Every time an All-Star team is selected there are always bound to be undeserving guys making the squad and a bunch of bridesmaids hoping to be the bride.  The 2010 Pro Bowl selections are no different this year.  Unlike most years, there are fewer disagreements on the choices.  Regardless, there were some glaringly bad selections and awful omissions.

Here’s my take:

Who Was Undeserving

1.  Jason Witten

Here’s a guy that had an awful season.  Who cares if he has a lot catches, they’ve been meaningless dump offs and mop up play.   He rates at the bottom for YPC, TDs and catches for first downs.  Not to mention he is no longer Romo’s go to guy.

2.  Bryant McKinnie

Benched two weeks ago as Julius Peppers brutalized Brett Favre, leading to the sideline meltdown between Favre and Childress.  His reward…a starting spot on the Pro Bowl offensive line.  At least Pepper is on his team this time.

3.  David Akers

A beneficiary of playing on a team that can’t put the ball in the end zone.  Kicking is about more than just chipshot field goals.  Akers has never shown himself to be a pressure guy and his kickoffs rate in the back half of the league.  A little known fact: Shaun Suisham and Nick Folk had better averages for 40+ field goals and they both got cut.

4.  Wes Welker

Put the numbers aside, this guy has no right in the Pro Bowl.  He is not even their top receiver.  His numbers are bloated because of the slot passes which are more wildcat formation runs than actual catches.  He’s the only top WR where less than 10% of his catches are over 10 yards.

5.  DeAngelo Williams

Williams had a somewhat down year on a bad team that he contributed losses to and he gets in the Pro Bowl?  He deserved it last year, but not based on his performance this year.  After Jonathan Stewart’s performance against the Giants, Williams might not even start next year.

6.  Asante Samuel

While he gets lots of interceptions, he gets beaten too often.  This is not to mention that the guy likes less tackling contact than Deion Sanders.  Its almost impossible to play every down of every game and only have 40 tackles, but Samuels did it.

Who Got Shafted

1.  Cedric Benson

How did this guy not make the team?  He leads the NFL in carries per game and has made an unbelievable comeback against all the odds. his performance against the Bears should get him in alone.  Probably the biggest shaft of them all.

2.  Brent Celek

This guy has been a rock in the Philly offense.  Unlike Witten and Tony Gonzalez who feed as dump off receivers, Celek goes down the field for his catches because dumps to its running backs.  Not to mention taking hit better than anyone in the NFL.  Celek is a major reason why the Eagles offense has clicked despite all the injuries.  I guess he lost out so undeserving Eagles like Akers and Samuels could attend in his place.

3.  Ryan Grant

This guy has been a workhorse.  When he is running the ball well, Green Bay wins games.  He is perhaps the most important player to their success because he takes pressure off the offensive line that can’t pass block.

4.  D.J. Williams

Victim of the ongoing love affair with Ray Lewis that will never end.  Williams had a breakout year that should have gotten the recognition it deserved.  Williams is a tackling machine but won’t see the Pro Bowl until Lewis retires.

5.  Antoine Bethea

94 tackles, 9 passes defended and 4 INTs.  This rates you a bystander for the pro bowl.  But if you get 45 tackles, 8 passes defended and 3 INTs at the same position, you are in like flint.  Congrats to Ed Reed for stealing Bethea’s spot.