Pro Bowl picks a slight to Stafford
In midst of an improved season, Detroit’s QB and his Lions teammates deserved better from league
TORONTO — No Pro Bowl players from the Jacksonville Jaguars? Nor the Chicago Bears, New York Jets, San Francisco 49ers and New Orleans Saints? Well, OK. That’s one thing.
But not one Detroit Lion, including quarterback Matt Stafford? That’s an outrage.
The NFL announced 2016 Pro Bowl selections Wednesday and most are fine, dandy and worthy.
But the Lions (9-5) are having one of their rare good seasons. That is, they aren’t awful or mediocre.
The Motor City Maddening Men don’t have a playoff berth secured yet with two games to go. But they lead the NFC North thanks in large part to Stafford — who this season became the first quarterback in NFL history to lead his team to eight comeback victories when trailing in the fourth quarter.
Stafford is listed as a second alternate for the NFC team and probably has a good shot of going to the Pro Bowl anyway, once the small army of first selections beg off for “injuries” and whatnot.
Stafford’s statistics have dipped somewhat since U.S. Thanksgiving — with four TD passes, three interceptions and single-game passer ratings all below the NFL season average. But the eighth-year passer has been crazy good in the clutch. He has thrown 22 TD passes against eight interceptions and is in most people’s conversation for league MVP.
He deserved a first-announcement Pro Bowl nod.
Three of Stafford’s teammates also are alternates for the Jan. 29 all-star game in Orlando, Fla.: cornerback Darius Slay, placekicker Matt Prater and punter Sam Martin.
Of course, the Detroit foursome would be quite happy to find themselves unavailable for the Pro Bowl — should they have to prep instead for the Super Bowl. That’d be a franchise first.
The Lions can clinch the NFC North title with a win Monday at Dallas and a Green Bay loss or tie. If Detroit wins and Tampa Bay loses or ties, the Lions will secure at least a wild-card berth — the simplest of four ways this weekend they can do it.
OTHERS SNUBBED: Saints QB Drew Brees might break his own record for highest completion percentage in a season (71.2 per cent), but he didn’t receive a Pro Bowl invitation. Neither did Seattle tight end Jimmy Graham or Dallas linebacker Sean Lee, among a slew of slights.
CHRISTMAS SCHEDULE: Ho-hohold onto that clicker! A reminder that most NFL games will be played this week on Saturday as Sunday is Christmas Day. So finish your shopping by Friday night, right?
The NFL, bless them everyone, has gifted us with two AFC matchups on Christmas Day once the presents are all opened and Poppee nods off in his favourite chair. As it happens, both games are festooned with huge playoff ramifications.
Baltimore at Pittsburgh kicks off at 1:30 p.m., followed by Denver at Kansas City at 5:30 p.m.
The Steelers (9-5) can wrap up the AFC North with a victory over the Ravens (8-6), whereas as the Ravens can not only even the two teams’ records at 9-6, but effectively grab first place after having already defeated the Steelers in Baltimore last month. Mammoth game.
With a victory, the Chiefs (10-4) can just about knock the defending champion Broncos (8-6) from the playoffs. K.C. will get visiting Denver’s best.
FLOYD FACING JAIL TIME? Former Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Michael Floyd, now a New England Patriot, had a blood-alcohol content level more than twice the legal limit when he was arrested Dec. 12 in Scottsdale, Ariz.
According to ESPN and NFL Network, a police report lists Floyd’s blood-alcohol content level at .217. Anything over .200 qualifies in Arizona as a “super extreme DUI,” per NFL Network, and a conviction requires a mandatory minimum sentence of 45 days in jail. Reports have said Floyd is not due in court again until February after the playoffs conclude.
A Scottsdale police video, which went viral Wednesday night, shows officers trying to awaken Floyd in his vehicle. They charged him with two counts of driving under the influence, one traffic violation and failure to obey an officer.
Floyd’s new head coach Bill Belichick was asked Wednesday if he had seen the video before signing Floyd.
“We were aware of the situation before we claimed him,” Belichick said. “He’s in an ongoing legal situation that I’m not going to comment on.”
New England hosts the Jets Saturday.
PETERSON REINJURED? Minnesota RB Adrian Peterson said he might not be able to play in Saturday’s big NFC North showdown against Green Bay. Peterson had torn the meniscus in his right knee in Week 2 and returned off injured reserve to play Sunday in the Vikings’ loss to Indy. The knee is still sore. Peterson told reporters he’s day to day. That’s not good news for a Minnesota offence that’s desperate for playmakers.
EXTRA POINTS: For the eleventy-millionth time in the past decade, ESPN analyst Jon Gruden says he has no desire to return to coaching, now that his name is being floated already for vacancies ... Meanwhile, Bruce Arians reiterated he will return next season as the Arizona Cardinals’ head coach.