Welker & Gostkowski are Patriots Pro Bowlers

by bartHML on Dec 16, 2008 4:38 PM EST Comment 6 comments

From Mike Reiss:

Receiver Wes Welker and kicker Stephen Gostkowski have been voted to the Pro Bowl, it was announced today.

It is the first Pro Bowl berth for both players.

Four receivers are selected in the AFC, and Welker, who ranks second in the NFL with 102 receptions, was named a reserve behind Houston's Andre Johnson and Denver's Brandon Marshall.

Gostkowski is the AFC's lone kicker. He is 30 of 33 on field goals this season, having hit all 34 of his extra-point attempts. His 30 field goals are tied for most in the NFL are are two shy of the Patriots' single-season record (Tony Franklin, 32, 1986).

Some quick facts on the Pro Bowl honors for Welker and Gostkowski:

Welker is the fifth Patriots wide receiver to earn Pro Bowl honors since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger, joining Randy Moss (2007), Troy Brown (2001), Terry Glenn (1999) and Stanley Morgan (1979-80 and 1986-87).

Welker caught at least six passes in each of the first 11 games of the 2008 season, becoming the first player in NFL history to begin a season with that many consecutive games of six or more receptions.

Gostkowski is the fourth Patriots kicker to be named to the Pro Bowl since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger, joining Adam Vinatieri (2002, 2004), Tony Franklin (1986) and John Smith (1980).

Gostkowski is on pace for 142 points this season - a total that would set a post-merger Patriots record.

Click for the full rosters

The views expressed in these FanPosts are not necessarily those of the writers or SBNation.

0 recs | Comment 6 comments

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

gratz to them

Though I think Moss deserves a spot with 10 TDs (leads the AFC).

I’m very glad Gostkowski beat out the clearly inferior Carpenter

Also unreal that Calvin Johnson of the Lions isn’t on there. He’s thriving in a wasteland.

"These players, a lot of other people didn't believe in them, but they believe in themselves. And that is all that matters."- Bill Belichick

by Mainiac on Dec 16, 2008 5:10 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Re: Welker...

…he would have had at least six catches in every game this season if not for a dirty hit in the Steelers game.

by RSNexile on Dec 16, 2008 5:20 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

just more evidence

that the masses are the asses. Of course Gostkowski should be in the Pro-bowl, and Welker absolutely deserves a place as well. RSNexile is so right that he would have continued that 6-catch game streak easily if he hadn’t been knocked senseless.

Thanks for posting bart, I couldn’t get to a computer in time.

Keep the faith!

by Marima on Dec 16, 2008 5:22 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I was a little upset we only had 2, then I realized how many Lions are in there and felt better.

by Paydirt on Dec 16, 2008 7:46 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Interesting list of snubs

Logan Mankins included

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/multimedia/photo_gallery/0812/nfl.biggest.pro.bowl.snubs/content.1.html

"These players, a lot of other people didn't believe in them, but they believe in themselves. And that is all that matters."- Bill Belichick

by Mainiac on Dec 17, 2008 9:31 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

lot of good players on that snub list

I couldn’t believe Abraham wasn’t selected. I’m in the camp that doesn’t put much stock in all-star/Pro-Bowl selections when measuring a player’s worth, but it does affect them at contract time to not have that bullet point on their resume.

by jctsai12 on Dec 17, 2008 12:12 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs