AJC > Sports > Falcons > Blog > Archives > 2006 > December > 08 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USSome Pro Bowl candidates
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
I’m throwing this one to you guys because I’m sure you’ll have a ton of good opinions to contribute on the subject matter.
Fan voting for the Pro Bowl ends Dec. 12 and the Falcons are pushing a slew of their players. What do you guys think? You can base the nominees on their merit, against other players at their positions, whatever.
Let’s get some good discussion here.
Here are the guys the Falcons are pushing:
CB DeAngelo Hall, QB Mike Vick, TB Warrick Dunn, TE Alge Crumpler, LB Michael Boley, LB Keith Brooking, DT Grady Jackson, DT Rod Coleman, FB Justin Griffith, KR/PR Allen Rossum. The Falcons are also offering up the entire O-line but…
Three players who have flown under the radar and don’t have the highlight-film plays but who might be deserving, are Jackson, Boley and Milloy.
Milloy, who is second on the team with 83 tackles and, basically serving as a fourth linebacker, has helped players like Brooking make a lot of tackles by jacking up offensive linemen and fullbacks.
Boley might be the best overall defender on the team. He has been steady against the run — running plays rarely bounce outside on his side of the field — solid in pass coverage and he’s played out of position at rush end for much of the season.
Jackson simply has been a monster in the middle. He might not look too good in his uniform but the guys has 12 tackles for losses — a huge amount for a tackle — and he’s totally changed the perception of the Falcons defensive front.
He’s also been the one player who has stayed healthy, despite getting double-teamed on nearly every play.
I’m looking forward to see what you guys have to say.
Comments
By larry w.
December 8, 2006 04:17 PM | Link to this
It’s still a little too early for me to assess pro bowl performances. We are just entering into the last quarter of the season, also known as the stretch run. In my opinion the true pro bowlers will shine in these last four crucial weeks. If Vick rushes for over a 1,000 yds. and leads the team to the playoffs, I could see him being in. I really like the season that Boley is having but I just don’t know if he has made enough “impact” plays. Alge has been off a little from his usual great seasons, but I really can’t think of three tightends in the NFC that are more deserving than him. I’ll have a better grasp of this at the end of the season. Right now, I just don’t know.
By Crown Their A$$
December 8, 2006 04:20 PM | Link to this
DeAngelo Hall shouldn’t make it, unless we’re sending those best at blowing their own horn. He’s one of the most overrated DB’s in the game.
Mike Vick and Grady Jackson should make it.
By T-Town Dawg
December 8, 2006 04:28 PM | Link to this
Boley and Jackson. That’s it.
By Andy
December 8, 2006 04:42 PM | Link to this
Milloy, Jackson, Brooking and Vick. Everyone else had so-so years and Vick should be the 3rd QB. Hall is a good CB, but has given up too many big plays this year to go, though I expect him to get a pick six on Sunday to get some votes.
By Larry
December 8, 2006 05:06 PM | Link to this
Should Vick and Hall make the Pro Bowl we will deservedly be called the laughing stock of the NFL.
Both are having a terrible year!
My picks? Jackson, Boley, Crumpler and Morten Anderson.
By The Professor
December 8, 2006 05:15 PM | Link to this
Milloy - yes Hall - no way Vick - yes (esp. if he throws 20+ TD’s and has 1000+ yards rushing) Dunn - no (unless he finishes strong) Crumpler - yes Boley - maybe Brooking - yes Grady Jackson - yes Coleman - no Griffith - no Rossum - no
By Famuan
December 8, 2006 05:18 PM | Link to this
Well Larry, considering that the fans make up 1/3 of the votes and the players & coaches make up 2/3…..exactly who will be laughing? The players and coaches who will undoutedbly throw their votes to Vick YET AGAIN? Sorry to tell ya, don’t hate the player, hate the game.
Vick, Boley, Brooking and Grady Jackson already got my votes.
By BirdBrain
December 8, 2006 05:21 PM | Link to this
Vicky going to the Pro-Bowl would be a slap in the face of every other QB in the NFL…because 29 of them are better than he is at throwing the ball.
By mavid
December 8, 2006 05:27 PM | Link to this
crumpler for sure.
but NOT vick or d. hall. they need not be rewarded for seasons that have been quite flawed.
By kaye
December 8, 2006 05:33 PM | Link to this
everybody on that list should go except for Coleman, Milloy, and Dunn. The player that i have watched since his days at Southern Miss is Boley, he is a above average OLB….he’s a great one and will continue to up his level. Mike will always go, I hope Jackson goes, but I doubt it cause of his numbers. oh and Hall and Rossum just should stay in Atlanta with me and watch the game.
