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If you look hard enough, every team around the NFL has a player on its roster that should have received an invite to the Pro Bowl. The St. Louis Rams, for example, are livid that their punter isn't going. Some guys, like Atlanta's John Abraham, simply brush it off as no big deal, while others, like Tampa Bay's Barrett Ruud talk about how they got the shaft. Ruud, a fourth-year middle linebacker out of Nebraska, is currently leading the Buccaneers with 117 tackles, while also registering three sacks, six pass defenses and two interceptions for playoff-hopeful Tampa Bay. He's obviously having a great season, though, not great enough to receive an invite to Hawaii. Predictably, he's not exactly thrilled with decision.
From Rick Stroud and Stephen F. Holder of the St. Petersburg Times:
"I got the shaft," Ruud said. "Somebody's got to get it, though." "The old saying is usually you go a couple years after you're supposed to and you stay a couple years longer. I'm not going to throw a tantrum or anything. I would've liked to have gone. Everybody wants to have that tag as a Pro Bowler, but unfortunately it didn't happen. All I can do is keep playing to get into the playoffs now."Well, he's exactly right about going a couple of years after you're supposed to, just look at Brett Favre for crying out loud. The biggest problem Ruud faced is the fact the two middle linebackers to receive invites over him are San Francisco's Patrick Willis, and Carolina's Jon Beason, two guys that are absolutely deserving.
In the case of Willis, if he weren't stuck in San Francisco, where nobody ever hears from him or gets to see him play, he would probably be a household name around the NFL.
Of course, Ruud has another theory as to why people (fans) around the NFL don't know about him.
"And when you don't get up and have a big-time celebration, sometimes they don't know who did anything," Ruud said. "I can definitely see why I get kind of ignored or not recognized by the casual fan."Solid point. Faking your retirement every year seems to help things as well, just ask the quarterback from the Jets.
NFL Pro Bowl Players
AFC Quarterbacks: Peyton Manning, Colts*
Brett Favre, Jets; Jay Cutler, Broncos
* starter
Andy Lyons, Getty Images
AFC Running Backs: Thomas Jones, Jets*
Chris Johnson, Titans; Ronnie Brown, Dolphins
* starter
Paul Spinelli, Getty Images
AFC Fullback: LeRon McClain, Ravens
Rob Carr, AP
AFC Wide Receivers: Andre Johnson, Texans*
Brandon Marshall, Broncos*; Reggie Wayne, Colts; Wes Welker, Patriots
* starter
Stephen Dunn, Getty Images
AFC Tight Ends: Tony Gonzalez, Chiefs*
Antonio Gates, Chargers
* starter
Dilip Vishwanat, Getty Images
AFC Centers: Kevin Mawae, Titans*
Nick Mangold, Jets
* starter
Kevin C. Cox, Getty Images
AFC Guards: Alan Faneca, Jets*
Kris Dielman, Chargers*; Brian Waters, Chiefs
* starter
Al Bello, Getty Images
AFC Tackles: Joe Thomas, Browns*
Jason Peters, Bills*; Michael Roos, Titans
* starter
Ronald C. Modra, Getty Images
AFC Defensive Ends: Mario Williams, Texans*
Dwight Freeney, Colts*; Robert Mathis, Colts
* starter
Brian Bahr, Getty Images
AFC Defensive Linemen: Albert Haynesworth, Titans*
Kris Jenkins, Jets*; Shaun Rogers, Browns
* starter
Phil Coale, AP
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