Brandon Brooks, Rick Lovato Among Five Eagles Pro Bowl Selections
Brandon Brooks, Rick Lovato Among Five Eagles Pro Bowl Selections
Even in a down season by our recent standards, the Eagles will still be represented well in the 2019 Pro Bowl. Zach Ertz, Brandon Brooks, Jason Kelce, Fletcher Cox, and Rick Lovato were all voted into the game. Out of the five, Ertz is the only one who will not start. Unfortunately for the NFL’s reception leader among tight ends, he is in the same conference as third-year superstar 49ers tight end George Kittle.
Brandon Brooks
A PFF-darling, Brandon Brooks has also gained recognition from NFL fans for his top-shelf play all season. It was less than 12 months ago when the 340-pound behemoth tore his Achilles tendon in the divisional round of the 2018 playoffs. Eight months after the devastating injury, he suited up for the Eagles in Week One, playing 73% of snaps. His first week back along with Week 12’s matchup with Seattle were the only two games this year in which Brooks did not play every snap. Philadelphia made sure to reward him handsomely, inking him to a 4-year 54.2 million dollar extension five weeks ago.
Fletcher Cox
The Pro Bowl is a popularity contest, and Fletcher Cox was a beneficiary of that fact. Cox remains a very good player by all means, but he hasn’t been the same destructive force that he’s been over the past few years. He began the season dealing with a nagging foot injury stemming from the same playoff game that Brooks was hurt in, but he’s gotten healthier and better as the year has gone along. For the year, Cox has just 3.5 sacks (his lowest total since his second season if he finishes with the same total) and 37 tackles. He has also forced two fumbles. Hopefully, Cox can have a late-season surge similar to last year’s when he recorded 6.5 sacks over the final five weeks.
Zach Ertz
Madden NFL 20 may not give him the respect he deserves, but at least the fans do. Obviously, Ertz wasn’t going to match the same lofty totals that we saw from him last season, but he’s done a heckuva job keeping up his productivity. Among tight ends, Ertz’s 84 catches ranks second (Kelce, 86) and his 888 yards ranks third (Kelce, Waller). Ertz has also been subjected to much more defensive attention than last year due to him being really the only reliable option for Carson Wentz. It’s funny thinking about how several Eagles fans wanted Dallas Goedert to be the main man so the Eagles wouldn’t have to pay Ertz. Goedert is currently averaging less than 35 receiving yards per game.
Jason Kelce
Ranking first among all centers in snaps played, Kelce has allowed just one sack on the season. He’s proven his magical 2017 season wasn’t an outlier, making first-team All-Pro again in 2018 and now has a shot at it for a third straight year. Missing the Pro Bowl in 2017 & 2018, Kelce has finally reached the point where name recognition can get him into the game even if his play falls off in the coming years.
Rick Lovato
Eagles fans must’ve showed out for this one because does anyone actually have an idea of who the “best” long snappers in the league are? Regardless, with the introduction of long snappers into the Pro Bowl ballot this season, Lovato becomes the first NFC long snapper to be voted into the NFL’s all-star game. Impressive stuff.
Jake Elliott Snubbed?
Elliott didn’t make the Pro Bowl in favor of New Orleans’ Will Lutz, and while this could be considered a snub, I think it’s fine having Lutz in there. Elliott’s FG percentage is slightly higher (90.5 to 88.6), but Elliott has attempted just 21 kicks compared to Lutz’s 35. Lutz is also 37/38 on extra points compared to Elliott’s 29/31. Both are having impressive seasons, and you can’t go wrong either way.
-By: Micah Jimoh
Writer/Interviewer