Cardinals safety Tony Jefferson feels snubbed by the Pro Bowl voters
Dec 20, 2016, 6:56 PM | Updated: 7:06 pm
Arizona Cardinals' Tony Jefferson (22) defends a pass to Carolina Panthers' Greg Olsen (88) in the first half of an NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Oct. 30, 2016. (AP Photo/Bob Leverone)
(AP Photo/Bob Leverone)
Arizona Cardinals safety Tony Jefferson feels snubbed by the Pro Bowl.
He wasn’t among the three Cardinals selected for the game, but not only that — Jefferson isn’t even an alternate.
David Johnson, Larry Fitzgerald and Patrick Peterson are all headed to Orlando to play in the 2017 game if they choose thanks to voting from fans, players and coaches. Meanwhile, defensive tackle Calais Campbell, corner Marcus Cooper, guard Mike Iupati, linebacker Chandler Jones and special teamer Justin Bethel were selected as alternates.
Teammate Earl Watford came to Jefferson’s defense on Twitter Tuesday after the rosters were announced for the 2017 game, and Jefferson didn’t hide his feelings.
How didn't @_tonyjefferson make the probowl?!!
— Earl Watford (@EWatts78) December 21, 2016
I'm low key some trash fam .. it's all Good https://t.co/v3QaCLWv6w
— Tony Jefferson (@_tonyjefferson) December 21, 2016
What rubs Jefferson the wrong way is not that Landon Collins of the Giants made the NFC Pro Bowl team as strong safety ahead of him. After all, Collins has an impressive 108 tackles, 13 passes defensed, five interceptions and a fumble recovery to his name.
It’s that each team only selects one strong safety at all.
Why is there only 1 Strong Safety on each team? #probowl 🤔 we are people too! HA
— Tony Jefferson (@_tonyjefferson) December 21, 2016
S/O to my teammates tho! Congrats muchoo love
— Tony Jefferson (@_tonyjefferson) December 21, 2016
In the midst of a sea of linebackers that lead the NFL in total tackles, Jefferson is tied for the 25th-most with 96 through 14 games. That’s fifth among safeties of both the free and strong varieties.
Additionally, Jefferson has two sacks on the year, five passes defensed, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries in his best season yet, which also happens to be a contract year.
While the three Cardinals who made the Pro Bowl are warranted selections, Jefferson hasn’t been completely unnoticed, especially not in Arizona. Even NFL.com’s Gregg Rosenthal listed Jefferson as a sound Pro Bowl choice.
While Rosenthal wasn’t listing the best or most obvious Pro Bowl picks, he did point out Jefferson’s strong year for a reason.
The Cardinals have a ton of Pro Bowlers for a depressing five-win team. David Johnson, Larry Fitzgerald, Calais Campbell and Patrick Peterson come to mind first as near-locks. Jefferson also deserves a nod for a noisy season in which he’s always flying around the ball.
Jefferson has legitimate complaints, but it seems he’s taking it all in stride.
😢😢 I really watched the NFL network show…😂😂😂 like something was gonna change
— Tony Jefferson (@_tonyjefferson) December 21, 2016
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