Atlanta Falcons: Ryan, Gonzalez, Jones named to Pro Bowl
Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan, tight end Tony Gonzalez and second-year wide receiver Julio Jones were named to the NFC’s Pro Bowl team on Wednesday.
Ryan has guided the Falcons to a 13-2 mark, the NFC South title and the No. 1 seed for the playoffs.
The 24-man rosters for each the AFC and NFC, plus five special-teams players were announced on NFL Network.
Atlanta’s star players hope to be occupied with preparing for the Super Bowl in New Orleans instead of the NFL’s all-star game in Hawaii. The teams playing in the Super Bowl on Feb. 3 don’t send players to the Pro Bowl on Jan. 27.
The Falcons had several players who could have been honored as they have the best record in the NFC.
The AFC and NFC squads are based on the votes of players, coaches and fans with each group’s vote counting for one-third. The voting for all three groups ended last week.
In addition to Ryan, Gonzalez and Jones, other Atlanta candidates were wide receiver Roddy White, defensive end John Abraham and safeties William Moore and Thomas DeCoud. Gonzalez, Ryan and White were among the seven players the Falcons sent to the Pro Bowl in 2010, when they also had the NFC’s best record.
It is not known if any of the Falcons are first or second alternates, who would replace injured of Super Bowl-bound players. In 2010, Brent Grimes went as the replacement for Green Bay’s Charles Woodson.
Gonzalez received the nod from fans with 553,198 votes. Gonzalez has been named to 14 Pro Bowl rosters, including the past three.
Gonzalez, 36, ranks second among the league’s tight ends with 88 catches for 889 yards and is tied for third with eight touchdowns. His 63 catches for first downs are the most for a tight end, outpacing the Saints’ Jimmy Graham by nine.
Even when Gonzalez has a quiet game, such as when he had just one catch for nine yards during Atlanta’s victory at Detroit on Saturday, his teammates benefit.
Ryan has recovered from a mid-season lull to finish the season strong. He ranks third in the NFC in touchdown passes (31), fourth in passing yards (4,481), fifth in quarterback rating (100.2) and second in completion percentage (69).
Green Bay’s Aaron Rodgers got the most votes from fans among NFC quarterbacks.
Jones is having a stellar second season. The Falcons acquired him in a 2011 blockbuster draft-day trade with the Cleveland Browns. Jones (76 catches, 1,142 yards, 10 touchdowns) has posted strong numbers in spite of Ryan spreading the ball around liberally.
Abraham leads the Falcons in sacks (10) and forced fumbles (nine). He’s tied for third in the NFC in sacks and ranks second in forced fumbles.
DeCoud’s six interceptions rank second to New York’s Stevie Brown among NFC safeties. Moore has four interceptions, two forced fumbles and 75 tackles in spite of missing the past three games because of injury.
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112 comments Add your comment
Eddie Cook
December 27th, 2012
12:54 am
First, I want to congratulate Matt Ryan, Julio Jones, and Tony Gonzalez for being chosen for the Pro Bowl. In my mind the biggest Falcon snub was Roddy White. In my mind he’s number two behind Tony Gonzalez in terms of deserving to be so honored. Of course, all of us Falcons hope none of the Falcons will participate in the Pro Bowl, because we hope the Falcons will be getting to participate in their second Super Bowl (hopefully winning one this time). At the same time it is a big honor to be selected for the Pro Bowl. And I think it goes a long way in determining the Hall of Fame consideration of a player as well. I’m not saying Roddy White is yet at that point, but should he continue his pace over the next ten years, there is a possibility he could be considered for such an honor, and I can hear the naysayers now – “Well, he only made ____ Pro Bowls”. Let it be noted for the record (and I think I speak for all Falcons fans), “Roddy, you were a Pro Bowl wide receiver this year, and it is disappointing that you were no named to the team” Many times this year you have made plays that help to victories”. In my opinion Roddy helped the Falcons win more games for us than anyone outside of Matt Ryan. Go Falcons all the way to the Super Bowl.
