NFC Pro Bowl Roster 2013: Players Snubbed by Ultra-Deep Positions

There are two kinds of snubs. 

The first kind is the one everyone loves to complain about. From this point forward, we might be calling it the "John Sullivan Snub."

Jeff Saturday, you know, the center who was recently benched by the Green Bay Packers, somehow earned a Pro Bowl nomination over Sullivan, who has been a key part in clearing the way for Adrian Peterson to rumble his way to one of the best seasons ever for a running back. 

One guy completely deserves a spot, but is ousted by someone who doesn't even come close to justifying his selection. Snub No. 1. 

The second kind is the one that doesn't get talked about as much.

Often times, a player puts together what would normally be a standout season but gets "snubbed" because there are simply too many talented players who also warrant a trip to Honolulu. They become victims of playing a position where there is too much talent. 

Let's take a look at this year's players who fall in that second category. 

Note: A complete look at both Pro Bowl rosters can be found at the bottom of this page, or at NFL.com.

Luke Kuechly, ILB, Carolina Panthers

From a statistical standpoint, it's going to be difficult to find an inside linebacker with a résumé as impressive as Kuechly's. 

The rookie currently leads the NFL in total tackles and has chipped in a sack, two interceptions and three fumble recoveries for the improving Carolina Panthers defense. 

When you watch him fly from sideline to sideline and cover seemingly the entire field, it's hard to call him anything but a Pro Bowler, even as a first-year player. 

But the NFC is absolutely stacked at the position. 

Patrick Willis and NaVorro Bowman, who received the two selections, are completely worthy of the spots, but in addition to Kuechly, Chad Greenway, James Laurinaitis, Lavonte David and Bobby Wagner can all make arguments for being chosen, as well.

There was no way for the voters to go wrong at this position. 

Stevan Ridley, RB, New England Patriots

When you think about the New England Patriots, you think about Tom Brady. About those dreamy eyes. About that dominant pass attack. About Wes Welker. Rob Gronkowski. The endless amount of weapons through the air.

You don't think about the running game.

But Ridley emerged from a crowded backfield this season and has racked up 1,189 rushing yards (seventh in the NFL) and 10 rushing touchdowns.

Unfortunately for the young back, the AFC simply features too many talented ball carriers.

Arian Foster has ridden his work-horse load to 1,328 yards and 14 scores. Jamaal Charles has amassed 1,456 yards on a ridiculous 5.4 yards per carry and managed to break the 200-yard mark twice in the season. Ray Rice has suffered from poor play-calling at times, but has still tallied 1,138 rushing yards to go with 61 receptions, 478 receiving yards and 10 total scores. 

Ridley would usually be deserving of a spot, but it's tough to keep out any of those three. 

Anthony Spencer, OLB, Dallas Cowboys

Could the entire NFC linebacker corps be any more stacked?

We've already covered just how many options there were at the inside position. Now let's take a look at the outside.

The starters, Aldon Smith and Clay Matthews (CLAY...Matthews!), have been about as close to unblockable as physically possible. Smith has recorded a stunning 19.5 sacks while Matthews, despite playing in just 11 games, has racked up an equally impressive 12.0 on the season.

The third choice is where things get a little cloudy. 

DeMarcus Ware got the nod, likely because of his 11.5 sacks, but his teammate Anthony Spencer proved to be much more versatile, recording 10.0 sacks to go with 87 total tackles. 

In the end, I probably would have gone with the lesser-talked about Cowboy—Spencer—but you're basically splitting hairs either way. 

