Peters misses Pro Bowl because of injury, karma

By Anthony Bialy  |   Monday, February 09, 2009  |  Comments( 112 )

Buffalo Bills
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Buffalo Bills left tackle Jason Peters skipped Sunday’s Pro Bowl because of injury, although the true basis for his absence should have been a season’s worth of criminal incompetence. His selection as one of football’s best is the most undeserved honor ever in sports, in addition to the millionth exhibit in the trial against the all-star game’s validity. His reputation-based selection doesn’t disguise his actual 2008 play, and Buffalo needs to prepare for a repeat of a sluggish performance from a player who ruined his own argument for a raise.

When Peters blessed the Bills with his attendance, he made them wish he continued to sulk on his own. Notably and embarrassingly, Peters gave up 11.5 sacks this past year in only 13 games, a ridiculously unacceptable amount for any left tackle and specifically for an alleged elite player. The offense lost 106.5 yards on those sacks that it'll never get back, and his lack of interest in pass protection looks even worse by comparison to those at the same position who don’t merely think they’re great.

For example, truly deserving Pro Bowler Joe Thomas of the Cleveland Browns permitted 4.5 2008 sacks while playing every game. The Seattle Seahawks’ Walter Jones allowed 3.5 in 12 contests, while eternal gold standard Orlando Pace of the St. Louis Rams was credited with yielding two sacks over his 14 games last season.

As for an emerging dominant blocker, Miami Dolphins tackle and Pro Bowl fill-in Jake Long only gave up 2.5 sacks across his rookie campaign while starting from his first day. The alarming contrast shows that Peters needs to reduce his failure rate by somewhere between two-thirds to four-fifths.

In fact, the Arkansas product barely beat some teams in sacks allowed: The Denver Broncos and Tennessee Titans each only permitted 12 of them, while three other squads allowed 17 or fewer. There were a handful offensive lines which collectively only surrendered slightly more damage than Peters ceded on his own without even considering his three missed games.

Should fans be impressed because he was vaguely competent at run blocking by season’s end? The fact that Peters used September and October as his own personal training camp just means the team suffered while he cavalierly got into game shape.

By not showing up for work, Peters hurt his team more than occasionally iffy quarterback Trent Edwards, the generally impotent passing offense and understated head coach Dick Jauron combined. In fact, he inflicted damage each of those aspects: The passer often appeared rattled in part because he knew his blind side wasn’t safe, which in turn kept him from hitting targets with regularity, which then helped the Bills stumble to 7-9. However extensive Jauron’s failings might be, he can’t be held responsible for his alleged best lineman not playing well after not practicing at all over the summer.

It was bad enough that Buffalo should be prepared to go without Peters this season if he repeats his off-field pouting/on-field inadequacy. The staff could flip right tackle Langston Walker to Peters’ spot, slide right guard Brad Butler out to fill Walker’s place, and plug Butler’s old role with a draftee or free agent if Peters decides to again make the worst new contract pitch possible. They can’t afford to once more let their Pro Bowler wreck everything.

Peters is undeniably talented. So are Terrell Owens, Chad Johnson, DeAngelo Hall, Kellen Winslow Jr. and a hundred other footballers who are supremely gifted and nonetheless aren’t ultimately valuable to their teams for various attitude-based reasons. Plus, in Peters’ case, it’s a matter of whether he’s even going to play up to his potential to justify the pain he inflicts. In 2008, the headaches he caused clearly weren’t worth it; the Bills should shuffle the blocking lineup if he again chooses to not work out with his teammates or play even mediocre football.
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