The Obligatory Pro Bowl Snub: Bengals Defensive Tackle Geno Atkins

by Josh Kirkendall on Dec 28, 2011 10:15 AM EST

CINCINNATI, OH - NOVEMBER 27: Geno Atkins #97 of the Cincinnati Bengals celebrates a sack of Colt McCoy #12 of the Cleveland Browns during their game at Paul Brown Stadium on November 27, 2011 in Cincinnati, Ohio. The Bengals defeated the Browns 23-20. (Photo by John Grieshop/Getty Images)

The discussion brews within every level of sports, generating the question with rapid fire responses, often associated with words people shouldn’t learn until their 45th birthday. The NFL released the AFC and NFC rosters for the 2011 Pro Bowl, with Cincinnati’s own A.J. Green taking his rightful place as one of the league’s top wide receivers. Ultimately these discussions take a wider approach of asking who was snubbed. And Geno Atkins, although a first alternate, was definitely snubbed.

Amongst all defensive tackles in the NFL, much less the AFC, Atkins leads everyone with eight quarterback sacks, 14 quarterback hits and ranks second with 25 quarterback pressures. Pro Football Focus rates Atkins first among defensive tackles with the league’s best pass rushing score (21.3) and overall grade (29.3). That’s not to take anything away from players like Richard Seymour, Haloti Ngata and Vince Wilfolk, all of whom made the roster as interior defensive linemen, all having fine season with plenty of name recognition.

But at the level that Atkins is producing? We think not.

Clark Judge of CBSSports.com makes the case:

He has eight sacks, tying him for the Bengals' record by a defensive tackle. Quick now, how many defensive tackles in the NFL have more this season? I'll tell you: None. There's a reason the Bengals remain in the playoff picture. Part of it has to do with their rookie quarterback and wide receiver, and part of it is the league's sixth-ranked defense, with Atkins playing a significant role.

We should point out that Judge also made the case for Andy Dalton over Phillip Rivers, who is tied for the league lead in interceptions.

Philip Rivers is one of my favorite quarterbacks, but, no, he did not have a Pro Bowl season. I don't care that he has over 4,000 yards passing. He is tied for the league lead in interceptions and his team is a disappointing 7-8. Dalton, on the other hand, won more games (9) than Carson Palmer in his first season and has the Bengals on the cusp of a playoff spot. So his numbers aren't gargantuan. He wins.

Pete Prisco from the same publication named Geno Atkins on his Pro Bowl team.

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Comments

Atkins is the man

He is a pro bowl player in my book. Does anyone know how much the coach and player vote changed the (popular) fan vote?

by Bigcatdaddy on Dec 28, 2011 11:03 AM EST via Android app reply actions

I agree

GENO STACKS! However, I think he leaves the Bengals once his rookie contract is up. On another note, I’m happy for Jonathan Joseph. He deserves a pro-bowl.

by sgiridharan1982 on Dec 28, 2011 11:06 AM EST up reply actions

Atkins will get extended.. most likely after this year

by Bengalsfan024 on Dec 28, 2011 11:36 AM EST up reply actions

i really hope so, I don't see why they don't resign him at the end of this year...

I wouldn’t let him get close to free agency but im sure they will do it in the middle of next year. Then Dalton and green will follow the year after next.

AMAS

by AMAS85 on Dec 28, 2011 11:45 AM EST up reply actions

only way hes leaving if its with zimmer

If zimmer is a head coach when his contract is up, he will probably follow zim.

by JCompton41 on Dec 28, 2011 12:53 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

I think that would be more true with reggie nelson since he will become a free agent this offseason

and Zimmer will have an opportunity to go else where too. But we alwasy have a franchise tag to keep Reggies for next year. And Geno’s contract isn’t up until 2014 I believe, we will have plenty of opportunities to get it done.

AMAS

by AMAS85 on Dec 28, 2011 12:56 PM EST up reply actions

They need to extend a lot of these guys now.

They are way under the cap and can front load a lot of contracts

by Diesel2405 on Dec 28, 2011 1:38 PM EST up reply actions

As for Dalton...

Some times numbers don’t tell the whole story. This is one such case. Dalton’s numbers are not amazing, but what he has done in managing the game, avoiding pressure, etc…this is only his first year, and there nothing to indicate that he will not only get better….

by Unbeliever on Dec 28, 2011 2:59 PM EST reply actions

i agree with what your saying

but I believe for a rookie (excluding CAMolot Newton) Daltons numbers have been pretty good, I think he is one of the 8 rookies to top the 3,000 passing mark. So I think his numbers have been impressive, but since Cam played this year too, Dalton hasn’t got the attention he deserves.

AMAS

by AMAS85 on Dec 28, 2011 3:43 PM EST up reply actions

Plus, Dalton didn’t have a real offseason to prepare due to the lockout of coarse. Throwing that into the equation makes Daltons season even more special and impressive. He will be very dangerous in the upcoming years.

by AJHax513 on Dec 28, 2011 11:10 PM EST up reply actions

I don't have anything to add to this

Except that I am a HUGE Geno Atkins fan and I thought he was a shoe-in for the Pro Bowl this year because of his sack numbers alone. The fact that Suh didn’t even make it just tells me this position is a crap shoot. I’m just psyched that Atkins is going to be on this team for a long time. He’s going to be a superstar.

by eric nyc on Dec 28, 2011 9:43 PM EST reply actions