Pro Bowl Draft 2016: Ranking the New York Giants
By Mike Luca
4. Josh Brown (PK—Team Rice)
How could DRC not fare better than a placekicker wrapped with the positions deemed unworthy to be featured on the selection show? For exactly that reason.
By being drafted out of camera’s view earlier in the week, Brown wasn’t forced into the superfluous spectacle dedicated to a superfluous spectacle. Of course, don’t let that diminish the feel-good, 13-year veteran’s first all-star honor (albeit by virtue of injury replacement).
Similar to Rodgers-Cromartie understudying New England Patriots corner Malcolm Butler, Brown is subbing for Stephen Gostkowski. The fact that Big Blue’s Super Bowl rivals are essentially shut out from both the main event and luxury luau is a minute yet giggly consolation for Brown and the team as a whole.
In such an arcade-style display that rewards a kicker’s season solely by invitation, there isn’t too much for Brown to celebrate on the surface. An NFL field goal hasn’t been attempted in Hawaii since 2013, and the last time Rice managed a Pro Bowl back in 2014 his team eschewed an extra point to clinch the contest with a two-point conversion instead.
Still, two Pro Bowls have been decided by game-winning field goals in overtime (Nick Lowery in 1993 and Cary Blanchard in 1997), so Brown needs to be ready. Add the expansion of extra-point distance and Brown (44-of-45 in the regular season) will respectably be called upon to further punctuate Manning and Beckham Jr.’s scoring drives once more.
It would do little, though, to redeem his first failed conversion of 2015 in crucial circumstances against the New York Jets on a certain person’s birthday…but congratulations to the 36-year-old special teamer.