NFL Pro Bowl Selections Announced: Update
by Andrew602 on Dec 29, 2009 8:44 PM MST
in News
20 comments
The Pro Bowl selections were announced on Tuesday, which you can see here. Four Cardinals will represent the NFC the week before the Super Bowl, but hopefully they won't be playing because they'll be in practice for the big game.
The No-Brainers
- Larry Fitzgerald, WR: Fitz is currently tied for the league lead in touchdown receptions with 12. He's has been productive even in a down year, and has surpassed 1,000 receiving yards to lead the team. Only three other players had more votes then Fitzgerald...obvious choice here.
- Adrian Wilson, SS: Wilson literally out-muscles the competition and puts the word "strong", in strong safety. Wilson recently became the 10th member of the 20 sack/20 interception club and is appearing in his 2nd straight and 3rd overall pro bowl.
The Surprises
- Darnell Dockett, DT: I wouldn't call this a huge surprise to Cardinal fans, but many of us expected the Williams' wall or Albert Haynesworth to undeservedly get picked ahead of "Nine O". Dockett has been one of the biggest keys in the Cardinals defense and leads all defensive tackles with 7 sacks.
- Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie CB: This one is the big surprise. Even myself didn't expect DRC to make the cut. With Charles Woodson, Asante Samuel, and Antoine Winfield also in the NFC, I expected the 2nd year cornerback to at least be an alternate. That's not to say he's not deserving though. He's right up there in tackles, has many more passes defensed(25) then either of them, and is just as athletic. Way to go DRC.
The Snubs
- Ben Graham, P: I won't say that Andy Lee isn't a good punter, but Graham deserves it more. He's extremely close in punting average, and has many more punts in the 20 with less touch backs. Graham hasn't had a touch back since week 5 and leads all punters with punts inside the opponents 20(39).
- Antrel Rolle, FS: Okay, maybe this is all homer but I really think Rolle should've at least been a back up. Darren Sharper has obviously had the better year, but I think Rolle out-does Nick Collins. Rolle is just as good in coverage, but can actually blitz and make plays out of nothing in the open field.
The alternates:Kurt Warner, Levi Brown(really?), Ben Graham, Antrel Rolle, Sean Morey, and Neil Rackers
Although going from five pro bowlers to four in a year doesn't feel that great, the Cardinals that did make it are well deserving. After today, DRC may be making a bigger splash to the nation then we all thought. I do hope that Anquan Boldin not getting selected starts up a fire, even if it's a little one. What are your thoughts on the selections? Any surprises? Players that were robbed?
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nice round up
I think you have it summed up. I think Rolle and Dockett will get in, they should anyway
http://undrafteds.com/
by Undrafteds on Dec 29, 2009 4:03 PM MST reply actions 0 recs
2009 Pro Bowl Cardinals
Fitz, Dockett, DRC, Wilson.
by hadrarius on Dec 29, 2009 5:39 PM MST reply actions 0 recs
2009 Pro Browlers
Congrats to all selected and to Ben Graham who was not selected. He was snub but these things happen when politics become invovled (see Bryant McKinnie). Levi Browns selection as an alternate is a joke and more a by product of the lack of quality at left tackle in the NFC than Browns performance on the field. Perennial stalwarts such as Pace, Walter Jones etc. are done as players or did not perform well. Thus Brown gets “recognition”
On Anquan Boldin not making it. First it difficult to make the Pro Bowl if you are on the sideline(coaches decision). Second, according to Pro Football Fous Fitzgerald has 889 offensive snaps from scrimmage, Boldin has 682. To put this in perspective Bolin has over two hundred less snaps that his cohort and just 100 more than the third WR Breaston (582). Boldin was productive and effecient when targeted in the passing game. He just did not get enough oppurtunities to make plays and there were oppurtunities missed by his QB.
by Cardsfan81 on Dec 31, 2009 10:33 AM MST up reply actions 0 recs
Q needs to recruit more ballot box stuffers
Though that didn’t help Graham like it should have.
Don't waste time or Time will waste you.
by Hawkwind on Dec 31, 2009 10:54 AM MST up reply actions 0 recs
I don't know how the votes are counted
as far as players/fans/coaches—but to leave off Graham is a shame.
