Kerby Joseph leads the NFL with nine interceptions for the Lions. Meanwhile, Texans defensive end Danielle Hunter ranks third in the league with 12 sacks. While both players could still get to Orlando as alternates, for now they’re both Pro Bowl snubs.
Other than an understandably frustrated Leonard Williams, most players left off the initial Pro Bowl list will tell the media this week that they’re happy for teammates selected and cite the Super Bowl as a more rewarding accomplishment.
But privately, most are deeply disappointed. To players, Pro Bowl recognition from peers, coaches and fans is more important than the media’s All-Pro voting. The reason is much more than pride, especially as they reflect on their careers. Ask Rodney Harrison. He played in three Super Bowls, earned first-team All-Pro status twice, second-team All-Pro in two other seasons but retired after a 15-year career with just two Pro Bowl selections.
“In my era, with me, it was a lot of name recognition, it was a lot of favoritism, so a lot of the guys that you felt like should’ve made the Pro Bowl didn’t make it, and it was frustrating,” Harrison told Mike Florio on NBC’s PFT Live Friday morning. “I should’ve been a six-time Pro Bowler. I got voted to the Pro Bowl twice.
“That affected my money. That affected my longevity. It affects your reputation because people look at you differently. ‘OK, Rodney Harrison was a four-time All-Pro but he was only a two-time Pro Bowler.’ If I’m a six-time Pro Bowler, now I’m viewed in a different light, and now I’m getting those Hall of Fame votes and things like that. So, as much as we want to gloss over, that the Pro Bowl vote isn’t important to these guys, it’s very important to these guys. It affects their legacy long-term, and their checks.”
Harrison should know. Hall of Fame selectors have left him off their list each of the last two years. He’ll likely get in eventually, but the wait might be excruciating. Most of the selectors are members of the media and most vote in the annual Associated Press All-Pro and MVP balloting. In other words, many of them voted for Harrison as an All-Pro when he was among the most feared safeties in the league from 1994-2008 with the Chargers and Patriots.
The NFL’s current Pro Bowl voting system has been in place for many years, despite annual calls to change it. Consensus votes of fans, players and coaches, with each group’s vote counting as one-third of each player’s points, determine Pro Bowl status. And while many are disappointed, several players were elated on Thursday.
Jayden Daniels became only the fourth rookie quarterback since the 1970 merger selected to the Pro Bowl, joining Robert Griffin III (2012 season), Dan Marino (1983 season) and Dak Prescott (2016 season). One of 24 first-time all-stars, Daniels joined Brock Bowers (Las Vegas) and Jared Verse (L.A. Rams) among a fantastic group of young players.
For more information on the Texans and Patriots, visit the Houston and New England team pages at ProFootballPost.com.
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