It's far too early to be talking about the Pro Bowl, but, in its infinite wisdom, the NFL has started collecting votes while many players still have 10 games to play.
Is the Pro Bowl mostly a pointless exercise? Yes. But ten years from now, when players areba nominated for the Hall of Fame, the number of Pro Bowls will be a key differentiator — and that is important.
And so, as guardians of the game, the brave men who eschew normal lives to track every player on every play in every game, feel we have to do something — namely, give our cheat sheet of most deserving players.
Anyone can tell you Peyton Manning should go, but how about Josh Sitton, Matt Roth, Zach Miller or Fred Robbins? Here's our list of offensive and defensive players, which you should feel free to print out, stick down your sock, and bring out in the NFL exam almost everyone finds tricky.
On the off chance a random solar flare may decimate communications at some stage in the coming weeks and you feel you won't be able to hang on until you've seen as much as possible, we'll also update this feature on a weekly basis. If you have any questions as to why certain players aren't included then please add these to the comments section below and we'll answer as many as possible.
AFC
(* indicates starter)
Wide Receivers
Brandon Lloyd (Den)*, Reggie Wayne (Ind)* and Andre Johnson (Hou)
Lloyd has exploded from nowhere to rack up 709 yards at an average of 20.3 yards/rec. while not dropping a catch. Wayne remains as probably the most consistent WR around and in spite of his injury Johnson just continues to perform and win games.
Worthy of consideration
Anquan Boldin (Bal), Brandon Marshall (Mia) and Malcom Floyd (SD)
Tackles
LT — Jake Long (Mia)*, RT — Damien Woody (NYJ)* and D‘Brickashaw Ferguson (NYJ)
With Joe Thomas miles from his best, Long is now the premier O-lineman at any position. Woody is run blocking superbly while his teammate Ferguson continues to improve his game and may have the best combination of skills around.
Worthy of consideration
Marshall Yanda (Bal) — another position change has slowed him down again but he's now finding his feet at RT
Guards
LG – Wade Smith (Hou)*, RG – Stephen Neal (NE)* and Bobbie Williams (Cin)
Major Kudos to Ben Stockwell, who highlighted every single one of these players as his premier FA guards in 2010. They're all playing extremely well and justifying the faith of those who signed them.
Worthy of consideration
Kris Dielman (SD) and Ryan Lilja (KC)
Centers
Matt Birk (Bal)*, Chris Myers (Hou) and Jeff Saturday (Ind)
How the Vikings would love Birk back in their fold right now. Myers loses the starting role to him because of pass blocking and Saturday is incredibly working his way back to his best form after a couple of years of solid, if not Saturday-like, play.
Worthy of consideration
These three are current locks but who would bet against Nick Mangold (NYJ) getting back in the mix?
Tight Ends
Zach Miller (Oak)*, Anthony Fasano (Mia) and Antonio Gates (SD)
At long last Miller has put it together and is the best all-around TE in the NFL at the moment. Fasano is a key component in the Dolphins' running game while, for those who like their blocking “light,” Gates remains the best pass-catcher by some distance.
Worthy of consideration
Tony Moeaki (KC) is finding his feet and his last three games have shown huge promise.
Quarterbacks
Peyton Manning (Ind)*, Philip Rivers (SD) and Kyle Orton (Den)
Putting Manning in here is almost a habit but he is the best there's ever been, so why not? Rivers keeps finding ways to keep the Chargers in games that others conspire to lose and we'll throw Orton a mulligan on the Oakland debacle.
Worthy of consideration
Joe Flacco (Bal) and Tom Brady (NE) are close to Orton but the long-held idea that somehow Brady and Manning are 1a and 1b seems absurd at the moment.
Halfbacks
Jamaal Charles (KC)*, Peyton Hillis (Cle) and Joseph Addai (Ind)
We nailed our colors to Charles' mast a long time ago and no underuse by the Chiefs is going to sway our view he's the best around — well, not just yet anyway. Hillis started the year as the third-down back but after realizing he was running over everyone, they let him start and the Saints (among others) just couldn't get him off the field. Finally, if some people think the Colts can't run the ball, Mr. Addai begs to differ and he also does a pretty good job of keeping Manning clean too.
