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Patriots Daily: New England Shutout of Pro Bowl

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New England Patriots defensive tackle Christian Barmore (90) reacts after a play during the second half of an NFL football game against the Denver Broncos, Sunday, Dec. 24, 2023, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

On Wednesday the NFL announced this season’s Pro Bowl rosters. For the first time since 2000 the New England Patriots had no selections. Last year Matthew Judon was New England’s lone representative, but he has missed nearly the entire 2023 campaign. Generally speaking, Pro Bowl selections go to previous recipients, or to players on winning teams. As a result, it is not difficult to see why the New England Patriots had no selections.



NFL.com actually listed 40 Pro Bowl snubs, and no Patriots players made that list. However, it is worth noting that at least three New England players did deserve consideration for the honor.

Christian Barmore (DT)

Barmore’s third NFL season has easily been his best. He established himself as a building block for the future in New England. Pro Football Focus graded Barmore as the second best interior defensive lineman in the AFC this season. New York Jets Pro Bowl defensive tackle Quinnen Williams is the only player to finish with a higher grade. However, Barmore was also overlooked for Chris Jones of the Chiefs, and the Ravens’ Justin Madubuike. All three players that were chosen are excellent, so it is tough to consider Barmore a snub. However, his outstanding season should at least put him on voters’ radars in the future.

Jahlani Tavai (LB)

It wasn’t long ago some Patriots fans were questioning why Tavai was being resigned to the roster at all. This season he emerged as one of the Patriots most consistent and effective defenders. Only two inside/middle linebackers were chosen from the AFC, and both play for the Baltimore Ravens. This left Tavai on the outside, along with a plethora of other great linebackers: Black Cashman (HOU), Quincy Williams (NYJ), C.J. Mosely (NYJ), Foyesade Oluokun (JAX), Zaire Franklin (IND), etc. Tavai has the second highest grade from PFF among all AFC linebackers, trailing only Cashman.

Jabrill Peppers (S)

Peppers is the third member of the Patriots defense that deserved some consideration this season. He was the second highest graded safety in the AFC by PFF (behind Miami’s Jevon Holland) but didn’t make the cut. Only three players were chosen at safety, and it is difficult to argue with any of them: Justin Simmons (DEN), Minkah Fitzpatrick (PIT), and Kyle Hamilton (BAL). Once again, if Peppers had been a previous selection, or the New England Patriots were a better team, his odds of being selected would have been helped considerably.

Also in today’s Patriots Daily:

New England Patriots

Patriots Football Now – Has Trent Brown Quit on the New England Patriots?

Patriots Football Now – Six Takeaways From the Patriots 27-21 Loss to the Bills

AFC East News

A to Z Sports– Bills HC Sean McDermott takes jab at Josh Allen

Pro Football Talk – Dolphins Tyreek Hill leaves practice due to house fire

New York Post – How it went so wrong so quickly for Zach Wilson with the Jets

NFL News

Yardbarker – 49ers lead the way with nine Pro Bowl selections

NFL.com – 2024 NFL Pro Bowl snubs

ESPN – Why Packers QB Jordan Love has millions on the line vs. the Bears

PFN+ – 2024 NFL Draft Previews

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Fun Fact of the Day

Since the AFC-NFC Pro Bowl began in 1970, twelve New England Patriots have been selected to at least five Pro Bowls:

Tom Brady, QB (14)
Matthew Slater, ST (10)
John Hannah, OG (9)
Bruce Armstrong, OT (6)
Mike Haynes, CB (6)
Logan Mankins, OG (6)
Ben Coates, TE (5)
Rob Gronkowski, TE (5)
Richard Seymour, DL (5)
Andre Tippett, LB (5)
Wes Welker, WR (5)
Vince Wilfork, DL (5)

Tweet of the Day

Tweet of the Day is from Bryan Knowles. He looks at how different the NFL standings would be if the results of one-score games were reversed…