Put Vontae Davis into the Pro-Bowl
Today is the final day of Pro-Bowl voting. As such, it’s time to give the Colts’ Vontae Davis the recognition he deserves. He’s not only been one of the Indianapolis Colts best defensive players, but he’s also been one of the best cornerbacks overall in the entire NFL in 2014. On the season, he has 30 tackles, 20 passes deflected, and 4 interceptions in 13 starts.
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Since being acquired from the Miami Dolphins in a trade during August of 2012, Davis has lived up to the high expectations that were placed upon him after the Colts surrendered a future 2nd round pick. The 2009 first round pick out of Illinois has performed as one of the NFL’s best cornerbacks this season.
However, in the most recently released NFL Pro-Bowl voting results, Davis wasn’t even in the Top 10 among the NFL’s leading vote-getters at cornerback. As of December 10, the 6th-year pro was still behind: the Cleveland Browns Joe Haden, Seattle Seahawks Richard Sherman, New England Patriots Darrelle Revis, Cleveland Browns Buster Skrine, Miami Dolphins Brent Grimes, Denver Broncos Aqib Talib, Arizona Cardinals Patrick Peterson, Chicago Bears Kyle Fuller, San Francisco 49ers Perrish Cox, and Arizona Cardinals Antonio Cromartie.
The fact that Davis remains behind a large majority of those aforementioned NFL cornerbacks is highway robbery. Nothing against each of those cornerbacks, who are all very talented players, but Davis has been clearly better than most of those names ahead of him. He may not be as popular as some of those listed big names, but he’s simply had a more productive season. The numbers speak for themselves:
In respect to the 10 cornerbacks that are ahead of him in the Pro-Bowl voting, Vontae Davis is among the leaders in many key statistical categories:
- 1st in most passes deflected
- Tied for 2nd most interceptions with 4 interceptions
- 1st in fewest touchdowns allowed when targeted with 0 touchdowns allowed
- 2nd in fewest total targets (behind only the Seattle Seahawks Richard Sherman)
- 1st in lowest Quarterback Rating when targeted with 35.5.
- 1st in lowest allowed completion percentage with 43.1%
If those impressive numbers don’t get you into the Pro-Bowl, then I’m not entirely sure what does anymore. One could make a strong case that Davis not only belongs in the Pro-Bowl, but he’s arguably been the best cornerback in the NFL this season.
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Still, it’s a shame that one of the NFL’s best cornerbacks in 2014 has a strong chance of not receiving the recognition he truly deserves. What should be an honor received solely from on-the-field performance, has simply turned into a glorified popularity contest through the years in the NFL’s Pro-Bowl voting.
Vontae Davis is having perhaps the best defensive season from an Indianapolis Colts cornerback since 1994, when “Big-Play” Ray Buchanan was an All-Pro selection with the team. Like Buchanan before him that season, Davis may receive his own inconceivable Pro-Bowl snub.
Not if #ColtsNation gets a final say though, let’s vote Vontae Davis into his 1st career Pro-Bowl!