—from urban on azcards.com
Of the players left out, Graham is the most surprising. On 82 punts this season, the Aussie has netted 40.5 yards a kick, and has only three touchbacks compared to his 39 inside the 20. He lost out to the 49ers’ Andy Lee, who slightly leads Graham in average (47.7 to 47.0) and net (Lee’s is 41.4), but has fewer inside the 20 (28) and has more touchbacks (7).
by Cuckoo for Coco Puffs on Dec 29, 2009 6:51 PM MST reply actions 0 recs
Was surprised by a few picks.
Was surprised to see Dockett as a starter and I was surprised to see DRC make it as a reserve.
I thought for sure Graham was in. No one has punted better than he has. It definitely has to be because most coaches don’t game plan around special teams, so they do not really know about Graham.
by Pyromnc on Dec 29, 2009 7:32 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs
Also was surprised to see Levi Brown make it as a alternate.
Either this means the Tackle position is really week in the NFC or Brown is much better than we give him credit for.
I am betting it is because the position is week in the NFC.
by Pyromnc on Dec 29, 2009 7:39 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs
Ben Graham got robbed.
Boldin’s injuries hurt his chances this year. I don’t think anyone around here will be surprised to see him light it up in the playoffs though. Levi Brown as an alternate is a complete blindside.
by hadrarius on Dec 29, 2009 9:13 PM MST reply actions 0 recs
Levi Brown?
Really?
REALLY?
REALLY?
REALLY?
by SenSurround on Dec 30, 2009 12:07 AM MST reply actions 0 recs
it's worth remembering that there will be more people drop out of the PB this year than ever before
With the Super Bowl teams being automatic no-shows and then the usual injury related no-shows I wouldn’t be surprised at all if we add several more names to the “roster.” Unless of course we’re the SB team pulling out of the PB.
Be careful....to a hammer, everything looks like a nail.
by Bezekira on Dec 30, 2009 6:23 AM MST reply actions 0 recs
Matters not
They will be resting up for the SB
by badmatty53 on Dec 30, 2009 7:46 AM MST reply actions 0 recs
i think Levi became an alternate because Kurt has been sacked so few times
Peyton Manning, Drew Brees, Tom Brady, and Matt Ryan are the only QBs to play over 12 games to get sacked less than Kurt. Since Levi is his blind side tackle, he’s getting the credit for that.
by najmsh on Dec 30, 2009 1:12 PM MST reply actions 0 recs
Actually it's the opposite
he’s on Warner’s throwing side – but to disagree with most of the responses on here I think Levi has shown considerable improvement as the year has gone along. Terrible start, no doubt, but he did a great job protecting Leinart’s blind side in the Tennessee game and has been pretty solid most of the second half of the season.
by Long Beach on Dec 30, 2009 1:17 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs
Maybe
So many of us dislike him we forget to see his good games and his improvements. I would rather not have to draft a lineman early if Levi plays well in the playoffs.
They are who we thought they were!
by Jessesb on Dec 30, 2009 1:39 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs
You bring up another
interesting point. Do we really invest an early draft pick on a left OT if Leinart is taking over soon and Levi continues to elevate his game at right OT?
by Long Beach on Dec 30, 2009 1:51 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs
we still need a LT
Regardless of whether it’s a QB’s blind side or not, the LT still has to handle an opposing team’s best pass rusher.
Be careful....to a hammer, everything looks like a nail.
by Bezekira on Dec 30, 2009 2:48 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs
Glad that's not our biggest concern right now.
What? I didn't break it, I was just testing its durability, and then I placed it in the woods becuase it's made out of wood and I just thought he should be with his family.
Revenge of the Birds
by Andrew602 on Dec 30, 2009 3:17 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs
Not necessarily
Because of the presence of a Left-hand QB, the strong side becomes the weakside, so now the LT has the TE lined up next to him. The defense would have to shift to keep their speed rusher on the weak side.
However, if they want to leave him there where he can be easily seen and run at, that works too.
by Long Beach on Dec 30, 2009 4:14 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs
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