Pro Bowl update
Fan voting for the Pro Bowl continues through Dec. 11 on NFL.com, and here is a look at the top AFC vote-getters at each position (including Patriots in the top 5):
Center
1) Jeff Saturday (Colts) -- 289,087
2) Dan Koppen (Patriots) -- 264,757
Cornerback
1) Champ Bailey (Broncos) -- 317,742
2) Asante Samuel (Patriots) -- 239,948
Defensive end
1) Dwight Freeney (Colts) -- 326,753
2) Jarvis Green (Patriots) -- 155,940
Interior defensive tackle
1) Albert Hayensworth (Titans) -- 187,091
2) Vince Wilfork (Patriots) -- 185,171
5) Ty Warren (Patriots) -- 114,909
Free safety
1) Ed Reed (Ravens) -- 202,809
4) Eugene Wilson (Patriots) -- 68,314
Fullbacks
1) Lorenzo Neal (Chargers) -- 340,064
Guards
1) Eric Steinbach (Browns) -- 360,862
3) Logan Mankins (Patriots) -- 191,327
4) Stephen Neal (Patriots) -- 177,850
Inside linebackers
1) Tedy Bruschi (Patriots) -- 217,487
Kick returners
1) Wes Welker (Patriots) -- 112,216
Kickers
1) Adam Vinatieri (Colts) -- 122,875
3) Stephen Gostkowski (Patriots) -- 101,019
Outside linebackers
1) Shawne Merriman (Chargers) -- 252,320
2) Mike Vrabel (Patriots) -- 247,536
3) Rosevelt Colvin (Patriots) -- 177,054
Punters
1) Chris Hanson (Patriots) -- 95,386
Quarterbacks
1) Tom Brady (Patriots) -- 776,475
2) Peyton Manning (Colts) -- 740,302
Running backs
1) Joseph Addai (Colts) -- 537,110
Special teams
1) Larry Izzo (Patriots) -- 190,823
Strong safety
1) Troy Polamalu (Steelers) -- 234,965
3) James Sanders (Patriots) -- 55,063
Offensive tackles
1) Matt Light (Patriots) -- 327,022
2) Nick Kaczur (Patriots) -- 187,958
Tight ends
1) Antonio Gates (Chargers) -- 351,240
Wide receivers
1) Randy Moss (Patriots) -- 606,238
5) Wes Welker (Patriots) -- 256,277
NOTE: Pro Bowlers are selected by a combination of fan voting, coaches voting and players voting. Each counts for one-third of the process.
Who would have voted for Eugene Wilson and Chris Hanson to go to the pro bowl? Wilson lost his starting job a while back and was a healthy scratch the last game. And Chris Hanson... Well, you have seen him punt.
Is Chris Hanson eligible?
I agree thats respect from the fans and I love it but some of those names really shouldn't be on the list at all never mind top five. some of the names its great to recognition even if its just us fans. Wilson's been a healthy scratch for 2 games in a row.
Hanson is so good at punting, teams let the Patriots get first downs just to avoid getting punted to by Hanson.
I love Teddy as much as the next guy, but the leading vote getter in the AFC.... HuH ?
The fan voting for the pro bowl is so stupid. First of all, half the teams play 3-4s that make the designations for defensive line inapplicable. Second, people vote based on what a player did two years ago, not this year. Third, popular teams with rabid fan bases always end up with more and undeserving players.
I'm not sure I like it less than media-vote things like MVP. I'd rather they just ask each head coach and each GM/top personnel guy (or their designated scouts) to vote, and use those.
And I also think they should permit names to be submitted under a 3-4 defense.
Who would have believed that so many Pats fans took the time to vote numerous times for hometown players. Pats have never had more than a couple of representatives to the Pro Bowl in the past. But it's also nice to see the TEAM recognition even though many of the players don't deserve Pro Bowl status... Chris Hansen, Eugene Wilson, Stephen Gostkowski, (love him, but ) Tedy Bruschi ... Having a vote is fun for fans but thankfully the league has given most of the power to those most qualified ... the coaches and players. And notice that the media has been left out of the voting! 1/3 fans, 1/3 players, 1/3 coaches.
Too bad we can't vote for coaches.
Did I see that right Merriman leading voting for outside-linebacker?? Didn't I see him get completley leved by the diminutive rb jones drew? He is a shadow of the linebacker he was last year!!Hanson for punting?? Unless he reached the mark this past weekend he's not even eligible! Even Peyton Manning is a head scratcher this year(not a horrible year, but pro bowl? Come on folks the vote is for this season!! )And then there's Bruschi.........as much as I Iove him........well you what I'm saying The NFL should do away with fan voting altogether......as long as they don't give that 1/3 to the reporters!!
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