2012 Pro Bowl Roster: Cam Newton and Most Deserving Replacement Players

I understand that the NFL Pro Bowl isn't the most exciting or meaningful game to begin with, so the fact that Super Bowl participants can't play in the game seemingly weakens it even more. At the same time, though, it gives deserving and appreciative players a chance to take part.

Some positions have so much competition that players who are truly deserving of Pro Bowl honors were left off the roster initially. Because of injuries and members of the New England Patriots and New York Giants playing in the Super Bowl, though, the final rosters received a bit of a shakeup.

Here are the three most deserving replacement players who will take part in the Pro Bowl festivities on Sunday.

WR Roddy White (ATL)

It's tough to imagine that a player like Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Roddy White was left off the Pro Bowl roster after a regular season in which he caught 100 passes for nearly 1,300 yards and eight touchdowns, but that is precisely what happened. The NFC is stacked with deserving receivers, though, so he was stuck behind the likes of Larry Fitzgerald, Steve Smith, Greg Jennings and Calvin Johnson.

With Johnson nursing an injury and deciding not to play, though, White was named to the squad. White didn't quite live up to his 2010 season of 115 grabs for almost 1,400 yards and 10 touchdowns, but any receiver who hauls in over 100 balls is a Pro Bowl performer. White has gone over 1,100 yards for five straight seasons, making him one of the league's elite pass catchers for sure.

LB London Fletcher (WAS)

It took Washington Redskins linebacker London Fletcher 11 seasons before receiving his first Pro Bowl nod in 2009. Now, he has made it for three years running, as he was named a replacement for the injured Brian Urlacher. Putting Fletcher on the team wasn't simply a good-will gesture, though, as he legitimately earned the honor by putting up monster numbers this season, including 166 tackles.

Fletcher has long been a warrior who has overcome his deficiencies, such as his 5'10" frame. The Redskins obviously didn't have an ideal season, but Fletcher was their heart and soul, and he always gave it his all. At the age of 36, Fletcher may not have many more of these opportunities, so I think it's great that he was selected. Then again, Fletcher has always defied the odds, so who's to say that he can't continue to excel?

QB Cam Newton (CAR)

It's pretty tough for a quarterback who finished the season with over 4,700 total yards and 35 total touchdowns to be left out of the Pro Bowl, but with a myriad of spectacular quarterbacks in the NFC, Carolina Panthers rookie Cam Newton was faced with that reality. Luckily for him, Eli Manning and the New York Giants reached the Super Bowl, so he will get to soak up some sun in Hawaii.

Newton truly had an unprecedented season. He broke the rookie record for passing yardage in a season and broke the all-time record for rushing touchdowns by a quarterback in a single season. The Panthers still have a lot of work to do before they become playoff contenders once again, but the mere presence of Newton made them a time to be reckoned with. I can only imagine how good Newton will be next year after his sterling debut performance.