Worthy of consideration
Three substandard performances in the last four weeks keeps Arian Foster (Hou) on the bench, while simply banging Chris Johnson (Ten) into the brick wall his O-line creates doesn't float our collective boat. Should we forget the “Disaster in the Desert” for Darren McFadden (Oak) against Arizona? The vote came back no.
Fullbacks
Vonta Leach (Hou)*, Greg Jones (Jac) and Marcel Reece (Oak)
Why the Pro Bowl Ballot makes you pick three players is beyond our wildest comprehension. We struggled beyond two.
Worthy of consideration
We're going to add Corey McIntyre (Buf), but only to prove we know more than three fullbacks in the AFC.
Defensive Ends
Terrell Suggs (Bal)*, Mario Williams (Hou)* and Dwight Freeney (Ind)
Choosing Suggs as our starting DE was easy; he's always played the run superbly but now he's getting to the QB as well. Despite the fact he plays the majority of snaps with his hand on the ground and has dropped in coverage only 35 times, picking him as one of your DEs will be much tougher. The ballot sheet lists him as a LB.
Worthy of consideration
For those who see Freeney's play as one-dimensional this year (possibly us next week), you should look no further than the Jason Babin (Ten), who is doing a stellar job against both pass and run.
Defensive Tackles
Jason Jones (Ten)*, Haloti Ngata (Bal)* and Kyle Williams (Buf)
Jones has always had the ability to get to the quarterback but now he's playing the run as well as anyone. Ngata has suffered from overhype because he has the ability to do things others can't. Now he's really performing (although he has spent no an inconsiderable amount of time at DE). How Williams can play as well as he does with the wreckage around him in Buffalo is a question for the ages.
Worthy of consideration
If you're a rabid Raiders fan, high on a 59-14 victory, Richard Seymour wouldn't be too much of a stretch.
Outside Linebackers
Tamba Hali (KC)*, Matt Roth (Cle)* and Cameron Wake (Mia)
OK, so he's not doing an exactly bang-up job against the run, but seven sacks, seven hits and 29 hurries will buy Hali more than a little leeway. If only the Dolphins had listened to us. We were apoplectic when they let Roth go for nothing, and here he is burning it up in Ohio. We know they didn't like his attitude but how would you like to be kept on the bench for a player like Joey Porter? Imagine Roth on one side and the hugely talented Wake on the other.
Worthy of consideration
James Harrison (Pit) and his bookend Lamarr Woodley (Pit) will always be close.
Inside Linebackers
Ray Lewis (Bal)*, Bart Scott (NYJ)* and Lawrence Timmons (Pit)
Lewis is still the best coverage linebacker available while Scott's kamikaze attacks on opposing blockers are his forte. Timmons may not have that level of skill in either area but he is perhaps the best blitzer of the three.
Worthy of consideration
For those Charger fans in need of some consolation, Kevin Burnett is playing very well.
Cornerbacks
Brandon Flowers (KC)*, Champ Bailey (Den)* and Alterraun Verner (Ten)
I may try to dig out the numbers later but my bet would be Flowers is playing even better than Darrelle Revis at this stage last year. Bailey is always good and his run support is a bonus, while Verner is losing votes due to not being on the NFL ballot.
Worthy of consideration
Nnamdi Asomugha (Oak) will never get you laughed at but if you can't bring yourself to vote for him you have to go a long way down the list, past Perrish Cox (Den) — who's not on the ballot (although, incredibly Derek Cox is) — to Quentin Jammer (SD).
Strong Safeties
Chris Hope (Ten)*, Yeremiah Bell (Mia) and Troy Polamalu (Pit)
It was when the NFL ballot split the safeties (strong and free) and asked you to pick three of each that I almost lost the will to live. So we have chosen only three cornerbacks and twice as many safeties! Who comes up with this crap? Anyway, in an effort to help all our readers, (and despite some rather dubious designations) we came up with the names above.
