The Pro Bowl announcement was this evening and the Miami Dolphins, in their 50th season, saw one player elected to the prestigious roster. One.
Center Mike Pouncey.
Pouncey makes it for the third time and second time as a center. He said this evening he played this season with a "chip on his shoulder" to prove to everyone he is worthy of being considered one of the top centers in the NFL. He's done that.
More importantly:
Pouncey also said his goal is to play in the game and, news alert here, he said "the plan" is to play in the game and his goal is playing the Dolphins final two games of the season. That and the fact the Dolphins did not place him on injured reserve on Tuesday suggests Pouncey might at the very least be able to play in the season-finale against New England. His status for Sunday's game against Indianapolis is more uncertain but he is not necessarily out.
So there's that good news.
And it is good news because the injuries to both offensive tackle Branden Albert and Pouncey were initially thought to be serious. But as neither is on IR and both might play again the final two weeks, it means they could be way ahead of things this offseason and for 2016 than if they'd been lost for the season after getting injured at San Diego.
Instead of starting a new rehab on his right knee from scratch, Albert can use the offseason to build on what he spent all last offseason doing. Instead of starting to rehab a foot injury this offseason, Pouncey can concentrate on doing that which is necessary for him to reach the next level of his progression -- getting stronger.
So that's good news, too.
Now, do you want the bad news?
The bad news is that no matter what you think of the Pro Bowl, the Dolphins are not considered talented enough to have more than one player in it. Remember, the fan voting counts 33 percent of the balloting. Coaches and players count 66 percent. And that means that players and coaches around the NFL do not consider the Dolphins as talented as everyone expected them to be.
Say what you will of fans voting for their favorites, but coaches and players generally have a solid idea of who is good and who isn't.
Also this: The New England Patriots had seven players selected to the Pro Bowl. The New York Jets had three players selected to the Pro Bowl. The Buffalo Bills had one player selected to the Pro Bowl.
So are the Patriots the most talented team and so they have the most Pro Bowl players? Or do they have the most Pro Bowl players because they're successful? I believe the Patriots have talent. Let's face it, the Dolphins do not have a super star on the roster like Tom Brady. He affects the course of every single game and most of the time he does so in his team's favor. Same with Rob Gronkowski who is the best tight end in the game.
The Dolphins don't have the best anyone at their position on their roster.
Ndamukong Suh is not in the Pro Bowl. And I've been getting pushback in the comments section and on twitter when I've written he has not lived up to his contract so far. Well, he didn't get the votes for the Pro Bowl, so obviously people in the know agree with me. The interior linemen are Geno Atkins, Fletcher Cox, Aaron Donald, Gerald McCoy, Kawann Short, and Calais Campbell. I'd have a hard time picking Suh over any of those except for maybe Campbell if I were starting a team. And none of those others makes $19 million per season.
As to Reshad Jones, who also didn't make it ... Don't be surprised if he gets in as a replacement. Tyrann Mathieu made it but he's on injured reserve so a replacement will have to be named there. Reggie Nelson, Earl Thomas, Eric Berry, Kam Chancellor and Charles Woodson were the other safeties picked. Great, great goup of athletes. All deserving.
So is Jones.
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