Pro Bowl Voting Nears
November 9th, 2021
We’re about a week from the annual opening of Pro Bowl voting, which instead should be a one-week exercise after Week 17 (not Week 18) of the regular season.
But the hype-hungry NFL always wants fans to start voting for the best players of a season with more than a third of the games to be played. It’s moronic, especially when the technology is in place for a fast and furious vote — and one that’s far more accurate and fair.
Regardless, Joe will play along.
For so many years, Joe has heard Bucs fans, coaches and players moan about how the Pro Bowl voting — that gives one-third weight each to fans, coaches and players — is rigged for the popular teams.
Even once upon a time on the goofy Buccaneers.com show co-hosted by Ali Marpet and Donovan Smith, Joe heard them speak publicly about the honors only really going to players on high-profile good teams with a lot of exposure.
Well, this is the year to test the theory. And yeah, it’s just a theory.
The Bucs are defending Super Bowl champions and they’ve been media darlings since Tom Brady arrived.
As a result, even casual fans know Marpet and the flowing angry-red locks of center Ryan Jensen. Media talking heads and analysts have bellowed in front of millions that Lavonte David is an underappreciated superstar.
“Playoff Lenny” is a nickname known across America, and Joe would venture to say most serious NFL fans can name four Bucs wide receivers but can’t do that for any other team. Joe could go on.
Bucs fans are more energized than ever, the team is more high-profile than ever, and Bucco Bruce Arians is well-liked and respected. The latter certainly helps when it comes to garnering votes from coaches around the league.
Last year, the Bucs had just one Pro Bowler: Jason Pierre-Paul.
What will all the greatness and exposure bring this year? Two or three Pro Bowlers? Four or Five?
Joe will take an early guess and predict three Bucs will get the annual blessing, which is going to leave a lot of fans and a few players angry.
November 9th, 2021 at 3:17 pm
Fingers crossed for Durable Donnie.
😂😂😂
November 9th, 2021 at 4:19 pm
Pro bowl players Brady for sure , maybe Godwin, Wirfs or Jensen. I don’t see anyone on the defense. Vea and Suh don’t have enough snaps.
November 9th, 2021 at 4:20 pm
Outside of Brady, our entire offensive line, and Mike, no one deserves to go from our team.
November 9th, 2021 at 4:24 pm
I hope not a single Buc plays in that game. We have bigger and better plans.
November 9th, 2021 at 4:34 pm
Brady Marpet and Wirfs for sure. The ball gets too equally distributed for anyone else on offense. And defensively no one stands out. Although David should go just because he’s been screwed so much in the past.
November 9th, 2021 at 4:35 pm
Don’t care about the pro bowl we have a different bowl that all are players will be going to.
November 9th, 2021 at 4:44 pm
I hope all our players refuse to play in it. The Pro Bowl is a complete joke, and should not even be considered in regard to the Hall of Fame anymore.
November 9th, 2021 at 4:50 pm
If we have ANY Pro Bowlers, it will be from the OL.
November 9th, 2021 at 5:01 pm
I hope no Buc plays in the Pro Bowl.
November 9th, 2021 at 5:07 pm
Buc50 Says:
November 9th, 2021 at 4:24 pm
I hope not a single Buc plays in that game. We have bigger and better plans
_________
Absolutely true.
We’re gonna need those guys when we play those world beaters, the Bengals, in the Super Bowl.
…….oh wait, they’re in last place right now aren’t they?
Maybe we’ll play Joe Haden and those crappy Steelers, huh?
😂
November 9th, 2021 at 5:11 pm
Screw the toilet bowl.
November 9th, 2021 at 5:17 pm
Just got a notification from Bleacher Report that we signed Perriman. No chance of Beckham Jr.
November 9th, 2021 at 5:18 pm
As manifested by Joe…Bucs to bring back Perriman. A good & shrewd signing.
November 9th, 2021 at 5:24 pm
My prediction for Bucs pro-bowlers: Brady, Marpet, Jensen, Wirf, Vea and David.
