The Biggest Pro Bowl Snub for Every NFC North Team

The 2014 Pro Bowl rosters were announced Friday night, and like every year before this one, the NFL's all-star game once again left out more than its share of deserving players. 

The NFC North had a few glaring omissions.

Overall, the division—which has admittedly suffered through a disappointing season—received just five selections. In comparison, the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers each had eight total players selected.

The players from the NFC North that will go to Hawaii were all deserving picks.

The Chicago Bears will send receiver Brandon Marshall and running back Matt Forte, the Detroit Lions have defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh and receiver Calvin Johnson as representatives and the Minnesota Vikings wrapped up the division with running back Adrian Peterson. The Green Bay Packers did not have a Pro Bowl selection for the first time since 2005. 

In the following slides, we'll break down the biggest snubs for each of the four NFC North teams. 

Chicago Bears: WR Alshon Jeffery

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The NFL had a number of deserving receivers this season, but it'd be difficult to argue that Alshon Jeffery wasn't one of the best eight in 2013. 

With one game to go, the second-year receiver has 86 catches, 1,341 receiving yards, seven touchdowns and more highlight-reel grabs than any other player at this position. He also needs 168 receiving yards in the season finale to break Brandon Marshall's franchise record (1,508). 

What more could Jeffery have done to warrant a Pro Bowl? 

He's sixth in the NFL in receiving yards, and his four drops are the lowest among receivers with at least 1,000 yards this season. Twice Jeffery has broken the Bears' single-game record for receiving yards this season, with 249 now the team's new high watermark. He also has four touchdown catches and 503 total yards on passes over 20 yards.

Jeffery found himself the odd man out at a loaded position. But there was little doubt that his season was one of the top eight at receiver in 2013. 

Honorable Mentions

— G Matt Slauson: Don't laugh. The Bears offensive line was night-and-day better in 2013, and Slauson's emergence at left guard was a big reason why. Don't agree? Consider that Slauson was the fifth-highest-rated guard at Pro Football Focus (subscription required), thanks to consistent work in both the pass and run game. He also committed just two penalties. 

Detroit Lions: G Larry Warford

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Larry Warford didn't make this Pro Bowl roster because of nothing more than a lack of name recognition. It's really that simple. 

It's just as obvious that his body of work on the field was all-star worthy.

The rookie right guard didn't allow a sack in a pass-heavy offense, and he finished as the fourth-best guard in all of football at Pro Football Focus (subscription required). Overall, his pass-blocking efficiency was the third-best at his position. 

Warford exceeded all expectations during his first NFL season. But instead of the rookie going to the Pro Bowl like he deserved, others such as Jahri Evans, Mike Iupati and Marshall Yanda—established names who each had a down year—got the nod. Too bad. 

Honorable Mentions

— LB DeAndre Levy: Levy led all linebackers in interceptions (six) and had as good or better a season as Ahmad Brooks and John Abraham, two outside linebackers who made the Pro Bowl roster. However, it's hard to get too down on him not making the team. Lavonte David was arguably the best 4-3 outside linebacker in the NFL this season, and he didn't get selected either. 

— LB Stephen Tulloch: This may surprise some, but Tulloch is actually fourth in tackles and third in stops among inside linebackers this season. He has also blitzed well at times and hasn't committed a penalty despite playing over 1,000 defensive snaps. 

Green Bay Packers: G Josh Sitton

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The Pro Bowl screwed up the guard position more than any other this season. 

Not only did Warford get snubbed, but arguably the most complete guard in football won't be making the trip to Hawaii, either. 

A Pro Bowler last season, Josh Sitton made the switch from right to left guard and actually became a more effective player. He's still the best pass-blocking guard in the NFL, having allowed just eight total pressures all season. And according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required), the Packers are averaging 5.1 yards per carry when running behind Sitton in 2013.

The Pro Bowl will now miss out on Sitton, Warford and Evan Mathis, who are arguably three of the top five guards in the NFL this season. The best players don't always win this popularity contest, however. 

Honorable Mentions

— WR Jordy Nelson: Nelson will likely finish 2013 with more than 1,200 receiving yards, despite the Packers playing the likes of Seneca Wallace, Scott Tolzien and Matt Flynn at quarterback this season. If Aaron Rodgers had played 16 games, Nelson easily could have approached 1,400 receiving yards and double-digit touchdowns. He still has a strong case for being one of the top 10 receivers of 2013. 

— RB Eddie Lacy: The rookie running back carried the Packers with Rodgers out. Now the front-runner for Offensive Rookie of the Year, Lacy goes into Week 17 with the eighth-most rushing yards (1,112) and third-most rushing touchdowns (10). He's also totaled the sixth-most yards after contact (616) and third-most missed tackles forced (55). His candidacy for the Pro Bowl was far stronger than Frank Gore's. 

Minnesota Vikings: Returner Cordarrelle Patterson

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The most dynamic kick returner in the NFL won't be going to the Pro Bowl. 

Cordarrelle Patterson, a first-round pick of the Vikings last April, leads the NFL in kick return average (33.6), kick return yards (1,342) and kick return touchdowns (two). His 109-yard return for a score tied the NFL record for longest touchdown. 

Patterson has become so dangerous as a kick returner that most teams have simply stopped kicking to him. Opposing special team units are content giving up chunks of field position to prevent a big return from Patterson. 

Yet thanks to the NFL eliminating kickoffs from the Pro Bowl, Antonio Brown and Dexter McCluster will be the two returners in Hawaii. Both had big seasons returning punts, but no player was as impressive a returner as Patterson was in 2013. He deserved to make the team. 

Honorable Mentions

— C John Sullivan: The NFL is lacking on dominant centers, which makes it interesting that Sullivan can't get a taste of Hawaii. An All-Pro in 2012, Sullivan was again among the best at his position. Pro Football Focus (subscription required) had the Vikings anchor as the fourth-best center. Why Max Unger made the team over Sullivan is puzzling.