Worthy of consideration
If you can bring yourself to call Renaldo Hill (Den) a strong safety, he's a decent choice for a guy who spends the majority of his time playing Cover 1.
Free Safeties
Michael Huff (Oak)*, Eric Weddle (SD) and Michael Griffin (Ten)
The good news here is at least we had no problem with the designations. Huff often starts the season well and then fades and Weddle has being getting better with experience. Griffin had a horrible year in 2009 but appears to have bounced back.
Worthy of consideration
We suggest you stick with these three.
NFC
(* indicates starter)
Wide Receivers
Roddy White (Atl)*, Santana Moss (Was)* and Hakeem Nicks (NYG)
White has reduced his drops and increased his production to turn good to great. Moss started hot but has faded so the Redskins may need to reduce his snap count from 94 percent of offensive plays. Nicks' eight TDs lead the league and he's a solid blocker — but drops (five already) may become an issue.
Worthy of consideration
In truth, no one else is close to these three just at the moment.
Tackles
LT — Bryant McKinnie (Min)*, RT — Kareem McKenzie (NYG)* and Tyson Clabo (Atl)
There are currently better right tackles, but McKinnie is probably the best in the NFC playing left. McKenzie is crushing run defenders to the point he can't be ignored but needs to improve his pass protection a little. Clabo's struggle against Kenyon Coleman in Cleveland was his only aberration.
Worthy of consideration
Jeff Backus (Det) may come through to challenge McKinnie shortly.
Guards
LG — Carl Nicks (NO)*, RG — Josh Sitton (GB)* and Harvey Dahl (Atl)
Nicks and Sitton were two of the easiest picks to make in this article; both are at the top of their games and also consistent. Dahl is finally justifying some of the hype previously based more on his aggression than actual performance.
Worthy of consideration
Rich Seubert (NYG)
Centers
Todd McClure (Atl)*, Ryan Kalil (Car) and Scott Wells (GB)
McClure is a consummate professional who does everything well and Kalil has probably the most talent outside of Nick Mangold. Wells needs to shore up his pass blocking (a sack, three hits and five hurries) if he wants to maintain this position.
Worthy of consideration
Jonathan Goodwin (NO) and Olin Kreutz (Chi) are both better pass-protectors than Wells.
Tight Ends
Jason Witten (Dal)*, Vernon Davis (SF) and Kevin Boss (NYG)
Witten has been for many years the standard against which all TE's (or those who wish to block, at least) should be measured. Davis, if the Carolina game is anything to go by, is still having consistency issues, but has improved. Boss is quietly imposing himself after his return from concussion.
Worthy of consideration
Anyone beyond these three is simply a “fan” vote.
Quarterbacks
Aaron Rodgers (GB)*, Matt Ryan (Atl) and Eli Manning (NYG)
Rodgers was poor on SNF last week, but prior to that he's been golden. Ryan looks to be getting into his stride and may overtake him, while Manning needs to stop taking every other week off.
Worthy of consideration
Tony Romo (Dal) would have challenged Rodgers as a starter but with his recent injury we've taken the liberty of removing him from contention.
Halfbacks
Ahmad Bradshaw (NYG)*, Adrian Peterson (Min) and LeSean McCoy (Phi)
The AFC was tricky, but the play of the gentlemen above made this a much easier call. Only McCoy's name was questioned, but when you consider his receiving and pass blocking, the picture became clear.
Worthy of consideration
Ryan Torain (Was) is running tough but any Redskins fans considering their new “star” will be disappointed — he's not on the ballot.
Fullbacks
Korey Hall (GB)*, Ovie Mughelli (Atl) and Bear Pascoe (NYG)
While Hall and Mughelli are certainly worthy of your consideration, the fact that Pascoe makes this list after about 70 snaps at the position since Madison Hedgecock's injury shows the absurdity picking three fullbacks.
