The Biggest Pro Bowl Snub of All Time?

[AMERICAS_FAN]

Originally Posted by percyhoward

Again, if the timing of the voting was an issue, why is it that 39 of the 40 times that WR have had similar numbers at the time of the voting they either made the Pro Bowl or were only passed over in favor of players with better numbers?

Fan balloting closed Dec. 17. League-wide voting of coaches and players took place Dec. 20. At that time, Dez and Brandon Marshall were the only NFC WR with at least 75 receptions, 1,000 yards and 10 TD. They were the only two NFC wide receivers who ranked in the top 5 in catches, yards, and TD.

Marshall and five others were voted to the Pro Bowl (or as alternates) ahead of Bryant.

Because you conveniently left out the other part of my post where I said that Dez mane enough negative plays that left impressions - negatively - in people's minds.

Everyone needs to stop acting like all that matters is how many plays a player makes, when in reality NOT making bad plays that hurt your team and winning matters just as much - if not more in critical moments of games.

[HoosierCowboy]

going to the Pro Bowl has become a joke and the game is horrible. i will not watch and will not miss it. And, yes, Dez should be in any NFL all-star game, he had a great year.

[Avery]

The Pro Bowl is as big of a joke as the NBA All-Star game. At least in the NFL, you don't have to be injured all year and still be elected as a starter. See Tracy McGrady, Yao Ming, Steve Francis, etc.

Fitzgerald getting in was a terrible decision. I think they simply felt bad for him.

[Risen Star]

Originally Posted by AMERICAS_FAN

Because you conveniently left out the other part of my post where I said that Dez mane enough negative plays that left impressions - negatively - in people's minds.

Everyone needs to stop acting like all that matters is how many plays a player makes, when in reality NOT making bad plays that hurt your team and winning matters just as much - if not more in critical moments of games.

I didn't realize Dez had so many negative plays that stuck in people's minds.

I think you're reaching. He easily had one of the 5 best seasons from any WR this year.

[Risen Star]

Originally Posted by Avery

The Pro Bowl is as big of a joke as the NBA All-Star game. At least in the NFL, you don't have to be injured all year and still be elected as a starter. See Tracy McGrady, Yao Ming, Steve Francis, etc.

Fitzgerald getting in was a terrible decision. I think they simply felt bad for him.

Fitzgerald was just force of habit. Great WR. Didn't have a pro bowl year.

[percyhoward]

Originally Posted by SkinsandTerps

When did the fans start voting ?

Are you even serious with that response ?

You're overestimating the power of that 1/3 vote. Every year, there are multiple cases of players who win the fan vote and do not make the Pro Bowl (Remember the Ryan Plackemier campaign?), just as there are players whom fans don't even vote into the top 5 (thanks AdamJT13 for the info) who end up starting.

Coaches and players on each team vote for only the top 4 WR in their conference. In all likelihood, Bryant was snubbed by NFC coaches and players who didn't believe he was even one of the top 4 receivers.

But you know what, you can forget all of that, just go back over the last 17 seasons that fan voting has existed, and you still won't find a receiver who was in the top 5 in his conference in receptions, yards, and TD at the close of the voting who was passed over in favor of five players who were not.

[percyhoward]

Originally Posted by AMERICAS_FAN

You conveniently left out where I said Dez made enough negative plays that left impressions - negatively - in people's minds.

I didn't mean to give you the impression that I was ignoring your point. Dez had fewer negative plays than most of the NFC's Pro Bowl receivers.

Drops
CJohnson 14
Marshall 13
Cruz 12
Bryant 11
Jones 7

INT on Targets
Marshall 7
Cruz 6
CJohnson 5
Jones 3
Bryant 2

[phildominator]

I'd say LaDanian Tomlinson in 2003 was a bigger snub.

[percyhoward]

Originally Posted by phildominator

I'd say LaDanian Tomlinson in 2003 was a bigger snub.

They're both right up there, but I think Dez's was bigger. Tomlinson was leading the NFL in yards from scrimmage when the voting closed that year, but he finished 4th in the balloting (making him 1st alternate), and all three players ahead of him had more rushing yards and rushing TD than he did.

There were at least six WR in the NFC who got more votes than Dez, of which only three had more yards, only two had more catches, and none had more touchdowns.

Rank in rec/yds/td at close of voting
Marshall 1st/2nd/2nd
Bryant 3rd/5th/2nd
CJohnson 2nd/1st/13th
Cruz 3rd/8th/4th
Jones 8th/6th/4th
Jackson 11th/3rd/6th
Fitzgerald 14th/20th/20th