NFL Pro Bowl Voting: Leading Vote-Getters at Every Position

The NFL released the leading vote-getters for the Pro Bowl this afternoon (per NFL.com), and some familiar names graced the top of the list.

Denver's Peyton Manning and New England's Tom Brady were the top two vote-getters, the former doing so just 13 months removed from career-threatening neck surgery.

The rest of the top 10 looked like this:

Position	Player	Votes
QB	Peyton Manning (DEN)	376,981
QB	Tom Brady (NE)	345,036
RB	Arian Foster (HOU)	333,396
QB	Aaron Rodgers (GB)	320,307
RB	Adrian Peterson (MIN)	298,323
WR	A.J. Green (CIN)	258,405
TE	Rob Gronkowski (NE)	258,042
WR	Victor Cruz (NYG)	257,016
QB	Matt Ryan (ATL)	236,002
QB	Drew Brees (NO)	227,106

Quick Thoughts

- Peyton Manning's tremendous comeback has deserved all the attention it's gotten, but the degree to which it's overshadowed Adrian Peterson's recovery is unfortunate.

Coming in fifth in fan voting is nothing to scoff at, but the fact that Peterson isn't the highest running back is a travesty. Arian Foster has been nothing short of sensational, but Peterson––recently decimated knee and all––is carrying the Vikings playoff hopes on his back.

- How weird is it to see A.J. Green and Victor Cruz as the top vote-getting receivers? Two years ago at this time, Green was trying to prove that Julio Jones wasn't the only NFL receiver in the SEC, and Cruz was toiling around the Giants' injured reserve without a single career catch. Good for both of them.

- Five QBs in the top 10 is par for the course, but seeing a tight end up there next to only two running backs is interesting. It speaks a lot to (a) the way the league has moved toward the passing game, and (b) the sweeping sensation that is GRONK.

If you want a better sense of what each team's roster might look like, here's a look at each conference's leading vote-getters by position:

AFC

Position	Player	Votes	Position	Player	Votes
QB	Peyton Manning (DEN)	376,981	DE	J.J. Watt (HOU)	202,904
RB	Arian Foster (HOU)	333,396	DT	Haloti Ngata (BAL)	145,969
FB	Vonta Leach (BAL)	82,872	OLB	Von Miller (DEN)	136,584
WR	A.J. Green (CIN)	258,405	ILB	Jerod Mayo (NE)	122,787
TE	Rob Gronkowski (NE)	258,042	CB	A. Cromartie (NYJ)	93,753
OT	Jake Long (MIA)	89,945	SS	Troy Polamalu (PIT)	37,722
G	Logan Mankins (NE)	76,705	FS	Ed Reed (BAL)	52,729
C	M. Pouncey (PIT)	88,270	P	Brandon Fields (MIA)	36,983
K	S. Janikowski (OAK)	56,290	ST	Josh Cribbs (CLE)	34,802
KR	Jacoby Jones (BAL)	47,065

Quick Thoughts

- Good for America, making J.J. Watt the highest vote-getting defensive player in the NFL. Shame on America for making Antonio Cromartie the highest vote-getting defensive back in the AFC.

- Jake Long: Great pass-blocking tackle. Duane Brown: Great all-around tackle. The rock of Houston's offensive line needs to be in this lineup.

- I understand the concept of a "lifetime achievement award," but someone needs to get Troy Polamalu off this list. He's played in two games, has seven tackles, and hasn't recorded a single sack or turnover. You're better than that, voting public.

NFC

Position	Player	Votes	Position	Player	Votes
QB	Aaron Rodgers (GB)	320,307	DE	Jared Allen (MIN)	150,611
RB	Adrian Peterson (MIN)	298,323	DT	Henry Melton (CHI)	98,957
FB	John Kuhn (GB)	80,488	OLB	Clay Matthews (GB)	156,688
WR	Victor Cruz (NYG)	257,016	ILB	Patrick Willis (SF)	91,609
TE	Tony Gonzalez (ATL)	211,581	CB	Tim Jennings (CHI)	116,347
OT	Matt Kalil (MIN)	74,615	SS	Charles Woodson (GB)	53,531
G	Mike Iupati (SF)	64,094	FS	Ronde Barber (TB)	43,953
C	Jeff Saturday (GB)	123,626	P	Tim Masthay (GB)	41,141
K	David Akers (SF)	60,113	ST	C.J. Spillman (SF)	35,857
KR	Percy Harvin (MIN)	50,994

Quick Thoughts

- It's nice to see a rookie on the board in Matt Kalil. The fourth overall pick has impressed protecting Christian Ponder's blind side in his rookie year, and he'd be well deserving of this honor. Having said that, the Niners' Joe Staley probably deserves it more.

- One Niner who doesn't deserve his spot? Try David Akers. He's one of the all-time greats, but he hasn't been himself this season––he's making less than 75 percent of his kicks. Give it to Greg the Leg in St. Louis.

- It's interesting to see Tim Jennings out in front of teammate Charles Tillman. They've both been sensational forcing turnovers, but you had to think all the national attention Tillman gets would give him the lead, right?

- Why all the love for Jeff Saturday? I know he's good (even though he's struggled run blocking this year) and I know he's likable, but 123,626 votes?! That's almost double any other lineman in the NFC!

- Let's hope Percy Harvin doesn't need to occupy that KR spot when the real game comes around. He deserves to go as a bona fide wide receiver.

Fan voting for the Pro Bowl will close on December 17, following the conclusion of the Jets-Titans Monday Night Football game. The fan consensus makes up one-third of the voting for the game, along with the votes of players (also one-third) and coaches (also one-third).

The game will be played on Sunday, January 27, at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu.