Six Eagles players worthy of making the Pro Bowl
NFL Pro Bowl balloting is underway, so I figured this is as good a time as any to note the 2014 Eagles players worthy of going to the Pro Bowl.
To note, the Pro Bowl is dumb, and bad players make it over good players every year, so please do not let this serve as any kind of Pro Bowl promotion whatsoever. Rather, these are the players who are worthy of postseason honors, if the Pro Bowl were actually relevant.
Also... Yes, I'm aware the Pro Bowl is not in Hawaii this year (it's in Arizona), but that would take all the fun out of the below Pro Bowl photo that the players were so generous to pose for this morning:
From left to right in the portrait above...
Connor Barwin, OLB: Barwin is tied for second in the NFL in sacks, with 10.5. He's also tied for second in the NFL in batted passes, with four (per ProFootballFocus). That is extremely impressive, considering he has dropped into coverage 135 times this season. Barwin plays the run well, he can cover, and now he's got some impressive numbers to go along with his versatility. I like the comparison to Ex-Eagle Jason Babin made by Tommy Lawlor of IgglesBlitz.com.
Is Connor Barwin the anti-Jason Babin? He's having a career year (like Babin did in 2011), but Barwin is doing it the right way and remains loved and respected by the guys he plays with and against.
Jeremy Maclin, WR: Maclin is eighth in receiving yards, fourth in receiving TDs, fifth in yards per catch, and sixth in receptions of 20+ yards. He also has no drops, according to PFF. He's on pace for 85 catches, 1472 yards, and 14 TDs. Maclin should not only make the Pro Bowl if he keeps up his pace, but he should probably garner serious consideration for NFL Comeback Player of the Year.
Darren Sproles, KR/PR: Sproles is averaging an insane 17 yards per return on punts, with two return TDs to his credit. He has twice won NFC Special Teams Player of the Week. Oh, and he's kind of a dangerous weapon in the regular offense.
Jason Peters, OT: Still a beast.
Cody Parkey, K: Remember when the Eagles' didn't have a kicker, like, a week before the season began? Welp, Parkey is 16 of 17 this season, including 3 for 3 from beyond 50 yards. He has also banged out touchbacks at a 62.5% clip, a drastic upgrade from Alex Henery's 41.1% a year ago.
Malcolm Jenkins, S: Jenkins is tied for the NFC lead among safeties with three interceptions, and has been an enormous upgrade over Patrick Chung in the Eagles' secondary. His versatility has allowed the Eagles to show a wider assortment of looks to opposing offenses.
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