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Some Pro Bowl notes
Posted by Albert Breer
December 29, 2009 07:35 PM
So you've got the two Pro Bowl starters (Logan Mankins, Vince Wilfork) and backups (Tom Brady, Wes Welker) selected off the Patriots roster.
Probably prescient here to heed the words, or tweets, of @wilfork75 ... "Don't get it twisted ..... I love the pro bowl win but hope I cant go because I will be at superbowl the next week."
Which is what a lot of guys are hoping for. And a lot of those who don't get it will wind up sitting out anyway because, really, it's about getting picked, not playing in the game. Here's where the Patriots stacked up among other teams with a number of players picked:
8 selected: Minnesota
6 selected: Dallas, Indianapolis, Philadelphia
5 selected: Baltimore, Denver, New Orleans, San Diego
4 selected: Arizona, Houston, New England
3 selected: Green Bay, Jets, San Francisco
The selections seemed about right. At receiver in the AFC, there were three locks -- Welker, Reggie Wayne and Andre Johnson. The fourth spot was up for grabs, so it's not shocking to see Randy Moss on the outside looking in there. San Diego's Vincent Jackson and Pittsburgh's Santonio Holmes had as strong a case for the spot that went to Brandon Marshall.
I'd take Marshall out and put Jackson in his spot, personally. Take away the 21-catch game, which Denver lost, and Marshall's not having his best year. Jackson, on the other hand, has made big grab after big grab, is averaging 17.2 yards a catch, has scored nine touchdowns, and could wind up with 1,300 yards. It's close, but I'd have gone with Jackson (update: He's a Pro Bowl alternate, according to my pal Kevin Acee).
I think Brandon Meriweather might've had a stronger case. Jairus Byrd's got the nine picks, but isn't a full-time player yet in Buffalo. Ed Reed's been hurt too, but probably belongs anyway, and Brian Dawkins certainly deserves to be there.
News, analysis and commentary from Boston.com's staff writers and contributors, including Zuri Berry and Erik Frenz.