FALKONFAN13
December 27th, 2012
12:55 am
These so called experts are all idiots and they know nothing about the Falcons! Despite the great season, they still need to win in the playoffs. On some power rankings on espn, they had the falcons ranked 3 behind the Patriots who barely beat Jacksonville and the Broncos who the Falcons beat at home. Decoud and Asante both deserve pro bowl status honors! Win the Super Bowl and shut all of these nay sayers up! So many Manning jock riders on ESPN, its so sickening!
Bird-Watcher
December 27th, 2012
1:09 am
Cruz over Roddy? He obviously recieved more fans’ votes. Goes to show that “tweets don’t necessarily increase popularity.” No worries, I’m betting that Roddy et al will be busy with game prep that weekend. I KNOW Victor won’t be… Go falcons!
Dirtybirdsin'12
December 27th, 2012
1:25 am
Roddy, Decoud, Samuel, and Weatherspoon all got robbed. What a joke. Abe should probably be there as well.
Michael M.
December 27th, 2012
1:40 am
Who should care about the Pro Bowl…………………………..” It is the SUPER BOWL that really counts”, so forget the pro bowl nonsense……………………………………
Hot err
December 27th, 2012
1:41 am
Willy mo always ready.
Thomas Brown
December 27th, 2012
2:15 am
4 Injured Falcons’ are not practicing this week. Starting safety William Moore will miss his 4th game in row against Tampa with his hamstring injury, which is quite serious for him and for us. As you know, hamstrings can linger-on for weeks into months. 3 Falcons’ players are not practicing this week from hamstring injuries also include cornerback Christopher Owens and defensive end Cliff Matthews, too. And, wide receiver Roddy White has his knee injury at this critical juncture in Atlanta Sports’ history.
We either win week # 19 against Washington, or this city’s long-suffering post-season history, continues in a must-win game, not against Tampa, but against Washington.
Our goal has nothing to do with how we do in this most-important end-of-the-Regular-season game against Tampa. Our objective is to get these 4 injured Falcons back for the Washington game in 2 weeks, and to have no one else injured trying to win what amounts to a pre-season game, like the 4 pre-season games we played before week # 1. Tampa is probably the most-important game the Falcons have played in their entire misery-filled 46th seasons here now. We have to get this right, despite those who say we must beat Tampa. BS, we must beat Tampa. We must get our 4 injured Falcons back and we must get no one else injured, such as at QB, TE, WR, OL, RB or anyone on the thin already defense.
Limping into the Play-Offs like San Francisco, having to over-come that too, is not what this team needs. At no point Sunday should winning the game have any bearing whatsoever on what our goal is for 2012 : Get our injured players back and no one else injured for the Washington game week # 19.
PRO-BOWL MATT RYAN : Sure he should have made the PRO-BOWL.
PRO-BOWL Tony Gonzalez figures to get lots of attention in the play-offs and PRO-BOWL Julio Jones is the only able-bodied WR we have with Roddy White’s knee injury.
____________________________
2-time PRO-BOWL QB Matt Ryan
___________________________
That sounds good, doesn’t it ?
I still do not understand this Pro-Bowl BEFORE the Super Bowl. That makes no sense NFL.
PRO-BOWL Julio Jones DOUBTERS, how’s that sound to you, too ?
With Roddy White’s knee injury, Julio Jones is slightly important to us, what you think ?
Tony Gonzalez is a great football player and deserves his 12th PRO-BOWL selection and 3rd in a row. 12th-time Pro-Bowl Tony Gonzalez has 103 TD catches and leads the Pro-Bowl All-Time with 6 TD receptions, in route to his Pro Football Hall of Fame, along with his certain College Football Hall of Fame career. He could have played basketball, scoring 7 points a game and averaging 5 rebounds a game on California Golden Bear’s Sweet 16 NCAA Tournament team as well.
Javier Arenas, Consensus All-America Alabama Cornerback who also was a prolific punt returner for Nick Saban’s National Champions 2010 who has 4 sacks, 76 tackles, and 2 interceptions in the NFL, is who in 2010 we gave Kansas City Chiefs for Tony Gonzalez, also a Consensus All-America who has put Atlanta over-the-top 2012.
