The NFL announced its 2018 Pro Bowl roster on Tuesday and a couple of former Wisconsin football stars made the list
The NFL Pro Bowl may not be the ratings draw it once was. But the glorified flag football exhibition still is an honor for individual players.
For one thing, some players have Pro Bowl based incentives in their contracts. So it definitely matters for at least financial purposes.
But Wisconsin football fans have at least two reasons to sort of watch the 2018 edition. That’s because two former Badger stars made the list.
Wisconsin Badgers Football
Seattle quarterback and scramble for his life enthusiast Russell Wilson got an NFC nod. This will be Wilson’s fourth Pro Bowl.
He has almost single handedly kept Seattle in the playoff hunt despite numerous injuries on defense and no offensive line in front of him. Wilson is 7th in passing yards in the NFL, 3rd in passing attempts, and 2nd in TD passes.
He was a plausible MVP candidate until, especially with injuries to Carson Wentz and Aaron Rodgers. But then Wilson and Seattle get wrecked 42-7 at home by the LA Rams.
But this weekend, Wilson and Seattle welcome the Dallas Cowboys in a pivotal wild card battle. Dallas center Travis Frederick is the other Wisconsin Badger in the 2018 Pro Bowl.
Even without the services of Ezekiel Elliott this season, the Cowboys are still the #3 rushing team in the NFL. Frederick is the anchor especially with injuries elsewhere on the Dallas OL.
Frederick was a surprising first round pick out of Wisconsin. He’s been one of the best centers in the NFL ever since. This will be his fourth Pro Bowl honor.
Unfortunately, it’s just two ex-Badgers this year. JJ Watt getting injured again definitely is a problem. My personal hero Melvin Gordon missed out in the AFC given the strong stable of running backs in that conference.
But keep an eye on the alternates. There are always guys happy to skip for any or no reason.
Joe Schobert is first alternate at MLB and Joel Bitonio is second alternate at G for this year’s #ProBowl
— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) December 20, 2017
Next: 5 Questions with Canes Warning about Miami
Since the NFL is the only league that holds its all-star game after the regular season, it seems weird to finalize things before the regular season concludes. A lot can change in terms of statistics and individual glory in the furious final weeks.