What if they announced there would be a remake of “Jaws” – but without the shark?
Or what if it was announced that Grammy-winners from the last decade were uniting for a mega-concert at Madison Square Garden, but, we’re sorry, Beyonce won’t be in attendance?
The National Football League has just announced its Pro Bowl rosters, and conspicuous by his absence is none other than Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
Do I need to repeat that? Or re-type it?
Mahomes, quarterback of the one-loss Chiefs, who has thrown for just under 4,000 yards and 26 touchdowns this season, is NOT on the Pro Bowl roster.
Five Chiefs made the cut, including tight end Travis Kelce, his 10th selection.
But no Mahomes.
Nine members of the Baltimore Ravens roster made the list, including obviously quarterback Lamar Jackson and running back Derrick Henry. That nine was the most of any NFL club.
The Detroit Lions had seven, including quarterback Jared Goff and running back Jamyr Gibbs, and seven was the second-most selections. The Philadelphia Eagles, led by 2,000-plus-yard running back Saquon Barkley, had six players named to the Pro Bowl, as did the Minnesota Vikings.
Washington quarterback Jayden Daniels, last year’s Heisman Trophy winner and an NFL rookie, became just the fourth rookie quarterback since 1970 to be named to a Pro Bowl. Other rookies who made the list: tight end Brock Bowers, formerly of the University of Georgia and now of the Raiders, will be there, as will L.A. Rams linebacker Jared Verse.
Buffalo quarterback Josh Allen, considered by many to be the favorite to win the league’s most valuable player honors, is there, of course, as is Cincinnati QB Joe Burrow, having the best statistical season of his career.
The only franchises without a single Pro Bowl player are the New York Jets, the New Orleans Saints, the Miami Dolphins and the Tennessee Titans. Of that foursome, only the Dolphins are still in the playoff hunt.
The Pro Bowl is set for Feb. 2, at Camping World Stadium in Orlando – it’s a flag-football game between the AFC and NFC. And while we get that it’s not serious, as per the fact that Peyton & Eli Manning are the game’s coaches, it’s still a shocker to see that the quarterback of the two-time defending Super Bowl champions, gunning for a third straight Super Bowl win, is not on the Pro Bowl roster.
We mentioned Mahomes’ numbers. How does he compare to some of the other quarterbacks chosen?
Well, he’s thrown for more yards than Allen, who has 3,731 yards passing, 28 touchdowns (just two more than Mahomes) and six interceptions this year.
He’s got one less interception (11) than Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold, a Pro Bowl pick with 4,153 yards and 35 touchdowns, nine more than Mahomes.
He’s thrown for more yards than Daniels (3,530) and one more touchdown than the rookie, who has 25 TD passes and nine picks this year.
And he’s got significantly less yards and TD passes than Burrow, who tops everyone with 4,641 yards, 42 touchdowns and just eight INTs in the 2024 season.
He’s also way off the mark against Goff, who’s thrown for 4,398 yards, 36 touchdowns and 10 picks.
So maybe Mahomes’ numbers were off, compared to some of the others that were voted to the Pro Bowl, and ultimately, another QB will likely pull out due to nagging injuries. But it’s still shocking to see the face of the league not be chosen.
