Five Packers Receive Pro Bowl bids; Rodgers, Williams left off

Five Packers Receive Pro Bowl bids; Rodgers, Williams left off
Five members of the have been selected for the 2011 in Hawaii. Outside linebacker , cornerback , and safety Nick Collins were selected as starters for the NFC, while wide receiver and left tackle Chad Clifton will come off the bench as reserves.
The Packers also had five alternates selected, including first alternates and cornerback Tramon Williams. Wide receiver Donald Driver, inside linebacker A.J. Hawk, right guard Josh Sitton, and defensive tackle B.J. Raji will also serve as alternates.
Here's a breakdown of each player and how they earned their spot on the NFC roster.
Clay Matthews (starter): Early in the season Matthews looked like the frontrunner for Defensive Player of the Year with 11.5 sacks in his first nine games. While that pace has slowed, he still has 12.5 sacks on the season and has played a huge role in the Packers' late playoff push. He is constantly garnering double teams on passing downs, freeing up lanes for other blitzers and has played well against the run as of late, showing he has more than one dimension in his game. He has forced two fumbles and intercepted a pass for a touchdown on the season as well, making him an easy selection for voters.
Charles Woodson (starter): For those who claim Woodson was voted solely on name recognition, take a closer look. Tramon Williams may be having a better season but Woodson is no slouch. He has recorded 86 tackles, forced five fumbles, intercepted two passes, and returned one for a touchdown on the year and is the emotional leader of a Packers defense that ranks second in points allowed and ninth in yards allowed,Youth Denver Broncos Jersey. His value on the field goes far past numbers, making Woodson's seventh Pro Bowl bid a worthy one.
Nick Collins (starter): This is probably the one surprise to most Packers fans,D.J. Williams Jerseys, but Collins was able to get the starting nod thanks to a weak cast of safeties in the NFC. Chicago's Chris Harris and New Orleans' Roman Harper might have a legitimate argument to be upset, but No. 36 has intercepted three passes on the year and held down the Packers' secondary playing alongside rookie Morgan Burnett and first-year starter Charlie Peprah. His numbers have regressed from two seasons ago and last year, but Collins still has put together good enough numbers to warrant the starting nod.
Greg Jennings (reserve): Kudos to the voters for getting this one right. Wide receiver in the NFC might be the single toughest position to earn in the Pro Bowl, but Jennings finally broke through and earned his first trip to Hawaii. Atlanta's Roddy White and Detroit's Calvin Johnson were basically shoo-ins and DeSean Jackson's flashiness in Philadelphia was worth a spot as well. But Jennings, who has caught 72 passes for 1,168 yards and 12 touchdowns,Brian Dawkins Jersey, beat out the likes of Arizona's Larry Fitzgerald to earn his bid.
Chad Clifton (reserve): It's not often a left tackle from a team that has given up 36 sacks and lacks a run game makes the Pro Bowl. However, Clifton has really picked things up in the second half of the season and also got a little help from name recognition. For what it's worth, the Packers rank 8th in overall offense and fifth in the passing game, so some of that credit should go to Rodgers' blindside protector.
Check back later for arguments made for Packers left off the roster!