The Pro Bowl lists are out and Bucs fans won’t find any of their favorite Tampa Bay players on it.
For the first time since 2009, not a single Bucs player was named to the initial Pro Bowl roster.
Even as one of the top passing teams in the league, the 5-9 Bucs didn’t have enough glitz or glamor to get votes from fans and coaches to send one of their players. The team’s best chances come at positions with the stiffest competition, wide receiver and defensive end.
While understandable, it comes as a surprise that Mike Evans was snubbed. Evans is second in all of the NFL in receiving yards with 1,328, and his 17.9 yards per reception is more than any Pro Bowler on both the NFC and AFC. Part of the Bucs turmoil may have led to the lack of attention for Evans.
2019 #ProBowl Wide Receivers! pic.twitter.com/LFOs7egWqg
— NFL (@NFL) December 19, 2018
Same goes for Jason Pierre-Paul, who has 11.5 sacks and more name recognition than most, which sometimes will get a player in.
2019 #ProBowl Defensive Ends! pic.twitter.com/eRliUL0C6Y
— NFL (@NFL) December 19, 2018
Now, there is a chance that a Bucs player could still make the Pro Bowl in the event of an injury or a player’s team makes the Super Bowl. Evans is a first alternate for the WR group and Pierre-Paul is a third alternate among the DE’s.
In Evans’ case, Davonte Adams’ Packers and Julio Jones’ Falcons are already eliminated from the playoffs. The Vikings are holding on to the final wild card spot, so Adam Thielen’s chances to reach the NFL’s biggest game is a long shot as well.
That leaves only Michal Thomas as the most likely candidate to make the Super Bowl and have to miss out on the Pro Bowl. Would Bucs fans want to see a rival in their division make it just so Evans can play in an exhibition? Time will tell if the Bucs end up having a representative in the game this year.