Tag: Pro Bowl

Cardinals LB Jordan Hicks snubbed from Pro Bowl

He has put up better numbers overall than both Luke Kuechly and Bobby Wagner, the two NFC inside linebackers selected to the Pro Bowl.

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:

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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:

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Ep. 250:

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Za’Darius Smith, Aaron Jones miss out on initial 2020 Pro Bowl rosters

The Packers’ standouts at OLB and RB didn’t make the initial Pro Bowl rosters in the NFC.

Green Bay Packers outside linebacker Za’Darius Smith and running back Aaron Jones both missed out on the initial 2020 Pro Bowl rosters released Tuesday.

Quarterback Aaron Rodgers and left tackle David Bakhtiari were the only two players from Green Bay selected for the team.

Smith is having an All-Pro season in 2019, with 10 sacks, 30 quarterback hits and 12 tackles for losses over his first 14 games with the Packers. He’s a first alternate behind Chandler Jones, Khalil Mack and Shaquill Barrett. Mack is a great player for the Chicago Bears, but it’d be hard to argue he’s having a better year than Smith, one of the biggest offseason acquisitions in the NFL this season.

It’s possible Smith could follow the recent path of Bakhtiari, a three-time All-Pro who was twice snubbed for the Pro Bowl.

Jones had fierce competition for a Pro Bowl spot at running back. Dalvin Cook, Christian McCaffrey and Ezekiel Elliott were all deserving, although it could be argued Jones – and his 1,255 total yards and 17 total touchdowns – has had a far more impactful season than Elliott.

For both Smith and Jones, a lack of name recognition likely hurt their Pro Bowl chances.

Other notables for the Packers include kicker Mason Crosby and right tackle Bryan Bulaga.

Crosby has been close to automatic, but he’s also 26th in the NFL in field goals made. He’s the first alternate at kicker.

Bulaga wasn’t even an alternate. He’s shut down several of the league’s top pass-rushers in 2019, including Khalil Mack and Demarcus Lawrence, but right tackles rarely get Pro Bowl recognition.

Outside linebacker Preston Smith led the fan voting, but he’s nothing more than an alternate. Smith has 11.5 sacks and 22 quarterback hits this season.

Cornerback Jaire Alexander, who had Pro Bowl and All-Pro dreams coming into the season, is also an alternate. He’s tallied 16 pass breakups and two interceptions in 2019.

Defensive tackle Kenny Clark got off to a hot start and has been dominant for the last month, but he didn’t have the volume numbers to make it in a strong field of interior defenders.

The NFC long snapper is former Packer Rick Lovato, now a member of the Philadelphia Eagles.

Cory Littleton snubbed from 2020 Pro Bowl despite stellar season

Cory Littleton has been one of the best linebackers in the NFL, but he didn’t make the Pro Bowl.

The NFL announced the Pro Bowl rosters for the AFC and NFC squads on Tuesday night, and only two Rams made the cut. Cory Littleton was not one of them, surprisingly.

Aaron Donald and Jalen Ramsey were the two Rams who were selected, but it should’ve been a trio of defenders heading to Orlando for the all-star game. If anything, Littleton should’ve gotten the nod before Ramsey, who’s only having an average season at cornerback.

Littleton, on the other hand, has become one of the best linebackers in the NFL and is deserving of more recognition than he receives, and that could have started with him being named to the Pro Bowl.

He ranks eighth in the NFL with 124 tackles and is tied for ninth among all linebackers with eight passes defensed. Only three other players have at least 100 tackles, two sacks, five tackles for loss and two interceptions.

The reason for him not being selected to the Pro Bowl was more about the guys he’s going up against than his individual performance. In the NFC, two linebackers always reign supreme: Bobby Wagner and Luke Kuechly. They were both named to the Pro Bowl this season, ranking second and fourth in the NFL in tackles, respectively. Wagner has only broken up six passes with one forced fumble and one interception, while Kuechly has two interceptions, 11 passes defensed and only three tackles for loss.

Littleton has more forced fumbles and fumble recoveries than both linebackers, more sacks (2.5) than both of them combined, and more tackles for loss than Kuechly (tied with Wagner). Littleton has also hit the quarterback four times, which is one more than Wagner and two more than Kuechly.

Littleton isn’t a big name, but when looking at the numbers and his overall performance this season, he’s certainly among the top linebackers in football. He’s only getting better, too, improving immensely as a run defender since last season.

Here’s where he ranked among linebackers a few weeks ago, according to Pro Football Focus.

Littleton is in the final year of his contract and is sure to break the bank next year, whether it’s with the Rams or another team. Being named to the Pro Bowl would’ve boosted his stock and increased his negotiating leverage as a free agent, but it also would’ve put his name on the map among casual fans outside of Los Angeles.

