The Kansas City Chiefs are sending five players to the 2015 NFL Pro Bowl. Somehow, Derrick Johnson and Sean Smith are not among them.
The five being named are outside linebackers Tamba Hali and Justin Houston, tight end Travis Kelce, safety Eric Berry and cornerback Marcus Peters.
The best part of this is Berry. The 26-year-old is coming back from Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, a cancer diagnosis that many people felt would keep him out of the National Football League for at least a year, if he survived. Berry not only came back but earned his fourth Pro Bowl selection, something that was anything but a nice token. Berry has been absolutely tremendous this season, playing his best football.
Then there is Peters, who has been incredible for any cornerback, let alone a rookie. Peters has seven interceptions and two touchdowns, playing dynamic football on the opposite side of Smith. Peters has been terrific from the first play of the season, when he intercepted Houston Texans quarterback Brian Hoyer.
This is also the first nomination for Kelce, who is having a very nice campaign. Kelce has 65 catches for 822 yards and four touchdowns. He has an outside shot of his first 1,000-yard campaign, the first of his career.
Meanwhile, Houston and Hali made the Pro Bowl for the fourth and fifth times of their respective careers. Houston only has 7.5 sacks ad has missed the last month, but his game is widely recognized as the best at the position. Hali has been excellent all season, registering 6.5 sacks and being in the top 10 in quarterback pressures.