CBS - Sportsline Pro Bowl picks

Here's who I should go to the Pro Bowl to represent the NFC:


QB Hasselbeck, Manning, Brunell
FB Cooley
RB Alexander, Barber, Portis/Dunn
WR Smith, Boldin, Moss, Galloway
TE Crumpler, Shockey
OT Jones, Pace, Samuels
OG Hutchinson, Thomas, Allen
C Kreutz, Bentley

DT Coleman, Griffin, Rogers
DE Strahan, Umenyiora, Peppers
OLB Washington, Dansby
ILB Urlacher, Pierce
CB Barber, Hall, Springs
FS Dawkins
SS Wilson

cooley really isn't a FB, so while he'll probably get in as one, mack strong is the best real nfc FB. griffin missed a lot of time, so his numbers aren't great, and while he has the talent and should have gone last year, this year his production (due to missed games) has come up short... I think the same thing happened to peppers this year too. The pro bowl is about this years production, not natural althletic talent.

Springs has been good, but unfortunately not very flashy (low int count, not 108yard FG returns for TDs etc), and i don't think brunell should go, just cause he's slumped off so horribly after such a good start.

I really, really, really like Portis. However, I think it's pretty hard to deny Dunn a spot in the Pro Bowl. While Dunn doesn't score a lot of touchdowns and he gets nice lanes because defenses are scared of letting Vick run outside of the tackles, he is one damn explosive player. Moreover, Dunn plays like he's a lot bigger than he really is; he's about the same size as Santana Moss but he doesn't shy away from defenders.

So, Dunn gets nice lanes and doesn't score lots of TDs. Sounds like an argument for CP!

Fact is, Duckett gets the TDs because Dunn is undersized. Don't get me wrong - I like Dunn. He is explosive, but he just doesn't do as much at the position (again, especially on pass plays) as CP does.

So, Dunn gets nice lanes and doesn't score lots of TDs. Sounds like an argument for CP!

Fact is, Duckett gets the TDs because Dunn is undersized. Don't get me wrong - I like Dunn. He is explosive, but he just doesn't do as much at the position (again, especially on pass plays) as CP does.

I wasn't denying that Portis is a Pro Bowl-caliber player. I've said repeatedly that he's a great back. I've repeatedly said that he's NOT overrated. I didn't intend for my praise of Dunn to be interpreted as an attack on Portis.

And yes, I did point out that Dunn doesn't get into the endzone a lot and gets nice lanes. If I didn't acknowledge those things I'd be cherry-picking the evidence. I like to think that I acknowledge both the good and bad things about a player, team, coach, etc.

Also, Duckett does get the ball in short-yardage situations because Dunn is undersized. However, that he is able to hold up to the punishment that he endures while being as small as he is is something he should get credit for.

But, the bottom line is that there is no denying that Dunn is a great player. He's racked up 1,247 yards on 242 carries for a 5.2 ypc average and another 200 yards in the air. He's also racked up 10 runs of 20 yards or more. Point blank, the guy is a baller.

Here's who I should go to the Pro Bowl to represent the NFC:


QB Hasselbeck, Manning, Brunell
FB Cooley
RB Alexander, Barber, Portis/Dunn
WR Smith, Boldin, Moss, Galloway
TE Crumpler, Shockey
OT Jones, Pace, Samuels
OG Hutchinson, Thomas, Allen
C Kreutz, Bentley

DT Coleman, Griffin, Rogers
DE Strahan, Umenyiora, Peppers
OLB Washington, Dansby
ILB Urlacher, Pierce
CB Barber, Hall, Springs
FS Dawkins
SS Wilson


Funny List!!


Are those the backups to the Cowboy Starters on the NFC Pro Bowl!!!:headbange

Sean Taylor???

I wasn't denying that Portis is a Pro Bowl-caliber player. I've said repeatedly that he's a great back. I've repeatedly said that he's NOT overrated. I didn't intend for my praise of Dunn to be interpreted as an attack on Portis.

And yes, I did point out that Dunn doesn't get into the endzone a lot and gets nice lanes. If I didn't acknowledge those things I'd be cherry-picking the evidence. I like to think that I acknowledge both the good and bad things about a player, team, coach, etc.

Also, Duckett does get the ball in short-yardage situations because Dunn is undersized. However, that he is able to hold up to the punishment that he endures while being as small as he is is something he should get credit for.

But, the bottom line is that there is no denying that Dunn is a great player. He's racked up 1,247 yards on 242 carries for a 5.2 ypc average and another 200 yards in the air. He's also racked up 10 runs of 20 yards or more. Point blank, the guy is a baller.

I tried to be careful in my post to focus on the issue - which of two great players with almost identical stats should get the nod. We both know CP and Dunn are great players. I didn't suggest you thought CP sucked, and I said Dunn is a great player (not too clearly, admittedly). This season their numbers are basically identical, except for TDs.

At this point, our analysis differs. I think CP's intangibles (namely blocking and getting open for the screen pass) outweigh Dunn's. Added to the fact he has more TDs than Dunn, I think you have to give him the nod. I appreciate that Dunn does a lot with what he has, but so does Earl Boykins. It doesn't mean he should beat out a Steve Nash for an All Star spot just because he does.

The most we'll put in the Pro-Bowl is three players. As many as four deserve to go, but I don't think we'll have more than three.

*******************
Portis
Taylor
Moss
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Wow, I didn't realize I picked three from the "U"!

Washington really deserves it, too, but it doesn't seem like he's getting a whole lot of respect this year in the voting.

Funny List!!


Are those the backups to the Cowboy Starters on the NFC Pro Bowl!!!:headbange

Bledsoe, Allen, Witten, and Williams are candidates for reserve spots. Bledsoe might get the nod. Witten is a Pro Bowl-caliver player but likely gets beaten out by Shockey and Crumpler. Williams is overrated but might get in simply because he hits hard. But, there isn't a single Cowboys who deserves to be a starter at the Pro Bowl.

Well, if Williams get's in because of that, that should make Mr. Taylor (and I 'aint talkin 'bout Jacobs!) a shoe in!!