Four Pro Bowlers

[HarveyWallbangers]

The only player I really feel that was snubbed is Woodson.

There is a case for Barnett, because he is playing the best football of his career and he is clearly one of the top five middle linebackers in the league, but is he really playing better than Lofa? I kind of disagree that Willis is more deserving than Barnett, but the rookie is doing some very impressive things. Stat-wise, they're pretty much interchangeable.

                 Tckls    Sacks    Ints    FF     PDef
Patrick Willis    142      1        0      1       3 
Lofa Tatupu       101      1        4      3       13
Nick Barnett      119     3.5       2      0       6

Willis plays on a poor defense and his team is 3-11. Tatupu plays on a defense that probably isn't as strong as GB and his team is 9-5.

[sepporepi]

Hmm Dallas has 11 Pro Bowlers, Vikings have 7, but Packers just 4.

So Vikings are greatly underachieving? Or are we so bad and just lucky?

Or maybe the selection process is flawed ?

[Lurker64]

Pro Bowl voting is ridiculous anyway, the whole thing is sort of a meaningless popularity contest. Seven teams have no pro-bowlers, including Tampa Bay and Jacksonville; who are, in my opinion, better than the Vikings and much better than the Vikings respectively.

The fact that teams win divisions and/or end up as a wild card team with better records than several division winners without having a single pro-bowler sort of highlights how ridiculous the whole thing is.

[Rastak]

Hmm Dallas has 11 Pro Bowlers, Vikings have 7, but Packers just 4.

So Vikings are greatly underachieving? Or are we so bad and just lucky?

Or maybe the selection process is flawed ?

Vikings QB is terrible at times and merely average at others....if not, they have a much better record than 8-6. Think about it....8-6 with a 69 passer rating quarterback and a defense everybody always says can't stop the pass?

[Tarlam!]

I am sorry for Barnett, but the two guys ahead of him are pretty worthy. I could understand Nick being pissed about being pipped by a rook.

[BallHawk]

Hmm Dallas has 11 Pro Bowlers, Vikings have 7, but Packers just 4.

So Vikings are greatly underachieving? Or are we so bad and just lucky?

Or maybe the selection process is flawed ?

Vikings QB is terrible at times and merely average at others....if not, they have a much better record than 8-6. Think about it....8-6 with a 69 passer rating quarterback and a defense everybody always says can't stop the pass?

Exactly. If the Vikings had, say, David Garrard as their QB, I think they'd be in the double-digit win category.

[RashanGary]

Favre is Favre and he deserves to go of course.


Other than that, I don't think a better trio could have been picked. Driver, Harris and Kampman are three of the hardest working players I've had the pleasure of watching. These guys making it validates their work ethic to everyone in that lockerroom.

Did they get shafted a little? Sure, but I think this plays right into a coaches hands for motivation.

[RashanGary]

Nick Collins as a probowl alternate is a big suprise.

[RashanGary]

Mike McCarthy addressing his team "You young guys want to know how to make it in this league? Look at Aaron, Al and Donald. You see them working. You see the condition they are in year after year? That's how you make a living in the NFL"

The worst thing is having a guy like Antonio Freeman make it. . . . See Freems getting drunk guys? Well, that works if you have a knack for football but I hope you don't do it because you can be better if you don't.

[b bulldog]

Actually it was Free's contract that made him lose his juice imo and he did lose a step pretty early in his career.

[esoxx]

This is good news b/c it will light more of a fire under the Packers azz. They can play the disrespect card and ride the wave. Finishing around four games ahead of your division rival and they have almost twice as many players on the team. Yeah.

Woodson really got hosed. Barnett slightly hosed. Harris hasn't played at a Pro Bowl level over the season but good to see he got recognition when for years he was overlooked.

[pbmax]

Barnett: Hosed.
Woodson: Hosed

Collins: ?
Franks: ?

Sharper: Joke.

Don't have a problem with the other Vikes.

[RashanGary]

I'm listening to the press conferences. They seem to have a chip on their shoulder. Hopefully hey harness it right and play better not worse.

[pbmax]

And four Bears:

Lance Briggs, Tommie Harris, Devin Hester and Brendon Ayanbadejo.

I wouldn't have guessed it was possible, but we are 12-2 and under the radar.

[RashanGary]

I wouldn't have guessed it was possible, but we are 12-2 and under the radar.

It sure looks that way. I acctually think that is an advantage. This team has not once gotten a big head. They keep stacking success to the point where they now have a complete offense, great ST's and a very good defense.

Are they a GREAT defense? Nope. Are they a GREAT offense? Not elite. I do think they are elite on ST's. What they are is really good at everything and while their players are young, they are very smart and football aware. They do not beat themselves. It reminds me of the Pats in the beginning. They kept winning but nobody ever gave them respect. That is what is happening here, and I think it's a good thing. I think it keeps a team motivated and hungry, feeling like they havn't arrived.

I'm excited to see a rematch with Dallas. I think we will shut a lot of people up in that game and who knows what will happen in New England. With the HGH stings hitting hard on the east coast, they might run out of HGH before the big dance.