He’ll get there eventually – possibly this year when injury replacements are announced – but regardless, Littleton has shown he’s a premier linebacker in just his second season as a starter.

Pair of Chargers selected to 2020 Pro Bowl

Keenan Allen and Joey Bosa have been selected to represent the Los Angeles Chargers in the 2020 Pro Bowl.

The votes are in and there are two players from the Los Angeles Chargers that are headed to Orlando, FL.

Wide receiver Keenan Allen and defensive end Joey Bosa have been selected to represent the Chargers in the 2020 NFL Pro Bowl on Sunday, Jan. 26, 2020, at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, FL.

This marks the second time Bosa has been selected to the Pro Bowl. In his fourth NFL season, his 10.5 sacks lead the team and are No. 8 in the NFL, the third time in four NFL seasons he has reached double-digit sacks.

For Allen, this marks his third consecutive trip to the Pro Bowl. Allen, arguably one of the league’s best route runners, has 90 receptions, 1,046 yards and five touchdowns in 15 games.

Defensive end Melvin Ingram was named a first-team alternate and Derek Watt earned first-team alternate on special teams and second-team alternate at fullback.

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Seahawks Russell Wilson, Bobby Wagner named Pro Bowl starters

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson and linebacker Bobby Wagner were both named to the Pro Bowl for the third consecutive year.

The 2020 NFL Pro Bowl rosters were announced on Tuesday night, and two Seattle Seahawks made the cut as starters for the NFC squad.

Quarterback Russell Wilson and linebacker Bobby Wagner will both be making their sixth career Pro Bowl appearances.

Wilson has already proven himself worthy of the mega-contract extension he signed over the offseason, putting together an MVP campaign through 14 games. He’s completed 300 passes for 3,708 yards with an excellent 28-to-five touchdown-to-interception ratio.

While he finished second behind Lamar Jackson of the Ravens in fan voting, it’s clear Wilson is among the best quarterbacks in the NFL, and his third consecutive Pro Bowl nod is even more proof of that.

Wagner, also fresh off a contract extension, already has 139 combined tackles this season – topping last year’s mark and on pace to break his career-high of 168, set in 2016. All set to make his sixth consecutive Pro Bowl appearance and potentially his fourth consecutive year as an All-Pro, Wagner is continuing to cement himself as the best linebacker of his era, and a future Hall of Famer.

The Seahawks also had seven players selected as alternates: wide receiver Tyler Lockett, tackle Duane Brown, running back Chris Carson, defensive end Jadeveon Clowney, safety Quandre Diggs, cornerback Shaquill Griffin and guard Mike Iupati.

Punter Michael Dickson, notably, was not selected despite leading the NFC in fan voting at the punter position.

The 2020 Pro Bowl will be played on Sunday, Jan. 26, 2020 and televised live on ESPN at noon PT from Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Fla.

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Packers QB Aaron Rodgers, LT David Bakhtiari named to 2020 Pro Bowl

Packers QB Aaron Rodgers and LT David Bakhtiari were both named to the 2020 Pro Bowl.

Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers and left tackle David Bakhtiari were both named to the 2020 Pro Bowl roster.

Outside linebacker Za’Darius Smith and kicker Mason Crosby are first alternates, giving both a real shot at making the team once players begin dropping out.

Rodgers, now an 8-time Pro Bowler, has thrown 24 touchdown passes and only two interceptions this season. His 100.4 passer rating is his highest since 2016.

Bakhtiari, who earned his second Pro Bowl nod, has started all 14 games for the Packers this season. He is third among offensive tackles in pass-blocking efficiency.

Rodgers will be a backup to Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson. Bakhtiari is the starting left tackle.

Other alternates for the Packers include running back Aaron Jones, cornerback Jaire Alexander, outside linebacker Preston Smith, defensive tackle Kenny Clark, center Corey Linsley and safety Adrian Amos.

The Pro Bowl is scheduled for Jan. 26, 2020 in Orlando. Players from both Super Bowl teams do not participate in the Pro Bowl.

Colts’ Darius Leonard, Quenton Nelson named to 2020 Pro Bowl

Big Q and The Maniac are Pro Bowlers.

Indianapolis Colts linebacker Darius Leonard and left guard Quenton Nelson were named to the 2020 Pro Bowl on Tuesday night.

It wasn’t clear how many players the Colts would get into the Pro Bowl given the team’s struggles during the second half of the season, but Leonard and Nelson had as good of a chance as anyone on the roster.

Nelson was an easy pick for the Pro Bowl. He has been excellent at left guard yet again and only seems to be getting better. His consistency and technique have improved steadily since his All-Pro rookie season.

