ESPN Mosley: NFC East Pro Bowl Analysis

[WoodysGirl]

Dec 29
7:45
PM ET

By Matt Mosley


Perfect sense: I'm glad that the voters rewarded DeSean Jackson for a huge season. He's the first player in Pro Bowl history to be elected as a kick returner and wide receiver in the same season. Pretty remarkable stuff. Obviously, Cowboys outside linebacker DeMarcus Ware needed to be the starter. His numbers might be a little down, but he's still the most dynamic pass-rusher in the league and coaches and players realize that. It's also hard to argue with Eagles cornerback Asante Samuel as a starter. He's once again putting up huge numbers in terms of interceptions and quarterbacks always have to account for him. It's great that Eagles defensive end Trent Cole and Commanders linebacker Brian Orakpo made the team. Cole's one of the most underappreciated players in the league. And I'm really glad the players and coaches recognized Orakpo's excellent rookie season. Both of those players are reserves. I also don't have any problem with Eagles fullback Leonard Weaver being named a starter. I'm sure some Vikings fans are upset with that pick, but Weaver's put up excellent numbers both catching and running the ball. I think David Akers totally deserves to go for the Eagles. He had an excellent season and he continues to be a clutch kicker.


2009 Pro Bowlers: NFC East

Dallas CowboysC Andre Gurode*
LB DeMarcus Ware*
WR Miles Austin
RG Leonard Davis
DT Jay Ratliff
TE Jason Witten
New York GiantsC Shaun O'Hara
Philadelphia EaglesWR DeSean Jackson*
CB Asante Samuel*
FB Leonard Weaver*
DE Trent ColeWashington CommandersLB Brian Orakpo


Made it on rep: Cowboys center Andre Gurode should not be starting in the Pro Bowl, and I think he'd even tell you that. This has not been one of his better seasons, so this was totally based on reputation. I think players and coaches get the offensive linemen wrong more than any other unit on the field. I also think Cowboys right guard Leonard Davis made it as a reserve based on reputation, and the same thing goes for Eagles left tackle Jason Peters. I think Giants center Shaun O'Hara's a good player, but there's no way he deserves a spot on the Pro Bowl roster over Chris Snee. I'm hoping I missed something because Snee deserves the spot on the team over O'Hara.

Got robbed: Shame on the fans for not putting Cowboys nose tackle Jay Ratliff higher on their list. The last time I checked, he wasn't even in the top five in the fan voting. The coaches and the players made sure he at least made it as a reserve. I understand putting Kevin Williams as a starter, but give me a break on Darnell Dockett. I think that's ridiculous. For the Eagles, I think cornerback Sheldon Brown and tight end Brent Celek should have been on the team. They're both alternates, but that doesn't cut it. Brown has played through injuries and been excellent this season. Celek simply had to overcome too many big names. Vernon Davis had an excellent season for the 49ers and Witten finished strong for the Cowboys. I could make an argument that Celek should've made it in front of Witten. Just look at the huge discrepancy in touchdowns. And I would've put Donovan McNabb or Tony Romo in front of Aaron Rodgers at quarterback. Rodgers put up a lot of empty numbers in the first half of the season and he takes entirely too many sacks. That's a bad choice by the coaches and players. Romo and McNabb were at their best in December. I also hoped that coaches and player would right a longtime wrong and put London Fletcher in the Pro Bowl. It didn't happen. I guess the guy will never get voted in. That's too bad. He had an excellent season. Same goes for Andre Carter. He had 134 tackles, which was second in the league. One more guy that was robbed: Giants wide receiver Steve Smith. He should have at least been a reserve.

 

[bayeslife]

Yes, there seems to be this huge illusion that Celek is even on the same wavelength as Witten, I don't understand. He is eons better than Celek.

 

[burmafrd]

mosely is fixated on TDs. Davis got a lot because SF did not have many other threats. Big difference with Dallas. But what do you expect from just another hack?

 

[pugilist]

couldn't agree more on Dockett over Ratliff

homer or not, that is despicable

 

[Nav22]

Another snub: Mike Jenkins.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

Yes, there seems to be this huge illusion that Celek is even on the same wavelength as Witten, I don't understand. He is eons better than Celek.

Mosley is huge "buddies" with Celek. He hung out with the guy after one of Philly's games recently and Mosley came back talking about it like a little girl talking about Hannah Montana.

Ever since, Celek has been a great player.

 

[ThreeSportStar80]

Oh well.. Jenkins will make it next year, he'll be extra motivated this upcoming game!

 

[BAT]

I don't like that Gurode and Davis made it in. These 2 guys are inconsistent as it is and I don't want them comfortable or big headed AT ALL. I wanted them angry and feeling slighted THEN taking it out on the Eagles and every other team they face in the playoffs.

Bigg, especially, needs to play with a TON more rage.

 

[gimmesix]

Made it on rep: Cowboys center Andre Gurode should not be starting in the Pro Bowl, and I think he'd even tell you that. This has not been one of his better seasons, so this was totally based on reputation.

I think Gurode is one of the most underappreciated players on our team. He's one of the few centers in the league who does not need double-team help, and rarely does he allow teams to collapse the pocket. He holds his ground and gets a push up front for the running game.