November 9th, 2021 at 5:25 pm
Here is my list of Bucs who should be Pro Bowlers:
-Tom Brady
-Leonard Fournette
-Ali Marpet
-Rob Gronkoswki
-Mike Evans
-Ryan Jensen
-Donovan Smith
-Antonio Brown
-Chris Godwin
-Tristian Wirfs
-Shaq Barrett
-Devin White
-JPP
-Lavonte David
-Vita V.
-Antoine Winfield
-Nadomakong Suh
-Carlton Davis
-Ryan Suppop
-Bradley Pinion
These players are close but should be alternates at minimum
-Jordan Whitehead
-Alex Cappa
Sean Bunting is tough to say since he only played a few snaps. I say put him in for carrying us last playoffs……But Ill understand if he doesnt get enough votes.
If at least 75% of that list doesnt make it I will have to agree with the players………. that the voting system is not truely rewarding the best for each position.
November 9th, 2021 at 5:28 pm
And I forgot Will Gholston……Like Whitehead and Cappa he should be an alternatd at minimum.
Im almost thinking about saying Dean too but I dont wanna just be a homer.
November 9th, 2021 at 5:35 pm
The return of Brett Perriman
November 9th, 2021 at 6:06 pm
Yep, Breshad Perriman was just signed to the Buc practice squad.
November 9th, 2021 at 6:12 pm
Agree with Brady , marpet And wirfs
November 9th, 2021 at 6:18 pm
Pinion
November 9th, 2021 at 6:26 pm
I was wrong, you were right, Joe. Perriman to the practice squad.
November 9th, 2021 at 6:35 pm
That doesn’t bode well for AB apparently.
November 9th, 2021 at 7:07 pm
the players wont give AF about a pro bowl. not the goal.
November 9th, 2021 at 8:37 pm
Way to hijack the point of the thread.. this isn’t about who will go to the Pro Bowl but who DESERVES to go.
…and many of you are right, there aren’t many deserving players on this team. I would even say Brady does not deserve to go given how poorly he played against defenses with an actual pulse in the Patriots, Rams, and Saints.
November 9th, 2021 at 11:52 pm
Lets see… who gets in…
Offense: Brady. Godwin. Marpet. Wirfs.
Defense: Vita. Shaq. Winfield.
So I’d go with 7. Generally the number of guys is inflated a bit, and big moments, like Winfield in the SB, will get rewarded.
There’s so many WRs having good stat years that I doubt more than one Buc makes it in, but currently the one that gets in is Godwin because of his numbers. But one big week by Evans will have him in that spot. If Brown didn’t get hurt, he’d be a shoe-in. Same with Gronk, if he doesn’t get hurt, he’s in as well.
On defense Vita has the name, so he’s in. Shaq has the name and production, so he should be in. Winfield isn’t having as good of a year as last year, but he was fantastic last year and had the huge ‘peace’ sign moment in the SB, and I think that gets him in.
Others that maybe get in as alternates… Jensen, mostly on name value and last years team, but he’s been fine this year outside of stupid penalties. Another name, perhaps, is Suh, just because he has such a big name. Finally perhaps Fournette, again because of his playoff run and getting the starting job and being productive.
November 10th, 2021 at 2:12 am
I’d pick:
Marpet.
Wirfs.
Donovan
Jenson
Brady
Evans
Godwin
Vita Via
Pinion.
I’d take AB and Gronk but they missed a lot of time.
November 10th, 2021 at 9:12 am
Rod, your selections are good, but factoring in that it is more popularity and publicity than deserving, I go with five:
* Brady leads the way, then
* Wirfs,
* flowing angry-red locks Jensen,
* do everything Godwin, and
* give me that peace sign Winfield
I almost thru in a make up call for David, but he just isn’t having that kind of year. Then Gronk and AB are the big recognizable names, but who knows when they come back. I want Marpet and ME in – they deserve it; I just don’t see us getting 3 Oline but maybe Evans beats out Godwin (I kind of hope so).