The Game Nobody Watches

[amarshal2]

#Patriots Pro Bowlers:
Brady (11th selection) - leading vote getter
Butler (1st)
Collins (1st)
Gostkowski (4th)
Gronkowski (4th)
Jones (1st)
Slater (5th)

Congrats to first timers. Butler in particular is amazing to have come this far.

7 pro bowers is a lot. That's typically at or near the league lead.

You can argue McCourty (all of them) and Hightower (Matthews, Bowman) were snubbed but two of those guys were hurt and it's hard to argue with 7 guys.

 

[AbbyNoho]

I never realized how similar Ghost and Gronk's names are until you put them together like that.

 

[Hector Salamanca]

Well, here's hoping none of them play. Great to see the first time guys get their due in any event.

 

[54thMA]

The Butler story is tremendous, so happy for that kid, he's worked his ass off to be where he is.

 

[tims4wins]

Given how the Pro Bowlers are selected - fans, coaches, players - I find it incredible that Butler made it. What a freaking story

 

[SoxJox]

I never realized how similar Ghost and Gronk's names are until you put them together like that.

The G-Ski brothers

 

[rodderick]

Given how the Pro Bowlers are selected - fans, coaches, players - I find it incredible that Butler made it. What a freaking story

The best part is Butler wasn't among the top fan selections, meaning the coaches and players put him there, which carries a ton more weight. Can't help but be ecstatic for the guy.

 

[pedro1918]

I never realized how similar Ghost and Gronk's names are until you put them together like that.

There was a Pats-Raiders game in 2014 where every point was scored by someone whose name ended in "-kowski".

Gronk (TD)
Ghost (3 FG and XP)
Janikowski (3FG)

Pats 16
Raiders 9

 

[bradmahn]

You've all been elected to the Pro Bowl!

While we all recognize the insignificance of this accomplishment, it is noteworthy at a minimum.

The Patriots were second in the NFL with seven selections, behind the Panthers (10) and tied with AZ and SEA.

Here's hoping the Patriots reps don't get to play in the game!

 

[CoolPapaLaSchelle]

This sent me down the rabbit hole of looking at past Pats Pro Bowl selections. Among the illustrious achievers:

- Marv Cook (1991 and 1992, making him perhaps the 2nd most dubious two-time Boston all star, after Scott Cooper)

- Chris Slade (1997)

- John Stephens (1988)

- Rich Camarillo (1983)

- Andre Carter (2011)

An AFL all-pro, personal favorite, and a replica jersey I am surprised not to have seen at Foxboro, is 1962 defensive back Dick Felt.

Full list is here.

 

[mt8thsw9th]

This sent me down the rabbit hole of looking at past Pats Pro Bowl selections. Among the illustrious achievers:

You missed Brandon Meriweather's selection. Dude is making minimum wage now.

 

[DJnVa]

This sent me down the rabbit hole of looking at past Pats Pro Bowl selections. Among the illustrious achievers:

- Marv Cook (1991 and 1992, making him perhaps the 2nd most dubious two-time Boston all star, after Scott Cooper)

Marv Cook was 4th in the NFL in catches in 1991 with 82. He dropped to 52 the next season, but I can't tell you how the other TEs looked that year.

 

[CoolPapaLaSchelle]

Further down the rabbit hole (and successfully avoiding my in-laws, who are camped out in my house for the holidays), Marv Cook ranks as the 59th best TE of all-time, according to at least one analysis. Interestingly, the Pats are disproportionately represented on this top 75 list, with Ben Coates (#7), Gronk (#11, before this season started), Russ Francis (#50), Cook (#59), and Sweat Leaf (#68). Not counting Alge Crunpler (#46), whose 2010 Pats' cameo amounted to 6 catches for 52 yards.

Also, Marv Cook should get extra credit for making the Pro Bowl those two years while catching passes from Millen, Zolak, Hodson, and Carlson.

 

[tims4wins]

A minor note, but the Colts got shut out of the Pro Bowl for the first time since 1997. Otherwise known as the year they finished dead last in the NFL and then drafted Manning.

GJGE Grigson.

Can we get a banner for this one? "No Pro Bowlers For First Time Since '97"

 

[MarcSullivaFan]

This sent me down the rabbit hole of looking at past Pats Pro Bowl selections. Among the illustrious achievers:

- Marv Cook (1991 and 1992, making him perhaps the 2nd most dubious two-time Boston all star, after Scott Cooper)

- Chris Slade (1997)

- John Stephens (1988)

- Rich Camarillo (1983)

- Andre Carter (2011)

An AFL all-pro, personal favorite, and a replica jersey I am surprised not to have seen at Foxboro, is 1962 defensive back Dick Felt.

Full list is here.

Slade was also a second team All Pro that year, so it's not like he squeaked in.

 

[DJnVa]

Yeah, and Stephens was 5th in NFL in rushing yards that season and Camarillo was 2nd in the NFL in punting in 1983. Those guys had legit good seasons, even if they didn't become great players.

Scott Cooper was not good at all the year we all make fun of.

 

[PC Drunken Friar]

A minor note, but the Colts got shut out of the Pro Bowl for the first time since 1997. Otherwise known as the year they finished dead last in the NFL and then drafted Manning.

GJGE Grigson.

Can we get a banner for this one? "No Pro Bowlers For First Time Since '97"

No, there has to be a positive turn on it. And they will get one in, after all the people drop out. The banner should read "At Least One Pro-Bowl Alternate Since '97"

 

[tims4wins]

Sounds like none of the Pats' 7 Pro Bowlers will actually be playing

http://www.csnne.com/new-england-patriots/new-england--patriots-players-bailing-out-of-pro-bowl

 

[Lose Remerswaal]

I'm surprised Butler isn't going. First time selected, I think he's healthy.

The others don't surprise me.

 

[tims4wins]

Apparently it is a record number of alternates this year - like 135!

 

[staz]

The Game Nobody Watches is routinely watched by more people than individual World Series and Stanley Cup Final games.

(If you believe everything you hear on MadDog Radio.)

 

[Hagios]

There was a Pats-Raiders game in 2014 where every point was scored by someone whose name ended in "-kowski".

Gronk (TD)
Ghost (3 FG and XP)
Janikowski (3FG)

Pats 16
Raiders 9

That's got to be a record for the most letters in a row, from the back, of a last name that scored all the points in an NFL game.

 

[The Price Is Wrong]

The Game Nobody Watches is routinely watched by more people than individual World Series and Stanley Cup Final games.

(If you believe everything you hear on MadDog Radio.)

Call it the game nobody watches if you like, but I watched the new, drafted format last year and it was surprisingly entertaining. It's like 80% real football, the players care and try way more than they used to with nontrivial charity money now being at stake. Watching it with a few friends with a bunch of ad-hoc, small-money prop bets would probably be a total blast. As it was, I got to root against Cris Carter one week into the DFG story, so there was plenty of value there.

If you don't have anything better going on sunday evening, it's probably worth giving it a shot.

 

[Red(s)HawksFan]

The story that none of the Patriots are going to the Pro Bowl popped up as a trending topic on Facebook. Made the mistake of clicking on it and was amused (but not surprised) at the number of folks who are genuinely butt-hurt that the Patriots are arrogantly disrespecting the NFL and its fans by blowing off this oh-so-important exhibition game.