Chiefs Quarterback Alex Smith Added to Pro Bowl Roster
By Jason Seibel
Jan 4, 2014; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith (11) during the 2013 AFC wild card playoff football game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports
Last night we reported that due to an injury to San Francisco 49ers linebacker NaVorro Bowman, Chiefs middle man Derrick Johnson would get the nod to the Pro Bowl. Well, there’s one more name to add to the list.
It was also announced late last night that after the New England Patriots fell to the Denver Broncos in the AFC Championship game, Pats quarterback Tom Brady turned in his ticket to Honolulu. His replacement? None other than Chiefs “game manager” Alex Smith.
Congratulations to #Chiefs QB Alex Smith, who will replace Patriots QB Tom Brady in the 2014 Pro Bowl, the league announced today.
— Chiefs Reporter (@ChiefsReporter) January 21, 2014
The Smith nod is a bit surprising because even his biggest supporters would agree that the way he played in the first half of the season was anything but Pro Bowl-worthy. However, Smith really came alive — and so did the Chiefs offense — in the second half of the season and Smith finished strong, putting up decent numbers overall.
Though his 3,313 yards in passing, 23 touchdowns and 7 interceptions were only good for 17th overall in the league for quarterbacks, he’s heading to the Pro Bowl to represent the Chiefs.
Smith’s inclusion makes a total of 10 Pro Bowlers for Kansas City. Smith joins Johnson, Tamba Hali, Justin Houston, Brandon Flowers, Dontari Poe, Dexter McCluster, Branden Albert, Jamaal Charles and Eric Berry in Hawaii this Sunday.
The best of luck to all of the Chiefs Pro Bowlers.