Pro Bowl Roster 2012: Calvin Johnson and Most Disappointing Injury Omissions

Obviously, the NFL Pro Bowl doesn't really mean anything, and most would consider it to be a joke, but football fans still want to see the very best players involved. With it being played the week before the Super Bowl, though, Super Bowl players can't compete. Additionally, many players sit out with injuries every year.

Some of those injuries are legitimate and some are fabricated, but it can certainly be a bummer to find out that one of your favorite players won't be playing. There are a number of big stars who won't be in Hawaii this week, as they are either nursing injuries or don't feel like going.

Here are the three most disappointing injury omissions from the 2012 Pro Bowl roster.

RB Arian Foster (HOU)

After missing the first few games of the season with a nagging hamstring injury, it looked like Houston Texans running back Arian Foster might be unable to replicate his success from 2010. Foster returned and put together another dominant campaign, though, as he racked up over 1,800 total yards and 12 touchdowns while leading the Texans to their first playoff appearance and first playoff win.

Foster dealt with quite a few injuries over the course of the year, so it's understandable why he is sitting out the Pro Bowl, but it is disappointing nonetheless. Foster is one of the most versatile and dominant backs in football, so he deserves to be playing among the league's elite. Foster figures to have plenty of other opportunities to play in the game, but his presence will be missed.

RB Ray Rice (BAL)

For the past three seasons, Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice has been one of the best in the game at his position. That continued to be true this year, as Rice was Mr. Everything for the Ravens offense. Not only did he rush for 1,364 yards and 12 touchdowns, but he also led Baltimore in catches with 76 while adding 704 yards and three scores through the air.

At just 5'8", Rice takes quite a pounding throughout the season, though, so he won't be competing in the Pro Bowl. Although there are so many good ones to pick from, I think it would be fair to say that Rice was the best running back in the league this season. He was responsible for carrying the Ravens running game and passing game, and he was a huge reason for them making it all the way to the AFC Championship Game. It's unfortunate that he won't be playing on Sunday.

WR Calvin Johnson (DET)

With 96 catches for 1,681 yards and 16 touchdowns, Detroit Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson turned in one of the most impressive single-season performances ever by a receiver in 2011. At 6'5" and 236 lbs. Johnson is an absolute matchup nightmare for any defensive back in the NFL. Because of that, opposing defenses committed two or even three defenders to Johnson on essentially every play this season, yet he still put up monster numbers.

As the focal point of Detroit's offense, Johnson took a lot of hits this year, so he's going to sit out the Pro Bowl. The Pro Bowl is a game that is tailor-made for Johnson, as there isn't much scheming and there is mostly one-on-one coverage. If Megatron would have played, it wouldn't have been surprising to see him go for over 200 yards receiving and multiple touchdowns, because that's just how good he is.