By duff
December 8, 2006 05:36 PM | Link to this
Mike Vick as a Tailback, but noWAY as a quaterback
By Hokie Man
December 8, 2006 05:36 PM | Link to this
Anybody EXCEPT DeAngela Hall. If he make the PRO BOWL then I will report to Flowery Branch and demand a tryout at the age of 56 to play CB. He simply quit on us this year.
By Okie
December 8, 2006 05:48 PM | Link to this
Only an article meant to pick out deserving Falcons could result in more Vick bashing. Birdbrain is his name and brainless is his game.
By dirrtybird
December 8, 2006 05:48 PM | Link to this
Honestly, I don’t think that any Falcon is deserving of a Pro Bowl appearance this year. Especially Deangelo Hall. If anything, this guy needs his bubble burst, not blown up.
By Dr Z
December 8, 2006 05:57 PM | Link to this
Why would the Falcons push for D Hall to make the pro bowl? I find that to be amusing if not all out hilarious. He is a true talent that rely on ability instead of simply playing hard to make plays. Crump should be there along with Milloy, that’s it folks. Next year with some new attitudes and a will to WIN maybe we can get some more guys in.
By Sir Stealth
December 8, 2006 06:14 PM | Link to this
Boley is by far the most deserving of that group. Vick should also go. Dunn, Crumpler, Jackson, and Milloy are probably all just not quite deserving enough this time around. I’d guess that we’ll probably end up getting Vick in and nobody else, maybe Alge.
By UNKNOWN HINSON
December 8, 2006 06:41 PM | Link to this
Crumpler, Jackson, Vick for certain. I beleive Boley deserves it more than Brooking this year but not sure everyone else will agree. Mack Strong is going over Griffith even though he is a hell of a FB. Rossum has been good but not great. Crumpler is the same Crumpler (6 or 7 TD’s) even with a couple dropped passes. You can hate on Vick all you want but with over 30 dropped passes and 6 for TD’s his stats are skewed because of our so called “wide receivers”. I still beleive one day he will pass for 3k and run for 1,000. D’Hall is a no go, sorry bro your not the best corner in the league. I love Dunn and without him we would be nowhere but do not see him getting voted in without him having a breakout day on Sun. If Norwood was our starting RB he would be a shoe in. Offensive line… huh?
By cv
December 8, 2006 06:42 PM | Link to this
Mike Vick, Michael Boley, Keith Brooking, Grady Jackson no doubt….D-Hall, guarding the best recievers on every team is hard, but he has been burned a lot…so maybe
By Famuan
December 8, 2006 06:46 PM | Link to this
Okie, they look for any reason these days - they have no shame.
By gdg73
December 8, 2006 07:16 PM | Link to this
Vick-definitely
Crumpler-definitely
D.Hall-only if he plays lights out this next game (3 picks 1 for Td)
Boley-might deserve to but probably will go next year.
Jackson-probably won’t; only we can appreciate his impact on our run defense (not a sexy pick, but I love what he brings).
Dunn and Coleman- not this year
Brooking-Are you kidding!!!
Griffith- The only thing holding this guy back is Knapp and his lack of imagination.
By cornbread
December 8, 2006 07:29 PM | Link to this
Anyone but the classless Vick.
By Boots
December 8, 2006 07:43 PM | Link to this
I find this flawed system amusing. Who cares anyway! I laugh everytime I hear that Vick is a multiple-Pro Bowl participant. And, as far as Meangleo Hall is concerned, “Horse hockey!”
By SS
December 8, 2006 08:18 PM | Link to this
First for the Vick-haters…he’s only 5 TD passes behind the NFC leader despite about 150 fewer pass attempts and several TD drops by his receivers…and, oh by the way, he’s run for almost 1000 yards. Definitely in. Name me three who should be ahead of him, and PLEASE give a better argument than saying he’s a running back. Crumpler is still the best tight end in the NFC, despite the occasional drops this year. On offense, that’s it. As for defense, I say Coleman, Jackson, Milloy.
By Birdy
December 8, 2006 08:19 PM | Link to this
I think Vick definitely should go. And Grady Jackson also.
Crumpler, perhaps, if he remains consistent over the next 4 games.
By JJ
December 8, 2006 08:59 PM | Link to this
If Brooking makes it again they should cancel the Pro Bowl altogether. Far and away the most overrated defensive player in football. Not to mention his fat contract and the coaches inability to sit him down mean that D. Williams (probably Atlanta’s best LB) languishes on the bench. What a joke.
