Pro Bowl should love Panthers
December 16
Charlotte Observer
"Making the Pro Bowl can be messy.
Because the NFL puts way too much emphasis on the fan vote - it counts for one-third but should count for no more than 10percent -- the ballot box can be stuffed.
Witness the fact that nine players from the faltering Washington Redskins won the NFC fan vote at their position (out of a possible 19). Four New York Giants did.
Zero Panthers did.
But the Pro Bowl still holds some legitimacy because the coaches' vote counts for one-third and the NFL players' vote counts for the final one-third. It matters: Both to players' egos and, frequently, because contractual incentives are tied to it.
The NFC and AFC 43-man Pro Bowl rosters will be announced at 4 p.m. today on NFL Network.
Carolina had zero Pro Bowlers last season (in fact, the NFC South had zero Pro Bowlers in 2007).
At 11-3 and tied for the NFC's best record, the Panthers deserve to get at least three Pro Bowlers this season. Anything less than three and they've been robbed. If the Panthers get four or more, they should be quite happy.
After talking to some close observers of the team and covering Carolina all season, I believe 10 Panthers have played at a Pro Bowl level for part or all of 2008.
Five are on offense: Steve Smith, DeAngelo Williams, Jordan Gross, Travelle Wharton and Ryan Kalil. Four are on defense: Julius Peppers, Jon Beason, Chris Gamble and Thomas Davis. One is a kicker: John Kasay."
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