Pro Bowl picks: Insiders picks for Miami detour game

The upcoming Pro Bowl will be a strange one. It is being played in Miami, not Hawaii. It will be played before the Super Bowl, not after it, so it won't feature players from the Super Bowl teams.

Pro Bowl fixture Peyton Manning is again an easy AFC choice. (Getty Images)

The game has lost something as far as the players are concerned. You have no idea how many players have told me during the course of the last couple of weeks they don't want to play in the game.

It's not that they don't want to be selected, but they'd rather be in the Super Bowl, which means they can't play.

A trip to Miami isn't the same thing for a Pro Bowl as it is going to Hawaii, but that won't stop the griping from players who don't get picked.

I have a vote for the All-Pro team, but I don't vote for the Pro Bowl.

You do.

I think fan voting is a good thing. It gets you involved. But it also takes away from the process.

Too many players go on reputation, rather than production.

So with the fan voting concluded, and players and coaches doing their voting this week, it's time to unveil my AFC and NFC teams for the 2010 Pro Bowl. The real teams will be announced next week.

Getting named to this team won't even get you a trip to Hoboken, but the two teams are picked with a lot of tape watching, a lot of input from scouts and personnel people and coaches.

And I use left and right tackles and left and right guards. I also use free and strong safeties. The real Pro Bowl does none of that. That's why we have games with three left tackles and no right tackle on a team.

The teams that follow are the real thing. Anybody want to punch that train ticket to Hoboken?

AFC

Quarterback: Peyton Manning, Colts.

Backups: Philip Rivers, Chargers; Matt Schaub, Texans.

Just missed: Tom Brady, Patriots; Ben Roethlisberger, Steelers.

Manning is the MVP, so he has to be named the starter. Rivers is a close second, while Schaub beats out Brady in a tight battle because his numbers are better.

Running back: Chris Johnson, Titans.

Backups: Maurice Jones-Drew, Jaguars; Ray Rice, Ravens.

Just missed: Thomas Jones, Jets; Cedric Benson, Bengals.

Johnson is the easiest pick of any player on this roster. Rice gets the nod over Jones and Benson because of his 72 catches and 5.4 average per rush.

Fullback: Lousaka Polite, Dolphins.

Just missed: Le'Ron McClain, Ravens.

Polite was an easy choice. The guy blows up linebackers.

Wide receiver: Reggie Wayne, Colts; Andre Johnson, Texans.

Backups: Vincent Jackson, Chargers; Wes Welker, Patriots.

Just missed: Brandon Marshall, Broncos; Hines Ward, Steelers; Randy Moss, Patriots.

It was tough leaving Marshall out, but Jackson and Welker get a slight edge. Welker leads in catches, but he doesn't have the touchdowns or the per-catch average of Wayne and Johnson, which is why he's a backup.

Tackle: Ryan Clady, Broncos (LT); Vernon Carey, Dolphins (RT).

Backup: Joe Thomas, Browns.

Just missed: David Stewart (RT), Titans; Michael Roos (LT), Titans; Jake Long (LT), Dolphins; Willie Colon (RT), Steelers.

Clady continued to improve from his rookie season. Carey has settled in nicely at right tackle where he has become a power player in the Miami running game.

Guard: Bobbie Williams, Bengals (RG); Chris Kemoeatu, Steelers (LG).

Backup: Robert Gallery, Raiders (LG).

Just missed: Ben Grubbs, Ravens (LG).

Williams is a big reason Benson has run so well. Kemoeatu is clearly a better player now than Alan Faneca, the man he replaced.

Center: Nick Mangold, Jets.

Backup: Jake Grove, Dolphins.

Just missed: Jeff Saturday, Colts.

Mangold is clearly the elite of this group. He plays with a nasty streak. Grove has played well for the Dolphins after coming over from the Raiders.

Tight end: Dallas Clark, Colts.

Backup: Antonio Gates, Chargers.

Just missed: Heath Miller, Steelers.

Clark has 14 more catches and six more touchdown catches than Gates, which is why he gets the nod. The top two were pretty easy.

Kicker: Nate Kaeding, Chargers.

Just missed: Dan Carpenter, Dolphins.

Kaeding has missed three kicks all season and he's three-for-four from 50 out.

