Rookie punter Bryce Baringer seemed to be the Patriots’ best shot at seeing a player from Bill Belichick’s squad make the Pro Bowl this season, but it appears those hopes have been dashed.
The NFL announced its Pro Bowl selections this week, and not a single Patriots player was selected.
That news is surprising, especially given Baringer’s value this season. While punter isn’t necessarily the most flashy position, the rookie has quietly been New England’s best secret weapon during this frustrating 4-12 season, with the rookie punter quietly flipping field position over and over again despite the fact the Patriots haven’t had an offense that’s been able to take advantage.
Why he wasn’t selected is certainly a mystery. He currently leads all punters across the NFL with 36 punts inside the 20, which includes yet another Sunday in Buffalo that saw the Bills have to start off that drive from their own 12 yard line.
His total of 36 is three better than both the Jets’ Thomas Morstead and Las Vegas’ A.J. Cole, who each come in second with 33.
Baringer is also tied for fourth in the NFL in touchbacks with 7, with the rookie joining Tampa Bay’s Jake Camarda, the Rams’ Ethan Evans, Chicago’s Trenton Gill, and Minnesota’s Ryan Wright in that category.
Overall, New England’s lack of a Pro Bowl player is the first for the club in over two decades, with the last time coming back during Bill Belichick’s first season in 2000. The Patriots finished that season 5-11.
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Ian Logue is a Seacoast native and owner and senior writer for PatsFans.com, an independent media site covering the New England Patriots and has been running this site in one form or another since 1997.