Worthy of consideration
Oh, Please!
Defensive Ends
Trent Cole (Phi)*, Julius Peppers (Chi)* and Chris Clemons (Sea)
We prefer all our DEs to play the run, and all these guys have managed that this year as well as causing headaches for multiple QBs. The starters in particular are holding their edge and Cole has 26 stops — more than all bar seven inside linebackers.
Worthy of consideration
If you are looking purely for a pass-rusher you may want to consider John Abraham (Atl), but we think his run defense is too far off the pace just now.
Defensive Tackles
Fred Robbins (Stl)*, Barry Cofield (NYG)* and Kevin Williams (Min)
Seven months after we wrote them both off following poor seasons in 2009, the ex-Giants starting tandem are reunited as our Pro Bowl starters. Yes, we are embarrassed for believing one bad year was the end — something we'll never do with Williams, as he's never been anything other than superb for as long as we can remember.
Worthy of consideration
Chris Canty (NYG) is playing well and also keep an eye on Antonio Dixon (Phi) — he has the makings of a serious run-stuffer.
Outside Linebackers
Clay Matthews (GB)*, DeMarcus Ware (Dal)* and Chad Greenway (Min)
Matthews IS the pass rush in Green Bay, and Ware may be the best player in the league. Greenway was superb in 2008, struggled last year and seems back to his best in 2010.
Worthy of consideration
Given Lofa Tatupu's clear inability to cover anyone, it seems an even more egregious error to take off the superb David Hawthorne (Sea) on passing downs. The fact that Tatupu is joined by Will Herring in the nickel just makes things surreal — he's currently rating a “perfect” 158.3 in coverage.
While we feel for Hawthorne, we couldn't legitimately consider a two-down backer for our squad.
Inside Linebackers
Desmond Bishop (GB)*, Brian Urlacher (Chi)* and James Laurinaitis (Stl)
We've never been sure what the Packers saw in A.J. Hawk to keep Bishop on the bench, and maybe now they aren't either. Urlacher has tailed off a bit, particularly as a run defender, but he still warrants inclusion. Laurinaitis is another guy now living up to premature hype.
Worthy of consideration
Dan Connor (Car) can't get past our no-two-down-linebacker rule but if you don't have one, he's a good choice. Patrick Willis (SF) is close and it's hard to think he won't be included by the year's end.
Cornerbacks
Antoine Winfield (Min)*, Asante Samuel (Phi)* and Jabari Greer (NO)
We went against the grain here with two of the CBs not named Winfield getting in despite some poor run support. As much as it pains us, we came to the conclusion that watching some of Samuel's feeble attempts to bring down a HB may be outweighed by his superb coverage skills.
Worthy of consideration
If you absolutely can't take tackling on your team of the style employed by Samuel, then perhaps Tim Jennings (Chi) is your man. He's a legitimate top-five run support corner that's actually doing a good job of coverage at the moment. That may not last, however.
Strong Safeties
Quintin Mikell (Phi)*, Danieal Manning (Chi) and James Butler (StL)
If you've jumped to this section without reading the AFC, please remember the caveats regarding safeties. Mikell and Manning are good choices, particularly as coverage guys, but to call Butler a SS is stretching our credibility a lot.
Worthy of consideration
If you absolutely have to have a guy who doesn't consistently play more than 15 yards from the line of scrimmage you could do worse than Kenny Phillips (NYG). If you really don't care about coverage skills then go ahead and pick LaRon Landry (Was)
Free Safeties
Nick Collins (GB)*, Sherrod Martin (Car) and Earl Thomas (Sea)
Collins is a superb coverage safety and Martin has done well in that regard too. However, the need to pick three guys here together with the SS/FS distinction means you really are stretching it to go with a player like Thomas, whose overall performance probably wouldn't put him in the top 20 safeties.
Worthy of consideration
If Thomas is a stretch, so is anyone else.
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