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I miss the days of the '90s and '00s (and prior) when Pro Bowl/All-Star selections across the Big-4 held major weight in sports banter; discussion; and legacy talks. Back when having a "goat" discussion wasn't an utter joke. Back when honor & prestige mattered. 8-time Pro Bowler used to be a massively important accolade that held a player higher than the normal player; that brought a player into the highest echelon that kickstarted legacy talks. It also was a factor in getting a player their highest earned contract. The Pro Bowl used to matter!
NFL has ruined the Pro Bowl. I'm not talking about the worthless game, I'm talkin' about all around ruining the Pro Bowl. Being selected as an All-Star (Pro Bowler in NFL) was a prestige title given to honor players that had the best statistical campaign at their respected position. Now, in the age of Fan Voting, it's just a title to prove popularity. It holds no weight; no importance. Ouuu he made the Pro Bowl, weppee. The whole thing is a joke- the game, the formats, and the way of selecting. They need to go back to the mini games and maybe have a 7 on 7 tournament or flag football game for the players to have fun and the fans to enjoy. Just a nice weekend in a tropical spot to honor the best players from that season. The mini games would be a joy for the fans. Then the voting needs to be LEGIT and made by either the players/coaches or the AP panel that do the NFL Honors (I prefer player/coaches). The selections need to have the best judgement to award the most honored players. Contracts need to have incentives, high incentives, for those who make the Pro Bowl. It needs it's prestige back for pete sake! So, with that nice little rant; allow me to introduce my "Pro Bowl" of the players I feel had the best seasons. I am not stuck up, I understand that some may not agree with all my selections. My opinion doesn't rule. I also myself had some serious thought on a few; which left me with some snubs that were hard to fathom, but not everyone can make it cha heard. Quick reference: those who have their name in gold font with an asterisk on the graphics are my picks to replace NFL selections. Without any further ado, lets roll!
I only had 5 changes out of 21 for my AFC offense selections. The skill positions were done well by the NFL, mostly because the selections had obvious space between them and the tier below them. A couple tough decisions, but most of the selection decisions were quite easy for me to make.
NFL Selection Replacement(s):
Patrick Mahomes (KC) --> Josh Allen (BUF)
Popularity alert! I only had one replacement amongst the NFL selections for the QBs, RBs, and fullback. The final selection for the AFC quarterbacks came down to Josh Allen, rookie C.J. Stroud, and the NFL's pick Patrick Mahomes. I am firm on selecting Allen with Stroud 4th & Mahomes 5th on my ballot. Josh Allen led the league in total touchdowns, had the 3rd-best QBR, and turned the Bills season around going 4-1 against playoff teams. Allen's stats declined and don't pop out to the casual eye, but he played like an All-Star to elevate the Bills into the playoffs and to their 4th straight AFC East title. Tua and Lamar are no brainers.
NFL got it right with the tailbacks. There is quite a drop off from the three who made it and the rest of the pack in the AFC. Jaguars' Travis Etienne Jr. is the only guy on the outskirts that had a case solid enough to join the conversation. I also had a decision between Ingold and the Ravens' Patrick Ricard for the fullback honor. Ingold had the better season.
NFL Selection Replacement(s):
Amari Cooper (CLE) --> Nico Collins (HOU)
David Njoku (CLE) --> Evan Engram (JAX)
I made two replacement picks among the wide-receivers and tight-ends, however, the two I replaced in Amari Cooper and David Njoku had cases strong enough that made the changes tough to make. Cheetah is a no brainer; unanimous no doubt. After Hill, things get tough... real tough. All three of Chase, Allen, and Collins had sharp comp' with Stefon Diggs, Davante Adams, and Amari Cooper having major cases. Cooper especially with his top notch yards per reception average (17.4). I am ok with him getting the nod, I just think Nico Collins had a better all-around campaign. He stepped up big time when Tank Dell went down and is one of my top candidates for breakout player of the year. Engram for Njoku was a tough one as well, but after some thought I believe Engram to be far more deserving. Eazy E had a career year shattering his career-high reception mark by 41 receptions. Engram had the 4th-most receptions (114) of any receiver/tight-end in the league. Pro Bowl him!
NFL Selection Replacement(s):
Quenton Nelson (IND) --> Trey Smith (KC)
Laremy Tunsil (HOU) --> Garett Bolles (DEN)
I feel the NFL just threw in Nelson and Tunsil for the madden rankings here. Tunsil had a solid season, but Bolles was a bit better. Garett Bolles was a rare positive for the Broncos offense, he was superb in pass-blocking with a 92% PWBR winnin' 332 reps out of 361 reps. On the inside of the line, I feel the Chiefs' Trey Smith had a far better campaign than Quenton Nelson. Not like Nelson creates outrage, but Smith was better as he was third in the league with a 96% pass block win rate. Smith won 409 reps out of 424 plays. He deserves a Pro Bowl nod.
