2011 Pro Bowl Roster Selections

The 2011 Pro Bowl roster selections are out, and while there are a plenty of familiar faces in the mix, there are quite a few newbies in the bunch this season. The Pro Bowl is going back to Honolulu this year, and the game will be played a week before the Super Bowl. Here’s a couple of quick observations on the 2011 Pro Bowl roster selections:

• Four rookies made the Pro Bowl this year (pictured above), and all of them deserved the recognition. Lions DT Ndamukong Suh leads all interior lineman with 9 sacks this season. He’ll start for the NFC. Steelers center Maurkice Pouncey has been a strong, stabilizing force for an offensive line that’s been uncharacteristically shaky the past couple seasons. Plus, he’s got a great name for an O-lineman. Pats CB Devin McCourty’s racked up six picks, two forced fumbles and 81 tackles for a super-young defense in New England, proving again that the Pats know how to find draft gems at the bottom of the first round. Titans kick returner Marc Mariani amassed 1411 yards and one score on 56 kickoff returns this year. He also added 322 yards and a score on 25 punt returns.

• The QB selections shouldn’t surprise anyone. The AFC’s picks include Brady, Manning and Rivers. Vick, Ryan and Brees will represent the AFC. Solid groups for both squads. Vick and Brady were neck-in-neck as consensus MVP picks before the Eagles fell flat against the Vikings in last night’s Tuesday Night Football upset. Brady should lock up his second MVP award without much debate.

• Lots of newcomers made the Pro Bowl this year. The NFC is sending seven first-time selections to the Pro Bowl. The AFC is sending 14 fresh faces.

• Texans WR Andre Johnson likely won’t play in the Pro Bowl. I think Steelers receiver Mike Wallace should get some consideration when the league looks to fill that spot.

• The Pro Bowl just isn’t big enough to include every awesome player in the league. Notable snubs this year include guys like Aaron Rodgers (101.9 QB rating, 3693 passing yards) and Matt Cassel (27 TDs to 5 INTs), Chris Johnson (1325 yards, 11 TDs), Peyton Hillis (1164 yards, 11 TDs) and LeSean McCoy (over 1000 yards rushing,  leads all RBs with 78 catches for 592 yards), LaMarr Woodley (8.5 sacks, 3 forced fumbles and 2 INTs), Derrick Johnson (116 tackles, 4 forced fumbles) and Shaun Phillips (11 sacks). It’s hard to argue against the selections at QB, RB and LB for either squad though.

• Is DeAngelo Hall worthy of a trip to Honolulu? I know he’s got six interceptions, but it seems like the guy gets burned a bunch.

• Old timers like Packers CB Charles Woodson and OT Chad Clifton made the NFC squad on reputation this year.

• Tony Gonzalez has been ridiculous for years, but this season the future Hall of Fame tight end didn’t do a damn thing. We broke 100-yards just once (in Week 3), and he only had three weeks where he delivered double-digits fantasy points. He’s just not the same guy. Useful, sure, but no longer worthy of being named an elite, All-Star-type player.

Here’s the complete list:

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