Pro Bowl 2012: Players Most Deserving of Hawaii Trip

The Pro Bowl doesn't draw too much attention these days for a number of reasons.

Quite honestly, the NFL has done it to themselves.

But one thing that does get brushed off too easily is players who are truly deserving and finally get an opportunity to go.

This year has more than a few in that position. Aside from the truly obvious (Aaron Rodgers, Drew Brees and Tom Brady), these players are truly deserving.

Eli Manning, QB, Giants

Nobody has had to pick up an entire team more than Eli Manning. We know how good Brees and Rodgers and Brady are for their teams, but Eli has had to make up for shoddy defensive play, the worst rush game in the league and receivers prone to dropping balls three-to-five times per game.

His receivers—most notably Victor Cruz and Hakeem Nicks—have been big play machines at times as well, but it is Eli who has brought his game to entirely different level.

He out Brady-ed Brady this year again, and there might not another signal-caller in the league you'd rather have under center.

Victor Cruz, WR and Jason Pierre-Paul, DE, Giants

Cruz has been arguably the most dynamic offensive weapon in the league with the game on the line this year.

He's made some mistakes too, but when defenses give him an inch, he takes 99 yards.

And JPP, well, without him Big Blue's defense would be considered one of the worst in a number of years and the Giants wouldn't be where they are. With Justin Tuck and Osi Umenyiora consistently underperforming and/or getting injured, JPP's dominance is even more amazing.

Their numbers and overall importance to their team more than justify a trip to Hawaii.

Jared Allen, DE, Vikings

If Eli has done the most with the least, Allen has done so with least amount of fanfare.

The Vikings defensive end leads the league with 18.5 sacks and has simply been all over the field.

He doesn't have much to celebrate this season and at least deserves a trip to Hawaii.

Rob Gronkowski, TE, Patriots

His numbers speak for themselves.

Von Miller, OLB, Broncos

In the midst of Tebow Mania, Von Miller helped lead a resurgent Broncos defense back to relevance.

He's in the top 10 in the league in sacks with 11.5 and has been every dollar worth of the No. 2 overall pick in the draft.

Keep expecting great things from this Bronco. He deserves a place in Hawaii this year.