NFL Pro Bowl: Seven Arizona Cardinals are in
By Scott Allen
The NFL announced the rosters for the 2016 Pro Bowl this evening
It used to be that the Arizona Cardinals would struggle to get players into the Pro Bowl. They would be lucky to maybe get one and then maybe one or two as first or second alternates. Boy how times have changed.
Tuesday evening, seven Arizona Cardinals players were named to the 2016 NFL Pro Bowl. The game will move back to Hawaii this season after playing in Glendale last season.
The chosen seven:
Justin Bethel – special teams
Patrick Peterson – cornerback
Carson Palmer – quarterback
Larry Fitzgerald – receiver
Mike Iupati – guard
Tyrann Mathieu – safety
Calais Campbell – defensive tackle
*Chris Johnson – running back (alternate)
This is the most Cardinals voted to the Pro Bowl since they moved to Arizona in 1988 and the most for the franchise since 1977 when they were in St. Louis. Clearly fans and other players have recognized the Cardinals are for real and have some real playmakers. Their 12-2 record is no fluke.
Of course when the game is played on January 31st in Hawaii, we hope that none of the Cardinals are there. If none of them are there, that means they will be heading to Santa Clara, California to prepare to play in Super Bowl 50. We will not get ahead of ourselves just yet but that is the hope.
Every one on this list is deserving. We know the contributions Palmer has made. He is currently in the MVP discussion. Fitz has made a nice comeback this year after signing a two-year contract extension in the offseason. Peterson has also rebounded well from a down year in 2014.
I am very happy to see Iupati get in after his slow start. He has really picked it up and creating the running lanes that everyone expected him to. A bittersweet selection for Mathieu who just today went on season-ending injured reserve.
Campbell and Bethel have been solid week in and week out. Bethel has gotten a special teams nod in the past. The impressive thing this year is he has gotten more playing time as a corner yet continues to excel on special teams.