2012 Pro Bowl

The polls for the January 29th Pro Bowl have been closed and the AFC and NFC Pro Bowl representatives will be announced tomorrow on NFL Network.

Last season, the Chiefs had three players originally selected to the Pro Bowl: Jamaal Charles, Dwayne Bowe, and Brian Waters. Three more were invited after players either declined or made the trip to the Super Bowl: Matt Cassel, Eric Berry and Tamba Hali. And although Hali turned the game down (turned out later he was injured), the Chiefs were well represented in Hawaii with five players.

This year, the Chiefs are in danger of having no Pro Bowl representatives.

Jamaal Charles and Eric Berry were both lost for the year in the first two games of the season. Brian Waters and the Chiefs went separate ways during the offseason and eventually wound up in New England. Dwayne Bowe, getting his first Pro Bowl invite in 2011 because of his ridiculous number of TDs (15), only has 5 this season. Matt Cassel was injured halfway through the season but wasn't even close to Pro Bowl potential before then.

Tamba Hali is the only player invited in 2011 that could (and probably should) garner another invite in 2012. But he's not the only player from the Chiefs that is deserving. Let's look at the Chiefs Pro Bowl candidates:

Who Should Make the Pro Bowl

Tamba Hali: Last season, Hali finished with 14.5 sacks, good for most in the AFC and second in the NFL. This year, Hali is sitting at 12 sacks with one game to go. This mark is good for 8th in the NFL, but 2nd in the AFC, only behind Terrell Suggs with 13. Hali has three multiple sack performances, so eclipsing Suggs for the AFC sack crown is not out of consideration. Hali is also tied for 5th in the NFL, and 3rd in the AFC with forced fumbles (5). The problem is, as a 3-4 OLB, Hali doesn't record a lot of tackles. His priority is rushing the passer, and because of that, he is only 12th in the AFC in tackles for the OLB position, with 62.

Derrick Johnson: When the Pro Bowl rosters were announced on NFL Network last season, one analyst said his biggest "snub" was Derrick Johnson. Last year, Johnson finished with 121 tackles, 1 sack, 4 forced fumbles, 1 INT and 1 TD. This season, Johnson's numbers have been even better. Through 15 games, Johnson has 126 tackles, 2 sacks, 1 forced fumble and 2 INTs. His tackles number is 9th in the NFL, 4th in the AFC, and 3rd of AFC Linebackers. And of the players with more tackles, only one in the AFC has more sacks. Johnson has been, perhaps, the Chiefs best player all season, and I really hope his invaluable efforts for the Chiefs are rewarded with a trip to a tropical destination.

Who Might Make the Pro Bowl


Dwayne Bowe: Once you make it to your first Pro Bowl, you are more likely to make it to another one. This might help out Bowe. He is putting together a decent season, having 75 catches for 1,066 yards and 5 TDs. This is the 11th most receptions in the NFL, 14th in receiving yards, 12th for wide receivers, and 5th for WRs in the AFC. Bowe doesn't quite have the numbers to probably justify making the Pro Bowl cut tomorrow, but a late drop out or Super Bowl qualification could get Bowe his second straight Honolulu appearance.

Brandon Flowers: Throughout his entire career, Flowers has been an underrated and undervalued cornerback. But with a surprise AFC West Championship last season and increased prime-time games this year, he has become more of a well-known figure than he ever has been and his performances are starting to take notice. Brandon Flowers is tied for 11th in the league with 4 INTs (tied with 19 other players), and is tied for 5th in pass deflections (23), first in the AFC (tied with Darrelle Revis - NYJ, and Lardarius Webb - BAL). He also has an INT returned for a TD this season. Of the players with more pass deflections, only Charles Woodson has more tackles than Flowers (56). Like Bowe, his numbers are borderline, and might not get an invite at first, but a slot could open up and Flowers just might find himself in his first Pro Bowl.

Although these Chiefs players are deserving of a Pro Bowl, the fact of the matter is, the Pro Bowl is a popularity contest. Fan voting rules the event, turning it into a popularity contest rather than a recognition of performance (how else could Antonio Gates get an invite last year while missing most of the season?). And small market teams like Kansas City struggle with such events, just because of the size compared to such markets as Dallas and New York. So if these Chiefs players don't make the Pro Bowl, don't be too disappointed, no one can take away the seasons these players have had.