Did Pro Bowl voters stick it to the Falcons?
Tony Gonzalez dunks after a touchdown against Chicago.
THE BRANCH – Were the Falcons robbed in the NFC “Chicago Style” Pro Bowl voting?
Yes.
At the very least, tight end Tony Gonzalez should have made it. You can make cases for wide receiver Roddy White, linebackers Curtis Lofton and Michael Peterson and defensive tackle Jonathan Babineaux.
Free safety Thomas DeCoud, who knocked three players out of games with his big-hitting, turned in a good season and has to be the next season’s “Pro Bowl Watch List.”
Got a couple of theories on what happened:
- Winning helps. The Falcons are 8-7 and only overpowered one team this season, San Francisco.
- The offense and defense are not ranked in the top half of the league. The offense is ranked 17th overall and the defense is ranked 23rd. The Falcons are 12th in the all important points category (22.9) and tied for 10th in turnover differential at plus-4.
- The Falcons were under-whelming in their prime time television games. They beat the Bears 21-14 on Sunday night, but didn’t rack up many style points. They lost to the Saints on Monday Night in a thrilling 35-27 game, but you never sensed that had control of that game.
- Fill in your theory right here!
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97 comments Add your comment
sal
December 30th, 2009
4:49 pm
I CANT F8CKING BELIEVE THIS!! The team was robbed like they were all season for this probowl. White, Lofton, Gonzo, all should have gone without question. COMPLETE HORSESH1T!!! I just dont get it… rice? really? I mean he is a great receiver but white has double digit tds and turned out another 1,000yd season, not to mention two games were without his starting qb… same with gonzo. Lofton, a second year player, is 4th in the league with almost 130tackles. He stepped into a spot that was owned by 1 man (brooking) for 10years on the team. And what does he do with all the pressure? He steps up and plays amazing football. zero respect for any of the players and all of their hardwork.
Bab-slanger
December 30th, 2009
4:52 pm
The Falcons are mediocre, no Pro-Bowl and no Playoffs.
uga_b
December 30th, 2009
4:54 pm
I think the Cowboys would rather Witten help them score points than make the Pro Bowl. His selection was as bad as some of the linemen chosen. How many game winning TD catches did he have?
Gonzalez and Celek both have legitimate gripes. Gonzo was steady and came through in the clutch.
No problem with Vernon Davis outside of the fact he tricked me into cutting him from my fantasy team.
MSS
December 30th, 2009
4:54 pm
Roddy, Lofton , Gonzo were robbed nobody respects the Falcons(9-7)
Todd - Dacula
December 30th, 2009
4:54 pm
No player on the Falcons played well enough to be a Pro-Bowl selection. PERIOD.
Samuel
December 30th, 2009
4:59 pm
The Pro bowl is a joke, I wouldn’t read to much into it.It’s a place where players don’t go all out and more about entertainment in a picturesque enviroment….
carp
December 30th, 2009
5:43 pm
As the emotional leader of the Falcon’s defense, for being a critical part of the maturation of the Falcon’s linebacking core and the entire defense, and being responsible for turnovers that lead to 16 Falcon points…I say PRO BOWLER MIKE PETERSON!
Harpie
December 30th, 2009
5:46 pm
Screw the Pro Bowl. Let’s win the Super Bowl next season!
P.S. We are SO LUCKY to have Tony Gonzales – he is incredible!
Row 3
December 30th, 2009
5:52 pm
Samuel..I agree, the game itself is a joke, but the recognition, and contract incentives received by the players is invaluable.
Rocky Mountian Falcon
December 30th, 2009
6:08 pm
I say we boycott the Pro-bowl! I mean the lowest rating in the U.S. should be from the state of Georgia! Lets stick it to them just as bad as they stuck it to Tony Gonzales! There was NO TE better this year than Tony. The guys selected in front of Tony cant even carry his jock-strap let alone play better than him.
LET BOYCOTT THE PRO BOWL!!! ANY TAKERS??
Fair and Balanced
December 30th, 2009
6:41 pm
Todd – Dacula
December 30th, 2009
4:54 pm
No player on the Falcons played well enough to be a Pro-Bowl selection. PERIOD.
**************
THIS^^^^^^^^^^
BT
December 30th, 2009
6:57 pm
Come to think about it.
I boycott the meaningless Pro Bowl every year.
It`s even more meaningless this year than normal.
The game being played before the Super Bowl with special rules for Super Bowl players.
What are they gonna do, put skirts on them?
What a joke.
BTW, anybody that thinks there were not politics and bias involved in the selections?
I have a section of Spaghetti junction, I would like to sell you.
