Gamble & Smith Make PFF NFC Pro Bowl Team

by PanthersRoar on Dec 23, 2011 11:15 AM EST

ProFootballFocus.com posted it's selections for their NFC All-Pro team today, and 2 Panthers made the list, along with a surprising ex-Panther.

It's no surprise that they selected WR Steve Smith.

CB Chris Gamble was their 3rd CB selection, and they said he might be the best of them all. In 348 pass plays, Gamble has only been targeted 52 times, resulting in only 22 completions (42.3%), with QB's throwing against him only having a QB Rating of 48.4, 2nd only to Jets CB Darrelle Revis' 45.4.

Ex-Panther, LG Evan Mathis (a Panthers 3rd round pick around 6 years ago) also made the team as their starting LG, which should surprise those that remember Mathis as a Panther.

A should have been Panther, Bengals DT Geno Atkins, who leads all DT's in sacks with 8, was their top DT selection. Atkins was the #120 pick of the Bengals in 2010, who blew up play in the backfield all day long at the Senior Bowl, but the Panthers certainly had a huge need for a pass rushing DT, and the #112 pick. However, the Panthers traded the #112 pick to the Jets for pick #124 (DE/OLB Eric Norwood), and the #198 pick WR David Gettis, who they could probably have still gotten at picks #202 (S Jordan Pugh) or #204 (QB Tony Pike, who was cut this season).

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I always thought Evan Mathis played reasonably with us.

Kinda surprising Gamble would be on the ballot, but Steve has certainly had a “baller” type of year.

I'm gonna live forever, I'm never gonna die. The only thing I fear is I'm never gonna fly.

by Charlotte Bobcat on Dec 23, 2011 11:20 AM EST reply actions

IIRC

Mathis had a bad case of the injury bug while he was here. Always thought he was solid, though.

Follow me on Twitter at @JakeHumphrey91

by Jake Humphrey on Dec 23, 2011 2:07 PM EST via Android app up reply actions

Why did we cut Evan Mathis

by LovePanthers on Dec 23, 2011 4:48 PM EST up reply actions

Injury settlement.

I like to think of myself as a one-man wolfpack.

by ERL on Dec 28, 2011 12:14 PM EST up reply actions

Sporting News Posted Their NFC All-Star Selections This Afternoon & Gamble Didn't Make It, But Gross & Kalil Did Join Smith On Their List

by PanthersRoar on Dec 23, 2011 5:07 PM EST up reply actions

I Just Read At PFF That Mathis Says He Hasn't Allowed A Sack Since 2006

by PanthersRoar on Dec 29, 2011 12:50 PM EST up reply actions

Good for Gamble and Smith

Both are very deserving of the honor, they’ve been terrific this year.

But seriously, quit pining for Atkins. By your logic, Tom Brady should’ve been a Panther too. The draft is a crapshoot. No use whining over something that’s over and done with, and we obviously weren’t the only team not enamored with him.

Follow me on Twitter at @JakeHumphrey91

by Jake Humphrey on Dec 23, 2011 12:16 PM EST via Android app reply actions

Steve Smith should of went top 5....

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Saving The Environment One Green Comment at a Time

'We got to learn to stick in the knife and turn it - Ron Rivera aka BAMF

by MMA_PITBULL on Dec 23, 2011 12:55 PM EST up reply actions

Steve Smith should have gone top pick

by Philipkcks on Dec 23, 2011 1:12 PM EST up reply actions

He's pretty short, so he's only a top 5 pick.

Cam Newton, when a reporter asks him who will win the Heisman Trophy on Saturday: "I'll tell you Sunday."

by Son of a Newton on Dec 23, 2011 1:16 PM EST up reply actions

Drew Brees would like to have a word.

Follow me on Twitter at @JakeHumphrey91

by Jake Humphrey on Dec 23, 2011 1:19 PM EST via Android app up reply actions

Carolina should have drafted Mike Wallace instead of Everette Brown

by Philipkcks on Dec 23, 2011 1:21 PM EST up reply actions

And Tom Brady instead of Jeno James

by JDeLong42 on Dec 23, 2011 1:36 PM EST up reply actions

Carolina shouldn't have traded a first for that pick.

by jdough on Dec 23, 2011 4:46 PM EST up reply actions

How much fun would a 'redo' be if people knew how good these players would turn out?

