<a href="http://manjr.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/2010-rookie-pro-bowl-selections.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-3318" title="2010 rookie pro bowl selections" src="http://manjr.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/2010-rookie-pro-bowl-selections.jpg" alt="" width="600" height="180" /></a>

The NFL announced it's Pro Bowl selections today, and while there are a plenty of familiar faces in the mix, there are quite a few newbies in the bunch this season. The Pro Bowl is going back to Honolulu this year, and the game will be played a week before the Super Bowl. Here's a couple of quick observations on the 2011 Pro Bowl roster selections:
<ul>
	<li>Four rookies made the Pro Bowl this year, and all of them deserved the  recognition. Lions DT Ndamukong Suh leads all interior lineman with 8  sacks this season. He'll start for the NFC. Steelers center Maurkice  Pauncey has been a strong, stabilizing force for an offensive line  that's been uncharacteristically shaky the past couple seasons. Pats CB  Devin McCourty's racked up six picks, two forced fumbles and 81 tackles  for a super-young defense in New England, proving again that the Pats  know how to find draft gems at the bottom of the first round. Titans  kick returner Marc Mariani amassed 1411 yards and one score on 56  kickoff returns this year. He also added 322 yards and a score on 25  punt returns.</li>
	<li>The QB selections shouldn't surprise anyone. The AFC's picks include Brady, Manning and Rivers. Vick, Ryan and Brees will represent the AFC. Solid groups for both squads. Vick and Brady were neck-in-neck as consensus MVP picks before the Eagles fell flat against the Vikings in last night's Tuesday Night Football upset. Brady should lock up his second MVP award without much debate.</li>
	<li>Lots of newcomers made the Pro Bowl this year. The NFC is sending seven first-time selections to the Pro Bowl. The AFC is sending 14 fresh faces.</li>
	<li>Texans WR Andre Johnson likely won't play in the Pro Bowl. I think Steelers receiver Mike Wallace should get some consideration when the league looks to fill that spot.</li>
	<li>The Pro Bowl just isn't big enough to include every awesome player in the league. Notable snubs this year include guys like Aaron Rodgers (101.9 QB rating, 3693 passing yards) and Matt Cassel (27 TDs to 5 INTs), Chris Johnson (1325 yards, 11 TDs) and LeSean McCoy (over 1000 yards rushing,  leads all RBs with 78 catches for 592 yards), LaMarr Woodley (8.5 sacks, 3 forced fumbles and 2 INTs), Derrick Johnson (116 tackles, 4 forced fumbles) and Shaun Phillips (11 sacks). It's hard to argue against the selections at QB, RB and LB for either squad though.</li>
	<li>Old timers like Packers CB Charles Woodson and OT Chad Clifton made the NFC squad on reputation this year.</li>
	<li>Is DeAngelo Hall worthy of a trip to Honolulu? I know he's got six interceptions, but it seems like the guy gets burned a bunch.</li>
	<li>Tony Gonzalez has been ridiculous for years, but this season the future Hall of Fame tight end didn't do a damn thing. We broke 100-yards just once (in Week 3), and he only had three weeks where he delivered double-digits fantasy points. He's just not the same guy. Useful, sure, but no longer worthy of being named an elite, All-Star-type player.</li>
</ul>
Here's the complete list:
<table border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="599">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td width="299" valign="top"><strong>AFC   Offense</strong></td>
<td width="300" valign="top"><strong>NFC   Offense</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="299" valign="top"><strong>Quarterbacks</strong>

Tom Brady, New England

Philip Rivers, San Diego

Peyton Manning, Indianapolis</td>
<td width="300" valign="top"><strong>Quarterbacks</strong>

Michael Vick, Philadelphia

Matt Ryan, Atlanta

Drew Brees, New Orleans</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="299" valign="top"><strong>Running Backs</strong>

Maurice Jones-Drew, Jacksonville

Arian Foster, Houston

Jamaal Charles, Kansas City</td>
<td width="300" valign="top"><strong>Running Backs</strong>

Michael Turner, Atlanta

Adrian Peterson, Minnesota

Steven Jackson, St. Louis</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="299" valign="top"><strong>Fullback</strong>

Vonta Leach, Houston</td>
<td width="300" valign="top"><strong>Fullback</strong>

Ovie Mughelli, Atlanta</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="299" valign="top"><strong>Wide Receivers</strong>

Andre Johnson, Houston

Reggie Wayne, Indianapolis

Brandon Lloyd, Denver

Dwayne Bowe, Kansas City</td>
<td width="300" valign="top"><strong>Wide Receivers</strong>

