Which Oakland Raiders should get a Pro Bowl nod?

Thoughts from the Dark Side

December 2, 2008

Which Oakland Raiders should get a Pro Bowl nod?

5 Comments

By Patrick Patterson

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Nnamdi Asomugha should get a trip to Hawaii. Photo by Patrick A. Patterson/TFDSsports

Its that time of year again. The fan voting has begun for the annual AFC-NFC Pro Bowl. The fans don't get the carte blanche to select the starters in the NFL, as they do in Major League Baseball, but the fan vote does count. The question becomes whether or not there are any Oakland Raiders who deserve to get the free trip to Hawaii at the end of the season. Fairly or unfairly, winning plays a role in who gets the call. The top teams in wins tend to send the most players to the Pro Bowl. The Raiders are 3-8 and in a deep funk. The Raiders also got obliterated in their only prime time TV appearance thus far this season, which definitely hurts.

Pro Bowl selections tend to generate slightly less controversy than the BCS, as there are always players who make it in based on their reputation ahead of players who had better seasons. With that said there are players on the Raiders who deserve to get the trip this season.

Nnamdi Asomugha: Nnamdi is finally starting to get the recognition around the league that he deserves as one of the true shut down corners in the league. There can be no question that he deserves to be honored with a trip to the Pro Bowl as he does his job so well, he is simply ignored. The lack of balls thrown his way is a testament to why he deserves the trip, but it is also an obstacle to his being noticed as he is simply ignored by the opposing quarterback. If Asomugha is not a Pro Bowl starter, it will be a travesty. He is simply among the absolute best at his position.

Shane Lechler: His punting has been phenomenal, as usual. He set the Raiders defense up to score two safeties, and consistently pins the opposition deep in their own end.

Sebastian Janikowski: Early in his career Jano had problems with his consistency. He has turned that corner, and has been all but automatic inside of 50 yards this season. Janikowski is 21-27 which is a 78% clip, which is not great. However, he has only two misses from inside of 50 yards. He has misses from 76, 58, and 57 which drag down his percentage, despite being incredibly unlikely attempts. Janikowski also leads the NFL in average yards per kickoff by a full yard.

Cast your Pro Bowl ballot here.

Tags: MLB, NFL, Nnamdi Asomugha, Oakland Raiders, Pro Bowl, Sebastian Janikowski, Shane Lechler

Discussion

5 Comments on "Which Oakland Raiders should get a Pro Bowl nod?"

Posted by Pat Patterson, December 2, 2008 9:41 AM

I think Patrick has done a great job in picking the Raiders that should get a Pro Bowl nod-but I would put Shane Lecher at the top #1 Raider to go.

Posted by RaiderDoc, December 2, 2008 12:53 PM

As I basically implied in the post I just put in LDizzle's article, I would go with Nnamdi and Shane. Personally, I would say Nnamdi is the first choice DB in the league period. He won't get quite that much credit since he is on our team, but I think he will get the nod. Lechler should get in as well. If he doesn't get it, it is purely because he is on a crappy team.

As for Jano... can't say I would vote for him. He is having a good year by his standards, but I'm not so sure he is the best FG kicker in the AFC. I might be jaded by the fact that historically he has stunk up the joint accuracy wise, and that is tainting my views this year as well, but I just feel he isn't clutch. I've always wanted to be a big Jano fan (for so many reasons... he just seems like a Raider), but he just doesn't get the job done when you need him. Honestly, 1 second on the clock, 42 yard attempt to win the game, you can have any kicker... do you want Seabass? Doubt it. Maybe if its a 70 yarder I would take him as he is the only one with any chance of making that, but if it is anything remotely normal range, he doesn't make my top 5.

Posted by Coach Eklins, December 2, 2008 7:05 PM

The Raiders are 3-9 Patrick!

Posted by LDizzle, December 3, 2008 5:50 PM

Absolutely Patrick. These three are no brainers. But there are a few more to consider:

Kirk Morrison is 2nd in the AFC in tackles among linebackers.

Thomas Howard is always around the ball and is all over the field so I think he deserves to go.

Isaiah Ekejiuba could go as the special teamer.

Gibril Wilson is 2nd in the AFC in tackles among DB's. Well above the likes of Troy Polamalu and Bob Sanders.

Posted by PimbVombvem, January 22, 2009 11:11 AM

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