2007 Pro Bowl Roster: No Jaguars, Fred Taylor First Alternate.

by River City Rage on Dec 18, 2007 4:26 PM EST in Jacksonville Jaguars News

Update [2007-12-18 20:25:20 by River City Rage]:: Jagnation has the right idea:

Update [2007-12-18 18:13:41 by River City Rage]:: I'm hearing that Lorenzo Neal won't be able to go to the Pro Bowl, making Full Back Greg Jones Jacksonville's representative in Hawaii. I just checked and Lorenzo Neal has a broken right fibula, and is out for the season. I'd assume that he'll miss the Pro Bowl while he recovers.

Update [2007-12-18 17:0:1 by River City Rage]:: I added the AFC Pro Bowl Roster, so you can be outraged too.

From Jaguars.com

Fred Taylor's quest to play in the Pro Bowl will now depend on one of the AFC's three elected running backs to opt out of the game. For the second consecutive year, Taylor was named first alternate at running back for the AFC Pro Bowl team.

Willie Parker of the Steelers, LaDainian Tomlinson of the Chargers and Joseph Addai of the Colts are the three running backs selected to the AFC Pro Bowl team. If any of the three elects not to play in the game, Taylor would be his replacement.

The Jaguars had no players selected to the AFC squad. Taylor is one of three Jaguars first alternates. The other two are cornerback Rashean Mathis and fullback Greg Jones.

Quarterback David Garrard, defensive tackle John Henderson and middle linebacker Mike Peterson were named second alternates.

Ugh. That's all I can say. Ugh.

I admit, I got caught up in the excitement. I'm so disappointed. Just hearing the TV Pundits talking about the "snub" makes me sick.

I'm gonna chew on this for a bit.

Thanks to everyone who stopped by the Live Blog!

-Chris

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Hosed

I don't know who got it worse, the Colts or the Jags. I suppose actually it's you guys, since there are 5 Colts on the AFC roster.

Our single most egregious sub is Gary Brackett. It is galling, two weeks after Brackett and the Colts embarassed Ray Lewis and the Ravens on national TV, that Lewis is picked over Brackett. So are we to assume that as long as Lewis plays, he gets picked? Another Raven, Jonathan Ogden, is evidently favored by this sort of grandfathering as well.

I'm not sure that's worse, though, than a 10-4 team, probably the hottest team in the conference right now, with ZERO selections. The two that most stand out are Taylor and Garrard. Taylor's recent words to the effect that he's a Pro-Bowl-caliber player is not bragging--it's a statement of fact. Garrard's breakout year is just as compelling--it's still amazing that until Anthony Smith lucked into one, only Antoine Bethea had picked him all year.

Anyone who disagrees about Taylor is advised to review the Jags-Steelers game, in which he was a man among boys. Willie Parker? Where was he? The Jaguars dominated the Steelers, in large part because of Taylor. The reverse certainly wasn't true about Parker. Big Ben is a good QB, certainly, but the Jags wouldn't be where they now are (and, for those who missed it, where they are is the playoff opponent NO ONE wants to play)without Garrard. The play to Northcutt was beautiful.

You guys have had a really good year. Forget the rest of the AFC. How about the Jags take care of the Pats and meet the Colts on January 20 to settle the most important issue: the best team in the AFC South, which is to say, the best team in the NFL. Though I remain confident the Colts can do it a third time this year, it would be a hell of a game.

The fault, dear Brutus, lies not in the stars, but in ourselves.

by Coltsfan58 on Dec 18, 2007 6:37 PM EST reply actions

How cool is the AFC South...

To know that there's a pretty good chance that we COULD face each other in the AFC Championship game.

Of course, the Jags have to win one of the next two, beat either Cleveland or Pittsburgh, beat the Patriots, and then go to Indy. So I don't want to get too far ahead of myself.

Jags did get hosed though. I think Taylor and Garrard deserved to go, Greg Jones is a good pick in an admittedly thin fullback category.

Now, if Willie Parker has the offseason Knee "cleanup" surgery that he needs, Fred will go in his place.

But yeah, I agree with you guys that Brackett should have gone instead of Ray Lewis. Lewis gets the vote because people think of what people have done in the past (Tony Gonzalez, Champ Bailey) vs. what players have done this season.

-Chris

Jags Blogger for SB Nation Big Cat Country!

by River City Rage on Dec 18, 2007 7:03 PM EST reply actions

Jones and not MJD?

Having to have a fullback on the AFC roster is peculiar. I think if you're going to have one, and Neal's out, Jones is the right choice, but why have one at all?

Most teams seem to be going to a one-back, featured back style of offense. You guys do have a fullback and use him a little (what, maybe 5 touches for Jones in 2 games against the Colts), we barely use ours, the Pats only use Heath Evans when Vrabel's too tired to play on goaline plays, the Titans don't use one much (LenWhale is a FB in featured back's role) and neither do the Browns (Lewis is a FB-type runner). So, maybe SD and Cincinnati use a two-back set a lot. Taylor and MJD are the best two-back tandem in the AFC (only C. Taylor and Peterson in Minnesota are comparable in the NFC), but that's not the same as a two-back set. In your games against the Colts this year and last, I don't recall the two playing at the same time a lot. Yes, there were some plays, but I doubt a third of the time. So, why not add another back? MJD would be a better candidate overall to be in the Pro Bowl over Jones.

Don't even get me started back on why Garrard is deserving.

The fault, dear Brutus, lies not in the stars, but in ourselves.

by Coltsfan58 on Dec 18, 2007 9:03 PM EST up reply actions