The Dallas Cowboys had 5 players selected to the Pro Bowl for the 2018 season. Tyron Smith, Zack Martin, Demarcus Lawrence, Ezekiel Elliot and Bryon Jones. As is the case every year after Pro Bowl voting concludes, there are some fans up in arms over some of the players snubbed. Alternatively, there are also fans that are critical of some of the Dallas Cowboys players selected due to the popularity contest attribute of Pro Bowl voting. The following is my opinion regarding the biggest snubs, surprises and shock selections of Dallas Cowboys Pro Bowl players in 2018.
BIGGEST SNUBS
Rookie linebacker Leigton Vander Esch has topped many lists compiled of biggest Pro Bowl snubs nationally but nobody is talking about the other standout linebacker who has actually played significant minutes in every single game this season. Jaylon Smith has had an equally impressive season as Vander Esch has had. The 2 of them combined are proving to be the best linebacking duo in the entire league but it is difficult for either one of them to dethrone Luke Kuechly and Bobby Wagner who are two of the best defensive players in the entire league. You could argue that there should be more spots allotted to interior linebackers but by the time the Pro Bowl alternates are named, one of the Cowboys dynamic duo could very well have a spot on the Pro Bowl roster. As far as linebackers are concerned, Darius Leonard of the Colts in the AFC has much more of case as the biggest snub at that position. Amari Cooper is another popular choice due to his impact since joining the Dallas Cowboys but is he more deserving than Davante Adams, Julio Jones, Adam Thielen and Michael Thomas? That is a tough group to crack and then there are players like Mike Evans, Odell Beckham JR, Stefon Diggs and Kenny Golladay to compete with for an alternate spot so Coop is no lock to get the nod.
BIGGEST SURPRISES
The biggest surprise in my opinion was the selection of Bryon Jones at cornerback. Not that he does not deserve to be selected, but with name recognition being such a factor and the fact the Jones is lacking in interceptions, often the shut down corners can fly under the radar and be left off of the initial Pro Bowl roster. I have to say, I am pleasantly surprised that Byron Jones was recognized as an elite player at his position. The only down side is that will come with lofty contract expectations at the conclusion of this season.
BIGGEST SHOCK
I am a huge fan of Tyron Smith. I believe, when healthy, he is the best offensive lineman in the entire National Football League. That said, he has not been healthy this season and has missed several games. Games that the Cowboys have won. When he has played, he has played less than the impossibly high standard he has set for himself. In lieu of the fact that this was not his best season and that he has missed time, I am genuinely shocked that Tyron Smith was one of the Dallas Cowboys Pro Bowl selections this season. Name recognition and ability as a player can often impact Pro Bowl voting, especially for a position like Offensive Line where it is hard to measure statistically. Any Cowboy fan worth his stones will admit to you that this is a clear case of reputation over performance. While that may be true, if players on other teams can benefit from such a loophole, than there is no more deserving player on the Dallas Cowboys than the best offensive lineman in football.
There you have it, my choices for biggest snubs, surprises and shockers for the Dallas Cowboys Pro Bowl selections. It is fair to say the other three players (Zack Martin, DeMarcus Lawrence, and Ezekiel Elliot) are all deserving and there were no surprises there. Now that the popularity contest is over, let’s hope the Dallas Cowboys can prove their worth on the football field and lock up the NFC East once and for all!
*Photo by Kieth Allision https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/legalcode