__________________________
2-time Pro-Bowl QB Matt Ryan
__________________________
Atlanta Franchise is all Matt Ryan is important to ? That is all 2-time Pro-Bowl QB Matt Ryan means anything to is the Atlanta Franchise ?
I don’t think so for 2 of the current 3 Pro-Bowl QB Matt Ryan.
The 2013 Pro-Bowl game in Hawai’i January 27 is the All-Star Game for the NFL.
Aaron Rodgers Packers, Matt Ryan Falcons, RG III Redskins are NFC Pro-Bowl QB 2012.
AFC has Peyton Manning 10-game winning streak Broncos, Tom Brady Patriots, Matt Schaub Texans as their Pro-Bowl QB 2012 recipients.
Would I trade Matt Ryan 2012 for Aaron Rodgers, RG III, Peyton Manning, Tom Brady or former Falcons’ back-up QB Matt Schaub ? Not on your life.
49ers have 9 Pro-Bowl Selections 2012, and the Falcons have 3 so-far.
Mountain Falcon
December 27th, 2012
3:31 am
I hope none of our players g to Hawaii because I want to see them, in New Orleans come February.
Roddy, Abe, Spoon, and Decoud should have made the NFC team though.
Atlanta Falcons: Ryan, Gonzalez, Jones named to Pro Bowl | NFL Online News
December 27th, 2012
4:02 am
[...] Atlanta Falcons This entry was posted in Atlanta Falcons and tagged Atlanta, Bowl, Falcons, Gonzalez, Jones, named, Ryan. Bookmark the permalink. ← AFC Pro Bowl Snubs: The Offense (Shutdown Corner) [...]
Thomas Brown
December 27th, 2012
4:48 am
Mountain Falcon,
They probably still will be named to the Pro-Bowl 2012, since none of the alternates and not all the reserves have been named yet. Imagine Pro-Bowl 2102 and only 3 of the NFL Leading Falcons have been named to the team so-far ? That’s B.S.
I am remembering that block-buster — for the Falcons trade in the 2011 NFL Draft for
_________________________
2012 Pro-Bowl WR Julio Jones
_________________________
Cleveland was taken the cleaners.
We get 2012 Pro-Bowl WR Julio Jones and their guy gets in a fight in the locker-room, injures his wrist, and has never been right since. Cleveland traded their pick 2011 NFL Draft to Kansas City who took the 3rd over-all WR taken last year, as time expired on Ravens’ 26th pick, Kansas City taking WR Jonathan Baldwin who has been an utter flop since his wrist injury. Jonathan Baldwin had all of 1 TD reception last year on 254 receiving yards, and this year has all of 1 TD catch again 2012 on 325 yards. Cleveland also got our 2nd round pick last year in the 2011 NFL Draft picking up 4.53 WR 6′ 2″ Greg Little who has scored 3 TD receptions this year on 609 yards and who scored only 2 TD receptions last year on 709 yards. Cleveland is only 5-10 in 2012.
We also gave up our 1st Round Pick this 2012 season NFL Draft to Cleveland who took Brandon Wheeden at QB although they had Colt McCoy. Neither is any good. Brandon Wheeden will be 30 years old next year, and his season is over 2012. He had a failed baseball pitching career, and now has a failed quarterback career, too. Brandon Wheeden has 14 TD Passes 17 Interceptions and 3 Fumbles for his 2012 season with a 72 Passer Rating and no TD rushing.
This was a
BLOCK-BUSTER TRADE for the Falcons, but certainly not a block-buster trade for hapless Cleveland.
Atlanta got 2012 Pro-Bowl WR Julio Jones of NC Alabama with his 4.39 forty-yard dash and 37 and half inch vertical leap at 6′ 3″ and 223 lbs. Wow.
Samuel
December 27th, 2012
5:35 am
I could think of several other players on the Falcons sqaud who should of made the Pro Bowl. White, Decoud, Willy Mo and Abraham. I don’t put too many emphasis on the Pro Bowl, it’s turned into a joke more than anything.
Whadda Ya Know?
December 27th, 2012
6:40 am
I wouldn’t put much weight into these pro bowl selections. They have always been a popularity contest IMO. I guess Roddy ticked someone off this year.
