Horatio Posted December 17, 2008 Share Posted December 17, 2008 Found this on the SF GATE: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/12/17/SP3814P3V1.DTL The last-place Redskins were about to fall to 7-7 in Week 15, but their ardent fans - bolstered by an aggressive "Vote the Redskins Ticket" public-relations campaign - stuffed the ballot boxes so effectively that a startling 12 Redskins were deemed worthy enough to be starters for the 26-man NFC squad. Thank goodness the fan vote, which ended a week before the squads were announced, counts only one-third toward the total. No disrespect to any NFL follower who has the enthusiasm and makes the effort to check a name on a ballot. But when the official Pro Bowl rosters were announced Tuesday, the two-thirds that comprise coach and player voting ensured the Redskins' advertising-driven viral-voting effort was trumped by common sense. Instead of 25 Redskins who were in the top 5 among fan voting at various positions, the actual Pro Bowl roster has only one Washington player, fullback Mike Sellers, among those guaranteed a trip to Honolulu. Seriously: Does anybody think Washington placekicker Shaun Suisham, who leads the NFL in missed attempts, merited a starting spot ahead of the Eagles' David Akers (NFL-most 127 points)? Or the Giants' John Carney, 44, the oldest Pro Bowler ever, who rightfully was named the NFC starter after making 27 of 29 attempts as a fill-in this season for the once-injured Lawrence Tynes? (END) They don't say it specifically, but they are implying that the Redskins massive PR blitz at FedEx to get fans to vote Redskins players into the Pro Bowl (regardless of whether they deserve it) was driven by the ownership. Wouldn't surprise me...it's another way for Snyder to justify raising ticket prices again: "We are raising ticket prices because THIS IS AN EXCITING TEAM! AFTER ALL, WE HAVE TWELVE PRO BOWLERS ON THIS SQUAD!" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zoony Posted December 17, 2008 Share Posted December 17, 2008 I don't think fans should get a say in who goes at all. But neither I think should journalists. Just coaches and players, and maybe owners and GMs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ECU-ALUM Posted December 17, 2008 Share Posted December 17, 2008 I don't think fans should get a say in who goes at all. But neither I think should journalists. Just coaches and players, and maybe owners and GMs. :cheers:Agreed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rd421 Posted December 17, 2008 Share Posted December 17, 2008 Good call....Even when we were winning I did not think that we deserved to have all those pro bowlers... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skins PR Posted December 17, 2008 Share Posted December 17, 2008 Did Snyder's vote for the Redskins campaign have something to do with that? Well, duh. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cooley4President Posted December 17, 2008 Share Posted December 17, 2008 I'm sure it did come back to ownership, or at least upper management. Not like the fans were printing those stupid signs or buying space on the official website to promote it. Of course, it shouldn't matter because fans voting in players is ridiculous anyway. At least the NFL balances that out while the other major sports are stuck with a popularity contest for their starting lineups. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ntotoro Posted December 17, 2008 Share Posted December 17, 2008 The more Redskins make the Pro-Bowl equals more Jersey sales and I assume Pretzel Boy gets a cut of their likenesses somewhere down the line. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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