Rocky Mountian Falcon
December 30th, 2009
7:14 pm
I think your right BT, How can no one from the Bengals who clinched the AFC North not make the Pro Bowl? If Tony G. was still in K.C., I think he would be on the Pro Bowl roster, but since he is a Falcon, forget about it!!!
Question: How does a 10 time Pro Bowl selection, future Hall of Fame T.E. (5 catches short of a 1,000) not make the Pro Bowl?
Answer: Put a Falcon Jersey on him.
RUDEDOGG
December 30th, 2009
7:27 pm
Its apparent that the league and the media dont respect the falcons.We have to make them by winning and crushing our opponents.
Timbo
December 30th, 2009
7:43 pm
FoxNoise, Tony Gonzalez led the NFC in fan votes for his position, so you cannot blame the fans for that. The coaches and players refused to put Gonzo in the Pro Bowl.
Timbo
December 30th, 2009
7:46 pm
midnite, when we finally have two back to back winning seasons, will that get us in the playoffs? Is there a trophy? Do we get cookies? A stale cracker? Nope. It is meaningless. By the way, since you’re wondering, I’ve been a fan since 1982; but that does not get me a bag of doritos either . . .
BT
December 30th, 2009
7:52 pm
Timbo, here is something to consider.
The Falcons Org. wants the back to back monkey off their backs.
That includes their alumni of former players.
Never mind the fans, from the above standpoint alone makes this game huge for the team.
crabapplejoe
December 30th, 2009
8:05 pm
Although I would have liked to see Gonzo voted in, Witten clearly had a better year for a team that’s going to the playoffs. Lofton was terrible in coverage and his tackles were all seven yards downfield. Roddy probably had the best argument….but again Rice is going to the next level…tough year for the Falcons….been saying that since ‘66. Anyone mentioning Petersons as a ProBowler is delusional.
Timbo
December 30th, 2009
8:27 pm
BT, and if we lose to the Bucs (which is possible since they beat a team we lost to twice this year), what will that mean?
BT
December 30th, 2009
8:39 pm
Timbo,
Of course, losing to the Bucs is possible.
That`s why they play the games but I would not put too much stock into them beating the Saints.
The Bucs run game has finally come around and the Saints defence has some issues.
Plus, the Saints might have been guilty of overlooking the Bucs while counting their playoff money?
If the Falcons lose?
Oh well, either way, they have to go back to work on trying to improve and hopefully having some sustained success.
rico43
December 30th, 2009
9:09 pm
How many of you indignant posters actually voted?
Thought so.
Back 2 Reality
December 30th, 2009
9:22 pm
Rocky Mountain Falcon@ 7:14pm
You figured that out all by yourself, WOOOOW!!!!!
BT
December 30th, 2009
9:25 pm
Is someone trying to say if you did not vote, you have no right to have an opinion?
Thought so.
Atlanta Peach
December 30th, 2009
9:36 pm
Choke, “Howd you Doin” ?!!!!!!!!!!!
Conspiracy Theory? Not.
December 30th, 2009
10:03 pm
Noticed today Falcons are least penalized team in the NFC. Plus the Bengals (who just won the AFC North) had no Pro Bowl players. No big deal.
Falcons are Pros
December 30th, 2009
10:12 pm
Crabapplejoe—Completely agree.Its been 43 years now and we keeping saying the same old things.
Timbo
December 30th, 2009
10:14 pm
rico43, I voted for every Falcons player possible approximately 50 times. Tony Gonzalez was the lead fan vote getter for his position. He was not put in by the players and coaches. The fan vote really matters less than it is made out to . . .
thunderbull56
December 30th, 2009
10:26 pm
Much as I root, root. root,for the ‘ole hometeam,can’t say that I could single out one,”dominating,clutch,game changer” this year.I do think they have played well as a team.Me,I’m Blank,I’d rather have a bunch of overachievers on a winning team, than one or two prima donna stat happy pro bowlers on a losing team.Come on D,time’s running out on silly ass blogs for the year.
RUDEDOG
December 30th, 2009
10:39 pm
This is what I’m taking about,the falcons continue to bring the leagues doormat players here.Kicker Hauschka from the Ravens whom they fired.Give me a Break.This kind of behavior will always make us the laughing stock of the NFL.
BT
December 30th, 2009
11:11 pm
RUDEDOG,
It`s not like the team is marrying the guy, (Hauschka) they only want like a three hour relationship.
Know what I am saying?
