The initial 2019 Pro Bowl rosters have been announced for the NFC and AFC and four Dallas Cowboys players were selected to the represent the NFC. While there are sure to be more names added as alternates before the All-Star game (which is considered by many to be merely a popularity contest rather than an accomplishment of merit) there are always harsh reactions to the initial roster announcement. With that in mind, who are the biggest Dallas Cowboys Pro Bowl snubs? Who were the biggest surprises, and what was the most shocking inclusion/ommision?
SNUBS
Dak Prescott: Dak Prescott has played well enough to earn Pro Bowl honors this season and he will likely make it in as an alternate but his exclusion this season has caused a stir among Dallas Cowboy fans. Prescott is having a career year statistically as he ranks second in passing yards, and top 5 in passing TD’s. Although, it should be noted that his completion percentage and passer rating has dropped off after his hot start and he was on pace for a career high in interceptions when Pro Bowl voting concluded. It is hard to argue against Russel Wilson as the top choice but there seems to be a large contingent of fans who feel as though Drew Brees has not played enough games and Aaron Rodgers has been average by his standards (If 24 TD’s and only 2 INT’s is considered average). Ultimately, the 7-7 record and the poor results against winning teams have cost him an itinital selection.
Amari Cooper: Dallas Cowboy fans know how valuable and how good Amari Cooper is but his numbers just don’t measure up to Michael Thomas, Julio Jones, Mike Evans, or Chris Godwin. There is a good chance that either injuries or a potential Super Bowl berth will prevent all of those receivers from attending the Pro Bowl in 2019 so Amari Cooper is virtually guaranteed to join Dak Prescott as a Pro Bowl alternate this year.
SURPRISES
No Defensive players selected: It may have come as a surprise to many Dallas Cowboy fans that there were no players on the Cowboys defense selected to the Pro Bowl considering that they are statistically a top ten unit. However, it should not come as a surprise if you consider how they have actually played this year with the exception of a handful of games. DeMarcus Lawrence did not get voted to the team because he has not had the sack numbers but he has been one of the better all around performers on the defense. Byron Jones has been decent but has not played at the same level as 2018. Mainly because Jones does not get interceptions, his chances of being selected to the Pro Bowl as an alternate are slim. Robert Quinn has been the best pass rusher on the team but not among the elite among the league at sacking the quarterback such as Shaquil Barrett, Cameron Jordan, Nick Bosa, and Danielle Hunter. The vaunted Dallas Cowboys linebacking trio has not played to their potential so no valid argument can be made to include any one of Sean Lee, Jaylon Smith, or Leighton Vander Esch to the Pro Bowl roster. Therefore, although it is surprising that there were no defensive players from the Dallas Cowboys selected to the Pro Bowl this year, it was not unwarranted.
Three Offensive Lineman: Tyron Smith, Travis Frederick, and Zack Martin are three of the best in the business. Having said that, they seem to be locks to make the Pro Bowl every year based on reputation alone. None of those players have been terrible but neither have any of them played to their impossibly high standard. Frederick came back from a career threatening disease that forced him to miss all of 2018. His comeback is remarkable and he has played well but he has not been the same guy this season as he was from 2014-2017. Aside from the “big three”, there is another Dallas Cowboys offensive lineman that many believe has played far better than all of them but was not chosen to the Pro Bowl roster, more on him later.
SHOCKS
La’el Collins: La’el Collins was signed to a long term contract extension this offseason and unlike his teammates who also earned extensions (Ezekiel Elliott, DeMarcus Lawrence, and Jaylon Smith), Collins has actually had a career year. He has played so well, that Dallas Cowboys fans expected him to make his first ever Pro Bowl appearance in 2019. His omission from the roster may be the biggest of all the Dallas Cowboys Pro Bowl snubs. It may be that the bias in favor of Left Tackles hurts Collins chances of getting that recognition but that may be unfair in todays NFL. Elite pass rushers line up on either side of the defense nowadays and so Collins has had to go one on one against players like Khalil Mack, Danielle Hunter, and Cameron Jordan. Collins has more than held his own all season long no matter who he has faced and he has been a dominant force in the run game. Hopefully, Collins will be given an opportunity to attend the 2019 Pro Bowl as an alternate and get the credit he deserves for the impressive season he has had.
*Photo’s by Joe Glorioso All-Pro Reels https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/2.0/legalcode
All Data and Statistics obtained and verified through https://www.pro-football-reference.com/