Pro Bowl plots

So it seems now that Derek Anderson and Kellen Winslow will be playing in the Pro Bowl in Hawaii on Sunday. Good for them, they've had fine seasons and have earned it. Tom Brady bowed out, citing his ankle (I think he'd have played if the Patriots had won the Super Bowl, since a Pro Bowl win would kind of extend that undefeated streak), making a spot for Anderson; and Chargers tight end Antonio Gates (the Kent State Golden Flash hoopster) injured his toe trying to kick the Patriots out of the playoffs, clearing the way for Winslow.

They join rookie tackle Joe Thomas, the No. 1 reason Anderson had a Pro Bowl year; Ryan Pontbriand, who did nothing all year but convey the ball accurately seven yards from the ground in front of him, between his legs, to a man who was kneeling for the purposes of placing it in a way that would make it easy to kick, then occasionally convey the same ball back 15 yards to a man who will kick it in the air (and if you think that's an unimportant skill, watch a few junior high school games and see what happens when that skill is less-than-NFL-caliber); wide receiver Braylon Edwards, the primary accomplice in Anderson's crimes against defenses; and Joshua Cribbs, who in some cases made it unnecessary for the offense to do anything.

So that's four offensive players, two special teamers, and let's see, let's count the defensive players. Didn't Cribbs play D a couple of times? No, he just made tackles on special teams. So that doesn't count. OK, zero. I wonder which unit we should blame for missing the playoffs (leaving aside the Colts' Christmas gift to the state of Tennessee in Week 17).

If Phil Savage and Romeo Crennel can build this team a defense, and maybe get a few stealthy videographers, they could have a shot.