NFL Pro Bowl Roster 2012: Why Tim Tebow and Cam Newton Deserve Trip to Hawaii

It’s a rarity that a rookie gets invited to the Pro Bowl on the initial roster announcement, but this year, there are two that are more than deserving to have their names called Tuesday night on the NFL Network.

QB Cam Newton has obliterated the record books for rookie quarterbacks. His 34 touchdowns (20 passing, 14 rushing) are the most by a rookie in the history of the league. His 3,893 passing yards broke Peyton Manning’s record—and it took Manning 575 attempts to reach his mark.

It took Newton 492.

Don’t forget about his 674 rushing yards on 5.6 yards per carry.

Aside from Aaron Rodgers and Drew Brees, Newton is the other QB playing at a Pro Bowl level in the NFC. He deserves to get the nod over Matthew Stafford and Eli Manning because of the lack of talent around him and his ability to run the ball. Aside from Steve Smith, Newton has been a one-man show and his record-breaking season deserves to be rewarded.

Speaking of incredible performances, Tim Tebow has thrown himself into a spot on the AFC roster with his incredible play. He took over a team that was 1-4 and has gone 7-3 as starter; he's been the top reason why the Broncos are a win away from the playoffs after looking like an Andrew Luck candidate early in the season.

His 48 percent completion percentage is a tough sell, but it’s hard to ignore all of the different tools he brings to Denver. There is no way to measure his leadership and intangibles, both of which are off the charts, but you can measure his 644 rushing yards, which is second in the league for QBs behind Newton (who has played five more games than Tebow).

Because of Tebow's unique ability to run, the trenches have opened up for Willis McGahee to have a 1,000 yard season and this has vaulted the team up to the top rushing unit in the league.

Aside from Tom Brady, there aren’t any obvious picks in the AFC. Ben Roethlisberger will be in the mix, but his ankle will all but guarantee he doesn’t accept the invitation. Phillip Rivers leads the league in interceptions and Joe Flacco has been wildly inconsistent. Andy Dalton has leveled off a bit in the second half and all of the other top QBs are on injured reserved.

Tebow’s numbers (1,669 passing yards, 12 TDs, 6 INTs, 6 rushing TDs) aren’t typical for a Pro Bowler in the era of the passing QB, but that’s why Tebow deserves to go: He is bucking the trend and infuriating a nation in the process.

Besides, who wouldn’t want to watch Tebow go full speed while everyone else is jogging?