I’d say “A whole host of”.

"Nah, you look like Elijah Wood." - danmerqury

by OldhamA on Dec 23, 2011 1:49 PM EST up reply actions

If it were true for every team

They would just have 2 rounds in the draft.

by Philipkcks on Dec 23, 2011 1:58 PM EST up reply actions

It's nice to see gamble getting recognition

for his good performance this year. Now how about he actually gets an invite to the pro bowl? Btw move on from atkins, 31 other teams passed on him as well. There’s no guarantee he would have succeeded with this team. Marvin L can coach up mid round talent.

by adam carter on Dec 23, 2011 12:33 PM EST via mobile reply actions

I'm dying to hear the announcements for the actual Pro Bowl...

Nevertheless, it’s good to see PFF giving props to Gamble and Smitty.

Yep. I'm a female who religiously follows a football blog.

"When you get into coaching, you strive to be a Super Bowl-winning head coach. That’s what my goal is, to come here and become a Super Bowl-winning head coach and to sustain an atmosphere of winning." - Ron Rivera

by jamiedk on Dec 23, 2011 1:35 PM EST reply actions

The fact that Smitty was fourth in fan voting in the NFC

And Gamble wasn’t even top 5 really miffed me. 9 of the 19 positions had Packers as the leading vote-getters. Fan voting needs to be a much smaller percentage of the total vote because fans obviously have no idea what they’re doing.

by JDeLong42 on Dec 23, 2011 1:39 PM EST up reply actions

This surprises you? The Packers are the new media darlings.

"Nah, you look like Elijah Wood." - danmerqury

by OldhamA on Dec 23, 2011 1:47 PM EST up reply actions

It doesn't surprise me. It's expected.

That’s why I think fan voting has too much weight. Fans aren’t good evaluators of talent. NBA fan voting results in Yao Ming being the number 1 vote getter after playing ten games or Chris Webber making the All Star team without playing a game.

by JDeLong42 on Dec 23, 2011 1:50 PM EST up reply actions

A better split of the voting would be...

10% fans, 45% coaches, 45% players. There are too many bandwagon “fans” out there.

“What’s your favorite team?”
“Umm…who won the last Super Bowl?”
“The Packers.”
“Oh, I’m a huge Packers fan. Hold on, is that the ‘Who Dat’ team?”
“No. That’s the Saints. They won the Super Bowl before the Packers. The Packers have those stupid cheese hats.”
“Oh, I love them, too. Packers and Saints – love them both. I need to go buy one of those cheese hats.”

Yep. I'm a female who religiously follows a football blog.

by jamiedk on Dec 23, 2011 2:07 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs

So you're saying

you have a cheese hat Jamie

by Philipkcks on Dec 23, 2011 2:14 PM EST up reply actions

...

The Packers are winning. Why wouldn't I have a cheese hat?

Yep. I'm a female who religiously follows a football blog.

by jamiedk on Dec 23, 2011 2:21 PM EST up reply actions

because they won't be able to draft an elite player

by Philipkcks on Dec 23, 2011 2:22 PM EST up reply actions

Well...

There's no use drafting if you can't draft Justin Blackmon.

Yep. I'm a female who religiously follows a football blog.

by jamiedk on Dec 23, 2011 2:37 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs

This

The truth will set you free, but not until it is finished with you. ~David Foster Wallace

I may not always be right, but even a blind nut finds a squirrel every once in a while.

Follow me on Twitter! @bdubsmitty

by BW Smith on Dec 23, 2011 3:25 PM EST up reply actions

I'm glad that's in sarcastic quotes.

"Nah, you look like Elijah Wood." - danmerqury

by OldhamA on Dec 23, 2011 2:22 PM EST up reply actions

Don’t lie…you know if you saw a picture of Jamie wearing a cheese hat you’d become a Packers fan.

The truth will set you free, but not until it is finished with you. ~David Foster Wallace

I may not always be right, but even a blind nut finds a squirrel every once in a while.

