volsunghawk":142jag5s said:
Incredibly unlikely. He doesn't have the name recognition.
Local media and local game broadcasts have been talking Sweezy up constantly this year. Max Unger's pro-bowl campaign had a much quieter start.
Then again, Max Unger was a fringe first round center prospect before the 2009 draft, and a lot of voters probably remembered that. Draft position bias definitely has a big role in pro-bowl voting.
volsunghawk":142jag5s said:
Sweezy would have to have an otherworldly type of year for that to happen.
The pro-bowl isn't really a meritocracy, but more of a measurement of fame and reputation.
We saw that last year with Denver and guard Louis Vasquez, who mysteriously transformed overnight from bum to pro-bowler after benefiting from the fastest snap-to-release QB in NFL history and the record breaking numbers he put up.
If Lynch busts it for 1600 yards while Wilson is leading the NFL in passer rating, it's going to lead to people making assumptions about our OL. "It must be the offensive line!" Then they will look for someone to pick, and they'll likely go for the players who've been talked up the most that season.
Mebane has been getting some talk too, even some nationally. Hopefully he gets that pro-bowl he deserves this year too.
(As an aside, it's ridiculous that teams like the Chiefs have more pro-bowlers the last two seasons than Seattle does. Seattle is due for a 10 pro-bowler season.)