The rosters for the 2012 NFL Pro Bowl have been announced and as usual there are some head scratchers as well snubs for both the AFC and NFC teams.
The New England Patriots and San Francisco 49ers led the way by placing eight players apiece on the AFC and NFC rosters.
Notable players who didn’t make the team include Mathew Stafford – QB (Lions), Brian Cushing – LB (Texans), Duane Brown – OT (Texans), Aaron Hernandez – TE (Patriots), Marshawn Lynch – RB (Seahawks), D’Qwell Jackson – LB (Browns), Aldon Smith – LB (49ers) and London Fletcher (Redskins).
AFC offensive starters:
Quarterback: Tom Brady (Patriots), Running Back: Ray Lewis (Ravens), FB Vonta Leach (Ravens), Wide Receivers: Wes Welker (Patriots) and Mike Wallace (Steelers), Tight End: Ron Gronkowski (Patriots), Tackles: Joe Thomas (Browns) and Jake Long (Dolphins), Guards: Logan Mankins (Patriots) and Brian Waters (Patriots), Center: Maurkice Pouncey (Steelers).
AFC defensive starters:
Defensive Ends: Dwight Freeney (Colts) and Andre Carter (Patriots), Defensive Tackles: Haloti Ngata (Ravens) and Vince Wilfork (Patriots), Outside Linebackers : Terrell Suggs (Ravens) and Von Miller (Broncos), Inside Linebacker: Ray Lewis (Ravens), Cornerbacks: Darrelle Revis (Jets) and Champ Bailey (Broncos), Strong Safety: Troy Polamalu (Steelers).
AFC Special teams:
Punter: Shane Lechler (Raiders), Kicker: Sebastian Janikowski (Raiders), Kick returner: Antonio Brown (Steelers), Special teamer Matthew Slater (Patriots).
NFC offensive starters:
Quarterback: Aaron Rodgers (Packers), Running Back: Lesean McCoy (Eagles), Fullback: John Kuhn (Packers), Wide Receivers: Larry Fitzgerald (Cardinals), Calvin Johnson (Lions), Tight End: Jimmy Graham (Saints), Tackles: Jason Peters (Eagles) Joe Staley (49ers), Guards: Jahri Evans (Saints), Carl Nicks (Saints), Center: Ryan Kalil (Panthers).
NFC Defensive starters:
Defensive Ends: Jared Allen (Vikings) and Jason Babin (Eagles), Defensive tackles: Justin Smith (49ers) Jay Ratliff (Cowboys), Outside Linebackers: DeMarcus Ware (Cowboys) and Clay Matthews (Packers), Inside Linebacker: Patrick Willis (49ers), Cornerbacks: Charles Woodson (Packers) and Carlos Rogers (49ers), Free Safety: Earl Thomas (Seahawks), Strong Safety: Adrian Wilson (Cardinals).
NFC Special teams:
Punter: Andy Lee (49ers), Kicker: David Akers (49ers), Kick returner Patrick Peterson (Cardinals), Special teamer: Corey Graham (Bears).
Full teams below: (* Denotes starter)
AFC OFFENSE
Quarterback
* Tom Brady, New England
Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh
Philip Rivers, San Diego
Running back
* Ray Rice, Baltimore
Maurice Jones-Drew, Jacksonville
Arian Foster, Houston
Fullback
*Vonta Leach, Baltimore
Wide receiver
* Wes Welker, New England
* Mike Wallace, Pittsburgh
A.J. Green, Cincinnati
Brandon Marshall, Miami
Tight end
* Rob Gronkowski, New England
Antonio Gates, San Diego
Tackle
* Joe Thomas, Cleveland
* Jake Long, Miami
D’Brickashaw Ferguson, N.Y. Jets
Guard * Logan Mankins, New England
* Brian Waters, New England
Marshal Yanda, Baltimore
Center
* Maurkice Pouncey, Pittsburgh
Nick Mangold, N.Y. Jets
AFC DEFENSE
Defensive end
* Dwight Freeney, Indianapolis
* Andre Carter, New England
Elvis Dumervil, Denver
Interior linemen
* Haloti Ngata, Baltimore
* Vince Wilfork, New England
Richard Seymour, Oakland
Outside linebacker
* Terrell Suggs, Baltimore
* Von Miller, Denver
Tamba Hali, Kansas City
Inside/midde linebacker
* Ray Lewis, Baltimore
Derrick Johnson, Kansas City
Cornerback
* Darrelle Revis, N.Y. Jets
* Champ Bailey, Denver
Johnathan Joseph, Houston
Free safety
* Ed Reed, Baltimore
Eric Weddle, San Diego
Strong safety
* Troy Polamalu, Pittsburgh
AFC SPECIALISTS
Punter
Shane Lechler, Oakland
Place-kicker
Sebastian Janikowski, Oakland
Kick returner
Antonio Brown, Pittsburgh
Special-teamer
Matthew Slater, New England
NFC OFFENSE
Quarterback
* Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay
Drew Brees, New Orleans
Eli Manning, N.Y. Giants
Running back
* LeSean McCoy, Philadelphia
