NFL Pro Bowl Voting: 10 Players Who Should Go but Won't
The Pro Bowl always has its share of snubs. That's what happens when fans vote based on star power instead of, oh, I don't know, stats? Production this season as opposed to previous seasons?
Such is life, and such is the Pro Bowl.
Fan votes only count for one-third of the actual voting process, but they play a large enough role that it severely impacts who makes it and who doesn't.
With that, here's a list of 10 guys I think should make the Pro Bowl, even though they probably won't.
Devin McCourty
1 of 10
Ndamukong Suh is making his case for Defensive Rookie of the Year, but so is Devin McCourty, the 27th overall pick in the draft.
I wonder, then, what's holding him back from being voted into the Pro Bowl. He has six interceptions, leading all rookies in that category, and is in a three-way tie for second only to Asante Samuel.
These aren't just gimme interceptions either. Most have been on passes where McCourty was stride for stride with his man and simply made a better play on the ball. One of those even came against the great Calvin Johnson.
Mat McBriar
2 of 10
Not a whole lot has gone right for the Dallas Cowboys this season, but none of that blame should fall on Mat McBriar. So why isn't he leading NFC punters in Pro Bowl votes with his league-leading 48.2 yards-per-punt average?
Guilt by association, I guess.
The current leader, Chris Kluwe of the Minnesota Vikings, averages a full four yards less per punt than McBriar, and Kluwe's longest punt of 59 yards is still six short of McBriar's 65-yard boot.
LeSean McCoy
3 of 10
For all the running backs having breakout seasons, LeSean McCoy may get the least recognition of them all. He currently ranks sixth in the league in total yards from scrimmage with 1,357, averaging 5.8 yards every time he touches the ball.
Even as a pure running back, he's putting up some impressive numbers with seven rushing touchdowns through 12 games and a whopping 4.9 yard-per-carry average.
McCoy may be the benefactor with defenses honing in on Michael Vick, but his quickness can't be questioned, and neither can his effectiveness in Philadelphia's system.
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Jamaal Charles
4 of 10
Far be it from me to judge Chris Johnson for a lack of production without a quarterback, but Jamaal Charles is more deserving in my opinion. Even in a timeshare role with Thomas Jones, Charles still ranks third in the league in rushing.
He leads the league in yards per carry for the second consecutive year with an astonishing 6.2 yards per rush. Not to mention he's second in the league in yards from scrimmage to only Arian Foster.
Charles' breakaway speed is unrivaled, and his production has helped the Chiefs jump out of the shadow of the Chargers in the AFC West.
Matt Ryan
5 of 10
With Michael Vick, Drew Brees and Aaron Rodgers at the front of the pack for NFC quarterbacks, it appears Matty Ice has been overlooked.
No, Matt Ryan hasn't put up gaudy numbers, but he deserves votes for reasons other than his stats. Driving his team down the field for game-winning scores on six occasions this season alone should be enough to merit the vote.
Bill Belichick once said, "Stats are for losers."
Ryan's play in the clutch has made his team a winner several times.
Terrell Suggs
6 of 10
Although he hasn't done so yet, it appears as though Terrell Suggs will finally tally double-digit sacks for the first time in his career.
His production has contributed to a Ravens defense that currently ranks 11th against the pass. His contributions have been very important to a pass rushing unit that has only logged 22 sacks this season.
He doesn't blitz every down like some linebackers with more stats, but he's effective when he does.
Peyton Hillis
7 of 10
Peyton Hillis is 2010's story of the year. He, along with an improved defense, has been the only reason the Browns aren't still winless at this juncture.
It'd sure be a shame to see Hillis get the snub from the 2011 Pro Bowl. His tough, hard-nosed running style has helped him to the 10th-highest total in rushing yards and a three-way tie with BenJarvus Green-Ellis and Adrian Peterson at 11 touchdowns.
Justin Tuck
8 of 10
Plenty of defensive linemen have enjoyed good seasons this year. Among them are Osi Umenyiora, John Abraham, Trent Cole and Jared Allen. With a list like that, Justin Tuck may struggle to find room.
Sure, he may benefit from having Osi on the other side of the line, but make no mistake that Tuck is capable of "puttin' on the blitz" with or without his partner in crime. He put up 12 sacks in 2008 as the only prominent pass rusher the Giants featured that year.
Dwayne Bowe
9 of 10
Two Kansas City Chiefs on this list? How could that be?
Consider this: Bowe ranks seventh in the league in receiving yards on a team that ranks first in the league in rush attempts and rush yards. Twelve games into the season, he's on pace for 1,180 yards and 18 or 19 touchdowns.
Oh, did I mention he leads the league in touchdown receptions with 14?
Yes, Andre Johnson and Terrell Owens are enjoying phenomenal seasons, as is Brandon Lloyd, who will also likely make the cut. For Dwayne Bowe to miss the Pro Bowl with the season he's having, though, would be a huge oversight.
Lawrence Timmons
10 of 10
It's easy to be overshadowed at linebacker when playing next to perennial Pro Bowler James Harrison. Lawrence Timmons, though, has been the definition of versatility. He can rush the passer and play sound defense in both the running and passing game.
He leads the Steelers and ranks 10th in the league with 102 tackles. He adds three sacks, two interceptions, nine passes defended, a forced fumble and two fumble recoveries to his stat sheet.
In short, if there's a big play to be made, Timmons is usually there to make it.
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