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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.