Tag Archives: Pro-Bowl

Stephon Gilmore named First Team All Pro

Stephon Gilmore By The Numbers

Gilmore only allowed a 71.8 passer rating, while braking up 20 passes, finishing second in that category. The two interceptions Gilmore had shows that quarterbacks were throwing away from him. Pro Football Focus already ranked Gilmore as the top rated player at his position. The First Team All Pro honor is no surprise, as Tom Brady also had plenty of praise for his teammate on Wednesday. Brady compared Gilmore to some of the greats, saying he is right up there with them. Players like Law, Talib and Revis, two of which are future HOF CB’s.

The Price was Right

This is Stephon Gilmore’s second Pro Bowl selection, but his first All Pro honor. Gilmore showed his value all year vs top notch opponents. The wide receivers Gilmore shadowed this year include DeAndre Hopkins, Antonio Brown, Stephon Diggs and Devante Adams, just to name a few. Gilmore raised the level of play from New England’s secondary as well. Jason McCourty and JC Jackson both have stepped up big time, and this secondary looks strong. The Patriots secondary has had some extremely impressive games in 2018 with Gilmore leading the way. The Vikings and Steelers dynamic WRs were no match for Gilmore and company.

Gilmore with the defensive play of the 2017 season

Stephon Gilmore started his Patriots tenure off slow, along with the rest of the defense last year. But as the season went on he improved each week, and made the play of the year breaking up a Blake Bortles pass attempt to finish the Jaguars off. Since that incredible play he continued to emerge as a top tier CB, and now is honored as the Top rated player at his position. The Patriots and fans hope that Gilmore won’t have anything to do with the Pro Bowl this year, as they’re all in for a Super Bowl run.

Matt Light Inducted To The Patriots HOF

Matt Light Is A Patriots HOF Legend

Matt Light was inducted into the Patriots Hall of Fame on Saturday. He was a key player in New England’s offense for 11 seasons. Matt Light was a cornerstone of the offensive line and was as reliable as they come. Here is Robert Kraft presenting the left tackle with his HOF jacket on Saturday.

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A Look at Patriots HOF Player Matt Light Through The Years

The Patriots took Matt Light in the second round (48th overall) of the 2001 NFL Draft. Light made an immediate impact at left tackle, creating holes for the run game his rookie year. He started at left tackle in 12 of 14 games. Light was named to the 2001 NFL All-Rookie Team.

Matt and his offensive line dominated all year in the run game, especially Super Bowl XXXVI with a Super Bowl victory over the St. Louis Rams. New England’s offensive line was key as the Patriots rushed for 133 yards on 25 carries a (5.3 avg.) in the 20-17 win.

Bill Belichick says availability is just as important as ability. Matt Light was blessed with both. Light with the exception of his rookie year, 2005 and 2009 played every game of his career. He is as tough as any player I’ve ever watched.

Another Super Bowl victory came in his third year. Matt Light as the main piece of the offensive line. Matt and his teammates didn’t allow a sack in two playoff games. Super Bowl XXXVIII over the Panthers. No sacks.

2004 nothing had changed, Matt Light played every game. He and the offensive line helped Corey Dillon and the running backs average 4.1 yards per carry, which was the most since 1985. When the playoffs came around again, Light and the offensive line created lanes allowing Patriots rushers to average 5.4 yards in the Divisional Round. Light and the Patriots won their third Super Bowl in four years, and the offensive line was a big factor in the 24-21 victory over the Eagles.

Matt Light Was A Special Player

Matt Lights first four seasons were incredible, going up against the best the NFL had to offer. He never stopped working. In 2006, he was named to his first Pro Bowl. Matt followed that up with a 2007 season for the ages. He and the offensive line allowed only 21 sacks, the fewest in 30 years. As the left tackle, Matt’s job was to protect Tom Brady. He did, and did it well, as the offense broke records for points scored and TD passes.

(Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

Matt Light was a mainstay in the Patriots offensive line, he took on the great defenders of the game. He was named to his second Pro Bowl, and first-team All-Pro. Matt had his sights set on history instead. Light and the offensive line did its part. New England entered the Super Bowl with an 18-0 record but just fell short of a perfect season.

Matt Light would have his chance in 2011, as New England faced off against the Giants in a Super Bowl rematch. He played well in the big game, only allowing two QB pressures and no sacks. Despite his excellent play, the Pats came up short once again. That would be Matt Light’s final game, and he did his job.

Matt Light is the only player in NFL history to begin and end a career in the Super Bowl.

Matt Light Was A Prankster

As the newest member of the Patriots HOF, Matt was very humbled, as he reminisced about his playing days.

He also spoke about the great times off the field, Matt likes pranks, and Bill Belichick wasn’t even safe. He switched Bill’s computer mouse with a fake one that produces a small shock. As he told the story, he laughed and said his wife thought he was going to get fired. Matt continued on about how Bill got shocked by the fake mouse and was not happy. At that time it was alright, nobody knew anything, including Bill. For some reason Belichick decided to use the mouse again, once more he was shocked. Only this time he hit the keyboard to the computer and erased very important documents and gameplans. As Matt laughed on stage, he said that it wasn’t his fault that Bill touched the electrocuting mouse for the second time. In the end, the offensive line had to run sprints all day because of his prank.

Matt would do anything for the Patriots. He also had a funny, laid-back side to him I want you to see right here. Matt Light’s song “Mustache Men.”

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Before Matt Light and friends went to celebrate, he took some time to answer some questions.

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What a great career, and person. New England will always love Matt Light.