What’s more, he’s been available and reliable. Out of the team’s 901 total offensive snaps, Nelson has been on the field for 900 of them. This is Nelson’s second Pro Bowl selection in as many years. Nelson is the fifth Colts player in franchise history to earn a Pro Bowl selection in each of his first two seasons.

Leonard rightfully got in this time. After he was an insane snub his rookie season, Leonard made it in his second year. Despite missing three games with a concussion, Leonard has 104 tackles (63 solo), 5.0 sacks, 5.0 tackles for loss and four interceptions.

After being an All-Pro but not a Pro Bowler his rookie season, the Maniac finally gets his first of what is likely to be many Pro Bowl selections in his career.

The Pro Bowl will take place on Jan. 26 at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, FL. It will be aired on ESPN.

NFL Pro Bowl: Tress Way among four Redskins named to Pro Bowl

A total of four Redskins were named to the 2020 NFL Pro Bowl, where punter Tress Way will be the lone starter from Washington.

A total of four Washington Redskins players have been named to the 2020 NFL Pro Bowl team in the NFC, with two of them coming as alternates.

Punter Tress Way is the lone starter on the Redskins’ roster, and his ability to pin an opponent inside its 20-yard line 50 times over the past two years and boot it into the end zone for a touchback just twice in 145 attempts is surely a reason why.

Aside from Way, right guard Brandon Scherff was named to the team, though he is designated as an reserve due to his move to the injured reserve earlier on Tuesday. Safety Landon Collins was given a first-alternate distinction, and defensive end Matt Ioannidis was given a fourth-alternate distinction.

The alternates will come into play should a player above them on the depth chart be unable to play, or decide to skip the game for other reasons.

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Rams’ Aaron Donald, Jalen Ramsey selected to 2020 Pro Bowl

The Rams had two players selected to the Pro Bowl.

The Los Angeles Rams aren’t sending as many players to the 2020 Pro Bowl as they have in the past few years when they were well-represented in Orlando. This year, they’ll only have two representatives: Aaron Donald and Jalen Ramsey.

On Tuesday night, the NFL announced rosters for the AFC and NFC squad and those two were the lone Rams players selected. With it being a disappointing season for the Rams that has seen many of their top players struggle, it’s not exactly surprising to see so few players voted into the Pro Bowl.

This season, Donald has 11 sacks and an NFL-high 19 tackles for loss. Although his sack numbers are down from last year, he’s still one of the best defenders in the league and commands more double teams than just about every other pass rusher.

He’s currently the betting favorite to win his third straight Defensive Player of the Year award, which would make him the first  player ever to accomplish that feat.

Ramsey came over in a mid-season trade with the Jaguars and has played relatively well since then. In eight games with the Rams, he has 29 tackles, two passes defensed and one forced fumble. In 11 total games this year, he has 46 tackles, three passes defensed and two forced fumbles. He does not have an interception yet.

This is Donald’s sixth straight year being selected to the Pro Bowl, making it every year he’s been in the NFL. Ramsey has now made it three years in a row, giving him three in his career.

Von Miller is Broncos’ only player on AFC’s 2020 Pro Bowl roster

What Broncos players made the Pro Bowl roster?

The NFL announced AFC and NFC rosters for the 2020 Pro Bowl on Tuesday evening and only one Denver Broncos player made the cut. Fans, players and coaches each accounted for one-third of the voting.

Broncos outside linebacker Von Miller made the roster despite ranking fifth among AFC linebackers with seven sacks this year. Wide receiver Courtland Sutton is a second alternate, according to KUSA-TV’s Mike Klis. Safety Kareem Jackson and returner Diontae Spencer are third alternates.

Sutton ranks fourth among AFC wide receivers with 1,019 receiving yards and his 18 catches of 20-plus yards rank first. Jackson became just the third player in NFL history to total 10 tackles, return a fumble for a touchdown and intercept a pass in a single game in Denver’s 38-24 win over the Texans last week.

Broncos safety Justin Simmons and nose tackle Shelby Harris were snubbed.

Harris ranks first among all defensive linemen with seven pass breakups and second among interior AFC defensive linemen with six sacks. Simmons ranks second among AFC strong safeties with four interceptions and his 84 tackles rank third.

Cornerback Chris Harris, running back Phillip Lindsay and tight end Noah Fant were also overlooked. Lindsay is 151 yards away from a 1,000-yard season. Fant ranks fifth among AFC tight ends with 548 receiving yards.

Last year, Harris, Miller and long snapper Casey Kreiter played in the All-Star game. Lindsay was also voted to the Pro Bowl but was unable to play due to a wrist injury.

The 2020 Pro Bowl will be played in Orlando, Florida on Sunday, Jan. 26 at 1:00 p.m. MT. The game will be simulcast on ESPN, ESPN Deportes, ABC and Disney XD. Tickets to the game start at $45 on Ticketmaster.

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