Five Saints Named to 2012 NFL Pro Bowl Squad

by Dave Cariello on Dec 27, 2011 9:41 PM CST

The official NFC and AFC Pro Bowl rosters have finally been announced and five players from the Saints have been selected.

Not surprisingly, those players are Drew Brees, Jimmy Graham, Carl Nicks, Jahri Evans and Jermon Bushrod. Also not surprising is the fact that nobody on the defensive side of the ball was elected.

Make the jump for full team rosters from each conference. Alternates have not yet been announced.

2012 AMERICAN FOOTBALL CONFERENCE ALL-STARS

AFC-NFC PRO BOWL, SUNDAY, JANUARY 29, 2012, ALOHA STADIUM, HONOLULU, HAWAII

(Starters listed in Bold/Italics)

(* First-time Pro Bowl selection)

OFFENSE

	WIDE RECEIVERS		TIGHT ENDS
*	A.J. Green, Cincinnati		Antonio Gates, San Diego
	Brandon Marshall, Miami	*	*Rob Gronkowski, New England*
*	*Mike Wallace, Pittsburgh*
	*Wes Welker, New England*		QUARTERBACKS
			*Tom Brady, New England*
	TACKLES		Philip Rivers, San Diego
	D'Brickashaw Ferguson, New York Jets		Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh
	*Jake Long, Miami*
	*Joe Thomas, Cleveland*		RUNNING BACKS
			Arian Foster, Houston
	GUARDS		Maurice Jones-Drew, Jacksonville
	*Logan Mankins, New England*		*Ray Rice, Baltimore*
	*Brian Waters, New England*
*	Marshal Yanda, Baltimore		FULLBACK
			*Vonta Leach, Baltimore*
	CENTERS
	Nick Mangold, New York Jets
	*Maurkice Pouncey, Pittsburgh*

DEFENSE

	ENDS		INSIDE/MIDDLE LINEBACKERS
*	*Andre Carter, New England*		*Ray Lewis, Baltimore*
	Elvis Dumervil, Denver	*	Derrick Johnson, Kansas City
	*Dwight Freeney, Indianapolis*
			CORNERBACKS
	INTERIOR LINEMAN		*Champ Bailey, Denver*
	*Haloti Ngata, Baltimore*	*	Johnathan Joseph, Houston
	Richard Seymour, Oakland		*Darrelle Revis, New York Jets*
	*Vince Wilfork, New England*
			STRONG SAFETY
	OUTSIDE LINEBACKERS		*Troy Polamalu, Pittsburgh*
*	Tamba Hali, Kansas City
*	*Von Miller, Denver*		FREE SAFTIES
	*Terrell Suggs, Baltimore*		*Ed Reed, Baltimore*
		*	Eric Weddle, San Diego

SPECIALISTS

	PUNTER		KICK RETURN SPECIALIST
	Shane Lechler, Oakland	*	Antonio Brown, Pittsburgh

	PLACEKICKER		SPECIAL TEAMER
*	Sebastian Janikowski, Oakland	*	Matthew Slater, New England

2012 NATIONAL FOOTBALL CONFERENCE ALL-STARS

AFC-NFC PRO BOWL, SUNDAY, JANUARY 29, 2012, ALOHA STADIUM, HONOLULU, HAWAII

(Starters listed in Bold/Italics)

(* First-time Pro Bowl selection)

OFFENSE

	WIDE RECEIVERS		TIGHT ENDS
	*Larry Fitzgerald, Arizona*		Tony Gonzalez, Atlanta
	Greg Jennings, Green Bay	*	*Jimmy Graham, New Orleans*
	*Calvin Johnson, Detroit*
	Steve Smith, Carolina		QUARTERBACKS
			Drew Brees, New Orleans
	TACKLES		Eli Manning, New York Giants
*	Jermon Bushrod, New Orleans		*Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay*
	*Jason Peters, Philadelphia*
*	*Joe Staley, San Francisco*		RUNNING BACKS
		*	Matt Forté, Chicago
	GUARDS		Frank Gore, San Francisco
	*Jahri Evans, New Orleans*	*	*LeSean McCoy, Philadelphia*
	Davin Joseph, Tampa Bay
	*Carl Nicks, New Orleans*		FULLBACK
		*	*John Kuhn, Green Bay*
	CENTERS
	*Ryan Kalil, Carolina*
*	Scott Wells, Green Bay

