Staff Writer
Over half the season is complete and the Pro Bowl ballots have been opened. Many players have made their case for a nice vacation in Honolulu this January, but only the elite will venture to Aloha Stadium. On January 27, the AFC’s best and NFC’s best will go head to head in a game that has lost some flare recently, but still provides sparks of fun. Here is my NFL all-star team:
Quarterback: Peyton Manning, coming off offseason neck surgery, has been as reliable as ever. The four-time league MVP is first in quarterback rating, fifth in passing yards, third in passing touchdowns, and has his new team first in their division with an impressive six wins.
Running Back: Adrian Peterson is leading the league in rushing yards and tied for second in rushing touchdowns. After a nasty ACL tear last year, many thought Peterson wouldn’t even play this season. What he has done this year has been nothing short of amazing.
Wide Receiver: Reggie Wayne has found the fountain of youth, and is somehow leading the league in receptions at age 33. Wayne, along with rookie quarterback Andrew Luck, has led the Indianapolis Colts, just one year removed from being worst in the NFL, to a current playoff spot.
Wide Receiver: Brandon Marshall and Jay Cutler’s reunion has done wonders for the Chicago Bears’ offense. Marshall has the second most receptions in the league and is continually proving to be a trustworthy figure in Chicago, both on and off the field.
Tight End: Tony Gonzalez is a major cog of a team that is currently claiming the top record in the league. The 12-time pro bowler currently has the most receiving yards for a tight end and has no shown no signs of slowing down.
Defensive End: J.J. Watt has given new meaning to the word dominant. The second year player has already swatted down ten quarterback passes and leads the league with 10.5 sacks. He is the key to the Houston Texans’ number two ranked defense.
Defensive End: Jason Pierre-Paul is the newest star of a New York Giants’ defensive line that is never lacking in playmakers. He has returned an interception for a touchdown, a feat that is extremely rare for a defensive lineman, and has racked up 6.5 sacks in 2012.
Linebacker: Patrick Willis is a true tackling machine and drives the San Francisco 49ers’ defense, which may be the most feared in the league. He has tallied 72 tackles thus far, and is constantly being compared to the likes of Dick Butkus, Jack Lambert, and Ray Lewis.
Linebacker: Demarcus Ware remains to be one of the lone bright spots of an inefficient and underachieving Dallas Cowboys team. He has four forced fumbles to go along with his nine sacks this season. Ware had been a model of consistency for years in Dallas.
Cornerback: Tim Jennings had a sub average seven interceptions in his first six seasons. This year, however, Jennings seems to have found his stride as he leads the league with a staggering eight interceptions through only nine games.
Cornerback: Cary Williams has stepped up big this year for a Ravens’ defensive unit that is decimated by injuries. He has saved his team from defeat a few times this season, including on September 27, when he took an interception to the house against the Cleveland Browns.
Safety: Ronde Barber, like Wayne and Gonzalez, is just getting better with age. Barber has added three more picks this year to total 46 in his hall-of-fame career. He has helped the young, rebuilding Tampa Bay Bucs get off to an unexpected 5-4 record and a potential playoff spot.