Roddy White, Atlanta

Calvin Johnson, Detroit

DeSean Jackson, Philadelphia

Greg Jennings, Green Bay</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="299" valign="top"><strong>Tight Ends</strong>

Antonio Gates, San Diego

Marcedes Lewis, Jacksonville</td>
<td width="300" valign="top"><strong>Tight Ends</strong>

Jason Witten, Dallas

Tony Gonzalez, Atlanta</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="299" valign="top"><strong>Centers</strong>

Nick Mangold, N.Y. Jets

Maurkice Pouncey, Pittsburgh</td>
<td width="300" valign="top"><strong>Centers</strong>

Andre Gurode, Dallas

Shaun O'Hara, N.Y. Giants</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="299" valign="top"><strong>Guards</strong>

Kris Dielman, San Diego

Logan Mankins, New England

Brian Waters, Kansas City</td>
<td width="300" valign="top"><strong>Guards</strong>

Jahri Evans, New Orleans

Chris Snee, N.Y. Giants

Carl Nicks, New Orleans</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="299" valign="top"><strong>Tackles</strong>

Jake Long, Miami

Joe Thomas, Cleveland

D'Brickashaw Ferguson, N.Y. Jets</td>
<td width="300" valign="top"><strong>Tackles</strong>

Jason Peters, Philadelphia

Jordan Gross, Carolina

Chad Clifton, Green Bay</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="299" valign="top"><strong>AFC Defense</strong></td>
<td width="300" valign="top"><strong>NFC Defense</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="299" valign="top"><strong>Defensive Ends</strong>

Dwight Freeney, Indianapolis

Robert Mathis, Indianapolis

Jason Babin, Tennessee</td>
<td width="300" valign="top"><strong>Defensive Ends</strong>

Julius Peppers, Chicago

John Abraham, Atlanta

Justin Tuck, N.Y. Giants</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="299" valign="top"><strong>Interior Linemen</strong>

Haloti Ngata, Baltimore

Vince Wilfork, New England

Richard Seymour, Oakland</td>
<td width="300" valign="top"><strong>Interior Linemen</strong>

Ndamukong Suh, Detroit

Jay Ratliff, Dallas

Justin Smith, San Francisco</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="299" valign="top"><strong>Inside   Linebackers</strong>

Ray Lewis, Baltimore

Jerod Mayo, New England</td>
<td width="300" valign="top"><strong>Inside   Linebackers</strong>

Patrick Willis, San Francisco

Brian Urlacher, Chicago</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="299" valign="top"><strong>Outside   Linebackers</strong>

James Harrison, Pittsburgh

Cameron Wake, Miami

Terrell Suggs, Baltimore</td>
<td width="300" valign="top"><strong>Outside   Linebackers</strong>

Clay Matthews, Green Bay

DeMarcus Ware, Dallas

Lance Briggs, Chicago</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="299" valign="top"><strong>Cornerbacks</strong>

Nnamdi Asomugha, Oakland

Darrelle Revis, N.Y. Jets

Devin McCourty, New England</td>
<td width="300" valign="top"><strong>Cornerbacks</strong>

Asante Samuel, Philadelphia

Charles Woodson, Green Bay

DeAngelo Hall, Washington</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="299" valign="top"><strong>Strong Safety</strong>

Troy Polamalu, Pittsburgh</td>
<td width="300" valign="top"><strong>Strong Safety</strong>

Adrian Wilson, Arizona</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="299" valign="top"><strong>Free Safeties</strong>

Ed Reed, Baltimore

Brandon Meriweather, New England</td>
<td width="300" valign="top"><strong>Free Safeties</strong>

Nick Collins, Green Bay

Antrel Rolle, N.Y. Giants</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="299" valign="top"><strong>AFC   Specialists</strong></td>
<td width="300" valign="top"><strong>NFC   Specialists</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="299" valign="top"><strong>Punter</strong>

Shane Lechler, Oakland</td>
<td width="300" valign="top"><strong>Punter</strong>

Mat McBriar, Dallas</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="299" valign="top"><strong>Kick-Return   Specialist</strong>

Marc Mariani, Tennessee</td>
<td width="300" valign="top"><strong>Kick-Return   Specialist</strong>

Devin Hester, Chicago</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="299" valign="top"><strong>Kicker</strong>

Billy Cundiff, Baltimore</td>
<td width="300" valign="top"><strong>Kicker</strong>

David Akers, Philadelphia</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="299" valign="top"><strong>Special-Teamer</strong>

Montell Owens, Jacksonville</td>
<td width="300" valign="top"><strong>Special-Teamer</strong>

Eric Weems, Atlanta</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>