Follow me on Twitter! @bdubsmitty

by BW Smith on Dec 23, 2011 2:28 PM EST up reply actions

JUST a cheese hat?.......probably.

"Nah, you look like Elijah Wood." - danmerqury

by OldhamA on Dec 23, 2011 2:29 PM EST up reply actions

Haha...

Well-played.

Yep. I'm a female who religiously follows a football blog.

by jamiedk on Dec 23, 2011 2:35 PM EST up reply actions

Just don't put me in that position.

Or at least don’t expect me to stay true to my word. ;-)

"Nah, you look like Elijah Wood." - danmerqury

by OldhamA on Dec 23, 2011 2:50 PM EST up reply actions

I agree with that

There was a chart that I can’t find right now that showed where all the teams ranked in popularity over the years. The Saints for example hovered in the 20s for years. The year after they won the Super Bowl, they were the 4th most popular team in the NFL.

by JDeLong42 on Dec 23, 2011 2:37 PM EST up reply actions

Here’s the chart

by JDeLong42 on Dec 23, 2011 2:42 PM EST up reply actions

Front runners.

Can’t live with them, can’t murder them all in their sleep without getting caught by the Police.

"Nah, you look like Elijah Wood." - danmerqury

by OldhamA on Dec 23, 2011 2:43 PM EST up reply actions

It's awful

The correlation between success and popularity is a lot stronger than it should be.

by JDeLong42 on Dec 23, 2011 2:50 PM EST up reply actions

Sweet #20!

I have a feeling that our popularity will be moving up in a year or two.

Cam Newton, when a reporter asks him who will win the Heisman Trophy on Saturday: "I'll tell you Sunday."

by Son of a Newton on Dec 23, 2011 3:05 PM EST up reply actions

I'm seriously in a can't wait mode for the announcements

I don’t think I’ve ever been this excited about a pro bowl ever.
Although, living in Kansas City, I was rather ecstatic when Jon Beason intercepted Matt Cassel and took it to the house.

by Philipkcks on Dec 23, 2011 1:43 PM EST up reply actions

I love 20/20 hindsight on draft decisions.

"Nah, you look like Elijah Wood." - danmerqury

by OldhamA on Dec 23, 2011 1:47 PM EST reply actions

Wait, no Newton?

Unleash the hounds!

"Nah, you look like Elijah Wood." - danmerqury

by OldhamA on Dec 23, 2011 1:48 PM EST reply actions

Doesn't PFF have some sort of grudge against Newton?

by JDeLong42 on Dec 23, 2011 1:51 PM EST up reply actions

No, they're pretty objective.

And while he’s been damn good for a rookie, there’s several QBs better than him.

Follow me on Twitter at @JakeHumphrey91

by Jake Humphrey on Dec 23, 2011 2:06 PM EST via Android app up reply actions

In the NFC

I would put Brees, Rodgers, and (though I’m loathe to admit it) Stafford above him so far this season. I would put everyone else in the NFC below him.

If Rodgers or Brees are in the Super Bowl, I think Newton should be the 3rd QB for the NFC.

by Philipkcks on Dec 23, 2011 2:18 PM EST up reply actions

Eli's been having a great year too.

"If ya ain't first, you're last."
- Ricky Bobby's Dad

"There is no evidence that the tongue is connected to the brain."
-Frank Tyger

by KaiserBromley on Dec 24, 2011 10:34 PM EST up reply actions

Romo & Eli

Although I see Cam getting on/ above their level in a year or so

CAM....CAAAAAAAAM

by CamNewtonSBMVP on Dec 25, 2011 8:18 PM EST up reply actions

I think Cam is better than Romo and Manning this year

I also think that Stafford being behind Newton is incorrect. I think Newton’s position as first alternate is the correct place for him, but that Manning and Stafford should have switched spots.

That said, I don’t think there’s a ton of separation between Manning, Romo, and Newton.
I think any of those could have well reasoned arguments for being the best of the 3, it just depends on what you’re considering the most important aspect of play.

by Philipkcks on Dec 29, 2011 2:48 PM EST up reply actions