Chicago Falcon
December 30th, 2009
11:14 pm
How did Lance Briggs make it over Curtis Lofton? The Bears have a terrible record and are who we thought they were! Lofton and Gonzalez were screwed!
toby
December 30th, 2009
11:50 pm
I agree Decoud and Lofton didn’t make it because they are not well known but should be in it. Gonzales should have been a no brainer,IN.
mike
December 31st, 2009
12:59 am
Nothing but excuses here. Maybe the falconettes might try winning more games. They may find that goes a long way in the voting process.
BravesFanSince1961r
December 31st, 2009
1:56 am
What’s even worse than the snubs? Players from teams in the Super Bowl won’t play in the Pro-Bowl. So it is highly unlikely (based on records ) that the players from two of the 4 following teams: Colts (6), Saints(5), Chargers (3) or Viking (8!!!) players will be in the game.
That being said I looked at Sidney Rice’s number aren’t shabby either: 77 receptions, 1200 yards, 15.6 yards per catch and 6 TDs.
Roddy White: 79 receptions, 1087 yards, 13.8 yards per catch and 10 TDs.
Lance Biggs is, perhaps, less deserving than Lofton.
Briggs:106 tackles, 2.5 sacks 0 forced fumbles and 1 interception.
Lofton: 129 tackles, 0 sacks, 2 forced fumbles and 0 fumbles.
Well, it’s hard to argue against Briggs too. Sadly I think Celek of Philadelphia deserves Pro-Bowl recognition and I did vote for TG too! So it’s a shame no Falcon or Bengal made the roster straight in, but perhaps one or more might make it as a Super Bowl replacement.
Singletary
December 31st, 2009
6:13 am
Consipiracy Theory: good note on the least penalized. That sounds like it comes straight from Smitty’s mouth, e.g. play physical and make no errors.
D-Led, I noticed you said we only blew out one team, SF. Does that mean that the Bills game was not a real game?
6 - 10
December 31st, 2009
8:22 am
What? There are no Pro-Bowlers on this team, not a one. Look at the record, look at the stats……a mediocre year at best.
Rick Beach
December 31st, 2009
8:26 am
The Bengals won their division and still had no players make the Pro Bowl. So I don’t think it’s because of the Falcon’s 8-7 record.
Marchant
December 31st, 2009
8:44 am
Tony G. should have been selected to the Pro Bowl. The Voters must have been smoking crack.
Jerry
December 31st, 2009
9:58 am
I guess I watched a different team this year. The falcons dont have a legit safety on the team. period
s.a.m.
December 31st, 2009
10:01 am
Regarding the Braves roster moves – either they have major financial restraints or they are stupid. Lets hope it’s not the latter….
E43
December 31st, 2009
10:45 am
if the falcons want pro bowlers, they need to establish themselves as a multi headed threat. the run game worked last year but the league didnt quite fall asleep on it.
im all for being a running team and all but only if you use all your wide receivers properly. out of about 11 receiving targets, I think I speak for every one when i say that we all think of the same two names as the ones Matt tries to squeeze the ball to and that’s with two other receivers on IR.
planb
December 31st, 2009
12:35 pm
I agree with whoever said that the probowl is over rated. Half speed football making sure no one gets hurt, and we know that the best are not always the ones that get picked. It is much like the Nobel Peace Prize, where conservatives have no chance of winning, so I just say, it’s not for everyone and I’m not disappointed when my guys don’t get picked.
Vick Supporter
December 31st, 2009
1:37 pm
Let’s face it folks, after the Vick debacle, the world has just decided the Falcons ain’t “Sh-T!” In my opinion, they weren’t Sh-t to start out with. HA,HA,HA. No Super Bowl, No Pro Bowl and No winning season. And to their misfortune, No Mike Vick.
MV#777
December 31st, 2009
3:49 pm
THANK YOU!!!!!!VICK SUPPORTER.LOL………..
MV#777
December 31st, 2009
3:50 pm
WHAT GOES AROUND….
COMES AROUND……
LOL………..
Fanatic overboard
December 31st, 2009
7:11 pm
Go BUCS!
Ben
January 26th, 2010
1:26 am
You may think we got robbed, but let’s face it. It’s the NFL. It’s professional football, with the best players you can get. The truth is that if you don’t have a breakthrough season, you won’t be as recognized as the teams that do. Take the Saints as an example. They’re in the NFC South too, and they stole most of the attention. A 9-7 record is good, but 13-3 obviously will get more talk. Yeah, I agree that Roddy, Gonzo and Lofton all had Pro Bowl-worthy seasons, but there were other players out there that just got more opportunities. In Tony’s case, you have Vernon Davis, who is a touchdown in human form. The guy’s amazing. Witten I’m not so sure about, but Dallas had a great season and I think that may have helped Witten get in. Nothing’s going to change it now though. We’ll just have to get that attention back in 2010.