RENTON, Wash. — Cornerback Devon Witherspoon was the Seattle Seahawks’ lone Pro Bowl choice Thursday, incomes a second straight nod with a powerful season belied by his underwhelming stat line.
Leonard Williams skilled the other destiny.
The veteran defensive deal with was handed over regardless of what would possibly find yourself being the productive season of his 10-year NFL profession, and as Williams spoke with reporters on the identical day Pro Bowl rosters have been introduced, he made no try to cover how upset he was by the snub.
“It’s fairly disappointing, if I’m being sincere,” Williams stated.
This is not the primary time Williams thought he ought to have made it however did not. He recorded a career-best 11.5 sacks in 2020 with the New York Giants (he had 8.5 when rosters have been introduced) however was left off the NFC group that yr. He tried to persuade himself after that have that, with a flawed voting system, the Pro Bowl does not matter. But Williams additionally realizes how Pro Bowls and All-Pro picks influence legacies, and he has develop into extra aware of his as he will get additional into his profession.
“I really feel like I undoubtedly deserved it this yr, however I’m blissful for the fellows that made it,” Williams stated. “They equally deserved it. That’s why they’re within the Pro Bowl.”
Williams’ 9.0 sacks are tied for many amongst NFC inside defensive lineman whereas his 15 tackles for loss and 26 quarterback hits are tops amongst that group. He has matched or outperformed the three gamers chosen over him: the Giants’ Dexter Lawrence (9.0 sacks, 8 TFLs, 16 QB hits), the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ Vita Vea (6.0 sacks, 9 TFLs, 12 QB hits) and the Philadelphia Eagles’ Jalen Carter (4.5 sacks, 12 TFLs, 16 QB hits).
Lawrence suffered a season-ending elbow harm on Thanksgiving.
Williams additionally recorded a 92-yard interception return for a landing — the longest in NFL historical past by a defensive lineman — to earn NFC Defensive Player of the Week in early December.
“I do not perceive that one,” Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith stated of Williams not making the Pro Bowl. “Well, I do perceive it. I’ve been in Seattle lengthy sufficient to know there’s some kind of a bias. I really feel that method, actually. There’s a number of gamers which have been snubbed from a number of issues right here. It’s unlucky for guys like Leo, who has had an amazing season. The man had a pick-six at D-tackle. He’s been wrecking video games. If you activate the tape, there isn’t any method this man’s not an All-Pro, Pro Bowler.”
Williams is an alternate and will find yourself being added to the NFC roster, with Lawrence damage and Carter’s Eagles within the playoffs. But Williams did not sound enthused about that risk.
“Honestly, I do not care at this level,” he stated, calling it irritating to merely be an alternate.
Witherspoon turned the fifth participant in Seahawks historical past to make the Pro Bowl in every of his first two seasons. The fifth general draft choose in 2023, Witherspoon stated he appreciated voters giving him the nod although he hasn’t recorded an interception and has just one sack. He known as it “loopy” that Williams did not make it with him.
“I ain’t gonna lie,” he stated. “They gotta overview that or one thing, bro. They trippin’. I ain’t gonna lie. They trippin’.”
Williams stated he did not assume enjoying in Seattle had something to do along with his snub, noting that he was in a serious media market when he was handed over with the Giants in 2020.
“Luckily, I discovered about it yesterday … so I used to be capable of get out a few of my frustrations at house and issues like that earlier than I got here into the constructing right now,” Williams stated. “But both method, it is irritating, as a lot as I do not need to make it look like it issues. At the tip of the day, it doesn’t suggest the whole lot. … I really feel like I’ve a lot respect from my teammates, I’ve a lot respect from my coaches and likewise different coaches and gamers throughout the league have confirmed me a number of respect, and I feel that is vital for me.”
