The pass catchers stole the show in the NFC’s 62-35 rout of the AFC in this year’s Pro Bowl.
Of the 834 total yards gained between the two teams, 741 came through the air. While the quarterbacks deserve a lot of the credit, a pass and catch is a two-sided operation. After all, the game’s MVP was tight end Kyle Rudolph, not Drew Brees, Eli Manning or Russell Wilson.
The second-year player out of Notre Dame, while not necessarily a household name, is sure to become one in the near future. The 6 foot 6 inch tight end made sure Pro Bowl viewers were familiar with him by corralling five catches for 122 yards and a touchdown.
Rudolph was targeted 93 times in 2012 and tallied 53 receptions for 493 yards. He was by far Christian Ponder’s favorite target after receiver Percy Harvin tore a ligament in his ankle on Nov. 4, and ended the season with nine receiving touchdowns, six more than any of his teammates.
Rudolph’s nine TD’s were tied for the highest total in the NFC among tight ends with the great Jimmy Graham. Only Rob Gronkowski had more end zone grabs with 11.
Despite his touchdown numbers, Rudolph wasn’t selected to the original Pro Bowl roster. He only was added as a replacement when Tony Gonzalez bowed out, and took full advantage of the opportunity. As a result, he’ll get to drive around Minnesota in a brand new whip.
Another late add that had a tremendous impact on the NFC’s unstoppable aerial attack was Vincent Jackson, who replaced Calvin Johnson. Although this was Jackson’s third appearance in the NFL all-star game, he has been selected as an alternate each time.
That might soon be changing, as the seventh-year receiver hauled in six catches for 91 yards and two touchdowns. He was the only NFC non-quarterback to reach the end zone more than once, and it was his second Pro Bowl with at least one touchdown. This came after a career year with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in which he caught 72 balls for 1,384 yards and eight touchdowns.
Before Tampa Bay, Jackson had six up and down and seemingly unappreciated seasons in San Diego. The Chargers made Jackson the highest ever draftee out of Northern Colorado when they selected him with the 29th pick in the second round of the 2005 draft.
Jackson’s rookie season got off to a slow start due to injuries, and he only recorded three catches after missing the first five games of the 2005 campaign. The following season, Jackson made his first career touchdown grab against the Tennessee Titans, and finished the year with six, good for second on the team.
In 2007, Jackson earned a starting spot entering week one. After a strong season, Jackson established himself as Philip River’s favorite target, and recorded his first 1,000 yard season as a pro in 2008.
Jackson received his first Pro Bowl nod following the 2009 season, wheN he had 68 receptions and led the team in receiving yards and TD’s, with 1,167 and nine respectively. Despite his breakout year, the Chargers attempted to sign Jackson to a one year $3.2 million dollar tender. Wanting a multi-year deal, he held out the first 10 games of 2010 before finally suiting up in week 11. In response to his holdout, the Chargers placed the franchise tag on Jackson before the 2011 season, and he rewarded them with another Pro Bowl season.
Jackson finally got the multi-year deal he deserved when he signed for five years and $55.55 million with Tampa Bay before the 2012 season. It’s a good thing they inked him for several years because he’s not going to be a pro bowl alternate for long.
Of all the performances by receivers in Sunday’s Pro Bowl, no one put up the stats that A.J. Green did for the AFC squad. Green had seven catches for 119 yards and three of his team’s four offensive touchdowns.
Unlike the aforementioned Pro Bowl alternates, Green was named a starter from the get-go, and deservedly so. He finished the season with 97 receptions for 1,350 yards and eleven touchdowns.
Those numbers put the second-year receiver out of Georgia in some very profound company. With his second Pro Bowl selection in as many seasons, Green joined Cris Collinsworth and Randy Moss as the only receivers in NFL history to make the NFL all-star game in their first two seasons.
If you thought that was remarkable, wrap your head around this: Green is the only player in NFL history to exceed 100 receptions, 1,500 yards and 10 receiving touchdowns in his first 20 games. Jerry Rice didn’t do that. Neither did Randy Moss, who said on Tuesday that he’s the greatest receiver of all time. Cris Collinsworth didn’t even come close.
The scary thing is, he only appears to be getting better. That’s bad news for defensive backs around the NFL, because according to Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis, Green is already the most impressive player he’s laid eyes on.
“From the very first practice, you know, I just said, ‘Wow,’ ” Lewis said in an interview with Yahoo! Sports. “And he’s never disappointed me since. Every day, he does something that makes you shake your head. And anybody that’s ever around him says the same thing: ‘That’s the best player I’ve ever seen.’”
