Pro Bowl Roster 2012: Most Likely Candidates to Win MVP

Quarterbacks have taken home MVP honors six times this century, so that's a good place to start if you're guessing who could be the guy in this year's Pro-Bowl. The signal callers are a good guess, but its not guaranteed that the MVP will even come from the offensive side of the ball.

Last year, DeAngelo Hall became the second defensive player to win Pro Bowl MVP since 2000. Derrick Brooks also won the honor in 2005 for the Buccaneers. With the Pro-Bowl now taking place before the Super Bowl, the player availability issue is even more impacting to the participants and subsequently the MVP candidates.

Of the stars that will make the trip to Hawaii, these three players have a great shot at winning the MVP:

Matt Forte, RB Chicago Bears

Yes Forte is playing, despite being a free agent and finishing the season hurt. Its not a wise decision, as he really has nothing to prove and he's likely headed for a franchise tag from Chicago. Still, Forte relishes the opportunity saying this of the injury risk:

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"The risk because of injury?" Forte said. "I mean, I could get injured walking out the door. The Pro Bowl, this is my first time making it, I want to go and be on the field. You can't worry about injuries all the time."

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Forte will likely be giving it a spirited effort and his ability to catch the ball makes him the type of dual threat that can create various opportunities for big plays. Forte should have a big game.

Vincent Jackson, WR San Diego Chargers

Jackson is a free agent that figures to cash in this offseason. Most everyone knows what Jackson can do, but it won't hurt to show it to the league in Hawaii.

Jackson could very well be catching passes from his QB, Philip Rivers as well, which helps. Rivers and Jackson could both benefit from the familiarity. 

Jackson is a great receiver for school yard, one on one, jump ball style plays. The Pro Bowl lends itself to this scenarios pretty well. Jackson has some things definitely working in his favor.

Patrick Peterson, KR Arizona Cardinals

The electrifying return skills of Peterson will be on display in Hawaii. Peterson tied Devin Hester's record of four returns for a TD as a rookie and he could bust one in the Pro Bowl.

He may have an issue getting opportunities. The increased amount of touch-backs and the fact that defense is an afterthought in the Pro Bowl, rendering fewer punt return chances, will make him have to make his touches count.

Peterson only needs one touch though, a glimmer of daylight and he's gone. A punt or kick return for a TD would be huge in the game and go a long way in distinguishing him as the MVP. A performance like Mel Renfro put on in 1971 is not out of the question. In 1971, Renfro returned two punts for TDs and was voted the offensive MVP that year. Peterson could have the same type of effect.

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