Shedeur Sanders’ Pro Bowl Selection Sparks Debate
Shedeur Sanders’ unexpected nomination for the Pro Bowl has caused quite a stir, even among his fellow players.
Giants tackle Jermaine El Emnor voiced support for teammate Andrew Thomas, criticizing the Pro Bowl as a “joke” after Sanders was chosen following a less-than-stellar eight-game performance. “No hate, but seriously, the Pro Bowl is a joke lol,” El Emnor tweeted on Monday. “We don’t have a top-tier left tackle in the NFL yet, but if it’s popular, we’ll just go with it. It’s kind of laughable at this point.”
The Pro Bowl has long faced scrutiny, with many questioning some of its selections. For instance, Baltimore’s backup quarterback Tyler Huntley made the Pro Bowl in 2022 after playing in only six games. Sanders’ selection feels a bit similar.
Sanders will be joining players like Josh Allen from the Bills and Justin Herbert from the Chargers, stepping in for the Super Bowl-bound Drake Maye.
Some athletes, including Denver’s Bo Nix, have missed out due to injuries, leaving many puzzled about how Sanders managed to edge out someone like Trevor Lawrence from the Jaguars for a spot on the team.
Sanders logged 1,400 passing yards, with seven touchdowns and ten interceptions over eight games, reaching 210 passing yards only once. El Emnor questioned why another quarterback from the 2025 draft class, Cam Ward, wasn’t selected to replace Sanders, joking, “LOL, both he and (Jackson Dart) retired this season.”
Beyond concerns about Sanders, El Emnor expressed frustration that Andrew Thomas hasn’t yet been recognized despite being a top talent at tackle.
Thomas just wrapped up his sixth season with the Giants, earning second-team All-Pro honors in 2022 but still lacking a Pro Bowl nod.
The Giants face an offseason of decisions, particularly regarding whether to retain both players since El Emnor is set to hit free agency and could draw significant interest.
This offseason will be the first under new coach John Harbaugh, and the team will be looking for a new offensive line coach after opting not to bring back Carmen Bricillo.
