2014 Pro Bowl snubs: Nick Foles, Reggie Bush miss out

The rosters for the 2014 Pro Bowl have been announced, and several players were surprisingly absent.

By James Dator Dec 27, 2013, 9:26pm EST

The NFL announced Friday the list of players eligible to be drafted in the 2014 Pro Bowl. Changes have been made to the format, shifting the focus from AFC vs. NFC to a fantasy draft led by captains Jerry Rice and Deion Sanders. There are plenty of quality players to choose from who made the list, but also some interesting snubs that will keep players at home, rather than in Hawaii.

You can find the complete list of Pro Bowl players from each conference here and here, but here is your list of some of the top athletes left out of the game.

Offense

Nick Foles, QB, Philadelphia Eagles

Sure, he's only started nine games in 2013, but it's tough to argue against Foles being named to the Pro Bowl. He has more than 2,600 passing yards this season and 25 touchdowns. Extrapolate his shortened season and his numbers almost rival Peyton Manning; he was that good.

Andy Dalton, QB, Cincinnati Bengals

Should inconsistency impact a potential Pro Bowl spot? That's the question that is Dalton in 2013. He wasn't perfect week-in, week-out, but his entire season was very impressive. He's thrown for more than 4,000 yards with 31 touchdowns.

Reggie Bush, RB, Detroit Lions

Several running backs gained more yards on the ground than Bush in 2013, but his importance to the Lions was clear in the team's late-season collapse. Injury caused him to miss two starts, but he still gained 1,447 yards from scrimmage and is one of the best dual-threat running backs in the NFC.

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AFC Pro Bowl rosters

Jeff Gray

Peyton Manning and Tom Brady headline the AFC Pro Bowl rosters.

NFC Pro Bowl rosters

Jeff Gray

Eight 49ers and six Seahawks paced the NFL Pro Bowl rosters announced Friday.

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AFC Pro Bowl rosters NFC Pro Bowl rosters

Pierre Garcon, WR, Washington Redskins

This is the case of a good player being lost on a bad team. There weren't many bright spots for Washington in 2013, but Garcon was one of them. He has caught 107 passes for 1,290 yards and five touchdowns this season -- thriving despite being the team's only receiving threat.

Defense

Jurrell Casey, DT, Tennessee Titans

The Titans struggled in 2013 largely due to inconsistency at quarterback, but defensive tackle Jurrell Casey was an ever-steady force on the line. His absence from the voting is curious given he leads the league in sacks by a DT with 10.5, has 55 total tackles and a forced fumble.

Thomas Davis, OLB, Carolina Panthers

The 2013 season for Davis has been a lesson in determination; the linebacker came back from three ACL tears to have the best year of his career, but it wasn't enough to earn a Pro Bowl nod. In 15 games, he's amassed 117 tackles, four sacks, eight passes defended and two interceptions.

Karlos Dansby, ILB, Arizona Cardinals

Arizona quickly became one of the best defenses in the NFL, no small thanks to Dansby who was a revelation at inside linebacker. He played the position aggressively, and was a shock snub this year. Dansby's 2013 totals speak for themselves: 117 tackles, 6.5 sacks, 18 passes defended and four interceptions -- a stat-stuffing year if ever there was one.

Daryl Smith, ILB, Baltimore Ravens

Ravens' fans wont soon forget Ray Lewis, but the 2013 performance by Daryl Smith helped ease the transition. He has been one of the most complete linebackers in the NFL this season, amassing 118 tackles, five sacks, 19 passes defended and three interceptions.

Antrel Rolle, SS, New York Giants

It was a rough season for the New York Giants, but Rolle was a defensive standout. He currently has 93 tackles, two sacks, 11 passes defended and six interceptions. It's been a huge year for a player stuck on a defense that offered very little help on the defensive line and at linebacker.

Glover Quin, SS, Detroit Lions

The Detroit Lions had a disappointing collapse, but Quin was a reliable force in the secondary for much of the year. Statistically he doesn't pop off the page, but quarterbacks throwing at him posted a league-low 30.3 passer rating, according to Pro Football Focus. Factor in his 53 tackles and three interceptions and you have the mark of a great season.