AFC Offense

Position	Player	Team
QB	Peyton Manning*	Denver Broncos
QB	Tom Brady	New England Patriots
QB	Matt Schaub	Houston Texans
RB	Arian Foster*	Houston Texans
RB	Jamaal Charles	Kansas City Chiefs
RB	Ray Rice	Baltimore Ravens
FB	Vonta Leach*	Baltimore Ravens
WR	A.J. Green*	Cincinnati Bengals
WR	Andre Johnson*	Houston Texans
WR	Reggie Wayne	Indianapolis Colts
WR	Wes Welker	New England Patriots
TE	Rob Gronkowski*	New England Patriots
TE	Heath Miller	Pittsburgh Steelers
T	Joe Thomas*	Cleveland Browns
T	Duane Brown*	Houston Texans
T	Ryan Clady	Denver Broncos
G	Logan Mankins*	New England Patriots
G	Marshal Yanda*	Baltimore Ravens
G	Wade Smith	Houston Texans
C	Maurkice Pouncey*	Pittsburgh Steelers
C	Chris Myers	Houston Texans
P	Dustin Colquitt	Kansas City Chiefs
PK	Phil Dawson	Cleveland Browns
KR	Jacoby Jones	Baltimore Ravens
ST	Matthew Slater	New England Patriots

*Denotes starter

AFC Defense

Position	Player	Team
DL	J.J. Watt*	Houston Texans
DL	Cameron Wake*	Miami Dolphins
DL	Geno Atkins*	Cincinnati Bengals
DL	Vince Wilfork*	New England Patriots
DL	Elvis Dumervil	Denver Broncos
DL	Haloti Ngata	Baltimore Ravens
LB	Von Miller*	Denver Broncos
LB	Tamba Hali*	Kansas City Chiefs
LB	Jerod Mayo*	New England Patriots
LB	Robert Mathis	Indianapolis Colts
LB	Derrick Johnson	Kansas City Chiefs
CB	Champ Bailey*	Denver Broncos
CB	Johnathan Joseph*	Houston Texans
CB	Antonio Cromartie	New York Jets
S	Ed Reed*	Baltimore Ravens
S	Eric Berry*	Kansas City Chiefs
S	LaRon Landry	New York Jets

*Denotes starter

NFC Offense

Position	Player	Team
QB	Aaron Rodgers*	Green Bay Packers
QB	Matt Ryan	Atlanta Falcons
QB	Robert Griffin III	Washington Redskins
RB	Adrian Peterson*	Minnesota Vikings
RB	Marshawn Lynch	Seattle Seahawks
RB	Frank Gore	San Francisco 49ers
FB	Jerome Felton*	Minnesota Vikings
WR	Calvin Johnson*	Detroit Lions
WR	Brandon Marshall*	Chicago Bears
WR	Julio Jones	Atlanta Falcons
WR	Victor Cruz	New York Giants
TE	Tony Gonzalez*	Atlanta Falcons
TE	Jason Witten	Dallas Cowboys
T	Russell Okung*	Seattle Seahawks
T	Joe Staley*	San Francisco 49ers
T	Trent Williams	Washington Redskins
G	Mike Iupati*	San Francisco 49ers
G	Jahri Evans*	New Orleans Saints
G	Chris Snee	New York Giants
C	Max Unger*	Seattle Seahawks
C	Jeff Saturday	Green Bay Packers
P	Thomas Morstead	New Orleans Saints
PK	Blair Walsh	Minnesota Vikings
KR	Leon Washington	Seattle Seahawks
ST	Lorenzo Alexander	Washington Redskins

*Denotes starter

NFC Defense

Position	Player	Team
DL	Jason Pierre-Paul*	New York Giants
DL	Julius Peppers*	Chicago Bears
DL	Justin Smith*	San Francisco 49ers
DL	Henry Melton*	Chicago Bears
DL	Jared Allen	Minnesota Vikings
DL	Gerald McCoy	Tampa Bay Buccaneers
LB	Aldon Smith*	San Francisco 49ers
LB	DeMarcus Ware*	Dallas Cowboys
LB	Patrick Willis*	San Francisco 49ers
LB	Clay Matthews	Green Bay Packers
LB	NaVorro Bowman	San Francisco 49ers
CB	Charles Tillman*	Chicago Bears
CB	Tim Jennings*	Chicago Bears
CB	Patrick Peterson	Arizona Cardinals
S	Dashon Goldson*	San Francisco 49ers
S	Donte Whitner*	San Francisco 49ers
S	Earl Thomas	Seattle Seahawks

*Denotes starter

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