Stephon Gilmore

Bills' LeSean McCoy makes fourth Pro Bowl, Incognito and Darby snubbed

Published Dec. 23, 2015 10:02 a.m. ET

foxsports

The Buffalo Bills entered 2015 with stars all over the field. Sammy Watkins, LeSean McCoy, Mario Williams and Stephon Gilmore are among them, but only one was named to the Pro Bowl this year.

McCoy got the nod -- the fourth of his career and third consecutive -- and was well deserving of the spot. He's rushed for 895 yards, three touchdowns in just 12 games and has dealt with injuries throughout the season.

He's helped lift the offense to new heights, but two of his teammates were left behind. However, it wasn't the stars listed prior that were deserving of a spot. It was two unlikely players who made a strong case to punch their tickets to Hawaii.

Free agent acquisition Richie Incognito and rookie Ronald Darby both put together outstanding first seasons with the Bills and very likely could have been Pro Bowl selections. Incognito is widely considered to be one of the best guards in all of football, but his past history may have played a role in fans not voting for him.

He was of course involved in the bullying scandal with the Miami Dolphins, a controversy that left a bad taste in the mouths of many. Regardless, Pro Football Focus has him graded as the second-best guard in the NFL.

As for Darby, it's not always easy for a rookie to be named to the Pro Bowl, especially for a cornerback. There was, however, a rookie corner selected: Marcus Peters of the Kansas City Chiefs. Peters does have more interceptions and passes defensed than Darby, but he's also allowed more big plays to opposing wideouts.

Darby has been consistent all year and shut down No. 1 and No. 2 wide receivers week in and week out. He and Gilmore combined to give the Bills a great, young cornerback duo in the secondary.

LeSean McCoy is #ProBowl bound! Congrats, Shady! How he earned his 4th trip: https://t.co/tBplt23g4q pic.twitter.com/ggPihvMuqI
— Buffalo Bills (@buffalobills) December 23, 2015