Dirty Bird Volume VI :: Pro Bowl Rosters Cause Controversy
VOLUME VI: Pro Bowl Rosters Cause Controversy
Atlanta, Georgia (AP)-- When was the last time the league MVP didn’t get selected to participate in the Pro Bowl? The answer to that question prior to today was never, however after the 2007 Pro Bowl rosters were released for the public that answer was quickly modified to 2007. The 2007 AFC and NFC squads both had glaring holes in them, which led people to believe, was the Pro Bowl voting fixed, or even worse a decision based on race, and not individual player performances were made.
Back to the Pro Bowl: Kurt Warner
After leading his Falcons to a playoff berth, and a likely division title, Michael Vick was not apart of the three quarterbacks selected for the NFC squad. Vick, an African-American, has been in the news for several off-the-field issues, and many believe that the NFL didn’t want someone who represents the league in a negative way playing in the prestige event. Through 14 games this season Vick has propelled himself as the front runner for the league MVP award, passing for 2498 yards and 20 touchdowns on 204/366 passing, while throwing only 8 interceptions and adding 779 yard and 8 touchdowns from rushing.
The three quarterbacks who will be in Hawaii for the NFC, Kurt Warner, Drew Brees, and Mark Brunell, have had good season of their own, but not as good as Vick’s in both the numbers game and in the win-loss column.
Brees, in his first season with the New Orleans Saints, has had a legit Pro Bowl season with 2552 yard passing and 25 touchdowns plus a quarterback rating of 98.9. Brunell, the Redskins gunslinger, has also had a renaissance of sort this season, passing for 2717 yards and 20 touchdowns on 244/382 passing, but his Redskins are quickly falling out of the playoff picture with a 5-9 record.
The biggest surprise of the three quarterbacks is Kurt Warner, who returns to the Pro Bowl for the first time since the 2001 season, but his numbers in comparison to Vick make many believe he doesn’t deserve it, despite leading his Cardinals on a improbable run and a playoff birth. Warner 2868 and 19 touchdowns yards do not account for his 13 picks and only a 90.9 quarterback rating.
If it was the NFL decision to ignore the fan voting, which Vick usually is a popular choice for many fans, then it will truly be one of sports infamous moments. First year commissioner Roger Goodell, has promptly said the NFL does not tamper with the Pro Bowl voting system, and all rosters for the Pro Bowl are decided solely by the fans and “only the fans”.
Thomas Jones will be heading to his first Pro Bowl, will it be the after party for him and the Bears, after a Superbowl win???
Besides the Controversy involved in the NFC quarterbacks, the rest of the rosters, for both teams, seems to be a true representation of the 2006 season. In the AFC, the Denver Broncos led the way with 8 Pro Bowlers including Tatum Bell who is having a break out year. Bronco’s safety John Lynch was selected to an unprecedented eight Pro Bowl, after his efforts in leading to the Broncos to an impressive 11-3 record, for tops in the AFC.
The Chargers, Chiefs, and Bills each had six Pro Bowlers of their own, while the Cleveland Brown had one lone Pro Bowler in Willie McGinest, a front runner for Defensive Player of the Year honors.
In the NFC, the Falcons sent a mind blowing 10 Pro Bowlers to Hawaii, not including Vick or Warrick Dunn, who has had his best year as a pro rushing for over 1500 yards and 12 touchdowns. Not to mention a 5.5 average yards per attempt, best among all running backs. The Falcons 10 Pro Bowlers do include all 5 of their offensive lineman, and Alge Crumpler and rookie defensive back Jimmy Williams.
The Arizona Cardinals, and their feel good story, landed them 8 Pro Bowler including Warner, Edgerrin James, and Anquan Boldin. As well as their defensive ends Bertrand Berry and Chike Okeafor.
The Chicago Bears sent 7 Pro Bowlers, the majority coming from the defensive side, while the Eagles and Giants sent 5 players each to this years Pro Bowl.
The losers of the this years selection were the Houston Texans, Cincinnati Bengals, Green Bay Packers, and St. Louis Rams, who all had no players selected to their respective squads. This is another issue, which the NFL must consider, as the Pro Bowl should be more of a celebration, where every team must have at least one representative.
The Pro Bowl is schedule to be played the week following Superbowl XLI on February 11th, 2007. The rosters released today could obviously change due to injury, but it looks as if this years Pro Bowl, may have a little bit more of competitive nature involved, as some players will have to prove that they deserved their spot on the squad.
