Sports Central 2008 Pro Bowl Picks

Pro Bowl voting has been open for over a month, but now every team has played most of its schedule, so it's finally reasonable to vote for each conference's representatives. Here's a look at my ballot, with AFC players listed first. I didn't vote for anyone who has been placed on injured reserve.

Quarterback

Philip Rivers (SD), Jay Cutler (DEN), Chad Pennington (MIA); Drew Brees (NO), Kurt Warner (ARI), Tony Romo (DAL)

Romo is the only one I also picked last season. I had Aaron Rodgers (GB) penciled in for the last spot, but he's been really disappointing in two of the last three weeks. I think Matt Ryan (ATL) and Romo have moved ahead of him. In the AFC, Cutler and Pennington barely edged Brett Favre (NYJ) and Peyton Manning (IND). Favre has the fewest yards in that group and has the most interceptions in the NFL, while Manning had that slow start to the season. Still, you wouldn't be crazy to vote for either of them.

Running Back

Thomas Jones (NYJ), Chris Johnson (TEN), Steve Slaton (HOU); Adrian Peterson (MIN), Clinton Portis (WAS), Michael Turner (ATL)

This position belongs to the NFC right now. I'd take Marion Barber (DAL), Matt Forte (CHI), Frank Gore (SF), and Brandon Jacobs (NYG) ahead of Slaton, maybe ahead of anyone from the AFC. The NFC is so strong right now that there's no one — not even Peterson — who is a must from that conference. I like Turner over Barber, Forte, and company because he's been so instrumental in turning that team around.

Wide Receiver

Andre Johnson (HOU), Reggie Wayne (IND), Brandon Marshall (DEN), Derrick Mason (BAL); Roddy White (ATL), Larry Fitzgerald (ARI), Anquan Boldin (ARI), Calvin Johnson (DET)

Andre Johnson is the one absolute must at this position. Mason is a little behind statistically because he plays on a team that prefers to run and features a rookie QB who is still learning. There were some really good NFC receivers I had trouble leaving off, especially Greg Jennings (GB) and Steve Smith (CAR). I don't like including anyone from the 0-11 Lions, but Johnson is doing so much for a terrible team, and it's impossible to ignore his production. Wes Welker (NE) is quietly having another fine season in New England.

Fullback

Heath Evans (NE); Madison Hedgecock (NYG)

Does this position even exist any more? Most teams hardly use their fullbacks these days, especially in the AFC. My favorites this season are Hedgecock and Brad Hoover (CAR). Mike Sellers (WAS), whom I chose last year, is also very good, but you shouldn't vote for him because he already has something like 80% of the fan vote, thanks to an aggressive campaign which allows Washington supporters to vote for the "Redskin Ticket", submitting a vote for every Redskin on the ballot with a couple clicks of the mouse. The NFL needs to ban "team tickets" for Pro Bowl voting.

Tight End

Tony Gonzalez (KC), Owen Daniels (HOU); Jason Witten (DAL), Chris Cooley (WAS)

It doesn't get any easier than NFC tight ends. You simply cannot vote for anyone other than Witten and Cooley. The AFC is significantly trickier. Antonio Gates (SD) is having a bit of a down season, but he's still a standout at the position. When he's healthy, Dallas Clark (IND) presents a serious problem to defenses. Bo Scaife (TEN) isn't on the ballot yet (he will be next week, when the NFL finally updates it), but he's in the mix, too. You can't go wrong with any of those guys; I chose Daniels because he has more catches and more yards than any AFC tight end but Gonzalez.

That wraps up the so-called "skill positions," but I want to make one quick point before we get to the offensive line. I'm a competent judge of line play, but having watched a limited number of games, I'm reduced to some guesswork at these positions. Other guys get highlights and statistics to help you choose, but not the offensive linemen. I'll be more confident in the offensive line selections for my all-pro team at the end of the season, when I've had more chances to see these guys. That disclaimer aside, here are my picks:

Center

Jason Brown (BAL), Nick Mangold (NYJ); Shaun O'Hara (NYG), Andre Gurode (DAL)

Brown and O'Hara have been exceptional this season, and you absolutely must have both of them on your ballot. I was already leaning toward Mangold for the spot behind Brown, but he absolutely sealed his place on my team after his performance against Tennessee. Gurode has been the Cowboys' most consistent performer on the offensive line this season.