I have 6 changes on the defensive side. Most all being in the secondary as the corner-back selections left me shaking my head. The defensive line and linebacker departments were quite easy to decide on with several having cases for end of the year defensive rewards.
NFL Selection Replacement(s):
Quinnen Williams (NYJ) --> Zach Sieler (MIA)
I hear all these peeps screaming snub this and snub that, but not one of them have referred to Zach Siegler as a snub! Arguably the biggest snub from the NFL selections, the Dolphins' nose tackle had a career year & a FAR better year than Quinnen Williams. This is another popularity alert. Siegler was stellar for the Dolphins and even outperformed Christian Wilkins. Snub o' Mania!
NFL Selection Replacement(s):
Patrick Queen (BAL) --> Zaire Franklin (IND)
Queen had a real solid season, but not a better season than the Colts' Zaire Franklin. Zaire missed out on being Tackles King by just four tackles, placing second in combined tackles behind Bobby Wagner and second in SOLO tackles. Franklin over Queen, without a doubt.
NFL Selection Replacement(s):
Denzel Ward (CLE) --> Martin Emerson (CLE)
Jalen Ramsey (MIA) --> L'Jarius Sneed (KC)
Pat Surtain II (DEN) --> Darious Williams (JAX)
Justin Simmons (DEN) --> Rayshawn Jenkins (JAX)
Again, it looks like they just chose guys atop the Madden rankings to fill out the Pro Bowl secondary for the AFC. Denzel Ward was the only replacement selection that had a strong case for the nod, but he wasn't even the best corner on his team. Do we not want to talk about Emerson because he isn't a household name? What's the deal? The cat had an unreal season. His stats are all better than Ward, but it's the advanced stats that the NFL most not have even looked at. Emerson Jr. had the 3rd-lowest passer rating when targeted (46.3), gave up the 4th-lowest completion percentage (46.8%), and faced more targets than every NFL Pro Bowl selection but Pat Surtain II. Pro Bowl him. L'Jarius Sneed was right behind Emerson and far ahead of the others despite being targeted 100 times (4th most in NFL). Sneed and Williams deserve it over Jalen Ramsey. Look, Jalen had an incredible season after making a remarkable injury return, but he only played in 53% of the Fins' games. You aren't making the Pro Bowl for playing in 9 games... lets get real with it.
Minkah and Kyle Hamilton were no brainers for the safety selections, but Justin Simmons? Yeah uh, no. Simmons was crushed in pass coverage compared to Rayshawn Jenkins who was top 12 in passer rating allowed and was targeted more than Simmons. Simmons gave up three tuddys with a 87.6 passer rating given up when targeted... that isn't elite. I'm giving the nod to Jenkins.
NFL Selection Replacement(s):
Justin Tucker (BAL) --> Dustin Hopkins (CLE)
Miles Killebrew (PIT) --> Brenden Schooler (NE)
Justin Tucker makin' the Pro Bowl is simply a popularity selection. Dustin Hopkins was far more efficient and more damaging with his boot. I also select the Patriots' Brenden Schooler as the best AFC special teamer, Killebrew gettin' the nod doesn't create outrage, but Schooler was more effective and tallied more tackles on ST.
Just like the AFC, I had just 5 changes out of 21 for my NFC offense selections. The offensive lineman selections made by the NFL were about spot on. The skill players were very tough decisions, especially the wide-receivers. We had a slew of big-time performers in the air that left a few feeling snubbed... bittersweet as that means the league has some prestige.
NFL Selection Replacement(s):
Matthew Stafford (LAR) --> Jared Goff (DET)
D'Andre Swift (PHI) --> David Montgomery (DET)
Despite his great season, I feel Stafford was bested by Jared Goff in a tight four-way race that included Jordan Love and Baker Mayfield. Goff was 2nd in the NFL in yards (4,575), 9th in QBR (97.9), and had a solid 30 to 12 tuddy/interception ratio. Goff also had the 5th-best completion percentage of quarterbacks with 10+ starts. I actually had Jordan Love behind Goff and over Stafford. For the running-backs, Montgomery over Swift is a no brainer. He had 34 less yards than Swift while playing in two less games and had the 2nd-most rushing touchdowns (13) among NFC running-backs behind McCaffrey (14).
