We’re wrapping up our indignant articles about NFL Pro Bowl snubs right here with the NFC defense and special teams units.
If you want to read Part One, go here. Part two is right here.
The game will be played at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Fla on Jan. 28. Sean McDonough and Jon Gruden (if he’s not taken an NFL job at that point) will call the game. It’ll be broadcast on ESPN and ABC both.
DEFENSE
Defensive End
Everson Griffen (Minnesota Vikings), Demarcus Lawrence (Dallas Cowboys), Cameron Jordan (New Orleans Saints)
Snub: None here. All these guys have been elite pass rushers all season. Griffen has been arguably the best defensive end in the sport.
Give a huge birthday #skol to this awesome Gentleman, Mr @EversonGriffen 🎂👏 pic.twitter.com/JdGQDEv8Lf
— SKOLhearted_ Brit (@nechzehrer) December 22, 2017
Defensive Tackle
Fletcher Cox (Philadelphia Eagles), Aaron Donald (Los Angeles Rams), Gerald McCoy (Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
Snub: Kawann Short, DT, Carolina Panthers
Donald and McCoy are no-brainers, but Cox only got the nod over Short because of his name recognition. Short too is on a winning, playoff team. He has more tackles (46-26) and more sacks (7.5-5.5) than Cox.
Outside Linebacker
Chandler Jones (Arizona Cardinals), Ryan Kerrigan (Washington Redskins), Anthony Barr (Minnesota Vikings)
Snubs: Plenty. Jones and Kerrigan are easy choices, but it’s Barr’s selection that just seems strange. If your criteria is tackles, then Tahir Whitehead of the Lions has 103 and a sack. K.J. Wright of the Seahawks has 100. If it’s sacks, then he’s way behind (he has one) Robert Quinn of the Rams (8.5), Preston Smith of the Redskins (8) and Clay Matthews of the Packers (7.5)
McVay on Robert Quinn, “He’s really playing good football lately. The speed shows up… His get off, you see why he’s a special pass rusher.”
— Joe Curley (@vcsjoecurley) December 19, 2017
Inside Linebacker
Luke Kuechly (Carolina Panthers), Bobby Wagner (Seattle Seahawks)
Snubs: Again, plenty. Kuechly deserves to be in the Pro Bowl conversation, but Blake Martinez of the Packers leads the entire NFL with 138 tackles. He’s second in solo tackles behind Wagner (92-94). Deion Jones of the Falcons has 128 tackles and 86 solo with a sack. Zach Brown has 127 tackles, 84 solo and 2.5 sacks. Kuechly has 115 tackles, 66 solo and one sack. All those guys had better statistical seasons. Sure, being on a playoff team should matter, but snubbing Martinez, the NFL leader in stops, is just lame.
Cornerback
Xavier Rhodes (Minnesota Vikings), Patrick Peterson (Arizona Cardinals), Marshon Lattimore (New Orleans Saints), Darius Slay (Detroit Lions)
Snub: I don’t see one here. All these guys are outstanding. Peterson and Rhodes are two of the best corners in the league. Kendall Fuller of the Redskins, Damarious Randall of the Packers and Trumaine Johnson of the Rams have a place in the conversation.
Safety
Earl Thomas (Seattle Seahawks), Landon Collins (New York Giants), Malcolm Jenkins (Philadelphia Eagles)
Snub: Harrison Smith, Safety, Minnesota Vikings
I don’t get this one at all. When you look up 2017 Pro Bowl snubs, Smith is the poster child. He has 16 pass defenses, five picks, and 72 tackles. Earl Thomas and Malcolm Jenkins both had outstanding seasons, but Smith was better. Not only that, but Keanu Neal of the Falcons has a real argument for one of those spots too.
https://twitter.com/TheJohnnyMN/status/946071245015191552
SPECIAL TEAMS
Punter
Johnny Hekker (Los Angeles Rams)
Snub: None. Hekker has been the best punter in football for years and a constant danger as a passer on fourth down fakes. His 47.8 yards per punt average this season was better than the next guy by 2.5 yards.
Kicker
Greg Zuerlein (Los Angeles Rams)
Snub: None. As any daily fantasy football player (or regular fantasy player for that matter) will tell you, Zeurlein was the deadliest kicker in the sport this season.
Introducing your 2018 #LARams Pro Bowlers!
Congratulations @TG3II, @AaronDonald97, @JHekker, @KingTutt_chdown + Greg Zuerlein! 👏
Read 📰 » https://t.co/0KzJmRArwR pic.twitter.com/rxYrEBWGlt
— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) December 20, 2017
Returner
Pharoh Cooper (Los Angeles Rams)
Snub: Not here. The Rams had the best special teams unit in the league this year. Cooper’s kick return average of 27.4 was tops and he co-led the league leader with a 103-yard kick off return for a touchdown.
Special Teamer
Budda Baker (Arizona Cardinals)
Snub: Again, I have no idea. I’ll take your word for it, players and fans, if you actually vote on this spot.
FUN FACTS
The Steelers lead all teams with eight players selected to the Pro Bowl.
The New Orleans Saints and Philadelphia Eagles are tied for second with six players apiece.
The Green Bay Packers, Chicago Bears, Cleveland Browns, Indianapolis Colts and New York Jets had no players selected to the annual All-Star game.
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