Who are the biggest Pro Bowl snubs?

December 16, 9:08 PMBoston Fantasy Sports ExaminerMark Fuery

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Cassel wasn't selected to the Pro Bowl, but was he snubbed?

When the Pro Bowl rosters were released, Patriots fans were disappointed to see that they only had two players make the roster.  But can they really say they were snubbed?

Every year there are some deserving players who are overlooked by the voters of the NFL’s annual popularity contest, and in some cases those who have earned a spot among the league's elite are replaced by recognizable names and players from big-market teams.

The Patriots had their share of worthy players. Quarterback Matt Cassel and linebacker Jerod Meyo certainly had numbers that at least warranted consideration, but in the end they left a little to be desired.

However, there were some other players across the league who absolutely should be booking a flight to Hawaii. Here they are, in no particular order:

D’Qwell Jackson, ILB, Cle: Jackson was one of the few bright spots for an extremely disappointing Browns team. After a solid season in 2007, the former second-round pick had a breakout year. He has been a force for the otherwise weak Browns defense.

Jackson has the capability to make plays from sideline to sideline, as evidenced by his AFC-leading 136 total tackles. He was also a force against the pass as he added two sacks and three interceptions while breaking up six passes. Jackson will be one of the league’s premier linebackers for years to come and will likely only get better.

Player he should replace: James Farrior, Pit: There is no doubt that Farrior is worthy of being selected, but Jackson had a better year. It is a tough choice, but in the end Jackson was just a little better.

Karlos Dansby, OLB, Ari: Dansby has been playing at a Pro Bowl level for years, but despite his elite play he has never had the honor of being selected.

This year was no different. Dansby was the best player on a defense that is heading to the playoffs, but once again he flies under the radar. Dansby made plays all over the field, including making two interceptions while sacking the quarterback three times. His 102 total tackles weren’t too shabby either. Dansby has been making inpact plays and getting the ball back into the hands of their explosive offense all year long.

Player he should replace: Derrick Brooks, OLB, TB: Brooks was picked solely on reputation and shouldn’t have been anywhere near the Pro Bowl. He has only made 63 total tackles and wasn’t even the best linebacker on his team.

Barrett Ruud, ILB, TB: Ruud was the best player on a defense loaded with big names and stars. Like Jackson, Ruud really came into his own last season, and took another giant step this season. He has become a complete linebacker and can make impact plays all over the field. His 117 total tackles rank fourth in the NFC and sixth in the NFL.

Ruud has also shown great coverage ability and is able to keep up with any back or tight end that may come his way. He is the type of player who is always around the ball and has the ability to make a play on it, as his two interceptions and six pass breakups show.

Player he should replace: Patrick Willis, ILB, SF: It is hard to say that one of the premier young players in the league should have been left off, but Ruud has just made more big plays this season while leading one of the league’s best defenses. Tampa looks to be playoff bound, and Ruud is one of the main reasons why.

DeAngelo Williams, RB, Car: Williams has been absolutely phenomenal this season. The young, explosive back has finally shown why the Panthers made him a first-round pick out of Memphis back in 2006.

Williams enjoyed his first 1,000-yard season and currently sits at 1,229, which is good for fourth in the NFL and blew away his previous career high by almost 500 yards. He has added 14 rushing touchdowns (16 total) and along with rookie Jonathan Stewart is one half of one of the most explosive rushing attacks in the NFL.

Despite these unbelievable numbers, Williams was left off the roster. He was no doubt a victim of the strong running games across the NFC, but he should still be in.

Player he should replace: Clinton Portis, RB, Was: Portis started the season on fire, but has cooled down significantly. There is no doubt he was selected because of his great start. He is a worthy player, but not this year. Williams was better throughout the entire season.

Steve Slaton, RB, Hou: Slaton has been one of the biggest surprises of the 2008 season. Houston has been looking for a reliable back for years, and now it looks like they can call off their search.

In most years, Slaton would be a lock for Rookie of the Year.  But with Tennessee's Chris Johnson and Atlanta's Matt Ryan in the race, Slaton's chances are slim. However, he should be able to take consolation in the fact that he was a Pro Bowler. Sadly, he won't be able to do that either.