Matt Forte, Chicago
Frank Gore, San Francisco
Fullback
* John Kuhn, Green Bay
Wide receiver
* Calvin Johnson, Detroit
* Larry Fitzgerald, Arizona
Steve Smith, Carolina
Greg Jennings, Green Bay
Tight end
* Jimmy Graham, New Orleans
Tony Gonzalez, Atlanta
Tackle
* Jason Peters, Philadelphia
* Joe Staley, San Francisco
Jermon Bushrod, New Orleans
Guard
* Jahri Evans, New Orleans
* Carl Nicks, New Orleans
Davin Joseph, Tampa Bay
Center
* Ryan Kalil, Carolina
Scott Wells, Green Bay
NFC DEFENSE
Defensive end
* Jared Allen, Minnesota
* Jason Babin, Philadelphia
Jason Pierre-Paul, N.Y. Giants
Interior linemen
* Justin Smith, San Francisco
* Jay Ratliff, Dallas
B.J. Raji, Green Bay
Outside linebacker
* DeMarcus Ware, Dallas
* Clay Matthews, Green Bay
Lance Briggs, Chicago
Inside/midde linebacker
* Patrick Willis, San Francisco
Brian Urlacher, Chicago
Cornerback
* Charles Woodson, Green Bay
* Carlos Rogers, San Francisco
Charles Tillman, Chicago
Free safety
* Earl Thomas, Seattle
Dashon Goldson, San Francisco
Strong safety
* Adrian Wilson, Arizona
NFC SPECIALISTS
Punter
Andy Lee, San Francisco
Place-kicker
David Akers, San Francisco
Kick returner
Patrick Peterson, Arizona
Special-teamer
Corey Graham, Chicago
AFC TEAM-BY-TEAM
Baltimore Ravens (7)
* Vonta Leach, fullback
* Ray Lewis, inside/middle linebacker
* Haloti Ngata, interior lineman
* Ed Reed, free safety
* Ray Rice, running back
* Terrell Suggs, outside linebacker
Marshal Yanda, guard
A.J. Green, wide receiver
Cleveland Browns (1)
* Joe Thomas, tackle
Denver Broncos (3)
* Champ Bailey, cornerback
Elvis Dumervil, defensive end
* Von Miller, outside linebacker
Houston Texans (2)
Arian Foster, running back
Johnathan Joseph, cornerback
* Dwight Freeney, defensive end
Maurice Jones-Drew, running back
Tamba Hali, outside linebacker
Derrick Johnson, inside/middle linebacker
Miami Dolphins (2)
* Jake Long, tackle
Brandon Marshall, wide receiver
* Tom Brady, quarterback
* Andre Carter, defensive end
* Rob Gronkowski, tight end
* Logan Mankins, guard
Matthew Slater, special-teamer
* Brian Waters, guard
* Wes Welker, wide receiver
* Vince Wilfork, interior lineman
N.Y. Jets (3)
D’Brickashaw Ferguson, tackle
Nick Mangold, center
* Darrelle Revis, cornerback
Oakland Raiders (3)
Sebastian Janikowski, place-kicker
Shane Lechler, punter
Richard Seymour, interior lineman
Antonio Brown, kick returner
* Troy Polamalu, strong safety
* Maurkice Pouncey, center
Ben Roethlisberger, quarterback
* Mike Wallace, wide receiver
Antonio Gates, tight end
Philip Rivers, quarterback
Eric Weddle, free safety
NFC TEAM-BY-TEAM
* Larry Fitzgerald, wide receiver
Patrick Peterson, kick returner
* Adrian Wilson, strong safety
Atlanta Falcons (1)
Tony Gonzalez, tight end
* Ryan Kalil, center
Steve Smith, wide receiver
Chicago Bears (5)
Lance Briggs, outside linebacker
Matt Forte, running back
Corey Graham, special-teamer
Charles Tillman, cornerback
Brian Urlacher, inside/middle linebacker
Dallas Cowboys (2)
* Jay Ratliff, interior lineman
* DeMarcus Ware, outside linebacker
Detroit Lions (1)
* Calvin Johnson, wide receiver
Greg Jennings, wide receiver
* John Kuhn, fullback
* Clay Matthews, outside linebacker
B.J. Raji, interior lineman
* Aaron Rodgers, quarterback
Scott Wells, center
* Charles Woodson, cornerback
* Jared Allen, defensive end
Drew Brees, quarterback
Jermon Bushrod, tackle
* Jahri Evans, guard
* Jimmy Graham, tight end
* Carl Nicks, guard
N.Y. Giants (2)
Eli Manning, quarterback
Jason Pierre-Paul, defensive end
* Jason Babin, defensive end
* LeSean McCoy, running back
* Jason Peters, tackle
David Akers, place-kicker
Dashon Goldson, free safety
Frank Gore, running back
Andy Lee, punter
* Carlos Rogers, cornerback
* Justin Smith, interior lineman
* Joe Staley, tackle
* Patrick Willis, inside/middle linebacker
Seattle Seahawks (1)
* Earl Thomas, free safety
Davin Joseph, guard
The game will be played a week before the Super Bowl on Sunday, Jan. 29, 2012 in Honolulu.
What players do you think deserved to make it that didn’t?
