Breaking Down the Giants' Pro Bowl Candidates

The New York Giants have represented the NFC well over the past few seasons, and they continue to provide a roster that is loaded with Pro Bowl potential. Victor Cruz, Hakeem Nicks, Jason Pierre-Paul and Osi Umenyiora are just some of the Giants players that have been to the Pro Bowl before, but will any of these players return to Hawaii this season? 

The answer to that question may surprise you, because many of the Giants' star players are having down seasons from a year ago. 

Victor Cruz is one of those players, but according Dan Graziano of ESPN.com, the receiver currently leads all NFC wide receivers in votes. The receivers production thus far should not warrant that honor, but he should still slip in as one of the last receivers to make the team.    

Here are the other Giants players that should be looked at as strong candidates for the Pro Bowl. 

Eli Manning

Eli Manning currently ranks fifth in the NFC in terms of votes that go towards quarterbacks. The quarterback started off this year red-hot as we have seen over the past few seasons, but he has certainly cooled down over the course of the past five games. 

It is difficult to imagine Manning receiving more votes than the likes of Robert Griffin III, Aaron Rodgers and Matt Ryan. 

Eli will be considered a Pro Bowler if he can keep his interception numbers down to finish up the season, however. 

Lawrence Tynes

Lawrence Tynes has been phenomenal for the Giants' all season long. 

The kicker is currently second in votes among NFC kickers and his play is certainly reflecting that. The kicker leads all kickers with 32 makes, and he has done that on only 36 attempts.

Tynes should be the NFC's pick if he can keep up this pace. 

Victor Cruz

Victor Cruz stepped up for the Giants on Monday night against the Redskins, but it still was not enough to secure the win for New York. 

To date, Cruz has 883 receiving yards, which is good for eighth in the NFC. That may not cut it when it comes time for the players and coaches to vote, but I still expect him to be in the running all the way down to the wire.