hagan714

10 best first-time Pro Bowl bets for 2008
Vinnie Iyer Posted: May 18, 2008

No matter how much talent they have, few young players can accomplish what Adrian Peterson, Patrick Willis and Joe Thomas did last season: make the Pro Bowl as rookies. For many players at positions loaded with standout veterans, it takes a while to break through and get enough votes (or the nod as an injury replacement) for a trip to Hawaii.

The 2008 edition of the NFL's all-star game signaled a significant shift, as 41 players made their first career Pro Bowl appearances. So the door is open for more newcomers to make it in '09. Here are the 10 players most likely to make their Honolulu debuts at the end of this season:

1. Mario Williams, DE, Houston Texans.

2. Chris Snee, G, New York Giants.

3. Marques Colston, WR, New Orleans Saints. Colston has quickly become the seventh-round pick every other team is trying to find. But despite making a splash with 168 catches, 2,240 yards and 19 TDs over his first two NFL seasons, he hasn't been rewarded with a Pro Bowl appearance. It's nothing against Colston's talent -- it's just that wide receiver happens to be fully loaded at the moment, and it's hard to displace venerable vets such as Torry Holt and Donald Driver.
As long as Drew Brees continues to connect with Colston, he will enjoy several more prolific seasons and make multiple Pro Bowl trips. What shouldn't hurt his campaign -- even though it does -- is Colston's strong, silent personality, which contrasts with Terrell Owens' flashy diva personality. Colston isn't quite a household name because of where he plays, but one or two more big years should do the trick.


4. Mike Patterson, DT, Philadelphia Eagles.

5. Marshawn Lynch, RB, Buffalo Bills.

6. David Diehl, OT, Giants.

7. Eli Manning, QB, Giants.

8. Jermaine Phillips, S, Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

9. Ernie Sims, OLB, Detroit Lions.

10. David Harris, ILB, New York Jets.

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Long over due. i am going to cast my vote for Evans now.

"We may have lost the game, but you'll be hurting tomorrow." Doug Atkins

CantonLegend

colston keeps getting snubbed....i like jahri evans too...im getting kinda scared cuz im agreeing with u so much lately hagan....i think he should have gone with brown but i digress...he will get his votes even tho G is kinda stacked...i dont know if he can beat out the returning vets

hagan714

I like debating with you canton. No reason to be scared LOL. You have made me look at more than one thing in a different light. Did I just say that? True wisdom is found in open minded listening. I forgot the moron that said that but the older I get the more of a moron, I guess, I am becoming.

SapperSaint

Way, way, way over due. If MC continues on the same path and doesn't get into the PB, then I am call B.S.!

CantonLegend

Colston will get his..just wait...i agree that the position is really deep in the NFC...he will get his turn

ScottF

While of course it is an honor to be chosen, the PB is just plain awful. It shows that football is much more 'work' than other sports.

I have an uncle who is rarely right about anything, but who has an interesting idea: choose the players, give them the free trip to Hawaii, but don't play the game.

I am not sure what the 12,000 fans who usually go to the game would do, but I am sure they would think of something

CantonLegend

the pro bowl is meaningless but its to match the best of the best....they dont go full go because the game is meaningless but who doesnt wanna see a TO go up against an asante samuel or champ bailey.....or see if your favorite player can make it...see how they match up against the best talent in the league...the game itself is meaningless except when u accumulate enough trips to put together a hall-of-fame carreer....ur right....the game is meaningless except for the players and fans and league

SapperSaint

I think Scott's uncle is right to a certain degree.

You never see the All SEC Team play the All ACC Team at the end of the year, do you.

CantonLegend

college is different....college has the senior bowl etc....where all the (second)best seniors go...college is different simply because ur dealing with kids...in the NFL its their job to play games and an honor to go to the pro-bowl...and if u dont wanna play.then u dont have to....in college the schools come first....not sports....they dont want to further injure their students nor do they want to injure their future athletes with one more meaningless game....the students that go to the senior bowl and pro-days go because they would like a shot to play in the NFL....the others dont because they either know they will get drafted....or dont believe they have the ability or want to go into the NFL

"deal with it or you can go play the saints and get trounced by 30 and you won't have to worry about it."-colin cowherd

FireVenturi

It still angers me that Driver made it over Colston, Colston crushed his stats last year. Driver had like what, 2 td's or something?