D. Hall needs to stay home this offseason and rethink his attitude.
Vick, Grady Jackson and maybe Boley deserve to go. Mike especially may be having one of his better years of his career. If he doesn’t make it this year, he shouldn’t have made in the previous years. Crumpler has just dropped too many passes this year, but I have no doubt next year he’ll be back to his usual self, worthy of another trip to Hawaii.
By terrell
December 8, 2006 09:05 PM | Link to this
I think the falcons have five that should make the Pro Bowl.The five players are Vick,Big Jackson,Dunn,Crumpler and Milloy.The players shouldn’t be in the Pro Bowl are Hall and Brooking because both of these guy are overated.I don’t know why both of them were selected.I would have Coleman and Rossum on the list for backup to replace any other Key players.I like to say Happy Holidays to each and every one of you.Peace!!
By Najeh Davenpoop
December 8, 2006 10:21 PM | Link to this
I voted for Vick (QB #3 after Brees and Romo), Dunn (RB #3 after Gore and S. Jackson), Crumpler (TE #1 along with Shockey), Koenen (P), Brooking (#2 LB after Briggs), and Grady Jackson (#3 DT after Hollis Thomas and Darnell Dockett). There are too many other good players competing with D. Hall, Boley and Milloy for me to vote them in, and nobody else on our defense really stacks up statistically with the rest of the league. I could have gone either way on Vick and Dunn — Vick hasn’t been significantly better or worse than Marc Bulger overall, and there are about 3 RBs who have had seasons about as good as Dunn.
Amazing, though, how at nearly every position the AFC has better players than the NFC.
By Najeh Davenpoop
December 8, 2006 10:27 PM | Link to this
I really wonder where all these Brooking haters come from. Probably UGA fans. Either way, he is 4th in the NFC in tackles, and has had a nice year despite playing out of position most of the year due to Hartwell’s injury. He may not be the fastest or most athletic guy on the field but this defense would suffer terribly if he was gone. Boley makes a lot of nice plays too, but Brooking’s definitely played better than these so-called fans give him credit for. A solid case can be made for him to go to the Pro Bowl.
By billy g
December 8, 2006 11:44 PM | Link to this
I agree that Milloy, Boley and Jackson are our Pro Bowlers. I can’t make an argument for D’Hall….he has not looked special at all. Brooking is getting his tackles, but he is not worrying too many offenses. Kerney, Coleman and Abrahams have been riddled with injuries and have not lived up to Pro Bowl standards.
By 1/137
December 9, 2006 12:36 AM | Link to this
watch out white people, another crazy maddog ni99a was trying to kill a bunch of honkies! God love them
By Smitty
December 9, 2006 09:05 AM | Link to this
Milloy,Brooking,Boley and Morton Anderson
By papilugo1
December 9, 2006 09:57 AM | Link to this
I have to agree with many of you guys, D. Hall has let us down this year. Alge,Vick, and Grady are probably our best bet. Hopefully next year we will have more definites insteads of maybes.
By Brian Hunt
December 9, 2006 10:03 AM | Link to this
Vick, Jackson, Boley, Crumpler, Milloy, and yes….Hall. The defective coverage scheme has defenders rolling away from all most games and he is one of the most targeted CBs in the league, but his success rate is still high. A lot of people are down on him, but they need to watch what happens in the secondary.
By larry w.
December 9, 2006 10:41 AM | Link to this
The Falcons are also offering up the entire O-line? Steve, was that meant to be a joke?
By morris
December 9, 2006 10:51 AM | Link to this
Absolutely nobody. This team has no pro bowlers on it this season. Boley looks like a pro bowler in the making but he needs another year of seasoning before he reaches that status. This team has performed well below expectations and the last thing I want to talk about is who might make the friggin pro bowl. Personally I don’t give a damn about the pro bowl, all I care about is winning and making the playoffs. How about a blog on what sweeping changes athur might make in the offseason. Please don’t insult us disappointed fans with the word pro bowl and falcons in the same sentence.
By ATLplayer
December 9, 2006 10:55 AM | Link to this
Being a QB is more than just passing the ball. I can’t believe some idiot said that there were 29 QBs better than VICK. You don’t have any football knowledge period!I recommend you just SHUT UP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
By What Man
December 9, 2006 11:42 AM | Link to this
Brian Hunt, you said D Hall should go to the pro bowl? You either must be related to him or you just finished smoking some gooooooooooooood stuff. If the NFL had a developmental league his a@@ would have been there this year, giving up long TD’s week after week.
