Ravens' Trio Still Lead in Pro Bowl Voting

by Bruce Raffel on Dec 16, 2009 9:27 AM EST

With one week left in the voting for the 2010 Pro Bowl, three Ravens still lead their respective positions in voting for the AFC's team. Check out the current numbers below:

NEW ORLEANS SAINTS QB DREW BREES LEADS

PRO BOWL CHARGE WITH ONE WEEK OF VOTING

REMAINING ON NFL.COM

Teams to be Announced on Pro Bowl Selection Show December 29 on NFL Network

New Orleans Saints quarterback DREW BREES, with 1,120,535 votes, leads all NFL All-Stars in balloting for the 2010 Pro Bowl, NFL.com announced today. 2010 Pro Bowl voting will continue on NFL.com/probowl and on web-enabled mobile phones by going to NFL.com through Monday, December 21.

Minnesota Vikings quarterback BRETT FAVRE (1,120,174 votes) ranks second overall, while Indianapolis Colts quarterback PEYTON MANNING (1,113,934 votes), Minnesota Vikings running back ADRIAN PETERSON (1,079,993 votes) and Arizona Cardinals wide receiver LARRY FITZGERALD (684,698 votes) round out the top five on NFL.com.

Balloting for the 2010 Pro Bowl will conclude on Monday, December 21 following the conclusion of Monday Night Football (New York Giants at Washington Redskins, ESPN, 8:30 PM ET). The teams will be announced at 4 PM (ET) Tuesday, December 29 on a special NFL Total Access 2010 Pro Bowl Selection Show on NFL Network.

The 2010 Pro Bowl will be played on Sunday, January 31, 2010 and televised live on ESPN at 7:20 PM ET from Dolphin Stadium in South Florida, also the site of Super Bowl XLIV a week later on Sunday, February 7.

Fans can buy tickets to the 2010 Pro Bowl at www.NFL.com/probowl and www.TICKETMASTER.com or by calling 800-745-3000.

The AFC and NFC All-Star squads are based on the consensus votes of fans, players and coaches. Each group’s vote counts one-third towards determining the 43-man rosters that represent the American Football Conference and National Football Conference in the Pro Bowl. NFL players and coaches will cast their votes on December 22 - 23.

The NFL is the only sports league that combines voting by fans, coaches and players to determine its all-star teams. It was the first professional sports league to offer online all-star voting in 1995.

Listed below are the top 10 overall All-Star vote-getters and the players with the most votes at each position through December 14:

NFL ALL-STAR TOP-TEN VOTE-GETTERS

Pos.	Name, Team	Votes
QB	Drew Brees, Saints	1,120,535
QB	Brett Favre, Vikings	1,120,174
QB	Peyton Manning, Colts	1,113,934
RB	Adrian Peterson, Vikings	1,079,993
WR	Larry Fitzgerald, Cardinals	684,698
QB	Tom Brady, Patriots	622,916
TE	Dallas Clark, Colts	603,492
RB	Cedric Benson, Bengals	565,763
RB	Chris Johnson, Titans	560,479
WR	Andre Johnson, Texans	546,693

AFC LEADING VOTE-GETTERS

Pos.	Name, Team	Votes	Pos.	Name, Team	Votes
QB	Peyton Manning, Colts	1,113,934	DE	Dwight Freeney, Colts	416,963
RB	Cedric Benson, Bengals	565,763	IL	Vince Wilfork, Patriots	221,195
FB	Le'Ron McClain, Ravens	160,915	OLB	James Harrison, Steelers	225,186
WR	Andre Johnson, Texans	546,693	ILB	Ray Lewis, Ravens	308,999
TE	Dallas Clark, Colts	603,492	CB	Champ Bailey, Broncos	344,646
T	Jake Long, Dolphins	214,924	SS	Troy Polamalu, Steelers	347,418
G	Alan Faneca, Jets	232,097	FS	Ed Reed, Ravens	298,069
C	Jeff Saturday, Colts	448,405	P	Shane Lechler, Raiders	110,836
K	Adam Vinatieri, Colts	143,299	ST	Joshua Cribbs, Browns	128,861
KR	Darren Sproles, Chargers	152,254

