NFC West Pro Bowl analysis
Perfect sense: Cardinals receiver Larry Fitzgerald, 49ers linebacker Patrick Willis and Cardinals strong safety Adrian Wilson were no-brainer choices as starters for the NFC team. It was nice to see voters properly acknowledge a few players who easily could have been snubbed. The Cardinals' Darnell Dockett and the 49ers' Vernon Davis made it as starters, a mild surprise given how much past accomplishments can play into these selections. For Davis, beating out future Hall of Famer Tony Gonzalez for a spot on the team and the Cowboys' Jason Witten for the starting job stands as quite an accomplishment.
The Rams' Steven Jackson was a solid choice despite the Rams' lost season. Jackson has set an example for how elite players should handle themselves amid difficult circumstances. Cardinals cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie broke through somewhat surprisingly. I wasn't sure whether voters would recognize him this early in his career, but Rodgers-Cromartie has made big plays, including an interception return for a touchdown that helped beat the Texans.
The Seahawks had zero players voted to the Pro Bowl, and rightly so, even though punter Jon Ryan is having a good season. They should not expect a postcard from former fullback Leonard Weaver, who earned a Pro Bowl spot with Philadelphia.
Made it on rep: Every Pro Bowl player from the NFC West deserved the accolade.
Got robbed: 49ers nose tackle Aubrayo Franklin and Cardinals punter Ben Graham definitely qualify under this category. Rams punter Donnie Jones could also qualify. Graham was leading the NFL in punts downed inside the 20. He became a victim of the voting process. Fans, players and most coaches do not study special teams closely. They pull out stat sheets ranking punters by gross and net averages, and they vote accordingly. The 49ers' Lee was deserving -- punting outdoors is tougher -- but I thought Graham had the stronger case. Franklin has a good chance to make it next season. He was new to the Pro Bowl conversation this season and while deserving, didn't have the name recognition to break through. The 49ers' Frank Gore made a strong push late, but Jackson was the stronger candidate in my view. I also had no problem with the Packers' Aaron Rodgers beating out Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner.
NFC North Pro Bowl analysis
Perfect sense: It’s only fitting that quarterbacks Brett Favre (Minnesota) and Aaron Rodgers (Green Bay) are paired once again on the same team. We all know about last season’s bitter transition in Green Bay. But the fact is the two battled for NFL statistical supremacy for most of this season. Likewise, Packers cornerback Charles Woodson has arguably been the best defensive player in the league this season. Vikings defensive end Jared Allen ranks first in the NFC with 13.5 sacks, even if only one of have them have come in the past four games. Minnesota defensive tackle Kevin Williams has had a solid season with six sacks, tying him for first among NFC defensive tackles.
Made it on rep: Chicago linebacker Lance Briggs leads the Bears with 135 tackles but had an injury-slowed season while playing for a defense that took a nosedive this season. Word circulated early this that Minnesota left tackle Bryant McKinnie was having his best season, and that propelled him to the Pro Bowl despite some weak performances on national television over the past month. Vikings special teams ace Heath Farwell has had better years than this one, but he’s the best-known cover man for a group that has been one of the NFL’s best this season.
Got robbed: Packers linebacker Clay Matthews has 10 sacks and has been a better all-around player than Washington defensive end Brian Orakpo, who has 11 sacks and made the team. Matthews is a first alternate. Minnesota’s Percy Harvin led the league in kickoff returns for most of the season and had two touchdowns, but he lost out to Philadelphia’s DeSean Jackson. Green Bay running back Ryan Grant has more yards (1,202) and touchdowns (10) than Carolina’s DeAngelo Williams (1,117 and seven).
NFC East Pro Bowl analysis
Perfect sense: I'm glad that the voters rewarded DeSean Jackson for a huge season. He's the first player in Pro Bowl history to be elected as a kick returner and wide receiver in the same season. Pretty remarkable stuff. Obviously, Cowboys outside linebacker DeMarcus Ware needed to be the starter. His numbers might be a little down, but he's still the most dynamic pass-rusher in the league and coaches and players realize that. It's also hard to argue with Eagles cornerback Asante Samuel as a starter. He's once again putting up huge numbers in terms of interceptions and quarterbacks always have to account for him. It's great that Eagles defensive end Trent Cole and Redskins linebacker Brian Orakpo made the team. Cole's one of the most underappreciated players in the league. And I'm really glad the players and coaches recognized Orakpo's excellent rookie season. Both of those players are reserves. I also don't have any problem with Eagles fullback Leonard Weaver being named a starter. I'm sure some Vikings fans are upset with that pick, but Weaver's put up excellent numbers both catching and running the ball. I think David Akers totally deserves to go for the Eagles. He had an excellent season and he continues to be a clutch kicker.
