to overcome to warrant a spot to the Pro Bowl.

Why not Brian Cushing? He's helped anchor one of the NFL's best defenses. Cushing also has four sacks and four caused turnovers.