NFC LEADING VOTE-GETTERS

Pos.	Name, Team	Votes	Pos.	Name, Team	Votes
QB	Drew Brees, Saints	1,120,535	DE	Jared Allen, Vikings	446,824
RB	Adrian Peterson, Vikings	1,079,993	IL	Pat Williams, Vikings	285,254
FB	Naufahu Tahi, Vikings	147,168	OLB	DeMarcus Ware, Cowboys	340,915
WR	Larry Fitzgerald, Cardinals	684,698	ILB	Patrick Willis, 49ers	236,923
TE	Tony Gonzalez, Falcons	351,966	CB	Asante Samuel, Eagles	258,751
T	Bryant McKinnie, Vikings	301,445	SS	Adrian Wilson, Cardinals	237,469
G	Steve Hutchinson, Vikings	308,887	FS	Darren Sharper, Saints	377,297
C	John Sullivan, Vikings	290,702	P	Chris Kluwe, Vikings	108,556
K	Ryan Longwell, Vikings	159,863	ST	Heath Farwell, Vikings	138,188
KR	Percy Harvin, Vikings	298,208

The opinions posted here are those of the administrator of this blog and his loyal readers. They are in no way official comments from the team, and should not be misconstued as such, even though he thinks he could do just as well or even a better job!

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Comments

Do they deserve it?

McClain is a no-brainer in my opinion. No fullback in the AFC is as versatile as he is, between lead-blocking, pass-blocking, recieving, and toting the rock. Man is a beast.

Reed, while not having his characteristic game-changing impact quite as much as in past seasons, was still having a pretty solid year in terms of interceptions before the injuries started piling up. One could certainly make an argument for Jairus Byrd of Buffalo, who happens to lead the league with 9 ints, but then again its pretty tough to garner enough fan-support for prow-bowl honors as a rookie free-safety.

Lewis is the really interesting one to me. As one of the many Ravens fans who have been lucky enough to witness the entire career of one of the best, if not the best football player ever, this year in particular seems to be one in which his age is really beginning to show. Watching the games, I have noted countless plays where Ray was in position to make a stop but just lacked the explosion at the last moment to catch the ball carrier. These are all plays that the Ray Lewis of five years ago would have absolutely blown up. Interestingly enough though, Lewis is still second in the AFC in total tackles, and is first among inside linebackers, according to NFL.com. That, combined with solid sack and pass-defenced numbers validates him, once again, as a legit pro-bowl candidate. Its crazy how what seems like a down year for him relative to the majority of his career is still good enough to be among the leagues statistical leaders.

They say the empty can rattles the most...

by Massacre on Dec 16, 2009 10:32 AM EST reply actions

Agree

While McClain is not a pure run blocker like Lorenzo Neal, he is opening holes for Rice and scoring when given the ball. Reed still deserves to go as teams gameplan away from him. Lewis is a question, as he is definitely not the guy he once was even a couple of years ago. However, teams still locate him before the snap, as SD found out is worthwhile. However, even though he is in the NFC, the 49ers Patrick Willis might be the best in the game right now and reminds me of the #52 jersey that he wears out of respect for Ray.

aka 'Rexx'

by Bruce Raffel on Dec 16, 2009 1:19 PM EST up reply actions

wow… are there enough vikings on there? I also don’t agree with Troy Polamalu. I think he is one of the best SS (if not the best) in the game, but he’s barely played this year, other people should deserve it who actually played. Asante Samuel of the Eagles shouldn’t be the leader, but that’s just me. I think Charles Woodson should be blowing him out of the water. One thing I’m glad to see though is the lack of Redskins on here. It seems like every year there are a million Redskins leading the public vote, even if they are having a terrible season… Last year they had 7 after the fan voting… That is just wrong. Other Ravens I think deserve to be on there, Haloti Ngata is a very iffy call considering his injury and lack of stats, but watching him he just owns and takes up so many blockers. Ray Rice is a given and he should be a back up. I believe that Hauschka should be leading the vote for kickers though… just kidding, I really like him as a person but he just doesn’t have it all together yet to be a full time kicker in the NFL.

