When the NFL Pro Bowl rosters were announced on Wednesday, it was generally a happy day around the league.
The top players in the NFL were recognized for their efforts and high-level production. The best teams in the league saw many players get the Pro Bowl nod, and 19 players made the Pro Bowl for the first time.
But one highly productive player was not happy with the Pro Bowl results.
That player is Arizona Cardinals defensive end Josh Sweat.
Sweat, who is in his first year in Arizona after starting his career with the Philadelphia Eagles, is having a productive season. Despite the numbers he is putting up on the field, he was not included in the initial Pro Bowl Games roster.
Josh Sweat Says Pro Bowl Was “Taken Away” From Him
Well, we don’t have to guess how Sweat really feels!
This is what Josh Sweat told local Phoenix media about his Pro Bowl snub on Wednesday.
“I’m upset because there’s only two individual things that you can get and it’s Pro Bowl and All-Pro,” Sweat said on Wednesday. “And I got one taken away from me. I’m just flat out saying it was taken away from me — and it ain’t the first time.”
With 11.0 sacks so far this season, Sweat has legitimate reason to be peeved about not being named a Pro Bowler. Add in his four forced fumbles that are tied for the lead in the NFC, and he has even more reason to be upset.
After putting up great statistics and getting good support in fan voting, Sweat seemed mystified as to why he did not get included in the initial Pro Bowl roster.
“It’s like I don’t know what else I could have done at that point. I don’t know what else I could have done,” Sweat said. “Now previous years, maybe you could have said he didn’t have the popularity, maybe he didn’t get the fan vote. This year, I was second in fan voting for NFC. It’s like, what else did they want me to do? The popularity was there. You could say losing team. It didn’t matter; I had the popularity.”
In a lost season for the Cardinals, who could blame Sweat for being mad about not getting individual accomplishments? He has done his part for Arizona this season.
Sweat’s 11.0 sacks are tied for ninth in the NFL. All of the players with more sacks than him got the Pro Bowl invite. Detroit Lions linebacker Al-Quadin Muhammad also had 11.0 sacks and did not get selected.
Either way, it is still an unfortunate break for the 28-year-old Sweat.
He has 54 career sacks in eight seasons and made the Pro Bowl in 2021. Sweat is no stranger to team success in Philadelphia, winning one Super Bowl and playing in another, but he still believes individual accolades hold significance.
“It does still signify that you’re one of the top guys in the league, regardless of how you made it,” Sweat said. “You were one of those pictures up there initially that got to be seen, and I get nothing. So, that’s why it’s important. That’s why it’s important.”
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