Six Patriots made the Pro Bowl, and for most of them it was a well-deserved honor. Tom Brady and Vince Wilfork are clearly deserving as they’ve been playing at a top level all season.
Many knocked the first round selection of “mainly special teamer” Devin McCourty, but now we see that McCourty is the next great NFL shutdown corner, and a playmaker who deserved to go to the Pro Bowl as a rookie.
Jerod Mayo leads the NFL in tackles and is living up to the promise he showed as a rookie in 2008. Mayo had possibly his best game of the season against the Bills last weekend, and looks to be in top form as the playoffs approach.
Now we get to the two most interesting Pro Bowl Pats.
Logan Mankins has been a beast since returning from his hold out. Its been a love fest from every Patriot coach and player when asked about Mankins. It is even clearer now how much he means to the Patriots offense, and every effort must be made to mend any burnt bridges and re-sign him to a long term deal.
Last, and certainly least, is Brandon Meriweather, one of those Pro Bowl anomalies. Meriweather started the season as the 3rd safety because of “freelancing” in practice. He regained his starting spot but was again benched against the Bears for what Mike Reiss believed was for being late to a team meeting.
Meriweather has now made back to back Pro Bowls as he enters the last year of his contract. He’s a solid player but with Patrick Chung, James Sanders and the emerging Jarrad Page, he’s far from an indispensible piece of the puzzle, especially with his continuing issues. The Pats use a healthy safety rotation, but Meriweather really has not lived up to expectations despite these honors.
Its possible Meriweather could see these Pro Bowl selections as an indication he deserves an extension from the Pats, and hold out from camp this summer if he doesnt get one. If he does that I wish him luck.
At the very least Meriweather’s perceived self value will certainly be higher than how the Patriots value him after next season. It’s likely that these Pro Bowl selections will seal Meriweather’s fate with the Patriots after 2011, if not sooner.
