[Kansas City.com] Defensive end Jared Allen, who leads the Chiefs with ten sacks, knew that because of the stiff competition his chances of making this year’s Pro Bowl weren’t good.
“I play at the same time as a group of terrific defensive ends,” Allen said. “You can’t look at those guys and say any of them doesn’t deserve it. It’s tough competition. Everybody that made it is deserving. There were other good players who were left out and not just me. Everybody had good years.”
Two-time Pro Bowlers Dante Hall and Tony Richardson also won’t be going to Hawaii to play in the Feb. 12 game. Hall, who is 10th in the AFC in kickoff return average and 11th in punt returns, was beaten out by rookie Jerome Mathis of Houston.
“I knew all along the way it worked that I didn’t have a chance, and I really didn’t feel like I earned it,” Hall said. “It hasn’t been one of our better years as far as returns. The measuring stick is how many times you get into the end zone and your average. I got a lot of yards, but at the same time, I didn’t have the two main stats.”
The Chiefs thought others might have an outside chance, most notably free safety Greg Wesley. He leads AFC safeties with six interceptions but lost out to Denver’s John Lynch and Indianapolis’ Bob Sanders.
The most deserving of those left out was Allen. Though is he tied for sixth in the AFC with 10 sacks, he is a far more complete player than he was as a rookie. He rarely comes off the field in running situations and is credited with 67 tackles, far more than his rookie total of 39.
