Firstly, let me state right out of the gate, I am not a fan of the Pro Bowl. I think it’s purely a popularity contest, nothing more as always with any of these. I have accepted it now, but I can still grumble. And I can grumble loudly and repeatedly.

How 1 year has changed in the NFL though, the big one is the Vikings with deservedly received just 1 Pro Bowler in 2011, represented by Adrian Peterson. Last season they had 8 players in 2010 pro bowl.

Now that they play the Pro bowl before the Super Bowl, most players who made it don’t want to play in it. And, lets be real here, who really watches the Pro Bowl and cares? Or do we watch it, here and there, because it’s still some sort of football? Changing it to the week before the Super Bowl, definitely was a great move, without question. To fill that void while waiting for the game that means everything at the NFL level.

So, here are your 2011 Pro Bowl starters, and then who I think should have been in a position to play in this game, the all mighty snubs.

Starters for the AFC offense Tom Brady, New England Maurice Jones-Drew, Jacksonville Vonta Leach, Houston Andre Johnson, Houston Reggie Wayne, Indianapolis Antonio Gates, San Diego Joe Thomas, Cleveland Jake Long, Miami Kris Dielman, San Diego Logan Mankins, New England Nick Mangold, N.Y. Jets

The only real snubs, to me, were QB Matt Cassel deserved a spot, he didn’t have to throw as much as Manning, but he did have a better QB rating, less turnovers, and a better team record, if that counts for anything. RB Chris Johnson I think should be on instead of MJD, he was more explosive and scored more. Lastly, the Chiefs probably should have had another guy or 2 from their O-line representing; they conquered the NFL line of scrimmage.

Starters on AFC defense Dwight Freeney, Indianapolis Robert Mathis, Indianapolis Haloti Ngata, Baltimore Vince Wilfork, New England James Harrison, Pittsburgh Cameron Wake, Miami Ray Lewis, Baltimore Nnamdi Asomugha, Oakland Darrelle Revis, N.Y. Jets Ed Reed, Baltimore Troy Polamalu, Pittsburgh

On the defensive end, snubs to me were, underrated LB Paul Posluszny should have made it over Ray Lewis, CB Joe Haden over Revis, come on, he wasn’t really that great this year, he got in on name merit, and S Michael Griffin over Meriwether.

Starters on NFC offense Michael Vick, Philadelphia Michael Turner, Atlanta Ovie Mughelli, Atlanta Roddy White, Atlanta Calvin Johnson, Detroit Jason Witten, Dallas Jason Peters, Philadelphia Jordan Gross, Carolina Jahri Evans, New Orleans Chris Snee, N.Y. Giants Andre Gurode, Dallas

Snubs here were easy, with QB Aaron Rodgers absolutely making it over Ryan or Brees in my opinion. Let’s have some fun, how about Josh Freeman over Matt Ryan? Freeman had comparable yards, less talent around him, better yards per pass, less picks and a higher QB rating, let that alternative marinate for a bit.

Starters on NFC defense Julius Peppers, Chicago John Abraham, Atlanta Ndamukong Suh, Detroit Jay Ratliff, Dallas Clay Matthews, Green Bay DeMarcus Ware, Dallas Patrick Willis, San Francisco Asante Samuel, Philadelphia Charles Woodson, Green Bay Nick Collins, Green Bay Adrian Wilson, Arizona

On the other side of the ball, my snubs are less, only with NFL leading tackler Chad Greenway deserving some love over Lance Briggs.

Any way you slice it, the game will not be very entertaining, unless of course, James Harrison decides to play like it’s the regular season and cheap shot with helmet to helmet contact. And then of course, say he doesn’t care.
 

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