Scum [Back] On Top: Part Forty-Five

 "Scum [Back] On Top"

 

2025 National Football League Pro Bowl

The National Football League Pro Bowl began to go downhill at roughly the same time as fan voting was implemented (counting as a third percentage alongside those of the coaches' and the players' votes, each also a third). With the rise of the internets, that impact became more pronounced and the results more dubious. Around two decades ago, the disparity led me to annually post at this blog a "Non-Pro Bowl-Selected All-Pros" list of players who (I believed) were at least as, and often MORE deserving of being Pro Bowl starters. Not just in interests of "justice" (after all, it's only a game) but because players' salaries, bonuses, and especially their ultimate consideration as Hall of Fame candidates depend heavily on such accolades. The prime example I used, and the original inspiration for the listing, was an NFL broadcast with a graphic comparing the statistics of inside linebackers London Fletcher and Ray Lewis; over a certain period, their stats were remarkably similar (and a couple of Fletcher's slightly better), yet Fletcher had never been to a single Pro Bowl while Lewis was selected nearly every year of his career.

I used to try to explain my reasoning on the subject, but these days, why bother? A majority of our people have consistently demonstrated that they are impervious to reasoning, so any argument is just another somethin' that somebody says and it all counts the same anyway. But I will only post the players that I thought were most clearly deserving of being more than a 4th or 5th "Pro Bowl alternate."
 

NFC

Offense
RB: Kyren Williams, LA Rams
WR: Mike Evans, TB Buccaneers; Darnell Mooney, Atlanta Falcons
OT: Brian O'Neill, Minnesota Vikings
OG: Kevin Zeitler, Detroit Lions

Defense
DT: Kobie Turner, LA Rams
DE: Leonard Williams, Seattle Seahawks
CB: Alontae Taylor, NO Saints; Michael Jackson, Carolina Panthers

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AFC

Offense
WR: Courtland Sutton, Denver Broncos
TE: Jonnu Smith, Miami Dolphins
OT: Mike McGlinchey, Denver Broncos; Spencer Brown, Buffalo Bills
OG: Ben Powers, Denver Broncos; Quinn Meinerz, Denver Broncos
C: Luke Wattenberg, Denver Broncos

Defense
DT: Zach Sieler, Miami Dolphins
DE: Danielle Hunter, Houston Texans
LB: Kyle Van Noy, Baltimore Ravens; Robert Spillane, LV Raiders
S: Nick Cross, Indianapolis Colts

Return Specialist: Derius Davis, LA Chargers