by NgataChance!! on Dec 16, 2009 11:47 AM EST reply actions

Unfortunately, they focus on the stats

and if you ask the players they say Ngata selflessly takes on multiple blockers to open the tackle for Ray and others. However, that doesn’t get votes, just respect. And ultimately, a big contract from the guys whose opinions only matter.

aka 'Rexx'

by Bruce Raffel on Dec 16, 2009 1:21 PM EST up reply actions

popularity contest

It’s all a popularity contest…no skill involved…if only Ravens’ fans voted, I’m sure only Ravens players would be in the game…

by Ravenator on Dec 16, 2009 12:14 PM EST reply actions

Wha? Are you saying that

the MLB All Star game is a popularity contest and Cal Ripken didn’t deserve all those All Star starts!? Wha?

aka 'Rexx'

by Bruce Raffel on Dec 16, 2009 1:22 PM EST up reply actions

you prove my point..

it’s popularity…not based on play…Cal was popular everywhere and many years his numbers were downright horrible…we all know it’s based on voting, not on stats…what more needs to be said?

by Ravenator on Dec 16, 2009 2:21 PM EST up reply actions

LOL. Cal Ripken and all those rings he brought us. I’d take Manny Alexander if it meant more playoff appearances.

by raven on Dec 16, 2009 1:54 PM EST reply actions

Hey, he DID bring us two rings

which is two more than most teams not named Yankees, Red Sox!

aka 'Rexx'

by Bruce Raffel on Dec 16, 2009 3:37 PM EST up reply actions

I thought Ripken won one WS?

’83?

The Hell that Tomlin & the Steelers have unleashed on me this December is indescribable.

by John Stephens on Dec 16, 2009 4:20 PM EST up reply actions

Cal

won a ring in 83 thats was it.

by section117 on Dec 16, 2009 8:33 PM EST up reply actions

Corrected

I was counting his ’91 MVP by my bad.

aka 'Rexx'

by Bruce Raffel on Dec 17, 2009 11:03 AM EST up reply actions

What’s Cheeto Martinez up to these days?

Who had the better gimmick Cheeto and the Cheetos or Tettleton and the Froot Loops?

“I love Mickey, Mickey Who? Mickey You!” ARRRGH. Orioles marketing makes me want to vomit.

by raven on Dec 16, 2009 1:56 PM EST reply actions

Mickey

I work with a chic that used to bang him or date him if thats what you want to call it.

by section117 on Dec 16, 2009 8:34 PM EST up reply actions

No shit..you’re a career pimp aren’t you? ..What’s her number.

by raven on Dec 16, 2009 9:29 PM EST up reply actions

That is sad that Vernon Davis is getting no love!

66 Recs, 815 yards, and 11 TDs
75 Recs, 788 yards, and 5 TDs

Pretty comparable in recs and yards, but Vernon smothers him in touchdowns. Name recognition is surely trumping him.

Anyone know the NFL record for TDs by a TE? He has to be near it.

The Hell that Tomlin & the Steelers have unleashed on me this December is indescribable.

by John Stephens on Dec 16, 2009 2:53 PM EST reply actions

Yea, this voting is BS

How is Benson ahead of Chris Johnson? Really? Johnson is like 8th on the rushing list. Rice is better than him at this point in the year.

Not saying that Troy isn’t a pro-bowl player, but how does he get the votes this year when he has played 2 games? I don’t even think Ed Reed should be there to. Jarius Byrd from Buffalo has 9 interceptions on the year. 9! I think Reed and Troy have combined for 5 this season.

Agree about my man Vernon. It’s all name recognition. Kinda stupid. I hope all these Vikings get voted, then they go to the Superbowl and all those players don’t play in the Pro-Bowl because it’s the week before the big game.

You have to hate losing more than you love winning.

by Mr MaLoR on Dec 16, 2009 5:34 PM EST up reply actions