01-07-2019, 09:30 AM
I didn't know it before this year, but apparently there isn't a separate vote for the second team, and it's basically populated by the "others receiving votes" for the first team, with an arbitrary line drawn in case several guys get votes for that position.
In other words, as long as you've got one of the 50 voters that thinks you're great, you can get yourself a spot on the All-Pro Second Team, even if everyone else thinks you're undeserving, as explained here: http://www.footballperspective.com/the-a...is-a-joke/
The suggestion in that article for improvement--once the first team is picked, send out another ballot to the same voters to determine the second team--is such an obvious thing that I don't understand how it's not done that way. Or, at least use the H.eisman voting process where you can rank guys 1-4, awarding points accordingly, and you should get yourself a reasonable look at who the voters really think are deserving beyond the top group.
Here's this year's voting breakdown: https://apnews.com/afs:Content:2820450002.
As long as the NFL accords All-Pro designations and Pro Bowls* meaning through contract bonuses, and Hall of Fame voters use the accolades in debating who is a Hall of Famer, then there should at least be a more comprehensive vote for the second team.
* The Pro Bowl is another interesting case, especially given the snubs of Andrew Luck and his teammate (and First Team All-Pro) Darius Leonard. The fans actually got that one right, with Luck in the top 3 of AFC quarterbacks in fan voting, and Leonard above the cut line for linebackers. But once you factored in the players' and coaches' votes, they fell short. Weirdly, players and coaches voted--at least this year--far more based on reputation than the fans (for the Pro Bowl) and media members (for All-Pro designations) did. I'm normally of the view that you can't trust fan votes because they just vote for their guy, so well-reasoned fan ballots are overwhelmed by ballot-stuffing homers. And I still generally think that. But it doesn't speak well of letting players and coaches vote that they ignored Luck's terrific comeback season. Mahomes should get the top AFC spot, to be sure. And Rivers was also deserving. But Brady over Luck this year was simply absurd. Of course, those three QBs are also the other ones still alive in the AFC Playoffs, so either (1) Luck will get a spot vacated by the guy playing in the Super Bowl, he'll get Brady's spot anyway after Brady declines to play in the Pro Bowl, as usual, or (3) Luck won't be able to go to the Pro Bowl because he'll be in the Super Bowl himself. In the third scenario, though, Luck wouldn't be recognized as a Pro Bowler, however, unless Brady loses this week, immediately announces he'll skip the Pro Bowl, Luck is named to replace him, and Luck becomes unavailable later due to winning the AFC Championship Game. I'm pretty sure Andrew would take playing in the Super Bowl over getting named a Pro Bowler--I'm just saying he should have the honor regardless.
McCaffrey, by the way, is a second alternate for the Pro Bowl, so he needs two of the NFC running backs ahead of him to beg off or be unavailable. That looks unlikely, as only the Rams' Todd Gurley is still in the playoffs, so the Giants' Saquon Barkley and the Cowboys' Ezekiel Elliott will presumably play. Not sure who the first alternate is, but if it's the Saints' Alvin Kamara, as seems likely, Christian probably needs Todd Gurley to beg off because of his not-quite-100% knee, and for Kamara to be unavailable because the Saints make the Super Bowl. A bummer that Christian probably won't make it, but it's just a murderer's row of quality running backs in the NFC. Christian's season absolutely has him in the Pro Bowl if he's in the AFC.
In other words, as long as you've got one of the 50 voters that thinks you're great, you can get yourself a spot on the All-Pro Second Team, even if everyone else thinks you're undeserving, as explained here: http://www.footballperspective.com/the-a...is-a-joke/
The suggestion in that article for improvement--once the first team is picked, send out another ballot to the same voters to determine the second team--is such an obvious thing that I don't understand how it's not done that way. Or, at least use the H.eisman voting process where you can rank guys 1-4, awarding points accordingly, and you should get yourself a reasonable look at who the voters really think are deserving beyond the top group.
Here's this year's voting breakdown: https://apnews.com/afs:Content:2820450002.
As long as the NFL accords All-Pro designations and Pro Bowls* meaning through contract bonuses, and Hall of Fame voters use the accolades in debating who is a Hall of Famer, then there should at least be a more comprehensive vote for the second team.
* The Pro Bowl is another interesting case, especially given the snubs of Andrew Luck and his teammate (and First Team All-Pro) Darius Leonard. The fans actually got that one right, with Luck in the top 3 of AFC quarterbacks in fan voting, and Leonard above the cut line for linebackers. But once you factored in the players' and coaches' votes, they fell short. Weirdly, players and coaches voted--at least this year--far more based on reputation than the fans (for the Pro Bowl) and media members (for All-Pro designations) did. I'm normally of the view that you can't trust fan votes because they just vote for their guy, so well-reasoned fan ballots are overwhelmed by ballot-stuffing homers. And I still generally think that. But it doesn't speak well of letting players and coaches vote that they ignored Luck's terrific comeback season. Mahomes should get the top AFC spot, to be sure. And Rivers was also deserving. But Brady over Luck this year was simply absurd. Of course, those three QBs are also the other ones still alive in the AFC Playoffs, so either (1) Luck will get a spot vacated by the guy playing in the Super Bowl, he'll get Brady's spot anyway after Brady declines to play in the Pro Bowl, as usual, or (3) Luck won't be able to go to the Pro Bowl because he'll be in the Super Bowl himself. In the third scenario, though, Luck wouldn't be recognized as a Pro Bowler, however, unless Brady loses this week, immediately announces he'll skip the Pro Bowl, Luck is named to replace him, and Luck becomes unavailable later due to winning the AFC Championship Game. I'm pretty sure Andrew would take playing in the Super Bowl over getting named a Pro Bowler--I'm just saying he should have the honor regardless.
McCaffrey, by the way, is a second alternate for the Pro Bowl, so he needs two of the NFC running backs ahead of him to beg off or be unavailable. That looks unlikely, as only the Rams' Todd Gurley is still in the playoffs, so the Giants' Saquon Barkley and the Cowboys' Ezekiel Elliott will presumably play. Not sure who the first alternate is, but if it's the Saints' Alvin Kamara, as seems likely, Christian probably needs Todd Gurley to beg off because of his not-quite-100% knee, and for Kamara to be unavailable because the Saints make the Super Bowl. A bummer that Christian probably won't make it, but it's just a murderer's row of quality running backs in the NFC. Christian's season absolutely has him in the Pro Bowl if he's in the AFC.