DEFENSE

	DEFENSIVE ENDS		INSIDE/MIDDLE LINEBACKERS
	*Jared Allen, Minnesota*		Brian Urlacher, Chicago
	*Jason Babin, Philadelphia*		*Patrick Willis, San Francisco*
*	Jason Pierre-Paul, New York Giants
			CORNERBACKS
	INTERIOR LINEMEN	*	*Carlos Rogers, San Francisco*
*	B.J. Raji, Green Bay	*	Charles Tillman, Chicago
	*Jay Ratliff, Dallas*		*Charles Woodson, Green Bay*
	*Justin Smith, San Francisco*
			STRONG SAFETY
	OUTSIDE LINEBACKERS		*Adrian Wilson, Arizona*
	Lance Briggs, Chicago
	*Clay Matthews, Green Bay*		FREE SAFTIES
	*DeMarcus Ware, Dallas*	*	Dashon Goldson, San Francisco
		*	*Earl Thomas, Seattle*

SPECIALISTS

PUNTER		KICK RETURN SPECIALIST
Andy Lee, San Francisco	*	Patrick Peterson, Arizona

PLACEKICKER		SPECIAL TEAMER
David Akers, San Francisco	*	Corey Graham, Chicago

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Comments

lol

14-1
Back on track to Super Bowl XLVI!
MattFlynn4StartingQB

by arodgb on Dec 27, 2011 10:31 PM CST reply actions

Wtf is funny?

You're such an inspiration for all the ways that I will never, ever choose to be-Maynard James Keenan

by AcquiredPanic on Dec 27, 2011 10:42 PM CST up reply actions

Whoops

Sorry, I thought you were someone else, and that this was Pride of Detroit, not CSC. Whoops. My bad dude, haha. Had two tabs open. Feel free to insult me. Sorry.

14-1
Back on track to Super Bowl XLVI!
MattFlynn4StartingQB

by arodgb on Dec 27, 2011 11:10 PM CST up reply actions

No problem...

I didn’t see this comment when I replied…..I sat here for a minute wondering when I pissed you off, lol. I usually remember all the people I piss off.

You're such an inspiration for all the ways that I will never, ever choose to be-Maynard James Keenan

by AcquiredPanic on Dec 27, 2011 11:22 PM CST up reply actions

Yea

My bad dude.

14-1
Back on track to Super Bowl XLVI!
MattFlynn4StartingQB

by arodgb on Dec 27, 2011 11:28 PM CST up reply actions

you hit the wrong guy, but you may be at the right site..

when it comes to “elitist a$$dom..”

by the 9th plague on Dec 28, 2011 6:08 AM CST up reply actions

AcquiredPanic thought he had unknowingly acquired a new enemy

AP, fair warning, I’m probably going to be looking to have fun with your screen name for a bit here. I’m already sensing a pattern emerging in a new wordplay game for me…

but if you hate it, just ignore me and it’ll peter out on its own

I just had a rap with Santa and we took us a little stroll
And all I want for Christmas is the Saints in the Super Bowl

by Hans Petersen on Dec 28, 2011 10:32 AM CST up reply actions

Fire away Hans

Just have a heart when I’m begging for mercy ; )

You're such an inspiration for all the ways that I will never, ever choose to be-Maynard James Keenan

by AcquiredPanic on Dec 28, 2011 12:20 PM CST up reply actions

I'm a little surprised Roman Harper didn't make it.....

just for his sack total alone. I wonder if it’s a rare occurrence for both starting safeties to not have an interception.

You're such an inspiration for all the ways that I will never, ever choose to be-Maynard James Keenan

by AcquiredPanic on Dec 27, 2011 10:33 PM CST reply actions

Sacks aren’t a statistic that shows up on Pro Bowl ballots for DBs.

"I don’t intend to draw any conclusions from any single game." -Brian Burke
"I will now attempt to exclude specific large amounts of TOP from the totals of winning teams, in order to prove that TOP doesn't contribute to winning." -Dr. Jeremy Arkes

by coldpizza on Dec 27, 2011 10:36 PM CST up reply actions

That's kinda strange.....didn't know that

I figured all stats would be taken into account.

