No Pro Bowl Issues
For the record, I live in the Denver area, and have been a resident on-and-off since the mid-1980s.
I have been what most would categorize as a diehard fan of the Denver Broncos since Bobby Humphrey joined the team out of the University of Alabama in ’89.
I have long despised the remaining teams from the AFC West, including the Oakland Raiders and especially the Kansas City Chiefs.
But for some reason, I may be the only Coloradan that isn’t completely aghast that the Chiefs somehow got the same amount of Pro Bowlers as did the Broncos.
Let me review: Denver is 13-2, still in play for the top seed in the AFC and saw five of their stars named to the Pro Bowl.
Meanwhile, Kansas City is sifting through an abysmal 2-13 season and are realistically considering playing Ricky Stanzi at quarterback this week when KC travels to Denver. Oh, they too had five team members named to the Hawaii-based exhibition game.
So why no beef?
While I may have some issues with a Bronco or two that were snubbed (Demaryius Thomas atop the list), the Chiefs deserved yesterday’s mentions. Kansas City is loaded with playmakers on each side of the ball and can boast one of the most talented rosters in the entire league. And yet, they have no quarterback and little pass rushwhich just happen to be the most important essentials in today’s NFL. Hence the two-win season.
Eric Berry? A stud defensive back, an elite safety that every team in the league would make a move to obtain.
Jamaal Charles? He’s only one of the best running backs in the league and a rare mix that can slam between the tackles for the gritty yards while also being a home-run hitter from the position.
Derrick Johnson and Tamba Hali? Two of the most consistent and reliable defensive players in the past decade. You know you get quality, effort and most importantly, production every week from this pair. Hali is a mountain in the middle and is one of the few guys on the roster with any ability to get to the passer. Johnson is a tackling machine that you know will get you a minimum of 100 tackles each year and last year set a franchise record with an astonishing 179.
My only issue might be with punter Dustin Colquitt. He didn’t deserve it—he’s not the best punter in the conference, or the division, or even his own family.
Right, Britton?
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Cub Buenning is TDdaily’s AFC West blogger. Follow him on Twitter at @cubbuenning.
