Pro Bowl 2012: Under-the-Radar Stars Who Will Battle for MVP Award

The NFL All-Star Game, or Pro Bowl as it has been called, has a bad reputation, which is justified if you have ever watched it. However, there are always a few interesting stories that come out of the game. This year's is shaping up to be one of the most unique in recent memory, with a number of players battling over the MVP award. 

Say what you want about the game, but being recognized as the best player in a game surrounded by some of the best and brightest stars in the game means something. 

So which stars will come out of nowhere to steal the spotlight on Sunday afternoon?

Andy Dalton

Looking at the quarterback situation in the AFC, it was not a good year once you get past Tom Brady. Ben Roethlisberger is supposed to start the game, but his ankle injury is not likely going to let him stay on the field for very long. 

Enter: Andy Dalton. 

The Bengals quarterback had a fantastic rookie season, throwing for nearly 3,400 yards and 20 touchdowns. He will be throwing to A.J. Green, who he knows well, and Mike Wallace, who doesn't have to worry about being bumped at the line or anyone playing strong defense. 

He is going to have plenty of chances to throw for a lot of yards and possibly even a few touchdowns along the way. 

Ryan Mathews

It is impossible not to love a running back in this game. The defensive lines are going to look like Albert Haynesworth against...well, against anyone in a regular-season game. 

Mathews had a solid season for the San Diego Chargers with 1,091 yards and six touchdowns. If he had stayed on the field for 16 games, his numbers would look markedly better than that. 

This is going to be his big coming out party, it is just a matter of whether it will be good enough to land him MVP honors. He is as good a bet as anyone on the AFC roster. 

Patrick Peterson

Devin Hester might get all the headlines as the best punt returner in the NFL, but Peterson has closed that gap faster than anyone thought possible. 

The Arizona Cardinals rookie cornerback was a special teams wizard this season, and all he has to do is break one tackle on a return in this game for defenders to give up. When you add in what he will be able to do on defense, you have the makings of an MVP performance. 

It is amazing where we are in the NFL right now, because if Peterson wasn't returning kicks, I would say there is almost no way a defender would be able to win the MVP award. 

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