2010 Pro Bowl Rosters Announced

With the rosters released, there are a few surprises swirling around the NFL.

Main Surprises:

1. No Cincinnati Bengals players
2. Ben Graham (P- AZ) did not make the team
3. Kurt Warner (QB- AZ) did not make the team
4. Matt Schaub (QB- HOU) did not make the team

Cincinnati is having one of the best seasons they’ve had in a long time. They are heading to the playoffs and all of the team is in sync. Quarterback Carson Palmer is having a great year along with receiver Chad Ochocinco.

Ben Graham, the punter for the Arizona Cardinals, is one of the best in the league. Sports Illustrated ranked him the second best punter in the NFL, first in the NFC. He averages 47 yards/punt and places 47.6% of his punts inside the opponents 20-yard line.

Kurt Warner and Matt Schaub are both having great years. Both of their star receivers are in the Pro Bowl (L. Fitzgerald, A. Johnson) and are brining their teams to their best records of all time. Houston has a chance of making the playoffs for the first time and boast their best record of 8-7 with their final game being against New England. Both could have been the 3rd quarterback for both conferences. Aaron Rodgers is the 3rd quarterback for the NFC and Tom Brady is the 3rd QB for the AFC.

Standout Selections:

All of these players are having amazing years. Drew Brees (NO) and Peyton Manning (IND) almost brought their teams to undefeated seasons. Here are some standouts, in my opinion. The ‘*’ means that the player is a reserve

AFC:

Defense

• Ray Lewis – BAL – 10th selection
• James Harrison – PIT – 3rd selection
• Dwight Freeny – IND – 2nd selection
• Ed Reed – BAL – 6th  selection
• Brian Dawkins – DEN – 8th selection
• Champ Bailey – DEN – 9th selection *
• Mario Williams – HOU – 2nd selection *

Offense

• Peyton Manning – IND – 10th selection
• Reggie Wayne – IND – 4th selection
• Andre Johnson – HOU – 2nd selection
• Chris Johnson – TEN – 2nd selection
• Jake Long – MIA – 2nd selection
• Phillip Rivers – SD – 2nd selection *
• Tom Brady – NE – 5th selection *
• Maurice Jones-Drew – JAC – 1st selection *

NFC:

Defense

• Darnell Dockett – AZ – 2nd selection
• Darren Sharper – NO – 4th selection
• Jared Allen – MIN – 3rd selection
• Demarcus Ware – DAL – 4th selection
• Adrian Wilson – AZ – 3rd selection
• Jonathan Vilma – NO – 2nd selection *
• Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie – AZ – 1st selection *

Offense

• Larry Fitzgerald – AZ – 4th selection
• Desean Jackson – PHI – 1st selection (Jackson is first player ever to go to the Pro Bowl for Offense and Special Teams)
• Vernon Davis – SF – 1st selection
• Adrian Peterson – MIN – 3rd selection
• Drew Brees – NO – 4th selection
• Brett Favre – MIN – 11th selection (most all-time for QB) *
• Aaron Rodgers – GB – 1st selection *

Those are the main players who stood out to me. I may do full rosters and/or individual spotlights as the game comes closer. For the first time since 1979, the game will not be held in Hawai’i. It will be played in Miami the week before Super Bowl XLIV.