We don’t really give two shits about the Pro Bowl and frankly, neither should you. If any Green Bay Packers are playing in it, it means the team won’t be in the Super Bowl.
That being said, the Packers were well represented on the NFC roster with seven players total and four starters. The starters are quarterback Aaron Rodgers, fullback John Kuhn, linebacker Clay Matthews and cornerback Charles Woodson. They’re joined by center Scott Wells, receiver Greg Jennings and defensive lineman B.J. Raji.
What’s curious is, despite the Packers having one of the worst defenses in the league, they still had three defensive players on the team. It’s hard to argue with Woodson’s selection, but neither Matthews or Raji is clear-cut Pro Bowler this season, particularly Raji.
If you’re looking for a snub, I’d suggest looking at White Lightning, Jordy Nelson. It would, however, be hard to replace Steve Smith or Jennings with Nelson.
As for the rest of the roster, only the San Francisco 49ers had more Pro Bowlers than the Packers, with eight. The New England Patriots matched that total on the AFC squad.
You can see the full rosters here.
I think that it is more of an “honor” for those players to be selected to the Pro Bowl. However, I am with you in not wanting to see any of them play in the game, since I would rather see them play the following week for a Super Bowl title.
I also agree that Jordy Nelson may have been a snub since he isn’t even a first-team alternate.
Rhetorical question: If the packers are the “deepest and most talented team in the league” how come we don’t have the most pro bowlers?
Can only guess that because the Packers are the best “TEAM” it means that they cannot have the most individual stars. Who knows, hence why it’s rhetorical.
By the way, really like the screen name, even if the guy was from Shitcago.
While I commend the White Lightning nickname, I think the preferred nomenclature is “The Great White Hope”.
Here’s wishing they don’t get to go because of a prior commitment in Indianapolis…
Matthews has been a beast this year, despite the decreased sack numbers. He absolutely deserves to be in. Raji, not so much, but he got snubbed last year so we’ll call it even.
It’s vindication and a nod for a job well done for individual players to be named to the Pro Bowl. Though it is a bit of a popularity contest and to some degree players are grandfathered in even when they may not deserve it. The important thing about it is that it also helps the odds of a player becoming a future HOF, the more ‘Pro Bowls’ they tally over their career.
Side note – I was sad that London Fletcher did not make the Pro Bowl roster–but he might go anyway as an alternate when the Packers are in the Super Bowl (193 tackles, 2 sacks, 2 INTs and 3 forced fumbles).
Yeah, and Jordy deserved a nod as well…
Jordy is third in the league in TD receptions with 12. Not the NFC North, not the NFC – the league. He trails only Gronkowski and Megatron with 15 each.