You're such an inspiration for all the ways that I will never, ever choose to be-Maynard James Keenan

by AcquiredPanic on Dec 27, 2011 10:41 PM CST up reply actions

No, just the most relevant ones. Otherwise, you’d have a sortable receptions column for QBs, etc. Too much clutter.

by coldpizza on Dec 27, 2011 10:42 PM CST up reply actions

At least you’d get a sortable column for TOP. That would make you happy.

by FriarBob on Dec 28, 2011 12:11 AM CST up reply actions

The talent disparity between AFC offensive linemen and NFC offensive linemen is laughable.

by coldpizza on Dec 27, 2011 10:39 PM CST reply actions

Ryan Clady, who didn’t even make the AFC team, is arguably better than all three NFC OTs.

by coldpizza on Dec 27, 2011 10:41 PM CST up reply actions

Surprised Moorestead didn't get a nod for special teams

by Valmo on Dec 27, 2011 10:45 PM CST reply actions

Surprised? No.

Disappointed? Naw, not really even then. Morestead doesn’t punt enough to get noticed. (This is not a bad thing.)

by FriarBob on Dec 28, 2011 12:13 AM CST up reply actions

Andy Lee gets in every year.

It’s a cool bay area thing for both afc/nfc

by forrestgump52 on Dec 28, 2011 3:35 AM CST up reply actions

I wonder who will replace Matt Forte as the third NFC RB. Marshawn Lynch or Michael Turner, more than likely.

by coldpizza on Dec 27, 2011 10:47 PM CST reply actions

Maybe both, if the 49ers make it to the SB.

by coldpizza on Dec 27, 2011 10:48 PM CST up reply actions

I would have to roll with Lynch

Better YPC….More Td’s….More Rec yards and Rec Td’s (is that relevant?)

You're such an inspiration for all the ways that I will never, ever choose to be-Maynard James Keenan

by AcquiredPanic on Dec 27, 2011 11:04 PM CST up reply actions

Relevant enough to be included on the ballot. It’s whoever came in 4th in the voting, though. Or 5th, assuming Peterson was among the Top 4 to begin with.

by coldpizza on Dec 27, 2011 11:07 PM CST up reply actions

Tamba Hali could have been a Saint this season. Loomis needs to start paying closer attention to my CCs.

by coldpizza on Dec 27, 2011 10:54 PM CST reply actions

The Saints should attempt to cash in on Bushrod making it. While I doubt they could get a 1st round pick for him alone, they might be able to, if they include their 2nd round pick. I still think Strief is just as good as Bushrod and we’re not going to be in a position to land a franchise LT regardless. It’s basically plug and play, until a stud materializes.

by coldpizza on Dec 27, 2011 11:05 PM CST reply actions

Agreed

I have never been a fan of Bushrod but he picked a perfect time to make the pro bowl.

You're such an inspiration for all the ways that I will never, ever choose to be-Maynard James Keenan

by AcquiredPanic on Dec 27, 2011 11:10 PM CST up reply actions

He just re-signed, too. His agent must be seething. A Super Bowl win and a Pro Bowl. Merited or not, that’s a ton of contract leverage swept under the rug.

by coldpizza on Dec 27, 2011 11:16 PM CST up reply actions

Mickey’s a genius!!

It’s not the size of your TOP, it’s how you use it!
Want scientific proof? Read this paper by Dr. Jeremy Arkes.

by Dan Kelly on Dec 29, 2011 10:01 PM CST up reply actions

How the hell did Suh not make it?

by coldpizza on Dec 27, 2011 11:12 PM CST reply actions

I read this list this morning and that was my biggest question

How does the most dominating DT in the league not make the probowl roster

by mississippisaintsfan on Dec 28, 2011 4:43 AM CST up reply actions

Attitude

This is right after the whole GB debackle, so this is fresh in people’s minds. No one is looking at his ability, just his attitude.

by Saintsfan75 on Dec 28, 2011 6:12 AM CST up reply actions

I agree this is more of a popularity contest

If not how did McCoy make it over Lynch at running back and Dwight Freeney make it over just about anyone

by mississippisaintsfan on Dec 28, 2011 6:37 AM CST up reply actions

I'll agree with you on Freeny not being deserving, but McCoy definately is

He leads the NFC in rushing yards and leads the NFL in rushing tochdowns. In addition, his 4.8 ypc is better than Lynch’s 4.2. That dude is Pro Bowler through and through this year.

by shipgoalie05 on Dec 28, 2011 7:36 AM CST up reply actions

Suspension disqualified him, I believe.

by FriarBob on Dec 28, 2011 10:51 AM CST up reply actions

Or Goodell and his "goons"

“disappeared” some Suh votes from the ballot boxes

(ps – I have no insider conspiratorial info, just a feisty streak in me this week)

I just had a rap with Santa and we took us a little stroll
And all I want for Christmas is the Saints in the Super Bowl

by Hans Petersen on Dec 28, 2011 11:11 AM CST up reply actions

No I think it was the suspension.

