AJC > Sports > Falcons > Blog > Archives > 2007 > December > 18
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Falcons, NFC South shut out of Pro Bowl
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
It’s no surprise that the Falcons did not have one player named to the Pro Bowl today, but the entire NFC South was shut out.
Not one player from Tampa Bay, Carolina, Atlanta or New Orleans was chosen for the annual all-star game, which seems stunning on the surface, but it’s hard to argue against the players selected ahead of them.
Wasn’t this division supposed to be one of the best in the NFL just a few years ago?
About the only players who could have a gripe from the NFC South about being snubbed are New Orleans WR Marques Colston, Carolina MLB Jon Beason and Tampa Bay MLB Barrett Ruud.
Beason (118) and Ruud (108) are among the top 11 tacklers in the league, however, it’s hard to argue against the selection of Seattle’s Lofa Tatupu and San Francisco rookie Patrick Willis. Tatupu is 20th in tackles, but he has 4 interceptions and plays for the NFC West champion.
Colston is third in the NFC with 1,092 receiving yards and nine touchdowns, but he was beaten out by Larry Fitzgerald, Torry Holt, Terrell Owens and Donald Driver.
Former Falcons DE Patrick Kerney, who leads the NFL with 13.5 sacks, was named a starter for the NFL.
Dallas had the most players selected with 10. New England was next, with 8.
