Where AFC Southies stand in Pro Bowl balloting

Discussion in 'Tennessee Titans and NFL Talk' started by NewsGrabber, Nov 18, 2008.

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  1. NewsGrabber

    NewsGrabber Guest

    Posted by ESPN.com's Paul Kuharsky Led by the undefeated Tennessee Titans the AFC South is making a strong showing in fan balloting for the Pro Bowl. Fan voting at NFL.com continues until Dec. 9. It then counts as one-third of the overall ballot, which also includes player and coaches' votes.

    Here's a look at the division in the fan polls so far with appropriate context and a bit of commentary:

    Quarterback: 1) Brett Favre, 402,514; 2) Jay Cutler, 308,166; 3) Peyton Manning, 269,504.
    -- Manning is back to himself and coming off three very strong games. He could overtake Cutler and maybe even Favre.

    Running back: 1) Ronnie Brown, 284,794; 2) LaDainian Tomlinson, 263,584; 3) Chris Johnson, 240,049; 4) Marshawn Lynch, 154,637; 5) Maurice Jones-Drew, 147,703.
    -- An impressive showing for the Titans rookie runner. Like the Jaguars, Jones-Drew is off last year's pace.

    Wide receiver: 1) Brandon Marshall, 232,234; 2) Reggie Wayne, 223,583; 3) Andre Johnson, 198,106.
    -- Johnson's fallen off some since a spectacular October, while Wayne is the key cog for Indy's passing game.

    Fullback: 1) LeRon McClain, 95,554; 2) Ahmard Hall, 79,864; 3) Greg Jones, 48,220.
    -- Young guns making the charge. Hall is a big piece of the Titans seventh-rating rush attack. Jones is a good player unlikely to close the gap because of the Jags' troubles.

    Tight end: 1) Antonio Gates, 195,580; 2) Tony Gonzalez, 191,648, 3) Dallas Clark, 123,473.
    -- Heath Miller and Kellen Winslow round out the top five. Owen Daniels should be in the mix as he's second in the conference at his position in receptions with 45. The Titans had to choose one skill player to leave off the ballot, and it was Bo Scaife, who's just one catch behind Daniels.

    Center: 1) Jeff Saturday, 174,401; 2) Kevin Mawae, 173,988.
    -- A nice, close battle here. Saturday's value became even more apparent when he missed the first couple games.

    Guard: 1) Alan Faneca, 165,610; 2) Eugene Amano, 92,637; 3) Jake Scott, 86,100.
    -- Amano is a nice player, but how he's second and ahead of Scott may be the biggest question on this list.

    Tackle: 1) Jake Long, 108,943; 5) Michael Roos, 70,068.
    -- Roos is widely regarded by defensive ends and personnel people as a top young tackle, but he's behind Long, D'Brickashaw Ferguson, Matt Light and Joe Thomas. Light's line has yielded 33 sacks; Roos' six.

    Defensive end: 1) Mario Williams, 163,371; 2) Dwight Freeney, 152,659; 3) Kyle Vanden Bosch, 136,928; 4) Jevon Kearse, 116,498.
    -- The fans think the best edge rushers in the league are from this division and they are right. But Vanden Bosch has missed all but a bit of the last five games with a groin injury, which will cost him. Kearse has been a solid role player, but not a Pro Bowl caliber guy.

    Defensive tackle: 1) Albert Haynesworth, 206,925; 2) Casey Hampton, 86,352.
    -- The best player on the league's best team has a nice lead at his position, but is 100,000 votes out of the AFC's top 10 vote-getters.

    Outside linebacker: 1) Joey Porter, 151,463; 2) Keith Bulluck, 117,856.
    -- Bulluck's been playing without practicing because of a chest injury and could slip.

    Inside linebacker: 1) Ray Lewis, 168,566; 5) DeMeco Ryans, 41,536.
    -- Ryans has not been as good in his third season.

    Cornerback: 1) Champ Bailey, 153,765; 2) Cortland Finnegan, 105,251.
    -- Believe the hype. Finnegan is definitely worthy.

    Strong safety: 1) Troy Polamalu, 178,764; 2) Bob Sanders, 62,512; 3) Chris Hope, 42,651.
    --
    Sanders has missed six games with injury this season, and that should be enough to keep him out of a Pro Bowl spot no matter how he does when he's in. Hope is leading an excellent secondary and has four picks.

    Free safety: 1) Ed Reed, 133,666; 2) Michael Griffin, 59,803; 5) Antoine Bethea, 25,867.
    -- Another young Titan making a splashy showing. Griffin is among the AFC leaders with four picks. Bethea has been versatile, playing nickelback against three-wide sets recently.

    Kicker: 1) Rob Bironas, 69,269; 2) Adam Vinatieri, 57,153.
    -- Bironas is tied for fourth in scoring for AFC kickers and has only three misses, but a case can be made for Stephen Gostkowski (AFC's second-best percentage and second-most touchbacks) and Phil Dawson ahead of him, and neither is in the top five. Vinatieri has only tried 14 field goals and is there mostly off name recognition.

    Punter: 1) Shane Lechler, 51,832; 2) Craig Hentrich, 48,175.
    -- Lechler booms them but his net should be better considering. Hentrich doesn't have great numbers, but consistently helps the conferences' best team get good field position.



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  2. Eddyc85

    Eddyc85 Go Bucks!

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    Interesting. But poor Nnamdi he gets no love, screw Bailey he's missed too many games. I wanted Nnamdi over Woolfork so I've sorta followed his career in Oakland and he might be the best CB in the NFL, only 9 passes thrown at him all year.
     
    • High Five High Five x 1
  3. vslyke

    vslyke In Dinger We Trust

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    He did have Hall across form him, so why bother?
     
  4. onetontitan

    onetontitan Marioto

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    LT over CJ? CJ has more yards and has contributed more....I think the probowl is more about names than it is ability
     
  5. Deuce Wayne

    Deuce Wayne NOW Y'ALL GET THE MESSICH?!

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    True. Best CB in the league. But...it's a popularity contest. If we weren't undefeated, guys like Finnegan would definitely get the shaft.
     
  6. Eddyc85

    Eddyc85 Go Bucks!

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    Pro Bowl is def a popularity contest. LT is having his worst season since his rookie year and Thomas Jones is having maybe his best year ever (on a better team) and he's getting no love.
     
  7. Laserjock

    Laserjock South Endzone Rocks! Staff

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    Exactly...LT is having a crap season and he is getting voted over CJ and some others that probably should be ahead of him. If he goes to the Pro-Bowl it just goes to show its not about the play but about how many commercials you have.
     
  8. titans4life10

    titans4life10 Camp Fodder

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    You gotta remember w/ the Probowl being in Hawaii, the NFL wants to make sure that its big name players are there so fans buy tickets....I mean regardless of LT's stats, can you imagine the AFC representing w/ a rb core of CJ, Jones, and Brown?? WHAT no LT??? Its blasphemy not to have him there.....

    Like how could you have Sanders over Hope? Bailey over Aso? Its all bout having that household name....atleast Bulluck is finally getting a nod....<<<<--------and I hope people realise thats only because Vilma and Zack Thomas are now in the NFC.
     
  9. PitBull

    PitBull Bred to Brawl

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    Jevon Kearse? :suspect:
     
  10. PitBull

    PitBull Bred to Brawl

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    gotta love Albert Haynesworth's 120,000 vote lead.
     
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