NFL Pro Bowl Voting 2012: Ray Lewis and More Vote Leaders Who Fans Got Wrong

With Pro Bowl voting over, it's time for some second guessing.

A few glaring omissions stand out from both teams that the fans selected to go to Hawaii, and we can but hope that the players and coaches come through and fix those flaws.

Here are a few places they need to look closely at fixing.

Ray Lewis, AFC ILB

Should Have Been: Brian Cushing, Texans

Pro Bowl voting really is becoming a lifetime achievement award. Comparing their two seasons, Cushing was undoubtedly the better player this year. Lewis missed far too much time to be a top vote getter if we're looking at the 2011 season in a nutshell. 

Cushing has been a versatile stud, standing out while playing on one of the league's best defenses. Not only has he recorded 110 total tackles on the season, but Cushing has sacked the quarterback four times, picked off two passes and forced two fumbles. 

He's just an overall model of consistency and a huge reason why the Texans are the division champions despite constant injuries on both sides of the ball to key players like Matt Schaub, Andre Johnson and Mario Williams. He belongs in the Pro Bowl.

Morgan Burnett, NFC FS

Should Have Been: Dashon Goldson, 49ers

Since they are the reigning champions and started the season 13-0, it's not hard to understand why the Packers get so much love in voting.

While playing in two fewer games, Goldson has twice as many interceptions as Burnett (six to three). What's more, he has been a dominant force in the 49ers' secondary all season. In a league with increasingly unpredictable rules on what is and isn't okay, Goldson is one of the top hitters.

The one area in which Burnett is superior is in tackles, but even that's misleading. The 49ers' front seven is so solid against the run that they rarely need to bring safeties up to defend. The Packers don't have that luxury, which helps bolster Burnett's totals.

Arian Foster, AFC RB

Should Have Been: Maurice Jones-Drew, Jaguars

Jones-Drew is the leading rusher in the AFC. While he only has seven rushing touchdowns, look at the names ahead of him on that list. 

Ray Rice (10), Arian Foster (10), BenJarvus Green-Ellis (nine) and Rashard Mendenhall (eight)—every one of those players is on a team with a competent offense, and they're all going to the playoffs. 

The Jaguars, on the other hand, are one of the worst teams and offenses in the league. Jones-Drew is rarely in position to score, yet he's done it seven times. Furthermore, despite playing from behind in nearly every game, he leads the league in not only rushing yards, but yards per game. 

Foster's certainly a fine back, but Jones-Drew is more deserving of a Pro Bowl bid.

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