Justin Simmons didn’t make the Pro Bowl, angering Broncos Country

According to many, it was an outrage that Denver's safety got snubbed for the NFL's All-Star game, an overreaction that if there ever was one

BY JAMES MERILATT

Dec 18, 2019, 6:52 AM Updated: 9:39 am

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When the NFL announced the rosters for the 2020 Pro Bowl on Tuesday afternoon, it wasn’t a big news day for the Broncos. Only Von Miller was selected to the team, with Kareem Jackson, Courtland Sutton and Diontae Spencer being picked as alternates.

To a large extent, this is understandable. It shouldn’t have come to a surprise to anyone.

After all, Denver is 5-9 and out of the playoff chase. Teams with losing records don’t normally have players littered throughout All-Star rosters.

In addition, the Broncos have fallen off the radar. They don’t play a lot of primetime games and their Sunday afternoon match-ups are usually relegated to regional broadcasts.

Nonetheless, there was outrage on social media when it was revealed that Justin Simmons didn’t make the cut in the AFC. The Broncos safety isn’t a starter or a reserve, nor is he an alternate. And that had a lot of people fired up.

It’s unbelievable to me that Justin Simmons was not only snubbed as an original selection, but wasn’t even chosen as an alternate.

It’s stupid, actually.

— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) December 18, 2019

#Broncos @jsimms1119 not making Pro Bowl is hard to fathom. But I understand how process works where player gets recognized a year after breakthrough. Simmons not making it as an alternate is an absolute joke. That is all #Denver7

— Troy Renck (@TroyRenck) December 18, 2019

Von Miller is Broncos only Pro Bowler. Per source, Courtland Sutton a 2nd alternate; Kareem Jackson and Diontae Spencer are 3rd alternates.
Justin Simmons is snubbed. Story coming. #9sports

— Mike Klis (@MikeKlis) December 18, 2019

The man on the left made the Pro Bowl over the man on the right because of what the man on the left has done in the past. Proof that the Pro Bowl is a nonsense popularity contest. And yes, I realize that I'm more upset than I should be. @jsimms1119 got robbed pic.twitter.com/dM6ydmb6xz

— JEDI OF THE HUMAN BODY (@MileHighMario) December 18, 2019

It went on and on and on. The word “snubbed” was non-stop on Twitter timelines for a solid hour, used to describe the injustice of Simmons not making the Pro Bowl.

To some extent, they have a point. After all, Simmons has had a very good year. And as the tweet above points out, he has better stats than Earl Thomas, the reserve safety on the team behind starters Minkah Fitzpatrick and Jamal Adams.

But a little perspective is needed. Perhaps even a reality check is in order.

Simmons has had a nice season, but he hasn’t had a year for the ages. It’s not like he’s making game-changing plays every Sunday. It’s not as though he’s shattering records.

The safety isn’t doing anything that can’t be ignored. He’s having an above average season on a below average team, which is why he’s getting overlooked.

It’s not personal. No one is out to get the Broncos. There’s no ax to grind.

The Broncos have one star player. Not coincidentally, he got selected to the Pro Bowl. Beyond that, they have a bunch of guys that are overvalued in Denver and undervalued in other circles.

The best way to rectify that situation is to win games. If the Broncos were 9-5, they’d have more players in Orlando the week before the Super Bowl. That’s just the way it works.