NFL Selection Replacement(s):
Mike Evans (TB) --> Amon-Ra St. Brown (DET)
Sam LaPorta (DET) --> T.J. Hockenson (MIN)
It was tough for me to leave out both Mike Evans and rookie Sam LaPorta. However, I refuse to snub Amon-Ra St. Brown. Can't do it. I also can't put Mike over Nacua, despite some light ponder. Evans had his usual solid season as he surpassed 1K in the air (again) and led the league with Tyreek Hill for most receiving tuddys (13), but St. Brown and Nacua went to another level. I have St. Brown as a top 3 all-around receiver this season behind Hill and Lamb. He ranked top 4 or better in damn near every category: receiving yards, touchdowns, first downs, receptions, yards after catch, and passer rating when targeted. The NFL is down bad for snubbin' that cat. St. Brown is in with NO extra thought.
NFL Selection Replacement(s):
Chris Lindstrom (ATL) --> Will Hernandez (ARI)
The NFC offensive line selections were quite solid, even Chris Lindstrom had a respected case... I just feel Will Hernandez most deserves it over Lindstrom and others. Hernandez was top ten in win rate both in run blocking and pass blocking. I have no problem giving him the recognition he earned.
I had a few changes on the defensive side as the front seven had some popularity names and the Budda Baker nod was pure comedy. I changed that. I have two replacements that might shock people, name of the game.
NFL Selection Replacement(s):
Javon Hargrave (SF) --> Kobie Turner (LAR)
Dexter Lawrence II (NJG) --> Jarran Reed (SEA)
Both Hargrave and Lawrence II had solid seasons with high win rate percentages in the nose, but neither cat had more production than their respected replacements in Jarran Reed and Kobie Turner. Donald gets all the recognition in LA, respectfully so, but Kobie Turner had a ROCK solid campaign and is owed recognition in his own right.
NFL Selection Replacement(s):
Haason Reddick (PHI) --> Kayvon Thibodeaux (NYG)
Bobby Wagner (SEA) --> T.J. Edwards (CHI)
It's not that Haason Reddick and Bobby Wagner don't deserve the nod, it's just T.J. Edwards and Kayvon Thibodeaux deserve it more. Thibodeaux had a more diverse portfolio and caused more turnovers being arguably the best defender for the Giants this season. Wagner became the Tackles King for the third time in his career at 33, but Edwards was destructive in every aspect of his position duties, caused more turnovers than Wagner, and was right behind Wagner in the tackles leaderboard. Edwards and Thibodeaux had larger sample sizes.
NFL Selection Replacement(s):
Devon Witherspoon (SEA) --> Ahkello Witherspoon (LAR)
NFL got the NFC corners right except they put in the wrong Witherspoon. Seattle's rookie 5th pick in Devon Witherspoon had an excellent rookie campaign. I concur to that, however, Ahkello Witherspoon is more deserving for the Pro Bowl than the rook. Ahkello was targeted the 3rd-most of any defensive back in the NFL being thrown on 106 times. Despite the onslaught, Witherspoon gave up the 4th lowest completion percentage (48.1%) and is the only player to have a percentage under 50% that was thrown on 100+ times. Ahkello was also a more efficient tackler than Devon.
NFL Selection Replacement(s):
Budda Baker (ARI) --> Tyrann Mathieu (NO)
NFL deada** just put Budda Baker in to put him in. The safety play across the league and NFC in particular was beyond weak. There is large separation between Bates III and the rest of the NFC safeties. My final nod came down to Kerby Joseph, Tyrann Mathieu, and Xavier McKinney. I decided to go with the Honey Badger, Mathieu. Badger was one of the more efficient tacklers in the entire league, had the 11th lowest passer rating allowed among defensive backs, and was the nucleus to the Saints defense. Kerby Joseph had a loud case too, he just didn't have the reps that Badger had.
NFL Selection Replacement(s):
Bryan Anger (DAL) --> Tress Way (WAS)
No brainer with Brandon Aubrey, who will be the Best Kicker award winner after having the 3rd-best kicking campaign of all-time (perfect ratio). His teammate punter, Bryan Anger had a good season too with some solid net numbers, but he wasn't hanging with Tress Way who had way more punt reps to deliver the same level of numbers.
I am not cocky enough to think you all will agree with my selections over the NFL's, but I personally believe I gave better justice as the NFL left off some major names to place guys of popularity. I myself, felt that I snubbed some guys. There is only so many spots available for the earning. The fact we have guys being snubbed is good; to be frank- shows the league is gettin' deeper and more competitive again. Outside of several positions, ha- but still. Here are my notable snubs who deserve some recognition despite not makin' the cut:
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