That’s the same reason Will Smith was not eligible this year, not that I think he would have been selected anyway.

Drew Brees....MVP Saint! Who Dat!!!

by cajuncommando58 on Dec 28, 2011 11:18 AM CST up reply actions

I think it's impressive we had 3/5 offensive lineman make the pro bowl

by daisy117 on Dec 27, 2011 11:49 PM CST via Android app reply actions

I think ypc is the most important rushing stat. You can't gain yards if you don't get the carries

Sproles is above 6.5 ypc. That’s unheard of. He’s caught a lot of passes and has good stats there and then he returns kicks and is one of the best in the league. This should have all translated into Pro Bowl status.

"We've established the run; we've established the pass. Now all we have to establish is another championship!"

by Philinwood on Dec 28, 2011 8:57 AM CST reply actions

and how about Morstead?

doesn’t he lead the league in touchbacks by a huge margin, no kickoffs out of bounds, and his punting average is way up there? Morstead has a great net avg in punts and the guy that won for punter, Lee, has a large stat for return yards against him.

"We've established the run; we've established the pass. Now all we have to establish is another championship!"

by Philinwood on Dec 28, 2011 9:09 AM CST reply actions

but this is first year of putting up those numbers

people don’t pay enough attention to punters – if only I had followed my bold predictions for his 2011 season (see The List) with an early, often, and thorough Heisman-like campaign blitz, I might have been able to truly make a difference in one man’s life…

I just had a rap with Santa and we took us a little stroll
And all I want for Christmas is the Saints in the Super Bowl

by Hans Petersen on Dec 28, 2011 10:36 AM CST up reply actions

oops, just re-read my "bold predictions" for Morstead

and they have nothing to do with Pro Bowl stats at all…

Morstead and 2011 Saints will set NFL record for fewest punts and team record for 6 games without a punt

Boom! Audited!! Hans D is eating some humble pie now – in my face! in my face! in my face!

I just had a rap with Santa and we took us a little stroll
And all I want for Christmas is the Saints in the Super Bowl

by Hans Petersen on Dec 28, 2011 10:38 AM CST up reply actions

this raises a good question in my mind

Many agree that the Pro Bowl selection/election system is flawed, but what would be a good way to fix it/replace it?

I just had a rap with Santa and we took us a little stroll
And all I want for Christmas is the Saints in the Super Bowl

by Hans Petersen on Dec 28, 2011 12:07 PM CST reply actions

I mean

I could take a flamethrower to this place, but then what?

I just had a rap with Santa and we took us a little stroll
And all I want for Christmas is the Saints in the Super Bowl

by Hans Petersen on Dec 28, 2011 12:08 PM CST up reply actions

Eliminate fan voting and eliminate the game itself. The All-Pro team is enough recognition, imo. If you want something lighthearted and fun, go back to the old skills competitions, Fastest Man, obstacle courses, that sort of thing.

by coldpizza on Dec 28, 2011 9:23 PM CST up reply actions

eliminate the game itself

Works for me. I’ll watch reruns of Law and Order before I watch a Pro Bowl.

by Drew-Dat on Dec 28, 2011 11:08 PM CST up reply actions

you know, it's funny the "game" aspect of it is one that I forget about all the time, because it's dumb and it really doesn't matter

I never watch it, and only sometimes remember to read about it afterwards…

I just had a rap with Santa and we took us a little stroll
And all I want for Christmas is the Saints in the Super Bowl

by Hans Petersen on Dec 29, 2011 1:59 AM CST up reply actions

I liked those skills competitions… they’d only change if they thought it would make the NFL more money to do so, though.

It’s not the size of your TOP, it’s how you use it!
Want scientific proof? Read this paper by Dr. Jeremy Arkes.

by Dan Kelly on Dec 29, 2011 10:06 PM CST up reply actions

No Sproles or Morstead?

Go Jimmy!!

by SarahT on Dec 28, 2011 3:50 PM CST reply actions

If you look at their entire game, Sproles should have made it

Maybe Forte and Gore are better backs, and maybe Peterson is a better returner, but if you look at the complete player none of them come close to Sproles.

"I want to hand this trophy to the MVP of the Super Bowl -- and the MVP of the entire league.''
-- Saints coach Sean Payton, handing the Vince Lombardi Trophy to Drew Brees after Super Bowl 44.

by VAsaintsfan on Dec 29, 2011 9:21 AM CST reply actions