The Packers might have deserved five Pro Bowlers, but two of the five who made it were the wrong players at their positions.
On the offensive line, give left tackle Chad Clifton all the credit for his comeback from a balky knee that got him benched against Buffalo in Week 2. At that point it looked like Cliftons distinguished 11-year career was about finished, except for maybe as a backup.
But no. He recovered to provide some solid pass blocking over the next couple months. At age 34 he faded as the season wound down, but still, considering where he was at Week 2, not bad overall.
But a Pro Bowler? No way. Now, dont blame Clifton, he didnt vote himself in, but he wasnt close to one of the three best tackles in the NFC. If someone on the Packers offensive line was to make it, it should have been guard Josh Sitton, ahead of the New York Giants Chris Snee.
At cornerback, Charles Woodson was selected for his seventh Pro Bowl. At age 34 hes a critical piece of the Packers defense, where playing the slot in the nickel hes a threat to rush or cover and a courageous tackler in the run game. Hes still making big plays (five forced fumbles, a sack and an interception this year).
But Woodsons pure cover ability is slipping, and Tramon Williams was the teams best cornerback this season. Not that interceptions are the only measure, but Williams is tied for second-most in the NFC with six. The two other cornerbacks voted in were Philadelphias Asante Samuel, who leads the NFC with seven interceptions, and Washingtons DeAngelo Hall, who along with Williams and Tampa Bays Aqib Talib has six. Williams, a first alternate, deserved the nod over his famous teammate.
Those choices reveal the flaw that annually marks the Pro Bowl, namely, that the people best qualified to vote, the pro scouts who watch film of all the teams all season, dont have votes. The fans get a third of the vote, the players get a third, and the coaches a third. The fans voted Clifton the NFCs top tackle and Woodson its top cornerback. Obviously that name recognition worked with players and coaches too, because Sitton led the guards in fan voting but was chosen only as an alternate.
All the other Packers-related choices at least were justifiable, though not necessarily correct: outside linebacker Clay Matthews, receiver Greg Jennings and safety Nick Collins made it, quarterback Aaron Rodgers and nose tackle B.J. Raji didnt.
Matthews, a starter, was a no-brainer. Hes tied for second in the NFC in sacks (12), is the best player on the leagues second-ranked scoring defense, and is a strong candidate for defensive player of the year.
Jennings made it at a tough position along with Atlantas Roddy White, Detroits Calvin Johnson and Philadelphias DeSean Jackson. White was easy he leads the NFC in receptions (109) and yards (1,327). Johnson is No. 8 in catches, No. 3 in yards (1,120) and tied with Jennings for No. 1 in touchdowns (12). Jackson has only 45 catches but might be the most dangerous receiver in the game, as evidenced by his off-the-charts 22.8-yard average per catch. Jennings, though tied for 10th in catches (72), is second in yards (1,168) and has those 12 touchdowns.
Left out was Arizonas Larry Fitzgerald, whos probably the best all-around receiver in the NFC. Considering the Cardinals horrendous quarterback play, his production No. 8 in yards and tied for No. 6 in catches might be the most impressive of the bunch. He could have made it ahead of Johnson or Jennings, but its hardly an injustice he didnt.
Collins, a starter, made it for the third season in a row, and though he hasnt made as many big plays as the last two seasons, hes still as good as any safety in the NFC. He had 13 interceptions in 2008 and 09 combined, but had only two when the players and coaches voted last week. The NFCs other safeties are Arizonas Adrian Wilson and the New York Giants Antrel Rolle.
Rodgers snub was a surprise but at least defensible because of the quality at his position. The quarterbacks chosen ahead of him were Philadelphias Michael Vick, the NFCs highest-rated passer (103.6 points) and possible challenger to New Englands Tom Brady for league MVP; Atlantas Matt Ryan, the best player on the team with the NFCs best record who has led his team to six wins when the Falcons trailed in the fourth quarter, including four times leading the winning score in the last two minutes or overtime; and New Orleans Drew Brees, the best player on a team going for its second straight Super Bowl win.
Rodgers, a first alternate, was at least as good a candidate as Ryan and Brees. His passer rating when the players and coaches voted last week was second-best in the NFC (98.5 points), behind only Vick and better than Brees (93.5) and Ryan (90.5). Ryan had thrown 16 more touchdowns than interceptions going into last week, compared to Rodgers 13 and Brees 12. Any two of those three could have joined Vick on the NFC team.
Raji, another alternate, played well enough over the second half of the season to win a spot, but hes a second-year pro who didnt have the name recognition.
Detroit rookie Ndamukong Suh is the NFCs best defensive tackle his nine sacks, which is tops among all defensive tackles in the league, accurately reflects the impact he has on games. San Franciscos Justin Smith, an interior lineman as a 3-4 defensive end, probably deserved his spot too. But Dallas Jay Ratfliff (3 sacks) was not the playmaker hed been the past few years and made it as the third defensive tackle on name alone. Raji (6 sacks), Arizonas Darnell Dockett (4 sacks), Atlantas Jonathan Babineaux (three sacks) and New Orleans Sedrick Ellis (six sacks) were more deserving.
Press-Gazette wrote: