More Chiefs Could Land In The Pro Bowl

by Joel Thorman on Dec 28, 2011 10:01 AM CST

The 2012 Pro Bowl is the topic of the day with the rosters being released on Tuesday night. I rounded up a few things to remember about the Kansas City Chiefs and the Pro Bowl. Check it out:

If you haven't heard by now, the Chiefs have two Pro Bowlers -- Tamba Hali and Derrick Johnson. And I don't think they had any snubs (including Brandon Flowers). There was no other Chief that had a resume so good throughout the entire season that you couldn't ignore. That's the result of an up-and-down season like the Chiefs had.

More Chiefs could be sent to the Pro Bowl. With the Pro Bowl coming on January 29th the Super Bowl teams won't have their players in the game, which means we're going to see a number of alternates still to come. If, for example, the 49ers and Patriots made the Super Bowl, there would be 16 total replacement spots available. Plus you have whatever veterans decline to play in the game or players who are injured. Last year, Hali was voted as a Super Bowl alternate, and eventually they needed him, but he declined due to personal/injury reasons (and declining that offer means he is not recognized as a Pro Bowler for that year).

Former Chiefs in the Pro Bowl. Let's see here...Tony Gonzalez (Atlanta Falcons), Brian Waters (New England Patriots), Jared Allen (Minnesota Vikings) and Jason Babin (Philadelphia Eagles). The Chiefs released Waters just before training camp and I remember telling some New England reporters when the trade went down that Waters still had some left in the gas tank. Some didn't believe me then but I bet they do now. I'm sure being on a truly great team helps motivate Waters. Makes you wonder if he'll play again next year.

Matthew Stafford among the biggest snubs on offense. At least when compare him to who did get in. Eli Manning was the third QB on the NFC side but Stafford had 10 more touchdown passes, two less interceptions and a higher QB rating. Does the Lions QB have a legit beef?

49ers linebackers among biggest snubs on defense. Not included on the Pro Bowl roster are LB NaVorro Bowman and LB Aldon Smith. Bowman edged out the Chiefs' DJ Peter King's midseason All-Pro list and Smith is fifth in the NFL in sacks. The problem, as it usually is when talking about snubs, is figuring out who to take out. Both are excellent players and merited a spot on the roster.

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So will there be a double standard around here?

I mean Cassel (I do not want him as a starting quarterback) got in because he was an alternate, but to a lot of fans around here he was not a legitimate pro bowler. Just wondering if the same will hold true to Flowers, or any other Chiefs player that could be an alternate as well.

by kcgiant06 on Dec 28, 2011 10:09 AM CST reply actions

I think people fail to recognize him as a legitimate Pro Bowler because he isn't good enough more than anything else

He had good numbers last year because we played against the worst division in football and had an offense designed around his weaknesses.

It’s kind of a moot point since the Pro Bowl is such a joke now, but a Pro Bowl QB should be the cornerstone of an offense, someone who hides the weaknesses of the players around him, not someone who needs an OC and a RB to hide his own weaknesses.

Todd Haley lost 7 of his last 15 games by 20 or more points. It was time for him to go.

by joplin chiefs fan on Dec 28, 2011 10:15 AM CST up reply actions 2 recs

I respect the fact that the League's Best Backup (tm) was able to make it to the Pro Bowl at all, even on Bowe, Charles, and Moeaki's backs.

I really think Cassel needs to trademark that, by the way—“League’s Best Backup™”. Or someone in the front office needs to do it for him. A little branding and a little salesmanship might turn his ass into the 3rd round pick, or a 5th rounder with a developmental player :)

(Just so it’s clear, lol, I’m all for keeping Kyle Orton for the next two years and drafting the best damn QB we can draft this year. Some folks miss that for some reason).

"I’ve got to play well enough," he said, "so we can make it to the playoffs."
--Kyle Orton

by go_saleaumua on Dec 28, 2011 10:24 AM CST up reply actions

I'm currently designing a T-shirt that reads:

“Matt Cassel is the most overpaid college QB in NFL history! Oh, wait?”

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He is your friend, your partner, your defender, your dog. You are his life, his love, his leader. He will be yours, faithful and true, to the last beat of his heart. You owe it to him to be worthy of such devotion.
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Still trying to outsmart me, aren't you, mule-skinner. You want me to think that you don't want me to go down there, but the subtle truth is you really *don't* want me to go down there!

by LocoLoboChico on Dec 28, 2011 1:36 PM CST up reply actions

I'd wear it.

"I’ve got to play well enough," he said, "so we can make it to the playoffs."
--Kyle Orton

by go_saleaumua on Dec 28, 2011 1:53 PM CST up reply actions

yeah, someone mentioned this in an earlier post ... oh wait, that was YOU! :-)

With the Pro Bowl coming on January 29th the Super Bowl teams won’t have their players in the game, which means we’re going to see a number of alternates still to come.

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by upamtn on Dec 28, 2011 10:13 AM CST reply actions

Eli getting in over Stafford

It’s all about that East Coast bias right there

Men succeed when they realize that their failures are the preparation for their victories.

by KingChief on Dec 28, 2011 10:20 AM CST reply actions

Stafford did get screwed, no questions. But Eli has had an awesome year--let's not tear him down there.

The Giants O-line has been as bad in pass protection as ours this season, really inconsistent.

There are just too many QB’s having boffo years in the NFC this year….part of me wishes the Pro Bowl would allow for the best players, period, to be let in for seasons like this.

I’d rather see Eli than Phyllis Rivers this year, that’s for sure.

"I’ve got to play well enough," he said, "so we can make it to the playoffs."
--Kyle Orton

by go_saleaumua on Dec 28, 2011 10:27 AM CST up reply actions

Did Rivers really get voted to the Pro Bowl???

I haven’t seen the list, but I’m guessing you’re talking about last season cuz there is NO WAY he deserves a spot this year. Brady, Dalton, Ben, Flacco, Hell even Moore and Fitzpatrick deserve a spot before him. (Notice how I didn’t mention Tebow). There were some pretty piss poor AFC QBs this year but I didn’t realize it was THIS BAD

by Chiefs08Matt on Dec 28, 2011 12:06 PM CST via mobile up reply actions

That is blasphemy and you will be smitten

(Notice how I didn’t mention Tebow)

Men succeed when they realize that their failures are the preparation for their victories.

by KingChief on Dec 28, 2011 12:10 PM CST up reply actions

Yes he did...Brady, Big Ben, and Phyllis.

"I’ve got to play well enough," he said, "so we can make it to the playoffs."
--Kyle Orton

by go_saleaumua on Dec 28, 2011 12:40 PM CST up reply actions

Suh didnt get in either though

Playoffs are a REAL possibility in 2010...just need few tweeks here and there.

by KCinAZ on Dec 28, 2011 10:59 AM CST up reply actions

I think he hurt himself

by stomping on people and getting the dirty player label

Men succeed when they realize that their failures are the preparation for their victories.

by KingChief on Dec 28, 2011 11:03 AM CST up reply actions

So fans, players and coaches all have an east coast bias?

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by Tarkus on Dec 28, 2011 11:19 AM CST up reply actions

Here I thought it might've been because of the 4th most passing yards in the league with no running game bias.

"Give them nothing! But take from them everything!"

by GenericBrand on Dec 28, 2011 11:48 AM CST up reply actions

Waters.

Who cares that he made the Pro-Bowl? This should in no way validate or invalidate the move they made to cut him. We all know the Pro-Bowl, and specifically how they choose linemen, is a joke. There’s no way he’s one of the two best guards in the AFC, and even if he was, he’s too old to be in KC’s long-term plan anyway. Did they make a mistake by releasing him instead of Lilja? Maybe. But it’s not a huge one.

by polodude017 on Dec 28, 2011 10:39 AM CST reply actions 4 recs

I can't disagree with that,

i can’t even say he even deserves to be in the pro bowl this year for New England. But i’m very certain we missed his leadership on the line this year. All the miscues, the penalties, the up and down season we had i can’t help but think Waters would have been a big help this year.

by tenacious rdc on Dec 28, 2011 12:37 PM CST up reply actions

Pro Bowl

The Pro Bowl has turn into a media driven contest, It seems the same players, every year, whether their good or not. I think the Pro Bowl should be played two weeks after the Super Bowl, so the Super Bowl players will be able to particpate. It would also give us one last football fix till next season.

by Digital on Dec 28, 2011 11:14 AM CST reply actions