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The NFL announced its 2020 Pro Bowl rosters, and seven members of the New Orleans Saints made the initial cut — a franchise record. Mainstays like wide receiver Michael Thomas and quarterback Drew Brees were among them, and were joined by newcomers like rookie returns specialist Deonte Harris. It’s been a heck of a year for the Saints, and all of these Pro Bowlers gathered together are proof it.
However, some glaring absences highlight issues with the archaic Pro Bowl ballot. Left tackles and right tackles are jumbled together into one “offensive tackle” category, which means talented pass-protectors like the Saints’ Ryan Ramczyk are left out altogether. Ramczyk routinely shuts down the league’s best sack artists, but he was overlooked by three left tackles — each of them deserving of their spots, no doubt.
One of the players Ramczyk erased twice this year, Shaquil Barrett, was voted into the Pro Bowl over Saints linebacker Demario Davis. That’s a problem because they play two very different positions, but are treated the same by the ballot’s bad design. Davis is a true outside linebacker who spends his Sundays dropping back into coverage and patrolling the middle of the field; Barrett is a hand-in-the-dirt pass rusher, and his prolific numbers put him ahead of Davis.
Just how poorly designed is the Pro Bowl ballot? Taysom Hill wasn’t even an option, and he’s been one of the NFL’s most electrifying talents this year. The do-it-all quarterback has lined up at fullback, tight end, slot receiver, and filled in on a plethora of special teams roles, scoring six combined touchdowns along the way. But the NFL didn’t even make him eligible for fans to vote into the all-star game, which is a travesty.
Sure, there were other snubs. But they speak more to poor decisions by the voting public than the problems written into the NFL’s ballot. Saints punter Thomas Morstead was overlooked for Washington Redskins specialist Tress Way. Morstead has landed a career-best 51% of his punts inside the opposing 20-yard line this year (25 of 49), whereas Way did so on just 37% of his punts (26 of 70). He’s also committed just one touchback all season, while Way has seen three of his punts roll into the end zone. Somehow, voters chose to reward Way for punting often rather than punting well. Shameful.
Free safeties Budda Baker and Eddie Jackson were each voted into the Pro Bowl, but they’ve combined for one (1) interception and ten pass breakups between the two of them. Compare that to Marcus Williams, who leads the Saints with four interceptions, a number that also leads all safeties in the NFC. He’s credited with 14 total passes defensed on the year so far, too. Whether voters are letting Williams’ mistakes in big moments cloud their judgment or are voting based off of name recognition doesn’t matter; they got this wrong.
Then again, this isn’t the end-all, be-all. Several Saints are likely on the list of alternates to fill in for players who are either injured or uninterested in playing in the Pro Bowl, which will open the door for those snubbed to get some time in the limelight. Don’t be shocked if some of these Saints players who have battled injuries — like left tackle Terron Armstead — choose to sit out and rest up during the offseason.
But as far as that goes, you can ask any of them: they’d rather spend the week in Orlando preparing for this exhibition game getting ready to compete in Super Bowl LIV. At the end of the day, these honorifics are nice to have, but there’s a higher level yet to climb.
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