By David-ATL14
December 9, 2006 12:36 PM | Link to this
NFL needs Vick and hall to certify this game as a f——— joke. Their inclusion will do the trick.
By larry w.
December 9, 2006 01:39 PM | Link to this
If Vick ends the season with 23 TD passes and 10 Int., rush for over 1000 yds. and leads the team to the playoffs, he would be worthy of a pro bowl berth. All of those achievements are very much in reach right now. On the other hand, should he struggle the remainder of the season and the Falcons fail to make the playoffs, then he would not be pro bowl worthy. That is why I feel that it is much too early to say right now.
By Famuan
December 9, 2006 02:04 PM | Link to this
It is painfully clear why the fans votes count 1/3 of the total and the players & coaches votes count for 2/3 of the total. Thank goodness the NFL had the foresight to give the players on the field and the coaches more weight in the voting totals.
By mo
December 9, 2006 02:47 PM | Link to this
My picks are:
Vick (the most electrifying player in the NFL.
Grady Jackson (The RUN STOPPER!)
ALge Crumpler
and Morten Andersen (AGE AIN’T NUTTIN BUT A NUMBER)
I will also consider Michael Boley and Keith Brooking.
D-Hall is not going this year. He fell off.
I don’t think any of our DBs will go.
As a matter of fact, I think the only definites from the Falcons to go to the Pro Bowl are Vick, Grady and Alge.
By Dr. I.Q.
December 9, 2006 03:34 PM | Link to this
* The whole process is flawed and is nothing but a popularity contest with the coaches and players giving their favorites a Pro Bowl bid which is nothing but a pay incentive. It sucks and I never watch the game. It’s like an exhibition game with nothing at stake but to not get hurt!*
By WillieDynamite
December 10, 2006 12:22 AM | Link to this
I attended the Pro Bowl last year, and was lucky enough to meet Vick, Dunn, and D. Hall, along with several players from other teams around the league. I’m flying to Hawaii again the day after the Super Bowl, and I look forward to seeing Crumpler, Vick, Brooking, and Grady Jackson. D. Hall is going to need a big game on tomorrow in order to make it.
By The Grinch
December 10, 2006 01:46 PM | Link to this
I vote for Ed Hartwell….NOT!
By bodacious
December 10, 2006 09:10 PM | Link to this
Hey..Micheal Vick is not Atl. problem. Mora Is The falcons are a top seven team as far as entering the red Zone, but a #30 in scoring it the zone. If you have talent like Dunn Norwood crumpler vick and jekins you should be able to run plays to get the few yards to the end zone. The players only run the plays they are told. The plays Mora is calling for cant get the job done with all that talent… he is too predictable
By dirty til I die
December 11, 2006 11:49 AM | Link to this
I hate on Brooking a lot, but I just got through with my Pro Bowl ballot, and his stats are top 3 in the entire league in tackles (Tied for 1st in NFC), and top 5 in the NFC in sacks. IOU some props for that Mr. Brooking. Boley is middle of the pack in stats, but his plays seem to have more impact on the field than Brooking. Brook makes tackles 5-7 yards downfield, Boley meets you at the line of scrimmage. What the hell, Let’s get them both in!!
By dirty til I die
December 11, 2006 11:59 AM | Link to this
Rod Coleman-3 sacks, 16 tackles, 3 fummbles (forced or recovered?) Gravy Jackson-30 tackles. Rod stepped up through the pain and the injuries around him yet again this year, but less than a pro bowl year. Big Gravy has more tackles for loss than any falcon ever. The big man even run to the edges to make tackles. SEE YOU IN HAWAII BIG GRAVY.
This defense in going to be healthy next year and they will look like the Ravens or the Bears. I predict 5-6 Pro Bowlers from the defense in 2008. You heard it here first.
By dirty til I die
December 11, 2006 12:05 PM | Link to this
LawDog Milloy is top 3 in the NFL in tackles. Could be the impact player of the year if the Falcons make it past the first round. Pro-Bowl bound.
By dirty til I die
December 11, 2006 12:10 PM | Link to this
D. hall is not having the year he predicted. I too think he’s hurt and won’t tell. But name one cornereback in the league that you would rather have; At this stage in his career? (for all you Ronde Barber fans, one Barber is ready to retire already, the other one isn’t far behind)
So since I don’t hate on the man for being openly confident and secure in himself, I’ll See D. Hall in Hawaii.
