How Players Vote For The Pro Bowl
December 19th, 2012
Doug Martin’s bad day Sunday likely cost him a trip to Hawaii
Ronde Barber explained the players’ third of the Pro Bowl selection process last night on his radio show. Joe found that to be pretty cool, as Joe had no clue how players pick who eats pineapple in late January.
Fan voting for the Pro Bowl ended Monday. Coaches pick this week. And via a unique, collaborative process, players submit votes over the next couple of days. Joe assumed ballots were passed out to players and everyone turned one in, but that’s not the case.
Barber said defensive teammates get together and submit one ballot for opposing offensive players by position. Defensive players can only vote for offensive players in their own conference, Barber said, and the team-ballot method is traditionally how it’s been done across the NFL. It’s a reverse process for offensive players, and special teamers vote on their counterparts.
Barber said the collaborative approach is the most fair. The example he gave was that he has no business assessing and voting for offensive linemen.
As for what Buccaneers actually get to this season’s Pro Bowl, Joe thinks Vincent Jackson is the only true “lock.”
Sadly, Doug Martin’s lousy day against the Saints on Sunday surely cost him a bid. Adrian Peterson, Marshawn Lynch and Alfred Morris all have more yards and more yards per carry than Martin.
On defense, Joe would give Barber a strong shot, given his name recognition, a solid season, and the fact he was leading fan voting at last check. Joe would give a lesser but good chance to Lavonte David, plus an outside shot to Gerald McCoy. David has the tackling numbers and the respect of being the Bucs’ defensive playcaller, and peers and coaches might consider McCoy elite.
December 19th, 2012 at 12:02 pm
McCoy, L. David, D. Martin, Barber, Vjax…all get in
December 19th, 2012 at 12:17 pm
I agree that Vincent Jackson is the one lock to make the team. The other players mentioned by Ian’s Gay Lisp are worthy candidates, and I could see all of them making the team, but they might make the team as alternates/injury replacements or to replace player(s) who make it to the Super Bowl.
The Pro Bowl itself is a joke, and so many guys drop out with phantom injuries or to rest for the next season, and then you lose a handful of players from the two Super Bowl teams. They really should just name an All-Pro first and second team and be done with it, maybe have a skills competition in Hawaii so the players can go on vacation, no need to risk injury for a truly pointless exhibition game.
December 19th, 2012 at 12:58 pm
I agree, the Pro Bowl is pointless exhibition of little effort given football game. The some players may enjoy going on a paid trip to Hawaii, (with their incomes, they could go any time they wanted to anyway) but from a fans prospective, I could not care less what happens in this game.
December 19th, 2012 at 2:29 pm
“Barber said the collaborative approach is the most fair. The example he gave was that he has no business assessing and voting for offensive linemen.”
but the paragraph earlier says:
“Barber said defensive teammates get together and submit one ballot for opposing offensive players by position.”
Does he mean he doesn’t personally submit a vote for the OL but leaves that to his DL? I imagine not every player on his defense follows this motto.
December 19th, 2012 at 2:30 pm
Doug Martin is the only player on our offense within the top five of fan votes per position. Very strange to me.
December 19th, 2012 at 3:19 pm
@HAND
They get together and talk about who is the best. So even if the DL nominates a WR, they’d have to talk about it and agree on it as a group.
December 19th, 2012 at 3:49 pm
Jackson is having a very good year but I don’t know how he can be considered a “lock.” Calvin Johnson, Brandon Marshall, roddy white, Julio jones, victor cruz, and dez Bryant are all having just as good seasons.
Lavontae David will be there! Kid is sick! Unfortunately, he has to compete with clay Matthews, Demarcus ware, Patrick Willis, Navarro bowman, aldon smith, and chad greenway for deeeeeep NFC linebacker spot.
December 19th, 2012 at 4:50 pm
@Charlie B – I’d like to believe that, but Barber basically said he stays out of the OL votes.
Seems more like a majority vote scenario, and I don’t believe all the other defensive players follow the same ideals as he does.
December 19th, 2012 at 4:51 pm
@Erick….Really?? Where do you get your stats from…the National Enquirer??
Calvin Johnson has 1667 yds but he has 106 receptions. That’s 15.7 per catch.
V-Jax is the 5th leading receiver in the NFL (Ahead of White and Jones who both have more catches and fewer yards) with 1226 yds on 62 receptions. That’s a whopping 19.8 per catch! I think he’s a lock for the pro bowl if there is any sanity left to the balloting.
December 19th, 2012 at 5:07 pm
@Bobby: Sadly unlike you many will not look at YPC stat of Jackson which is pretty sick. Many will concentrate on the total receiving yards stat and while Jackson still barely makes it based on that stat, him playing for the Bucs may put guys like White and Jones ahead of him.
December 19th, 2012 at 5:19 pm
I think VJ and L David earned it. I think LD is out of luck playing in a small market on defense. Fantasy fans may recognize VJ’s accomplishments on offense.
I don’t think any NFL fans have even heard of Gerald McCoy but they may confuse him with that Tom Cruise character, Jerry Mcguire.
Ronde may be chosen because of his career achievements and durability, but I doubt it. He’s just not playing that well and he’s playing with the worst secondary in history.
December 19th, 2012 at 7:47 pm
I don’t think the Buccaneers are gonna send one player to the Pro Bowl to be honest. Our team gets no media attention; therefore no one knows about most of our players.
December 19th, 2012 at 10:44 pm
Coaches and players know. Fans only count for 1/3 of the ballot.
December 20th, 2012 at 5:08 am
@bobby
Haha if you’re going to make an argument against me you probably shouldn’t point out that Johnson has 44 more catches and 400 more yards than Jackson! Yes Jackson has a great YPC and is having a very good year, but there are several players that have just as good as stats as Jackson. Yard per catch is not the only thing receivers are judged on. I guess Freeman shoul make pro bowl too bc he has one of the highest yard per attempts?
Relax next time. Only thing I said is I don’t see how he is a lock. Never said he wasn’t deserving or won’t make it!
December 20th, 2012 at 5:18 am
BTW Bobby…Julio jones has more receptions, touchdowns, and happens to play for the team with the best record in football. If you don’t think he is just as deserving then you my friend are the insane one.