Six Patriots named to AFC Pro Bowl Team

QB Tom Brady
LG Logan Mankins
NT Vince Wilfork
LB Jerod Mayo
S Brandon Meriweather 
CB Devin McCourty


Brady, Mayo, Big Vince and McCourty are deserving; Meriweather and Mankins are not. 

Meriweather because he has had an up and down year (including being benched early in the season) and Mankins because he held out until mid-season (he is one of the best guards in the league, but did not play half of the games).  Can't think of any Patriots that were left off the roster in favor of less deserving players.  I have watched all their games on tv.


The Super Bowl participants do not play in the Pro Bowl, so hopefully none of them will play in the game.


Source: Pats land six on Pro Bowl squad
Full List: Rosters

Other thoughts:

- Brady is the league MVP.  2nd place shouldn't be close.
- DeAngelo Hall is garbage.  How does he make the Pro Bowl?  Answer: Thank you Jay Cutler!
- Speaking of not liking DeAngelo Hall: hate the Jets, love Rex Ryan.
- The Cowboys have as many Pro Bowl players as wins (5).  Glad they had such a great year.
- Offensive line is questionable; it seems like half the players make it on name recognition or as a lifetime achievement award.
- Players who miss more than 25% of their games (4) would have to have a transcendent season for me to consider them for the Pro Bowl.  Something like Emmit Smith or Barry Sanders.
- Hakeem Nicks was all over the highlights before being injured.
- Maybe Matt Cassel can fill in for Tom Brady (again).  He has had an excellent year and would be a deserving alternate.

Update:  Here is some ESPN analysis (Link).  I read this after I wrote my post and only modified comments about offensive line selection based upon their review.  So what I'm saying is, my ideas are my own, although some of them might be shared, and better expressed by professional sports writers.