Now that we are about halfway through the regular season, it is time to start considering which players are deserving of the Pro Bowl. For this series, we will look at the three most deserving candidates for each team. Obviously, some teams will have more or less than three players selected to the Pro Bowl, but for simplicity purposes, we will discuss the top three either way.
TOP MIDSEASON CAROLINA PANTHERS PRO BOWL CANDIDATES
CAM NEWTON
As the surprise team of the 2015 NFL season, the Carolina Panthers are 9-0 with seven games remaining, and most of their success is because of their star quarterback. Already an impactful player the moment he was drafted in 2011, Cam Newton has established himself as a true leader for the Panthers franchise. His versatility in playmaking combined with performances in crucial situations have been the difference in this year’s Carolina bunch. Although the Panthers have made consecutive appearances in the NFC Divisional Playoff Round, critics claim that this season’s squad has a legitimate shot to play in the Super Bowl. Newton’s currently on pace to set career highs in both passing yards and passing touchdowns. His numbers may not scream “MVP honors,” but his production with a middle-of-the-road receiving corps helps propel his case as a worthy candidate.
JOSH NORMAN
Josh Norman made headlines in training camp for getting into a scuffle with signal-caller Cam Newton, causing a stir league-wide. It was reported that Norman had frustrated Newton after he intercepted two of his passes during the training session. To the football world’s surprise, Norman has frustrated more offensive players. In his fourth season, Norman has established himself as arguably the best cornerback in the league, leading the NFL with two interceptions returned for touchdowns. Currently with four picks and 14 passes defended, the 27-year-old is on pace for eight interceptions, 26 passes defended and two forced fumbles, which would easily be career-high marks. Silently having shutdown efforts in the second half of the 2014 season, he has been ranked as the number one cornerback by Pro Football Focus this year. Norman’s rapid ascent is similar to that of Seattle Seahawks’ cornerback Richard Sherman in 2013, whose tipped pass for an interception helped clinch the team’s Super Bowl berth. Without question a Defensive Player of the Year candidate, Norman has put offenses around the league on notice.
GREG OLSEN
With Cam Newton’s MVP possibilities and Josh Norman’s emergence being early-season eye-openers, Greg Olsen has remained Greg Olsen. The 30-year-old tight end has picked up right where he left off from his 2014 campaign, leading the team in every receiving category. Already a prime target for Cam Newton since his arrival in 2011, Olsen’s value further increased when second-year wideout Kelvin Benjamin tore his ACL in the preseason. The nine-year veteran is on pace for 74 receptions and career-high marks in both yards (1,168) and touchdowns (10). Overwhelmingly Carolina’s best receiving option, Olsen’s production will continuously be required.
With the overall team dominance this season, leaving some guys off this list was difficult. Luke Kuechly is the best linebacker in football–and his play has once again proved that–but his injury (missed time due to a concussion) kept him out of the top three. Kuechly’s running mate, Thomas Davis, is always consistent. Third-year defensive tackle Kawann Short has been outstanding this year with 35 tackles and six sacks; just on surprise factor alone, he could jump this linebacker corps for number four on this list.
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