Fun and games

In the end, Pro Bowl selections are purely subjective

Every year there are players not selected to the Pro Bowl who some would argue should have made it. Redskins running back Stephen Davis is an example, and that's the fun of a subjective evaluation.

What strikes me as important are last year's six free-agent acquisitions who will make the trip to Honolulu, especially those who made it for the first time.

Priest Holmes was a backup running back for the world champion Ravens. The Chiefs did their homework on this guy. He had a 1,000-yard season in his second year in the league, yet Baltimore felt they needed better. So, they selected Jamal Lewis in the first round two years ago.

Holmes brought a 4.6 rushing average from Baltimore, and the Chiefs felt he was capable of holding that average and, with more carries, become an elite player. They were right; he has 2,000 offensive yards (1,438 rushing), and his career average is still 4.6 yards per rush. That makes him the top free-agent signee from last year.

Most personnel people around the league felt Marcellus Wiley was an emerging star in Buffalo last year as Bruce Smith's replacement. Chargers GM John Butler paid Wiley like he was a All-Pro, and his 13 sacks this season got him into the Pro Bowl for the first time. Butler looks like a shrewd personnel man to bring his rising star to San Diego now.

The next three players signed during free agency found the fountain of youth this year and have a different tale to tell. Many people around the NFL felt Larry Centers and John Randle were on the downside of their career and their best days were behind them.

Not true.

Randle went from a respectable eight-sack season in 2000 to 11 this year and looked like anything but washed up. Centers just keeps on catching passes out of the backfield and his 81 receptions sure makes Bills GM Tom Donahoe look like a smart guy.

The Bears signed Larry Whigham when the Patriots set him free, and once again he's the best special team player in the league and makes his second trip to Hawaii.

Finally, the history of kickers in the NFL has always been a bounce-around-the-country environment. Todd Sauerbrun never got it right with the Bears, but he sure liked the air in Carolina. He improved his 2000 average from 42.6 to 47.5 this season and he upped his punts inside the 20-yard line from 28 to 33.

Rush to judgment

Eight running backs were selected to the Pro Bowl. Seven of the eight backs are playing for a team that didn't select them coming out of college. Mike Alstott was drafted by Tampa Bay, and he's the only one with his original club.

Marshall Faulk, Ahman Green, Jerome Bettis and Curtis Martin all arrived at their present club via trade. Centers, Holmes and Garrison Hearst all were free agents signed for no compensation to their former club.

The Colts felt Faulk might be a problem to sign long term, so he was sent to St. Louis, and the Rams didn't even give up a first-round pick.

Green had fumble problems in Seattle, he found himself in Green Bay and the Seahawks didn't receive a first-round pick.

Jerome Bettis didn't fit the style of offense the Rams were interested in at running back in '96, so he was moved to Pittsburgh. Once again, no first-round pick required, and all he's done is run for more than 7,000 yards since his address changed.

Only Martin commanded a first-round compensation for his services.

Pat Kirwan, who spent 12 years as a pro football coach, scout and personnel administrator, is an NFL analyst for CNN/Sports Illustrated.

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