Offensive Guard

Jake Scott (TEN), Alan Faneca (NYJ), Kris Dielman (SD); Chris Snee (NYG), Steve Hutchinson (MIN), Justin Blalock (ATL)

Snee is the clearest standout. He and Hutch repeat from last year's ballot, but the new addition is Justin Blalock, a second-round choice from last year's draft who has helped key Atlanta's second-ranked rushing attack. Pete Kendall (WAS) and Randy Thomas (WAS) were also in the mix. At the beginning of the season, I thought Leonard Davis (DAL) was a lock, but he's been inconsistent. Scott, who defected from Indianapolis, has been part of Tennessee's transformation into a powerhouse. Logan Mankins (NE) is close.

Offensive Tackle

Michael Roos (TEN), Ryan Clady (DEN), Matt Light (NE); Mike Gandy (ARI), Jammal Brown (NO), Chad Clifton (GB)

Clady beat out fellow rookie Jake Long (MIA), but both have made immediate impacts on their teams. Brown was a close call over his teammate Jon Stinchcomb (NO), but there are plenty of others I'm considering in the NFC, as well: Flozell Adams (DAL), Marc Colombo (DAL), Jordan Gross (CAR), and Jon Runyan (PHI) are all players I want more looks at. In the AFC, Joe Thomas (CLE) barely missed out to Light. Only Tennessee, Denver, and New Orleans have allowed fewer sacks than the Browns.

Defensive End

Aaron Smith (PIT), Mario Williams (HOU), Shaun Ellis (NYJ); Justin Tuck (NYG), John Abraham (ATL), Julius Peppers (CAR)

This has gotten really tricky in the AFC, because so many of the teams use 3-4 defenses. A 3-4 defensive end is like a 4-3 defensive tackle, and a 4-3 defensive end is like an 3-4 outside linebacker. Headache! The Ravens and Patriots actually don't have any DEs on the ballot — they're all listed as DTs — which is a shame, because there are several of them I'd take ahead of Williams and Ellis. Brett Keisel (PIT) is actually even better than Smith, but he's missed a lot of times with injuries this season.

Defensive Tackle

Albert Haynesworth (TEN), Kris Jenkins (NYJ), Shaun Rogers (CLE); Kevin Williams (MIN), Fred Robbins (NYG), Chris Hovan (TB)

Because of the AFC 3-4 thing, this position is stacked. I hate leaving some of these guys off, and for the sake of brevity I'll just list the most painful in alphabetical order: Tony Brown (TEN), Haloti Ngata (BAL), Trevor Pryce (BAL), Richard Seymour (NE). Tampa has a very strong line all the way across, with no clear standouts, but Hovan is my favorite. Barry Cofield (NYG) and Jovan Haye (TB) are close.

Outside Linebacker

James Harrison (PIT), Joey Porter (MIA), Terrell Suggs (BAL); Lance Briggs (CHI), DeMarcus Ware (DAL), Karlos Dansby (ARI)

Yeah, I took all pass rushers in the AFC. I made up for it in the NFC by selecting Briggs, a space guy who usually drops back to cover passes, and Dansby, who sometimes lines up at middle linebacker. The closest misses? LaMarr Woodley (PIT) in the AFC — another pass rusher! — and Chad Greenway (MIN) in the NFC. That guy is all over the field.

Inside Linebacker

James Farrior (PIT), Jerod Mayo (NE); Barrett Ruud (TB), Jon Beason (CAR)

Mayo was great in the Thursday night loss to the Jets, but I still have some questions about him, and I'm not sure he's really my second-favorite in the AFC. Ray Lewis (BAL) isn't the player he used to be, but he still has the killer instinct that a lot of players lack. All three of his interceptions were pretty close to gimmies — be in the right place at the right time — but a lot of players would have dropped a couple of those. Not Lewis. The NFC has incredible depth at this position. London Fletcher (WAS) deserves a vote, Stew Bradley (PHI) has played well, and Antonio Pierce (NYG) is always solid.