Made it on rep: Cowboys center Andre Gurode should not be starting in the Pro Bowl, and I think he'd even tell you that. This has not been one of his better seasons, so this was totally based on reputation. I think players and coaches get the offensive linemen wrong more than any other unit on the field. I also think Cowboys right guard Leonard Davis made it as a reserve based on reputation, and the same thing goes for Eagles left tackle Jason Peters. I think Giants center Shaun O'Hara's a good player, but there's no way he deserves a spot on the Pro Bowl roster over Chris Snee. I'm hoping I missed something because Snee deserves the spot on the team over O'Hara.
Got robbed: Shame on the fans for not putting Cowboys nose tackle Jay Ratliff higher on their list. The last time I checked, he wasn't even in the top five in the fan voting. The coaches and the players made sure he at least made it as a reserve. I understand putting Kevin Williams as a starter, but give me a break on Darnell Dockett. I think that's ridiculous. For the Eagles, I think cornerback Sheldon Brown and tight end Brent Celek should have been on the team. They're both alternates, but that doesn't cut it. Brown has played through injuries and been excellent this season. Celek simply had to overcome too many big names. Vernon Davis had an excellent season for the 49ers and Witten finished strong for the Cowboys. I could make an argument that Celek should've made it in front of Witten. Just look at the huge discrepancy in touchdowns. And I would've put Donovan McNabb or Tony Romo in front of Aaron Rodgers at quarterback. Rodgers put up a lot of empty numbers in the first half of the season and he takes entirely too many sacks. That's a bad choice by the coaches and players. Romo and McNabb were at their best in December. I also hoped that coaches and player would right a longtime wrong and put London Fletcher in the Pro Bowl. It didn't happen. I guess the guy will never get voted in. That's too bad. He had an excellent season. Same goes for Andre Carter. He had 134 tackles, which was second in the league. One more guy that was robbed: Giants wide receiver Steve Smith. He should have at least been a reserve.
NFC South Pro Bowl analysis
Perfect sense: Drew Brees, quarterback, Saints. The fact he got in as the NFC’s starter ahead of Minnesota’s Brett Favre shows there is some justice in this world. Brees is the heart and soul of the Saints and the reason they have the NFC’s best record. Brees sometimes gets lost in all the talk about Favre, Peyton Manning and Tom Brady. But this selection shows Brees is finally getting the recognition he deserves. Favre, Brady and Manning are legends. But Brees has reached this status, too. There’s not a player in the league who does more for his franchise and his community. However, Brees actually can enhance his reputation if the Saints make it to the Super Bowl and he's too busy to play in the Pro Bowl.
Made it on rep: Jon Stinchcomb, tackle, Saints. Don’t get me wrong, Stinchcomb’s not bad by any means. But is he truly one of the best three tackles in the NFC? No way. Talk to personnel guys and they’ll tell you Stinchcomb is a slightly-above-average right tackle and virtually all left tackles are better than any right tackles. In this case, Stinchcomb is riding the wave of the Saints having an outstanding season. Yeah, he got a little lucky. But think about how many Saints have been snubbed when it comes to the Pro Bowl in the franchise’s history? There’s been a ton. Let this one slide to make up for some of the injustices of the past. Stinchcomb might not be a blue-chip player, but things like this can happen when you win big.
Got robbed: Tony Gonzalez, tight end, Falcons. The absence of Gonzalez is a crime. This guy is the best tight end ever and he still is playing at a high level. He did everything the Falcons thought he would when they traded for him and instantly became quarterback Matt Ryan’s favorite target. Gonzalez won the fan voting at his position, so the blame here falls to the coaches and players. I’m not sure if this one comes down to jealousy, overexposure over a long period or a somewhat disappointing season by Atlanta. But the Falcons still have a shot at a winning season. Teams that go 8-8 or 9-7 should have at least one Pro Bowl representative. The Falcons, somehow, didn’t get any. You also could make a case for linebackers Curtis Lofton and Mike Peterson and receiver Roddy White. But Gonzalez should have been a slam-dunk. This one turned into an air ball.