Pro Bowl

[Warren]

Reserves:
RB Arian Foster
CB Jonathan Joseph

Alternates:
WR Andre Johnson
TE Owen Daniels
C Chris Myers
OT Duane Brown
DE Antonio Smith
DE JJ Watt
ILB Brian Cushing
OLB Connor Barwin
KR Jacoby Jones

IMO, Myers and Cushing really got snubbed. Barwin's stats are very comparable to the OLBs who made it so it's really hard to say that any of them should have made it over the others.

By the way, Barwin is now second on the Texans' all-time sack list with 16 for his career. The fact that a guy who has really played for only two seasons (and has only had one standout year) is so high on that list speaks volumes about the franchise's struggles to find a pass rush.

[WMH]

The probowl is such bullshit, I don't even pay attention to it anymore.

[Nconroe]

Congratulations to the pro-bowlers and alternates. All well deserved.

The game itself is just for fun, but being voted to probowl is a nice recognition of a good year.

Not sure how they can do a all-star game?

[chuck]

Originally Posted by Warren

The fact that a guy who has really played for only two seasons (and has only had one standout year) is so high on that list speaks volumes about the franchise's struggles to find a pass rush.

It's mind-boggling, isn't it?

On the other hand Watt appears to be a monster. There are stretches where I begin to think that he may already be the best player on the Texans. I would certainly argue that no one with the possible exception of Cushing has more impact per play than he does.

[WMH]

Originally Posted by Nconroe

Not sure how they can do a all-star game?

Take the fan vote out for one. Too many "names" make it year after year due to previous success, despite whether or not they are deserving.

[nunusguy]

Originally Posted by Warren

Reserves:
RB Arian Foster
CB Jonathan Joseph

Alternates:
WR Andre Johnson
C Chris Myers
OT Duane Brown
DE Antonio Smith
DE JJ Watt
ILB Brian Cushing
OLB Connor Barwin
KR Jacoby Jones

I will say one thing about this list of Texans players, it's our best players and the ones most deserving of PB selection. For example it would have been a joke and a real injustice if Winston and not Brown was named to the PB list, even just a list of alternates.
To me the most impressive and encouraging thing about our team for the future is that group of young players on this list that forms the nucleus of our defense: Jonathan Joseph-Cushing-Barwin-Watt.

[WMH]

As much love as we have for Dre, him even being an alternate on this list shows how jacked up the process is. He's missed what 9 or 10 games this year?

Oh well. Whatever.

Just win.

[HPF Bob]

What shards of credibility the Pro Bowl might have had were lost when they moved it up ahead of the Super Bowl which will exclude any Pro Bowlers whose teams play in the Super Bowl.

Other than Foster, our headliners were all injured so there was no momentum for Schaub or Mario and, really, there should have been none for AJ.

But I take comfort in all the young defensive players in the front seven who haven't become stars yet but may have been the biggest single advancement this season. If they keep it up, Watt, Barwin and Reed can be in Pro Bowls someday and Cushing will return. I hope to see some drafted Pro Bowlers in our secondary someday too.

I'm a little surprised Owen Daniels didn't get any love but then it is hard to look good compared to the Patriots TEs.

[Nconroe]

If we ever win a playoff game or nationally televised game more guys will get voted to probowl in future. Maybe those will start happening more next year.

Anyways, it is the recognition , not the game here guys are after and deserve. Scheduling and location are an issue when guys might get hurt so easily.

[nunusguy]

Originally Posted by WMH

As much love as we have for Dre, him even being an alternate on this list shows how jacked up the process is. He's missed what 9 or 10 games this year?

Good point with a good example.

[Nconroe]

Yes, but this happens in all sports all-star voting where vote is before midseason.

I guess you could have vote after season and game during next preason, just as an idea.

[Joshua]

No real surprise. It's a popularity/reputation contest. As a result, most players don't make it the first year they should and it is their second or third year that they are rewarded. Conversely, most players continue to make it a couple years after they shouldn't. If these guys are the real deal, they'll be on the team in the next couple of years and these snubs will hopefully be made up for by them being voted to pro bowl teams 10 years from now when they have no business being on them.

[Warren]

Originally Posted by HPF Bob

I'm a little surprised Owen Daniels didn't get any love but then it is hard to look good compared to the Patriots TEs.

OD is an alternate -- I accidentally left him off. I'll edit the post above.

[Nconroe]

Chris Meyers and Antonio Smith are going to Pro Bowl now.

Wonder if any more guys will end up getting recognition they earned.

And then Coach Kubiak got recognized as AFC coach of the year.

Looking forward to several more good years.

[nunusguy]

Originally Posted by Nconroe

Chris Meyers and Antonio Smith are going to Pro Bowl now.

Wonder if any more guys will end up getting recognition they earned.

And then Coach Kubiak got recognized as AFC coach of the year.

Looking forward to several more good years.

If the Ravens win tomorrow, it means Suggs and Lewis with have plans other than the PB and Barwin & Cushing might be at the head of the line to replace them ? However I don't expect the Ravens to win tomorrows game.
And congrats to Myers and Smith. These guys are 2 vets both around 30 who might not have many more chances to make the trip to Honolulu, so
pretty cool that they get to play in this game.

[Nconroe]

Since Texans coaching staff earned their vacation coaching AFC squad, wonder if this will lead to a FA signing or two.

[chuck]

I don't remember previous games being this disgustingly limp. Am I deluded or is this year's contest especially bad?

[HPF Bob]

Chuck, as Goodell continues to legislate all the violence out of the game, I wonder if the level of contact we see at the Pro Bowl could eventually be what all NFL games will look like.

[chuck]

Originally Posted by HPF Bob

Chuck, as Goodell continues to legislate all the violence out of the game, I wonder if the level of contact we see at the Pro Bowl could eventually be what all NFL games will look like.

That is a sobering, terrifying point.

You know, I have seen, heard and read quite a bit about the plight of many former NFL players and their health problems related to the many concussions they suffered. It is no joke, at all. I am completely in favor of various measures designed to minimize and hopefully eventually eliminate this serious problem. I would hope that eventually equipment advancements would bring us most of the distance towards the goal. It is important and it should be pursued with every available resource.

But year by year the game gets more and more frustrating to watch. There is a clear difference between someone deliberately hitting the head of another player and incidental head to head contact. One should be penalized, the other should not. And the idiotic protection of quarterbacks at all costs is a real blight on the game.

I guess I'm getting more an more possessive about the NFL as my other professional sports options fall by the wayside one by one.

[edo783]

Chuck, this is one of the limper ProBowls that I can remember. They have NEVER been an all out game, but most have been more towards preseason levels. This is just an exhibition game at best.