By dirty til I die
December 11, 2006 12:17 PM | Link to this
Like Alge said on the radio this morning, “OF COURSE, He’s having a Pro-Bowl season”. Leading the NFC in yards and TD. Top four in the league bar none. Some of ou are just mad because he has some drops this year. Hell, I’m mad too. But maybe they got all that out of their systems now and he is still the best, even looking as bad as he has at times this year.
By dirty til I die
December 11, 2006 12:26 PM | Link to this
I second the emotion that Justin Griffin is a victim of p**-poor coaching. He is top 3 in Rush yds, Rec yds, and TD. That is incredible. All the other FB’s top three ineither category are on PROLIFIC offenses with great coaching. He’s a long shot unless he shows out against Dallas on national TV, which he may get a chance to do since, everybody is is limping around Flowery Branch.
Justin seems like a nice guy. Go vote for him twice, like I did.
By dirty til I die
December 11, 2006 12:36 PM | Link to this
Add Vick’s ground stats to his passing stats and he’s top 5 in the NFC in yardage. And three of the guys above him are on losing teams; you know, the kind that get a lot of yards at garbage time when they are already 35 points down. I figure one criteria for a Pro-Bowl quarter back should be winning as least as much as you are losing. In the NFC the stats point to MV7 and a surprising Drew Brees as the legitimate Pro-Bowl candidates. Brees has been the better QB this year, but MV7 is still the fan favorite.
The haters don’t care about stuff like that, they just want to hate. So the hater’s won’t talk about football, they’ll talk about personalities, culture, other inconsequential BS.
By Tyger
December 11, 2006 06:02 PM | Link to this
I dont see any Pro Bowlers this season, maybe Morten Andersen.
By bronson
December 11, 2006 08:30 PM | Link to this
Who the hell cares about who makes it to the pro bowl. With 3 games left and this team fighting for a playoff spot. I think you’d be hard pressed to find a more pathetic beat writer for an nfl team then STEVE WYCHE. AJC, use your brain and allow D. Orlando Ledbetter to take over for everything that has to do with the falcons, he actually knows what the hell he is talking about and knows what fans care to read about. That is all.
By Dr. I.Q.
December 11, 2006 10:09 PM | Link to this
I agree with Tyger, the only consistent contributor to the Birds is our elderly kicker, Morten Andersen. This team is so mediocre, it’s embarrassing to even consider anybody as ProBowl material! When you have to struggle to squeak by a bottom dwelling 3 and 9 team, you’ll have to bend over backwards to find a legitimate candidate. And, as far as Vick is concerned, his performance last Sunday didn’t even land him in the top 14 quarterbacks in the league!
By Poor McKay
December 12, 2006 09:32 AM | Link to this
So here’s the plan, we each chip in $10 and offer it to Sanford for hiring Knapp. If we get 100,000 of the Falcons fans to donate $10, that’s $1M to support the Sanford football program. Who’s willing to pay $10 to get rid of Knapp?
By April
December 12, 2006 10:44 AM | Link to this
BirdBrain your name fits you! You should get that legally changed.
Vick should be in the probowl and had the WR caught half the dpropped balls and a few of the possible 6 TD passes they dropped you people would sing another tune! But I forgot you haters want Vick to throw,run, and block and kick right? DUMMIES! Alge should definately be there along with Miloy and Boley. Brooking is ok and his stats look good but he always allows the backs to get 4 or more yards before he gets them on the other hand he has been playing out of position so that one is tough. DHALL should trade his jersey in and apologize for comparing himself to Prime time because Prime time would never get burned by a WR wearing 1 shoe(ie pittsburgh game)!
By rick
December 12, 2006 03:50 PM | Link to this
Brooking has had a better year than Urlacher and Ray Lewis. He is a better linebacker tha both of those guys. Look up the stats, I did.
By nick
December 13, 2006 01:24 PM | Link to this
Boley has been a huge playmaker all year. Brooking probably shouldnt’ quite make it. He has a lot of tackles but no big plays, Hall Definitely Shouldn’t make it. Milloy could go, Jackson needs to go. Morten Andersen deserves it.
By Seminole with bag over head!
December 13, 2006 03:44 PM | Link to this
I am by no means a Brooking fan, but the man has done nothing but be completely consistant all season, wherever he plays. Boley will go under the radar, but he deserves some praise. I also am a big fan of D.Williams. J Abraham would be defensive player of the year if healthy. Dunn should be in Honalulu, griffith is the most undrated and underused player on the team and proved it last week. Vick, he sells tickets jerseys shoes, vick sells everything, including himself as a QB! GRADY is a beast. He should e voted, but can we get a cargo plane to take hime there?