Pats Send 8 to Pro Bowl

The Pats and 49ers are tied for the most Pro Bowlers, both teams with 8 named to the roster. The Patriots have 7 starters. QB Tom Brady, WR Wes Welker, TE Rob Gronkowski, OG Logan Mankins, OG Brian Waters, DE Andre Carter, and DT Vince Wilfork. Matthew Slater was named as a special teams player.

The Brady, Welker, and Gronkowski picks are obvious. Brady is clearly the best quarterback in the AFC, Welker has 116 catches, and Gronkowski has 15 TDs. Mankins has become a perennial Pro Bowler. Brian Waters was a late acquisition, and has been indispensable for the Patriots. Wilfork has a reputation and Andre Carter was having a great year before he got hurt. Slater has been excellent on special teams and is perhaps the best open-field tackler on the team.

What does having 8 Pro Bowlers mean? Not much. It's a nice honor for guys like Slater. But I don't think guys like Brady or Wilfork care very much. Their eyes are on the postseason, and on team goals.

-The Commodore

Patriots Lose Andre Carter For Season

Andre Carter will be placed on IR at some point this week. If you saw him laying on the first against Denver you knew it was over. This is a huge blow, because he's been one of the Patriots best defensive players. He is really the only pass rushing option they have. The rumor is now the Patriots will go back to a 3-4. We started to see it against Denver with Wilfork moving all over the defensive line. It's basically their only option. The bottom line for this team is they will only go as far as Brady takes them. This is the worst defense in the league, and the only way the Patriots are going to win it all is with a couple key turnovers and Brady putting up 35+ points.

I really do feel bad for Carter, it was a great story on a sorry unit.