BSJ Daily Briefing 12.18.19: 3 Patriots snubbed in Pro Bowl and, yes, it does matter; Bruins lose, C's finally play

Good morning!

A few random thoughts while I wonder why the NFL gets the simple things wrong...

• So the NFL unveiled the Pro Bowl rosters on Tuesday, and only three Patriots made it: CB Stephon Gilmore; ILB Dont'a Hightower; ST Matthew Slater. Hightower is a backup.


• Meanwhile, six Chiefs made it, and five Steelers were included.


• First of all, yes, this matters. The Pro Bowl game itself doesn't matter. But the listing of the initial teams, starters and backups, is significant (NOT injury replacements). The All-Pro team is obviously the best of the best, and that matters more than anything. But identifying the correct top players in each conference is important when it comes to Hall of Fame selection, let alone players' bonuses, or other honors.


• With that being said, three Patriots players were snubbed in this. Julian Edelman and his 90-plus receptions dwarfs anything Jarvis Landry or Tyreek Hill have done. Especially Hill, who has played only 10 games this season with 49 receptions.


• LG Joe Thuney deserves inclusion over Pittsburgh's David DeCastro. Thuney or Oakland's Richie Incognito were more deserving.


• And Kyle Van Noy deserved it over either Frank Clark at end, or Matt Judon at outside linebacker. Judon is terrible against the run. Frank Clark's inclusion is basically a joke. His pressures pale in comparison to Van Noy and he's just not good overall.


• As for the other Patriots, I don't have much of a gripe with Devin McCourty, Jamie Collins and Jake Bailey being left off for the picks at their positions. There are good players in front of them.


• Bruins fell in OT to the Kings ... yuck.

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Yeeeesh. pic.twitter.com/lF3Tzo0kly

— Conor Ryan (@ConorRyan_93) December 18, 2019