KR: Josh Cribbs, Browns.

Just missed: Ted Ginn, Dolphins.

Cribbs has been one of the only good things to happen to the Browns this season with four returns for scores.

Defense

Freeney continues to set the speed-rusher standard. (Getty Images)

Ends: Dwight Freeney, Colts; Randy Starks, Dolphins.

Backup: Robert Mathis, Colts.

Just missed: Mario Williams, Texans.

Freeney is the best speed rusher in football. He influences a game in a big way. Starks plays end in the Dolphins' 3-4 and he's been a force on their defense.

Tackles: Vince Wilfork, Patriots; Tony Brown, Titans.

Backup: Kyle Williams, Bills.

Just missed: Haloti Ngata, Ravens; Sione Pouha, Jets.

This position is down this season, which is why there are some fresh faces. Brown has been a force as a pass rusher, which is why he makes the team.

Outside linebackers: Elvis Dumervil, Broncos; James Harrison, Steelers.

Backup: Clint Session, Colts.

Just missed: Brian Cushing, Texans; Daryl Smith, Jaguars.

Dumervil has flourished playing outside linebacker in the 3-4. Harrison hasn't been as dominant as last season, but he's still a good player. Session is a good run-and-chase linebacker.

Inside linebackers: D.J. Williams, Broncos; David Harris, Jets.

Backup: Gary Brackett, Colts.

Just missed: DeMeco Ryans, Texans; Andra Davis, Broncos.

This isn't a great position in the AFC, but Williams has been a big part of the resurgence of the Denver defense. Harris is a rangy linebacker who holds up against the run.

Cornerbacks: Darrelle Revis, Jets; Nnamdi Asomugha, Raiders.

Backup: Champ Bailey, Broncos.

Just missed: Leon Hall, Bengals; Johnathan Joseph, Bengals,

The top three are pretty easy. They all excel at man coverage. The two Bengals are why their defense is so good.

Safeties: Tyvon Branch, Raiders (SS); Antoine Bethea, Colts (FS).

Backup: Brandon Meriweather, Patriots (SS).

Just missed: Yeremiah Bell (SS), Dolphins; Jairus Byrd, Bills.

With the stars at this position having down years and injuries cutting into their playing time, we have fresh faces. Branch is a big-hitting safety. Bethea has four interceptions and 90 tackles in an injury-depleted Colts secondary.

Punter: Shane Lechler, Raiders.

Just missed: Dustin Colquitt, Chiefs.

Is there any doubt? Lechler might break the longstanding record for punting average.

Special teams: Kassim Osgood, Chargers.

Just missed: Kyries Hebert, Bengals; Montell Owens, Jaguars.

Just watch the Chargers play. Osgood is always around the ball on special teams.

NFC

Quarterback: Drew Brees, Saints.

Backups: Aaron Rodgers, Packers; Brett Favre, Vikings.

Just missed: Tony Romo, Cowboys; Eli Manning, Giants; Donovan McNabb, Eagles.

Brees is an easy pick as the starter and Rodgers is as a backup. It was a tough choice taking Favre over Romo, who has been hot the past month.

Running back: Steven Jackson, Rams.

Backups: Adrian Peterson, Vikings; DeAngelo Williams, Panthers.

Just missed: Ryan Grant, Packers; Frank Gore, 49ers.

Jackson has done more with less than Peterson, which is why he's the starter. Williams edges out Grant for the third spot.

Fullback: Leonard Weaver, Eagles.

Just missed: Ovie Mughelli, Falcons.

Weaver isn't as good a lead blocker as Mughelli, but he can run it and catch it. He's been a surprise in the Eagles offense.

Big-play Fitzgerald cannot be denied. (Getty Images)

Wide receiver: Larry Fitzgerald, Cardinals; Sidney Rice, Vikings.

Backups: Steve Smith, Giants; Miles Austin, Cowboys.

Just missed: DeSean Jackson, Eagles; Marques Colston, Saints; Anquan Boldin, Cardinals.

Rice gets the starting nod based on his average, while Fitzgerald's late-season push gives him the other spot over Smith, who leads the NFC in catches with 90.

Tackle: Jason Peters, Eagles (LT); Phil Loadholt, Vikings (RT).

Backup: Kareem McKenzie (RT), Giants.