Just because his game's not perfect doesn't mean he isn't among the best centers in the league, because there aren't any that don't have some flaws. I think the players recognize this and that's why he ends up as a Pro Bowl starter.

 

[Idgit]

Seems like Mosely doesn't want any OL in the probowl, doesn't it?

I care next to nothing about probowls, but Celek v. Witten is an absurd case to make.

 

[AbeBeta]

mosely is fixated on TDs. Davis got a lot because SF did not have many other threats. Big difference with Dallas. But what do you expect from just another hack?

No other threats? Frank Gore? Crabtree (he ONLY missed 5 games). Josh Morgan having a nice year as well.

Davis would have put up monster #s playing for a decent QB.

 

[big dog cowboy]

Meh. Every year there is a "Perfect sense" and "Made it on rep" and "Got robbed" list from some writer. It is just one persons opinion. The Pro Bowl is basically still a popularity contest anyway so what is the big deal?

 

[AdamJT13]

Maybe Mosley plays fantasy football but doesn't actually watch games or know what he's watching. Witten leads NFC tight ends in catches and yards, he's second in catch percentage (barely behind Jermichael Finley, who has 37 fewer catches), and he's one of the best blocking tight ends in the league (Pro Football Focus ranks him easily No. 1 and ranks Celek 54th as a blocker). In the red zone, we often keep him in to block instead of having him go out for a pass (and rarely throw to him in the red zone, even when he's wide open in the corner of the end zone and waving his arm above his head).

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

Mosley is huge "buddies" with Celek. He hung out with the guy after one of Philly's games recently and Mosley came back talking about it like a little girl talking about Hannah Montana.

Ever since, Celek has been a great player.

Mosley is huge buddies with every team in the NFC East but the Cowboys it seems. Which is a bit ironic since he works in Dallas.

 

[BAT]

No other threats? Frank Gore? Crabtree (he ONLY missed 5 games). Josh Morgan having a nice year as well.

Davis would have put up monster #s playing for a decent QB.

Vernon Davis drops too many passes, otherwise his numbers would indeed be monstrous, but that is his fault moreso than the QBs.

 

[RainMan]

Maybe Mosley plays fantasy football but doesn't actually watch games or know what he's watching. Witten leads NFC tight ends in catches and yards, he's second in catch percentage (barely behind Jermichael Finley, who has 37 fewer catches), and he's one of the best blocking tight ends in the league (Pro Football Focus ranks him easily No. 1 and ranks Celek 54th as a blocker). In the red zone, we often keep him in to block instead of having him go out for a pass (and rarely throw to him in the red zone, even when he's wide open in the corner of the end zone and waving his arm above his head).

So you're saying you think Celek is better?

 

[Cowboysfan570]

Meh. Every year there is a "Perfect sense" and "Made it on rep" and "Got robbed" list from some writer. It is just one persons opinion. The Pro Bowl is basically still a popularity contest anyway so what is the big deal?

Tony Romo did get snubbed, at least last year you could say, "Hey he missed some games and didn't play that well in the last month."

What the hell do you say this year? Donovan McNabb and he aren't even on the same level this time around. He has more TDs than McNabb, fewer fumbles than Rodgers or McNabb, all of 27 yards fewer than Rodgers on one more attempt against far better competition than Rodgers had to face.

Oh and he has 18 less sacks and 186 fewer sack yards.

Load of crap is what it is.

 

[AbeBeta]

Vernon Davis drops too many passes, otherwise his numbers would indeed be monstrous, but that is his fault moreso than the QBs.

I see Davis every week. He is a pro bowl player. Not his fault that there are a couple others who also deserve the honor

 

[RainMan]

Tony Romo did get snubbed, at least last year you could say, "Hey he missed some games and didn't play that well in the last month."

What the hell do you say this year? Donovan McNabb and he aren't even on the same level this time around. He has more TDs than McNabb, fewer fumbles than Rodgers or McNabb, all of 27 yards fewer than Rodgers on one more attempt against far better competition than Rodgers had to face.

Oh and he has 18 less sacks and 186 fewer sack yards.

Load of crap is what it is.

Nah, I don't mind Romo not being included. I absolutely think he's having a "Pro Bowl year." The only problem is that so are four, if not more, others in the NFC. It works out that way sometimes. Look at all the years Dallas Clark didn't make the Pro Bowl, or Gonzalez missing out this year, etc.

Had Rodgers' team missed the playoffs, I'd have a major beef. But given their record is essentially identical to ours and his stats are generally better, I have no problem with him making it.

It does nothing to alter my view of Romo. Which is that he is an elite, top-of-the-line quarterback who has put together another Pro Bowl-caliber season.

 

[BAT]

Nah, I don't mind Romo not being included. I absolutely think he's having a "Pro Bowl year." The only problem is that so are four, if not more, others in the NFC. It works out that way sometimes. Look at all the years Dallas Clark didn't make the Pro Bowl, or Gonzalez missing out this year, etc.

Had Rodgers' team missed the playoffs, I'd have a major beef. But given their record is essentially identical to ours and his stats are generally better, I have no problem with him making it.

It does nothing to alter my view of Romo. Which is that he is an elite, top-of-the-line quarterback who has put together another Pro Bowl-caliber season.

But do you believe that Eli Manning should be the pro bowl alternate OVER Romo? That is just plumb crazy.