Cornerback

Nnamdi Asomugha (OAK), Cortland Finnegan (TEN), Terrence McGee (BUF); Charles Woodson (GB), Antoine Winfield (MIN), Asante Samuel (PHI)

Asomugha gets tested less than anyone. Darrelle Revis (NYJ) is growing up fast in New York, but McGee, once a return specialist, has now become a pretty special defensive player. The last CB spot in the NFC was really tough. I've chosen Ronde Barber (TB) for six years in a row, but he's really lost a step and doesn't deserve serious consideration this season. Terence Newman (DAL) and Shawn Springs (WAS) are game-changers when they're healthy, but both have missed most of the season. Chris Gamble (CAR) and Ken Lucas (CAR) were close, as was Carlos Rogers (WAS). Samuel has been disappointing at times this season (his performance against the Giants was not impressive), but I'll give him the tie-breaker since there are no other Eagles on my ballot so far. Philadelphia has the sixth-ranked defense in the NFL, despite a pretty bruising schedule.

Strong Safety

Chris Hope (TEN); Chris Horton (WAS)

The Chris H. thing is just a coincidence. Troy Polamalu (PIT) will make it on reputation, and he's made some great plays this year, but Hope is the right choice. Horton is a rookie who's still learning, but he's a serious playmaker. He leads Washington in interceptions and is second on the team in solo tackles. Chris Harris (CAR) and Adrian Wilson (ARI) are good, too, but Horton reminds me a little of Polamalu.

Free Safety

Ed Reed (BAL); Nick Collins (GB)

Reed is exceptionally dangerous, but Collins has been an even more devastating playmaker in the secondary this year, leading the NFL with three INT returns for touchdowns. The single-season record is four. O.J. Atogwe (STL) is a good player stuck on a rotten team. I also like Tanard Jackson (TB) and LaRon Landry (WAS).

Kicker

Phil Dawson (CLE); John Kasay (CAR)

Dawson has been effective from all distances, and he's a good kickoff man in addition to his field goals. Kasay has only missed one kick all season (54 yards at Oakland), but it's close between him and Jason Hanson (DET), who is 12-for-12 from 40+ yards this season, including an NFC-best 56-yard field goal.

Punter

Brian Moorman (BUF); Jeff Feagles (NYG)

Buffalo is a nasty place to kick, but Moorman consistently does it well, and this year, only about a third of his punts are getting returned. Mike Scifres (SD) is having another terrific season, as well. Sav Rocca (PHI) is having a good year, but here is an amazing statistic: in 40 punts this season, Feagles has only given up 54 return yards.

Kick Returner

Leon Washington (NYJ); Clifton Smith (TB)

Smith is the only player in the NFL to score on both a kickoff return and a punt return this season. The AFC race was between the three leaders in kickoff return average: Eddie Royal (DEN), Leodis McKelvin (BUF), and Washington. Royal only has 27 kickoff and punt returns all season, though, and none for a touchdown. McKelvin doesn't return punts. Washington is 3rd in the AFC in kickoff return average (28.8) and 4th in punt return average (12.1).

Special Teamer

Kassim Osgood (SD); Chase Blackburn (NYG)

I absolutely hate the choices on this part of the ballot. Half the teams don't even have their best special teamer listed. Josh Cribbs (CLE) is the best all-around special teamer in the NFL, and he's only listed as a kick returner. Quintin Demps (PHI) isn't listed anywhere right now.

The teams I voted for most this season were the Giants (7), Jets (6), and Titans (6). Last season, my leading teams were the Patriots (10), Colts (9), and Cowboys (7). This year, I apparently gave 7-4 Indianapolis no love (only 1, Reggie Wayne).

Midseason Awards

Offensive Player of the Year — Drew Brees (NO)
Defensive Player of the Year — James Harrison (PIT)
MVP — Drew Brees (NO)
Coach of the Year — Mike Smith (ATL)
Assistant — Steve Spagnuolo (NYG)
Rookie of the Year — Matt Ryan (ATL)