For the first time in a long time, perhaps ever, there will be more offensive players from the Baltimore Ravens at the 2012 Pro Bowl than defensive players, as at three guys on that side of the ball opted not to play this Sunday. Terrell Suggs, Haloti Ngata and Ed Reed were selected to the team but have decided not to participate for various reasons.
On the offensive side, RB Ray Rice is also skipping the free trip to Hawaii to spend more time with his family. FB Vonta Leach and guards Marshal Yanda and Ben Grubbs will be starting for the AFC. ILB Ray Lewis will be present at the game for the umpteenth time, and you just know he will be a center of attention, not only for the media, but for the other players who will line up at his locker requesting his autograph on memorabilia to be able to prove they once played with the all-time great.
You can understand how anti-climatic the Pro Bowl must be for the Ravens players, as they realize that they should be home practicing for the trip to Indianapolis to play against the New York Giants in Super Bowl XLVI. However great of an honor it is to be named to the NFL's all-star game, much less the free vacation with your peers, it still has to be a tough acceptance for this group of disappointed Ravens stars.