Slaton has been a home run threat all season, as shown by his impressive 4.9 yards per carry. He is currently third in the AFC with 1,124 yards and has added nine total touchdowns. He has also displayed a great ability to catch the ball and make a big play. Whenever the ball is in his hands, there is potential for a score. You can't say that for many players in the league.

Player he should replace: Ronnie Brown, RB, Mia: Brown has been a great story. After suffering a serious knee injury last season Brown has bounced back in time to help his team go on an improbable playoff run. While this is great to see, he has not been on Slaton's level. This one should have been an easy choice.

Tony Romo, QB, Dal: It is hard to believe that a Dallas Cowboys quarterback can actually end up on a snub list. They are usually the ones taking spots away from other more deserving players. However, this year Romo finds himself on the other side of the argument.

Romo’s 98.3 rating is second in the NFL and his 8.2 yards per attempt is tops among all qualifiers. What helps Romo’s case even more than his impressive stats is his value to the team. The Cowboys will only go as far as Romo will take them. When he was forced to miss a few games earlier in the season the Cowboys looked like a completely different team. They were unable to do anything on offense and people were calling them dead.

When Romo came back the team immediately improved and now finds themselves back in the playoff race. It is hard to believe that a quarterback who has the best rating in his conference and has thrown 24 touchdowns can be left out, even if he did miss a few games.

Player he should replace: Eli Manning, QB, NYG: This is your typical big-name selection. Manning has fallen back to mediocrity after strong playoff and early season performances. Romo is better in every passing category despite missing time, and somehow Eli still got in.

John Abraham, DE, Atl: “The Predator” is without a doubt the biggest defensive snub this year. His 15.5 sacks lead all defensive linemen, yet somehow the voters thought three defensive ends were better. Instead of getting his rightful spot as a starter, Abraham was named an alternate for the game.

Abraham has been a terror to offenses all season long, often drawing double and even triple coverage. His presence alone makes the Falcons defense better just because of the extra blockers needed to contain him. Even when he is not making plays, he is giving his teammates an opening to make a big play.

His best performance came last week against the Buccaneers when he got to Brian Griese three times, including once in overtime to force a punt. He was a terror all day long, despite being slowed by injury.

Player he should replace: Julius Peppers, DE, Car: Abraham’s division rival is the one who beat him out this year, mainly because he is a more recognizable name. Peppers is a freakish athlete, but Abraham is a better football player, and he is showing it this year.

For more on Abraham, visit Falcons Examiner Daniel Cox .

Philip Rivers, QB, Chargers: Abraham may be the biggest defensive snub, but Rivers is the biggest at any position. He is tied for the league lead in touchdown passes with the Saints’ Drew Brees (28) and is the only quarterback in the NFL with a QB rating over 100 (104.1).

Rivers has undoubtedly fallen victim to the Chargers disappointing season. The team considered a legitimate Super Bowl contender before the season, but instead will most likely miss the playoffs. There are many reasons for this lackluster season, but Rivers is not one of them. He is the reason they have as many wins as they do.

While Eli Manning may have gotten all the attention on draft day, Rivers has proven that he is the better quarterback. It can even be argued that no one in the league is playing better than Rivers; the stats certainly support that.

Player he should replace: Brett Favre, QB, NYJ: His selection wasn’t a surprise, but he is without a doubt the least deserving of any player on either roster. His 17 interceptions lead the league and his shaky play as of late have the Jets in danger of missing the playoffs. But he is Brett Favre, so he has to be in, right?

Rivers will likely get in since Favre never goes when he is selected anyway, but it shouldn’t have been an issue in the first place.

Those are the biggest snubs of this season. Are there more? Absolutely!  Miami's Chad Pennington, Atlanta’s Matt Ryan and Erik Coleman, St. Louis’ Oshiomogho Atogwe, San Diego’s Vincent Jackson, and many others also have a solid case for selection. But only so many can go, and in the end some shine more than others, whether they get in or not.

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