As the football world embarks on the highly-anticipated quarterback matchup between Tom Brady and Matt Ryan in Super Bowl 51, Orlando, Florida’s Camping World Stadium sets the stage for the 2017 Pro Bowl on tonight at 8 P.M. ET.
Returning to the contiguous United States after spending last year’s installment at the traditional Aloha Stadium site in Honolulu, Hawaii, the NFL All-Star game reverts back to its classic AFC vs. NFC format after utilizing the unconferenced structure the previous three seasons. This year marks the eighth consecutive season that the Pro Bowl occurs the week prior to the league’s big game.
With the New England Patriots and the Atlanta Falcons competing for the Vince Lombardi Trophy, a combined total of 10 Pro Bowlers will miss out on the superstar showcase, opening the door for a heightened number of well-deserving replacements.
As in every professional sports league’s All-Star contest, however, there will always be a handful of meritorious players who will unfortunately watch the action at home. To highlight these recognition-worthy contributors, Last Word On Sports presents its fourth annual edition of “Top 10 Pro Bowl Snubs.”
Top 10 Pro Bowl Snubs: 2016 Season Edition
- Jordy Nelson – Wide Receiver, Green Bay Packers
One of the biggest stories of the 2016 NFL season was the dominant second-half surge of the Green Bay Packers. Struggling mightily with a 4-6 record in late November, the team reeled off eight wins in a row to earn an NFC title game berth against the Atlanta Falcons. Though the season ended in defeat, many critics would consider the campaign a success, considering how it began. Most of the credit was awarded to quarterback Aaron Rodgers, but wideout Jordy Nelson deserved his fair share of love. After a slow start to his career, Nelson has established himself as one of the premier perimeter threats in football. Making his debut Pro Bowl appearance with 68 receptions, 1,263 yards and 15 touchdowns in 2011, he’s earned two more selections since (2013-2014). A torn ACL kept him out the entire 2015 season, and the Packers offensive struggles were well-documented in his absence. Statistically, Nelson returned to form by tallying 97 catches, 1,257 yards and 14 scores during the regular season. Despite being hindered by injury, he gained 67 yards and a touchdown on six grabs against the NFC champion Falcons, earning the respect of many spectators nationwide. His numbers far outweighed the outputs of contemporaries Dez Bryant and Larry Fitzgerald, who both got Pro Bowl nods over him. Hopefully for Green Bay’s sake, Nelson will enter 2017 as a fully-healthy playmaker.
- Michael Thomas – Wide Receiver, New Orleans Saints
During his illustrious 16-year career, Drew Brees has accumulated astronomical passing records, two Offensive Player of the Year awards, a Super Bowl MVP honor and an eventual home in Canton, Ohio. He has been able to achieve these feats without ever having a Pro Bowl wide receiver on his roster. Halfway through the season, it appeared as though rookie Michael Thomas was going to break that trend. Through the season’s opening nine weeks, Thomas led all rookies in receptions (47) and yards (573) while holding second place in touchdowns (five). Though his two-fumble debacle at home versus the Denver Broncos took some steam off of his stellar year, the Ohio State product finished strong. The 6’4’’ first-year pass-catcher concluded the campaign with 92 receptions for 1,137 yards and nine touchdowns, which statistically stacks up with Randy Moss (1998) and Odell Beckham Jr. (2014) as one of the greatest rookie seasons for a wide receiver in NFL history. Sadly for Thomas, those archival marks weren’t enough to get him to Orlando, even as an alternate. Like Jordy Nelson, Thomas was slighted by both Larry Fitzgerald and Dez Bryant. Though Fitzgerald and Bryant are elite receivers when at their respective bests, Thomas’ numbers far surpass the aforementioned stars. While the Saints pass-oriented offense makes it difficult for an individual wideout to stand out, this snubbing was almost unjustifiable.
- LeGarrette Blount – Running Back, New England Patriots
The Patriots are back in the Super Bowl, and Tom Brady definitely deserves his props for leading his troops to the main event once again. Although Brady has been the main key to every New England puzzle, every joint still does supply, and LeGarrette Blount supplied greatly. After leaving his checkered past behind him in college, Blount has established a respectable NFL career. At age 30, he reached career highs in rushing attempts (299), yards (1,161) and touchdowns (18). The 18 touchdowns led all rushers in 2016. His efforts in the backfield guided the Pats to the seventh-best running game in football. While two of the AFC Pro Bowl team’s running backs compete in the AFC East division (Buffalo’s LeSean McCoy and Miami’s Jay Ajayi), neither of them had more attempts and touchdowns than Blount. If Blount wins his second Super Bowl with the Patriots, this All-Star dismissal will probably be forgiven.