The Least Deserving Pro Bowlers of 2017-18 Season

Top Five Least Deserving AFC Pro Bowlers

Quarterback Philip Rivers, Los Angeles Chargers

Rivers finished second in the league in passing yardage and helped the Chargers finish 2017 with a winning record after 0-4 start. However, Alex Smith should be the AFC’s third-string quarterback. Smith threw fewer interceptions all year than Rivers threw in two games against the Kansas City Chiefs. Likewise, Smith was the best player in the NFL in September and finished 2017 with a ridiculous 118.0 road passer rating. Rivers was good but Smith was better. The voters got this one wrong.

Wide Receiver A.J.Green, Cincinnati Bengals

This was the closest competition in the AFC. Green had a fine season as he made some big plays and beautiful catches. The only reason he did not deserve this selection is because he took the spot away from Jarvis Landry of the Miami Dolphins. Landry led the entire NFL in receptions and in a down season for the Dolphins, he competed hard on every play of every game. Landry is the quintessential guy you love to have on your team and hate as an opponent. It would be great to see Landry catch passes from an elite quarterback someday.

Special Teams Matthew Slater, New England Patriots

Slater is one of the top five special teamers to ever play in the NFL. Still, there is no way he deserved the Pro Bowl nod for his injury-plagued 2017 campaign. There were two very strong candidates for that honor. Brynden Trawick of the Tennessee Titans is the highest paid special teamer in the NFL and he is fantastic. Due to Slater going to the Super Bowl, Trawick will be playing on Sunday in the Pro Bowl. Michael Thomas of the Miami Dolphins may have been better than both in 2017. In fact, Pro Football Focus named Thomas as their Special Teams Player of the Year.

Center Rodney Hudson, Oakland Raiders

Hudson is a very nice player. Jack Del Rio referred to him as the “staple holding this thing together” when describing what he means to the Raiders. Oakland’s offense struggled so rewarding them with offensive linemen in the Pro Bowl makes little sense. Hudson’s 2017 was not in the same category as Patriots center David Andrews. Over the season, when New England passed almost 600 times, Andrews allowed two sacks. Whenever he is in pass protection, he bears the additional weight of guarding for arguably the best and most popular player in sports history. In addition to his fine work as a pass blocker, he paved the way for Dion Lewis and the running game. The Patriots love to run up the middle and that is where Andrews does his best work.

Guard Richie Incognito, Buffalo Bills

Incognito made the Pro Bowl because his name is instantly recognizable from a list of people playing the least glamorous position. Make no mistake, Incognito is an above-average football player. He is not a Pro Bowler, though. The Bills offense finished twenty-ninth in the NFL. Tyrod Taylor and LeSean McCoy were hit the backfield multiple times in every ball game except one. Joel Bitonio of the lowly Cleveland Browns deserved this spot. He was the most consistent offensive player for the Brown in 2017. Someday, Cleveland will field a relevant team again and Bitonio will be a key member of their improved squad.

Top Five Least Deserving NFC Pro Bowlers

Running Back Alvin Kamara, New Orleans Saints

Of all the players in the 2018 Pro Bowl game, Kamara deserves to be here the least. Granted, he is an amazing talent. He has rare abilities in the mold of a Marshall Faulk or Thurman Thomas. There is simply no way he should be in the Pro Bowl ahead of Jordan Howard of the Chicago Bears. It is likely Kamara got in ahead of Howard because Kamara makes camera-friendly plays week in and week out. Also, it could be that Howard plays for a mediocre Chicago team. While Kamara does not deserve to be in the Pro Bowl, it will entertaining to watch him play in the Pro Bowl!

Center Alex Mack, Atlanta Falcons

Mack is the heart and soul of the Atlanta Falcons and he is an outstanding football player. Jason Kelce of the Philadelphia Eagles, though, is the best center in the NFL and had perhaps the best season of any offensive linemen in the whole league. This was an egregious oversight by the voters. Kelce rightfully was named first-team All-Pro.

Tackle Tyron Smith, Dallas Cowboys

Smith’s play suffered due to injuries in 2017. When healthy, he is unquestionably the best. If the 2018 Cowboys get a full season out of Smith and Ezekiel Elliott, the Cowboys will be right back in the NFC East mix. He certainly did not deserve this Pro Bowl spot ahead of David Bakhtari of the Green Bay Packers. Bakhtari is one of the most unsung players in the league. Without Aaron Rodgers and any semblance of a running game most of the season, Bakhtari showed up in a massive way for the overachieving Packers.

Linebacker Anthony Barr, Minnesota Vikings

The Vikings had a tremendous regular season on defense. Thus, the voters rewarded certain individuals due to the team success. Barr no doubt contributed to Minnesota’s accomplishments, but there were definitely people who belonged in the Pro Bowl ahead of him. Tajir Whitehead of the Detroit Lions and Robert Quinn of the Los Angeles Rams both had better statistical seasons than Barr. Even K.J.Wright of the Seattle Seahawks or Preston Smith of the Washington Redskins could have been considered. It could be that voters went with the eye test. Barr’s hit that knocked Rodgers out for the season was replayed over and over again. Whitehead did not have a signature hit or play in 2017 so he flew under the radar while Barr was constantly in front of our faces.

Safety Malcolm Jenkins, Philadelphia Eagles

Jenkins is a super football player. Harrison Smith is the best at what they do, though. Like Green for the AFC, Jenkins does not deserve to be in the Pro Bowl only because there is someone out there that had a better season at the same position. Again, Smith was rightfully named first-team All-Pro. Jenkins deserves to play in the only Bowl game that matters: the Super Bowl!

Brandon Fazzolari is a Super Bowl expert…@spot_Bills

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