The official announcement won’t come on NFL Network until around 3 p.m., but I just got my grubby lil’ hands on this year’s Pro Bowl teams and – s’rnuff – it’s dominated by your Dallas Cowboys. Seven starters. Eleven players. The biggest Cowboys’ representation since 1993.
The starters: Tight end Jason Witten, receiver Terrell Owens, defensive end DeMarcus Ware, kicker Nick Folk and offensive linemen Flozell Adams, Andre Gurode and Leonard Davis.
The reserves: Running back Marion Barber, safety Ken Hamlin, cornerback Terence Newman and quarterback Tony Romo.
The oversights: safety Roy Williams, defensive end Greg Ellis and punter Mat McBriar.
What these results reiterate are things we’ve known all year:
- Barber should start over Julius Jones. The dude is a backup and gets voted to the Pro Bowl?
- Jerry Jones should be the NFL’s Executive of the Year for his drafting of Folk, re-signing of Owens and Romo and free-agent signings of Davis and Hamlin.
- Williams’ reputation has fittingly plummeted. With a reduced role in pass coverage and now a suspension stemming from his ridiculous horse-collar tackles, he’s simply no longer an elite player. Williams, who went to the last four Pro Bowls, led his position in fan voting, but the final tally also includes balloting by players and coaches, and Williams’ peers have spoken loud and clear.
- Brett Favre makes me sick. Despite last Sunday’s empty pratfall that floored us all, Romo is having a better year – an MVP-type year – than everyone not named Tom Brady. But then again, even at this level, there’s a tangible popularity element that always pollutes the potion.
The Pro Bowl will be played 3 p.m. February 10 on NFL Network.
In other sorta related news, Romo showed up at Valley Ranch today with a heavy bandage and muscle-stimulating wires on his wrist and injured right thumb. Sources are speculating that the quarterback will tonight get together with Jessica Simpson and stick his thumb in cider. Those rumors, of course, are not as of yet confirmed.