- Joey Bosa – Defensive End, San Diego Chargers
Along with “American football defensive end,” Wikipedia should add “globetrotter” to Joey Bosa’s list of occupations. Once August rolls around, he will have starred in three different cities: Columbus, San Diego, and Los Angeles. Wherever the setting is, Bosa will show up to perform. Perhaps the biggest name from that loaded Buckeye 2016 draft class, Bosa was a significant boost to an ailing Chargers pass rush, posting 10.5 of San Diego’s 35 sacks as a unit (good for 14th in the league). This was a drastic increase from their 2015 showing that was only good for 24th overall. What’s more impressive is that Bosa achieved this double-digit takedown mark in only 11 starts. This is the second season in a row that a Charger defender has made the LWOS Pro Bowl Snub list. Something has to give for these productive players out West, and hopefully the change of scenery will assist them.
- Danielle Hunter – Defensive End, Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings were one of the success stories early in the 2016 season, beginning the campaign 5-0. Considering they accomplished this start without Teddy Bridgewater and Adrian Peterson made it all the more impressive. While quarterback Sam Bradford was a steady contributor, the Vikings defense was the main force behind their competitiveness. Boasting the number-three corps in the NFL, Minnesota had Pro Bowlers at each defensive level. Everson Griffen, Linval Joseph, Anthony Barr, Xavier Rhodes, Harrison Smith and even special teams contributor Cordarrelle Patterson will represent the Vikes in the Pro Bowl, but Danielle Hunter should be joining his teammates. The second-year edge rusher from LSU tallied 12.5 sacks in 2016. Like Bosa, Hunter didn’t start all 16 games; in fact, he didn’t start any games. Spending his second season as a situational player, he made the most of his limited opportunities. Though he did not participate full-time, Hunter was statistically better than his Pro Bowl teammate Anthony Barr, who didn’t quite play at his 2015 Pro Bowl form, even while starting all 16 games.
- Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie – Cornerback, New York Giants
The New York Giants had the worst defense in the NFL in 2015. Despite being competitive in so many of their contests that year, the defensive bunch couldn’t seem to close the games. When the 2016 league year began, New York spent over $200 million to help overhaul that side of the ball. Free agent signees Olivier Vernon, Janoris Jenkins and Damon Harrison and draft selection Eli Apple were brought in to solidify the beleaguered group, and they delivered. Safety Landon Collins was awarded the All-Pro season, but Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie should’ve gotten praiseworthy acknowledgment. The nine-year veteran tied his career high in interceptions (six) for the vastly-improved Giants. His dominance on his side of the field was instrumental in everything the New York defense enjoyed in 2016. Yes, wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. is the star of the city, but the defense is the main reason why the Giants clinched their Wild Card playoff berth.
- Deion Jones – Linebacker, Atlanta Falcons
On an Atlanta Falcons defense that is built on speed, Deion Jones fits the mold. Opening eyes during with his 40-yard dash at his Pro Day, he carried that explosion throughout his rookie season. His coming-out party was a Monday Night showdown against the New Orleans Saints in the Superdome where he compiled eight tackles and a pick-six that iced the game. He finished 2016 with 108 tackles, 11 pass deflections and three interceptions (two returned for scores) in 13 starts. Teammate Vic Beasley got the Pro Bowl nod after leading the league with 15.5 sacks, but Jones also played his role.
- Kyle Rudolph – Tight End, Minnesota Vikings
After missing time in two of the last three seasons, Kyle Rudolph returned to his 2012 Pro Bowl form by totaling 83 catches for 840 yards and seven touchdowns. What was shameful about this snubbing was that Rudolph placed top five at his position in receptions, yards and scores. Jimmy Graham is indeed a big name player, but Kyle Rudolph was more worthy of the tight end alternate slot.
- Michael Crabtree – Wide Receiver, Oakland Raiders
Getting off to a slow start to his professional career, Michael Crabtree has enjoyed a renaissance with the Oakland Raiders. The Silver and Black had a dream season in 2016, going 12-4 and making the postseason for the first time since 2002, thanks to their top-tier offense. Derek Carr, Amari Cooper, and the offensive line made the headlines, leaving Crabtree as a background story. He reached a career-high 89 grabs for 1,003 yards and eight scores. Though his stat line isn’t as staggering as others, he did have more receptions and touchdowns than Pro Bowl teammate Amari Cooper.
- Jacksonville Jaguars Defense
This tenth spot is similar to the “joint selection” our site had for our debut snubs list from 2013. This calendar year will make it 10 seasons since the Jacksonville Jaguars made the playoffs. Swimming in the pool of mediocrity the past decade, their fanbase has had very little to cheer about. Even when they’ve shown progress on one side of the ball, the other side hasn’t picked up their weight. The Jags offense put forth a stellar season in 2015 while the defense silently finished as the NFL’s number-six defense in 2016 (number five against the pass). It was splitting hairs on who to put on this list between linebacker Paul Posluszny and safety Johnathan Cyprien, considering they both finished top seven at their respective positions according to Pro Football Focus. If this franchise can put it all together on both sides consistently, they’ll be a force within the AFC.
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