The NFL announced its Pro Bowl rosters and two Arizona Cardinals players made the squad — outside linebacker Chandler Jones and safety Budda Baker — while three others (Kyler Murray, Zane Gonzalez and Dennis Gardeck) were named alternates.
However, one Cardinals player was notably absent from the NFC roster — linebacker Jordan Hicks.
He is a clear snub.
The linebackers chosen for the NFC are household names — Seattle’s Bobby Wagner and Carolina’s Luke Kuechly.
However, take a look at the numbers:
[protected-iframe id=”9ade0f7f7c31e00d3a45c14dc8e0d161-112738498-106269283″ info=”//widgets.sports-reference.com/wg.fcgi?css=1&site=pfr&url=%2Fplay-index%2Fpcm_finder.cgi%3Frequest%3D1%26sum%3D1%26player_id1_hint%3DJordan%2BHicks%26player_id1_select%3DJordan%2BHicks%26fromyear_1%3D2019%26toyear_1%3D2019%26player_id1%3DHickJo00%26idx%3Dplayers%26player_id2_hint%3DBobby%2BWagner%26player_id2_select%3DBobby%2BWagner%26fromyear_2%3D2019%26toyear_2%3D2019%26player_id2%3DWagnBo00%26idx%3Dplayers%26player_id3_hint%3DLuke%2BKuechly%26player_id3_select%3DLuke%2BKuechly%26fromyear_3%3D2019%26toyear_3%3D2019%26player_id3%3DKuecLu00%26idx%3Dplayers&div=div_totals” ]
Hicks has more tackles and sacks than Kuechly. He has more forced fumbles and more interceptions than both.
However, he is the leader of a bad defense.
Kuechly and Wagner are still considered the best at their positions, so it is understandable. However, Hicks deserves it this year. He has been everything the Cardinals wanted and more when they signed him as a free agent.
Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Stitcher Radio.
Ep. 251:
[protected-iframe id=”0db2998b8165e735bc48c285807b6f3a-112738498-106269283″ info=”https://api.spreaker.com/v2/episodes/20679628/download.mp3″ ]
Ep. 250:
[protected-iframe id=”ee3442976e811ebdf9032e21cf434833-112738498-106269283″ info=”https://api.spreaker.com/v2/episodes/20478076/download.mp3″ ]