The Real Falcon
December 27th, 2012
6:55 am
Yeah, Roddy ticked off all those DBs he beat all season. Robbed, along with DeCoud.
Mike "CHOKE" Dogs To Death
December 27th, 2012
7:54 am
The MLB All-Star game is a real exhibition. Nobody watches the Pro Bowl. It’s an afterthought. Winning the Super Bowl is all that matters. Go Falcons!
Polk County Falcon
December 27th, 2012
7:55 am
What do we do if Matt Ryan gets a season ending injury playing in the Pro Bowl?
Nativebird
December 27th, 2012
8:39 am
Not ONE defensive pro bowler from The Falcons, team with best recorded In the NFl? The defense that beat RgIII, Peyton Manning, Eli Manning and Drew Breez! What a joke! BOTH of our safeties at least should have been chosen, best in the leaguer by far, at least one between Spoon and Nicholas and a corner between Dante and Asante. Nine 49ers are you freaking kidding me? Shows this is nothing but a beauty contest and needs to be wholly overhauled going forward.
"Come On Man"
December 27th, 2012
8:42 am
The Falcons have the best record in the National Football League
and one *starter in the Pro Bowl (Tony Gonzalez).
What a joke, the Super Bowl is all that really counts anyway.
Keep Rising Up!
Falcons Fan
December 27th, 2012
8:44 am
Who cares about the “Popularity Bowl” anyway? I don’t even watch that mess!
Ms. KP
December 27th, 2012
8:47 am
3 Pro Bowls picks for the Falcons and 5 for the Chiefs, GTFOH so disrespectful.
warfalcon
December 27th, 2012
8:53 am
Who cares,they will not be playing in that game they have a bigger game to play in.ONE GAME AT A TIME,LETS GO FALCONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Mike is Back
December 27th, 2012
8:54 am
Dled , I’m totally surprised that the BIRDS only got three selections to the Pro Bowl…what a sham. I know the guys have bigger goals for this season…BUT you still want to be acknowledged for all your hard work…geeeeeeeeeeeze…same ole NFL!
NtheNo
December 27th, 2012
8:56 am
These “popularity contests” can be poison in the locker room and should be done away with unless based on verifiable and objective criteria.
warfalcon
December 27th, 2012
9:04 am
Thomas Brown
December 27th, 2012
What are you talking about,get a life.Too much to say about nothing.ONE GAME AT A TIME,LETS GO FALCONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
KD
December 27th, 2012
9:08 am
I love the Falcons receivers, but I must admit that I believe Roddy White’s mouth may have steered him away from the Pro Bowl selection.
Congeniality Bowl
December 27th, 2012
9:10 am
The best PRO team has the best PRO players,
the best PRO team produces the best PRO record,
and that PRO team is the 13-2 ATLANTA FALCONS.
Atlanta Falcons: Finishing regular season ‘the right way’ with momentum | Atlanta Falcons
December 27th, 2012
9:11 am
[...] Ryan, Gonzalez, Jones voted to Pro Bowl [...]
Keith
December 27th, 2012
9:38 am
Yes, Roddy could have been there, too. I guess Julio got the nod due to his TD total.
Go BIRDS!
Keith
December 27th, 2012
9:39 am
Surprised some of the defensive guys didn’t make it – Abe, Decoud, or Samuel.
They are all deserving!
Starship 1
December 27th, 2012
9:46 am
Roddy, remember I wished you a great year? We’ll you’re having one-in spite of you injury. We’ll see ya in the playoffs in route to the Lombardi tropgy. I hope you’ll gettin that trophy case ready!
Starship 1
December 27th, 2012
9:47 am
Darn it-AJC needs an auto spell checker-for the stumbling, bumbling can’t find my glasses fans like me!
rockymtnfalcon
December 27th, 2012
9:49 am
Really???!!! only 3 selections for the Falcons? The Vikings had 5 and they may not make the playoffs!!! Total DISRESPECT for the Falcons. Politial B.S.!!!
I just hope the Falcons prove the rest of the Main Stream Media wrong.
HGN
December 27th, 2012
10:00 am
Roddy could be named to the Pro Bowl roster by the coaches later………….We Falcon Fans Appreciate Roddy and all that he brings to this team. He may not have gotten the popular vote of league fans but he cetainly got our vote.
