Football Outsiders Believes Former Nittany Lion Hali Deserved Pro Bowl Selection

The Pro Bowl has become a farce, especially now that it's a week before the Super Bowl meaning a bunch of players fore-go the chance to participate because they have a slightly more important game the following Sunday.

Though it may be a meaningless game, selections are still considered important to a players legacy. Football Outsiders addresses who got snubbed and who wasn't deserving. It's done via ESPN and is INSIDER only.

The only player of interest for readers of this blog is their stance on former Penn State DE Tamba Hali. Bill Barnwell, of Football Outsiders, had this to say:

Tamba Hali, OLB, Kansas City Chiefs -- Who, you ask? Hali bounced back after a poor 2008, even though the rest of the defense around him is still mostly miserable. Hali's 8.5 sacks don't sound like a Pro Bowler's total, but the rest of the Chiefs only combined for 13.5 sacks more. In addition, Hali picked up 20.5 quarterback hurries, an elite total and a good indicator that his sack numbers will increase next season. The idea that Tennessee Titans end Kyle Vanden Bosch (three sacks, 12 hurries) made it to the Pro Bowl as an injury replacement despite playing essentially the same position as Hali is ludicrous.

I won't quote the article anymore for fear of the ESPN lawyers. But that's some good praise for one of the real "good guys" in the NFL. Nice to hear he rebounded in 2009 and has a lot of potential for 2010. Good luck, Tamba.