Just missed: Bryant McKinnie, Vikings (LT); Jeremy Trueblood, Bucs (RT).

It's a down year for tackles in the NFC, which is why a rookie like Loadholt can nab a spot at right tackle.

Guard: Jahri Evans, Saints (RG); Steve Hutchinson,, Vikings (LG).

Backup: Chris Snee, Giants (RG).

Just missed: Carl Nicks (LG); Saints; Josh Sitton (RG), Packers.

This is a deep position and a strong case can be made for all five of these guys. Keep an eye on Sitton. He's a young player who will get to the Pro Bowl someday.

Center: Jason Brown, Rams.

Backup: Shaun O'Hara, Giants.

Just missed: Ryan Kalil, Panthers; John Sullivan, Vikings.

Few got the chance to see Brown, but he is a big reason why Steven Jackson has had success running the football. He has been worth the money they spent to get him in free agency.

Tight end: Vernon Davis, 49ers.

Backup: Tony Gonzalez, Falcons.

Just missed: Brent Celek, Eagles; Kellen Winslow, Bucs.

Davis edges out Gonzalez for the top spot based on touchdowns (10-6) and 20-plus catches (11 to four).

Kicker: Ryan Longwell, Vikings.

Just missed: David Akers, Eagles.

Longwell has made 22 of 24 field goals, missing none inside 30 yards.

KR: DeSean Jackson, Eagles.

Just Missed: Percy Harvin, Vikings; Courtney Roby, Saints.

Comment: Jackson has two punts taken back for touchdowns. It has to be Jackson, even though I say he just missed at receiver.

Defense

Ends: Jared Allen, Vikings; Trent Cole, Eagles.

Backup: Justin Smith, 49ers.

Just missed: Julius Peppers, Panthers; Ray Edwards, Vikings; Andre Carter, Redskins; Will Smith, Saints.

Allen is a power player, although he has disappeared at times during games. Cole is a speed rusher in the Dwight Freeney mold.

Tackles: Kevin Williams, Vikings; Jay Ratliff, Cowboys.

Backup: Darnell Dockett, Cardinals.

Just missed: Pat Williams, Vikings; Brodrick Bunkley, Eagles.

Kevin Williams is a power player who can also get into the backfield in pass-rush mode. Ratliff has been the second-best player on the Cowboys defense and has held up at the point all season long.

Ware is a pass-rushing monster in Dallas. (Getty Images)

Outside linebackers: DeMarcus Ware, Cowboys; Clay Matthews, Packers.

Backup: Lance Briggs, Bears.

Just missed: Brian Orakpo, Redskins; Anthony Spencer, Cowboys; Chad Greenway, Vikings.

Ware is the only easy choice, but I went with Matthews as a rookie. He has really come on the second half and the other candidates are just behind.

Inside linebackers: Patrick Willis, 49ers; London Fletcher, Redskins.

Backup: Karlos Dansby, Cardinals.

Just missed: Jon Beason, Panthers; Nick Barnett, Packers.

Willis leads the NFL in tackles and Fletcher has had a season that warrants his first trip to the Pro Bowl.

Cornerbacks: Charles Woodson, Packers; Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Cardinals.

Backups: Asante Samuel, Eagles; Sheldon Brown, Eagles.

Just missed: Mike Jenkins, Cowboys; Antoine Winfield, Vikings.

Woodson is having a huge season and is finally getting his due. Rodgers-Cromartie excels in man coverage, getting the edge over Samuel and Brown.

Safeties: Adrian Wilson, Cardinals (SS); Darren Sharper, Saints (FS).

Backup: Nick Collins (FS), Packers.

Just missed: Antrel Rolle, Cardinals; Tanard Jackson, Bucs.

Wilson continues to be the leader of that good Arizona defense and Sharper has made a lot of big plays, even if he sometimes gambles to do so.

Punter: Ben Graham, Cardinals.

Just missed: Andy Lee, 49ers.

Lee is averaging a little more per punt, but Graham has had 37 downed inside the 20 to 25 for Lee.

Special teams: Sean Morey, Cardinals.

Just missed: Sam Hurd, Cowboys; Desmond Bishop, Packers.

Morey seems to make almost every tackle for the Cardinals on special teams.