The Pro Bowl rosters will be announced tonight at 9 p.m., and while the Eagles figure to have at least two selections on offense in LeSean McCoy and DeSean Jackson, it appears as though the defense and special teams will be left out. It's a shame about the defense and special teams, yes, given how nicely the units have come along during the season, but as we've seen with these Eagles, personal accolades pale in comparison to achieving team goals anyway.
"It would be good to make it, but it's not going to make or break me," said linebacker DeMeco Ryans, a two-time Pro Bowl selection with the Houston Texans. "My focus is on our team going to win this game. Our team is more important than the personal accolades. If they come, they come. If they don't, it's not going to be a pity party and I'm not going to be sad about it because we still have a lot here to accomplish as a team."
"I think we've got a group that buys into the total team defensive philosophy," head coach Chip Kelly said. "I think I'd be disappointed if some of those guys didn't make (the Pro Bowl) because I think they're deserving. ... It's a nice reward, but I think their focus and attention is on what's going to go on this Sunday."
On special teams, Donnie Jones' value as a punter cannot be understated. He's already set the Eagles franchise record for punts downed inside the 20-yard line in a single season with 32 (which is tied for third in the NFL) and has played a critical role in the field position game. He is certainly deserving of a Pro Bowl selection, but also is preoccupied with the more important task at hand.
"I don't really think about it. I've been around a long time. You never really think about those things. Obviously we have bigger things going on right now, and my focus is on just going out Sunday and doing everything I can to help our team win because the ultimate prize is winning the Super Bowl," Jones said. "All that other stuff, I'm not really worried about any of it. I think I've played well, but at the end the day, it's about doing what you can to help the team win. That's all I focus on each week. When I go out at practice I try to get better, and then on Sunday, whatever situations we're in, I try to execute and win that. ... Any of those awards, yeah, that's great, but I don't worry about any of it."
