MVN - Most Valuable Network

Snub Alert! Where are the rest of the Browns?

Can anybody explain the logic behind this year’s AFC Pro Bowl selections? I understand this is probably the stupidest of all the all star games among the three major sports. However, I still can’ t help but fell that despite the fact the Browns are heading to the playoffs they are still being treated as an also-ran in the respect department.

This year, the Browns had two Pro Bowlers in wide receiver Braylon Edwards and return specialist Joshua Cribbs. You know what; they deserve it as much as anybody on the team. Edwards, with two games to go, tied the team record with 13 touchdown receptions. Cribbs is having his second consecutive pro bowl worthy season. It’s the first selection for both players and they are also the first members of the franchise to go to Hawaii since linebacker Jamir Miller was selected after the 2001 season.

What really grinds my gears though is the glaring omissions suffered by the (tied for) first place Browns. So what’s a man to do in such a crisis? Open a bottle of absinthe and draw up a top 5 list of course!

In homage to DJ Rob Gordon, here’s the top-5, in reverse order, Browns Pro Bowl snubs (players selected ahead also listed…sorry no cameo from Barry Jive and the Uptown Five this evening):

5. Jamal Lewis – RB (LaDainian Tomlinson, Willie Parker, and Joseph Addai)

As always the running back position had some of the toughest established competition in the AFC. Some could argue Lewis or Jacksonville’s Fred Taylor deserved a spot on the roster. Despite missing nearly three games (he got injured after one carry vs. New England), Lewis still has 1,084 rushing yards and 11 total touchdowns.

4. Eric Steinbach – G (Alan Faneca, Chris Dielman, Logan Mankins)

Steinbach arrived as the team’s most expensive free agent (7 years, $49 million) and has lived up to his contract and then some. The Browns are among the league leaders in rushes on the left side of the line and Eric has a lot to do with it. What I want to know is what the hell is the point of the fan vote? Eric finished first in the voting among guards and since it is considered 1/3 of the vote you’d think he’d be in right? Apparently not though as he is listed as the first alternate at guard.

3. Kellen Winslow – TE (Antonio Gates & Tony Gonzalez)

Ok, I’ll give the Golden Flash…Gates credit for his 9 TD’s this year. However, how can Tony Gonzalez beat out Winslow for the other roster spot? They are both tied among AFC TE’s with 971 yards and each has 5 TD’s. The major difference is that Winslow is helping lead the Browns into the playoffs while Gonzalez’s Cheifs are tied with Oakland for last place in the AFC West. Winslow is also listed as the first alternate at tight end.

2. Derek Anderson – QB (Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, Ben Roethlisberger)

The league’s biggest surprise this year got left out simply due to the fact that this is hands down the toughest position to crack on either conference’s roster. Anderson has come out of nowhere to account for 29 total touchdowns for the Browns. The three names listed above (yes, even Big Ben) speak for themselves. Congratulations Derek, you are also a first alternate at quarterback for the AFC. I sense a pattern here.

1. Joe Thomas – OT (Jonathan Ogden, Jason Peters, Matt Light)

Indeed, the biggest Browns snub actually belongs to the rookie left tackle from Wisconsin. Thomas has simply been the single biggest reason for the offense’s resurgence this season. Without Joe Thomas, Anderson would be lying on his back like every other QB before this season. Without Joe Thomas, Jamal Lewis may not quite have the same type of season and the backup backs certainly wouldn’t have the type of holes to run though when the spell Lewis. Hell, even #3 RB Jerome Harrison is making it through the front seven thanks to this guy. Once again, Joe Thomas is listed as the first alternate at tackle for the AFC.

What really pisses me off most about Thomas’s snub is the fact that Ravens’ LT Jon Ogden got selected ahead of him. Are you kidding me? Granted, this guy will go to Canton five years after retirement, but you can’t tell me he’s having a Pro Bowl caliber season! It’s a fact that he’s been hurt this year and it has shown in his performance along with the fact that the Ravens offense is downright pathetic this year.

So what does it all mean? I guess you can say that considering the fact that 4 of the 5 players above are the first alternates at their respective positions it at least means something. However, why the hell can’t the voters just get it right the first time?

I suppose it could be worse. Two playoff teams, Tampa Bay and Jacksonville, didn’t get any players selected while Jason Taylor of the 1-13 Dolphins got in. That alone should tell you just how credible this process is after all.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, December 18th, 2007 at 11:06 pm and is filed under Columns, Browns News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.