Saints Pro Bowl History

by Andrew Juge on Jun 9, 2011 6:00 AM CDT

The Pro Bowl was never something I put much stock in because it's always felt like a popularity contest, and I often felt like the guys that finally made it to the game were typically overdue in the recognition they got but underperformed compared to seasons they were probably more deserving and didn't get the invite. Did that sentence make any sense? Anyway, most of you probably know that the Saints got the most Pro Bowl invites the year they won the Super Bowl with seven total players (Brees, J. Evans, Sharper, Harper, Vilma, Goodwin, Stinchcomb). But did you know before that, the Saints had six guys invited twice?

In 1987, the strike year, the Saints sent Morten Andersen, Sam Mills, Reuben Mayes, Hoby Brenner, Dave Waymer and Brad Edelman to the game.

In 1992, the Saints sent Morten Andersen, Pat Swilling, Rickey Jackson, Sam Mills, Vaughan Johnson and Joel Hilgenberg to the game.

Beyond those great years of individual recognition, the Saints have had five invites twice (2009, 1979), four invites three times (1969, 1991, 2002) and three invites eight times.

The players with the most Pro Bowl trips are:

Willie Roaf 7

Morten Andersen 6

Rickey Jackson 6

Pat Swilling 4

Sam Mills 4

Vaughan Johnson 4

Joe Horn 4

Drew Brees 4

All other players in team history had two or less. The Saints have also been completely shut out of the Pro Bowl 11 times, including eight consecutive years from 1970 to 1977. Surprisingly, you might remember that they also sent no one to the game in 2007.

Another interesting tidbit is that the Saints averaged 3.27 Pro Bowlers per season when Jim Mora coached (in 11 years), while Sean Payton has averaged only slightly better at 3.4 Pro Bowlers per season (in 5 years). While Payton has had a lot more success in the playoffs, the individual player recognition he landed was about the same. Jim Haslett averaged exactly three Pro Bowlers per season in the six years he coached.

All this information was found here if you feel like geeking out and checking out how the Saints have fared in years past in this relatively meaningless honor.

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Comments

I agree with what you said about the pro-bowl being a popularity contest when all is said and done. I’ve heard that most offensive linemen are pretty much voted on their name only. I like the “all-pro” thing better since it is the “pro’s” that vote these guys in to that status. Yes the fans have an opinion, but a fan could be anyone from hardcore fans to my great aunt Lucy that can vote for these guys. The sports writers could be considered “hardcore” fans and that’s all that gets a vote in the all-pro voting. (although I’ve heard that there’s somewhat of a bias towards northeastern teams…but that’s a whole nother story)

And just as you have planted your seed in the ground, I'm going to plant my seed in you.

by GRlZZ on Jun 9, 2011 6:11 AM CDT reply actions

stayed awake I see. You must be tired.

by snowboard_kat on Jun 9, 2011 6:26 AM CDT up reply actions

I’m actually not too bad tonight, the first night (last night) is always the worst

And just as you have planted your seed in the ground, I'm going to plant my seed in you.

by GRlZZ on Jun 9, 2011 6:30 AM CDT up reply actions

Red Bull?

by snowboard_kat on Jun 9, 2011 6:39 AM CDT up reply actions

MONSTER NITROUS!

And just as you have planted your seed in the ground, I'm going to plant my seed in you.

by GRlZZ on Jun 9, 2011 6:57 AM CDT up reply actions

bout 10 more minutes!

And just as you have planted your seed in the ground, I'm going to plant my seed in you.

by GRlZZ on Jun 9, 2011 7:05 AM CDT up reply actions

sweet dreams

by snowboard_kat on Jun 9, 2011 7:08 AM CDT up reply actions

(although I’ve heard that there’s somewhat of a bias towards northeastern teams…but that’s a whole nother story)

Interesting. I don’t get that and I’m in the northeast.

by snowboard_kat on Jun 9, 2011 6:28 AM CDT up reply actions

I don’t really see it that much, but I’ve heard other people (chicago people) say how the media loves the Giants, Eagles, Jets, Steelers etc and s***’s on the bears and other such teams.

And just as you have planted your seed in the ground, I'm going to plant my seed in you.

by GRlZZ on Jun 9, 2011 6:30 AM CDT up reply actions

thanks for leaving the Pats out – everyone hates the Pats ;)

by snowboard_kat on Jun 9, 2011 6:38 AM CDT up reply actions

oh yeah and that Pats! I’ve actually kinda grown to….not necessarily like them, but I guess respect the Patriots, same for the Colts

And just as you have planted your seed in the ground, I'm going to plant my seed in you.

by GRlZZ on Jun 9, 2011 7:04 AM CDT up reply actions

walking the Pats Hall of Fame in Foxboro is actually pretty impressive. It’s all about the rings.

(DAVE, please don’t kick me out for that comment. I swear I bleed black and gold)!

by snowboard_kat on Jun 9, 2011 7:08 AM CDT up reply actions

Not positive it is bias for the northeast

so much as that is where most of the population is, thus many of the “national” writers are from the northeast and no matter how much they say they don’t go for the local teams…well, they don’t want to get their kids killed in school, do they?

Personally, I think all pro and every other “press” award should be voted on by the local beat writers only for the teams, all 32, with the caveat that they can’t vote for anyone on their own team. That would deal with any local bias really, or at least have a better chance of getting who really performed throughout the year.

A quote is a quote, of note, of note, unless of course the quote is from...wait, that's been done.

by theprogrammerman on Jun 9, 2011 8:56 AM CDT up reply actions

Brees has gone 5 times

But only 4 were with the saints.

You know, in Japan a round of golf cost $12,000. You play from rooftop to rooftop and the balls are made of rice somehow. then when you're done you've gotta go home and sleep in a tube.

-Dale Gribble

by were gonna need a bigger boat on Jun 9, 2011 7:02 AM CDT reply actions

He’s only listing the # of times with the Saints. Which is why Roaf is listed as 7 instead of his actual 11 Pro Bowls.

"Winter is coming"

by jeff.l.b on Jun 9, 2011 10:02 AM CDT up reply actions

The other thing about the Pro Bowl is

that the player votes are tabulated before the season is actually over, meaning that players aren’t actually rated on their entire season’s performance…

plus the fan vote starts in October, and besides the obvious biased homerism effect, that’s pretty early to be assessing a season’s performance.

Thumbs up, everybody...
For rock and roll!!!!

by Hans Petersen on Jun 9, 2011 7:58 AM CDT reply actions

Excellent point

In Breesus' name we play

by Breesus Christ Superstar on Jun 9, 2011 9:53 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions

Centers, defensive tackles and fullbacks … those are the three positions that can inherently carry you to multiple Pro Bowls. Any offensive line position really, but centers in particular. Once you’re in, your running game, QB or team in general would pretty much have to fall off the map for you not to make it back. Centers of successful QBs are damn near shoo-ins. Every once in a while you’ll get a guy like Olin Kreutz that gets a well-deserved buzz going on his own, but even then, that’s carried him further than it should have. Check out Football Outsider grades of those three positions at year end. The “name” guys are lucky to be ranked within the top third of their position, most times.

"I was not on the boat in question" -Darren Sharper

by coldpizza on Jun 9, 2011 12:13 PM CDT reply actions