Don’t know what Esquire is talking about. Obviously he is on the wrong board.
DR. FALCON
December 27th, 2012
10:00 am
JEFF SATURDAY, OVER TODD MCLURE? REALLY? SATURDAY WAS PLAING SO BAD, HIS COACHES BENCHED HIM! VICTOR CRUZ, OVER RODDY WHITE? REALLY? WE SHUT CRUZ DOWN! RODDY IS HAVING AN ALL-PRO YEAR! NO THOMAS DECOUD? WHAT A JOKE!
I usually just read but...
December 27th, 2012
10:03 am
They didn’t select all the derserving Falcons because they knew they were going to have a prior engagment. They didn’t want to end up with a team of alternates.
Have you noticed how the talking heads have started positioning theirselves to jump on the bandwagon? Yep, after we win that first game, they all gonna be ” I said all along” yatta yatta yatta the Falcons. Jumpers.
6-Pack Monte
December 27th, 2012
10:14 am
JUUUUUULIO!
GATiger
December 27th, 2012
10:39 am
So KC has 5 pro bowl players and ATL has 3. That would mean either the rest of the KC roster is God-awful or their coaching is terrible. Given that the latter is the case, Smitty should be a shoo-in for coach of the year, but we all know that’s not gonna happen.
The rut
December 27th, 2012
11:14 am
Who wants to go to Hawaii in Jan. anyway? Oh wait, I DO!!!!!
The rut
December 27th, 2012
11:15 am
Did Ray Edwards get selected?
senior falcon
December 27th, 2012
11:31 am
I’m sorry for our players who were not properly recognized for the Pro Bowl but a Super Bowl ring should be adequate compensation.
Sick & Tired Of Being Sick & Tired
December 27th, 2012
11:45 am
From the voting standpoint, the Pro Bowl is nothing more than a popularity/name recognition contest anyway. It has been that way for years, especially the fan vote portion of the process. The game is a joke anyway.
Jack J.
December 27th, 2012
11:54 am
Falcon fans, don’t be so hard on the media; remember they thought falcon’s were a bit on the funnie side when they traded six players, draft choices for a chance to draft Jones on a player hoping to be a starter on their team!
So what do they know exept they must be a bit prejudice against the Falcons.
Enough said for them, maybe they can cover a midjet football game in the near future! I said maybeeeee Case closed on them
jaz
December 27th, 2012
12:02 pm
Roddy is tweeting Drew Brees, and the Seahawks are wondering how all those 49ers got in, and they didn’t!. Roddy, you and our Defense had a great All-Pro year.
Lisa
December 27th, 2012
12:22 pm
Forget the Pro-bowl….Roddy is an all-pro receiver. The Pro-bowl is a popularity contest anyway. Roddy is by far the best receiver on this team. Julio is a great young talent, but he is not there yet. But congrats to Gonzo, Matt and Julio. Like Roddy said in his interview when questioned about his snub, “I just want the Lombardi!”
DeepDiver
December 27th, 2012
12:23 pm
DeCoud, Moore, Abe and Roddy got snubbed.
D man
December 27th, 2012
12:24 pm
Roddy white was snubbed. He deserves to be honored. Even thou no Falcons will be at the Pro Bowl, it would have been nice to have more of our players honored.
D man
December 27th, 2012
12:24 pm
Why all the 49ers? I don’t get it, what have they done???
Rick James
December 27th, 2012
1:17 pm
5 former Georgia Bulldogs in the pro bowl..
Getaway
December 27th, 2012
1:53 pm
D-man @12:24 – they won one playoff game last year.
44counter
December 27th, 2012
1:57 pm
In Roddy’s interview he said, been there done that and now he focusing on the SB. I’m sure that’s a pc answer but I’m sure alot of players have clauses in their contracts that give them a BONUS if they make the pro bowl. When somebody messy with ya money, that’s not alright.
Ladies and gentlement, Wrestling Two!
December 27th, 2012
2:24 pm
I’d rather have a super bowl than a pro bowl so who GAF. We’ll be practicing that week anyway.