Green Bay Packers rookie running back Eddie Lacy was added to the Pro Bowl roster on Wednesday. Lacy will replace Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson, who won’t play due to injury.
Lacy becomes the first Packers rookie running back selected to the Pro Bowl since John Brockington in 1971 and the first Packers back to appear on a Pro Bowl roster since Ahman Green in 2004.
Under the new Pro Bowl format, players will no longer represent their conference, but instead will be part of a live draft to take place on January 22nd. Honorary captains and Pro Football Hall of Famers Jerry Rice and Deion Sanders will each draft their own roster. The game is set for Sunday, January 26th in Honolulu, Hawai’i.
While Lacy is no Adrian Peterson, he proved to be just as valuable as the star Vikings back this season, carrying 284 times for 1,178 yards and 11 touchdowns. Lacy also caught 35 balls for nearly 250 yards.
He did all of that while appearing in 15 games, which was really 14 as Lacy was knocked out of the week two game after just one carry with a concussion against the Washington Redskins. He fumbled only once all season long back in week one against the San Francisco 49ers.
When quarterback Aaron Rodgers was lost for eight games due to injury, Lacy became the centerpiece of the team’s offense. During that span, Lacy scored eight of his touchdowns and 730 of his total yards on the season.
Earlier this week, the Pro Football Writers Association voted Lacy their rookie of the year. The Associated Press will soon announce their selections for offensive and defensive rookies of the year, which tend to be more decorated honors than the PFWA’s currently is. Lacy is said to be one of the frontrunners for the AP’s offensive award along with San Diego Chargers wide receiver Kennan Allen. Allen received the PFWA award for offensive rookie of the year. The AP designates a rookie of the year on each side of the ball whereas the PFWA awards an overall rookie as well as an offensive and defensive player.
Remember that Lacy was projected by many to be a first-round pick in last year’s draft, with some tabbing the Packers to select him with their first pick. When Lacy will still on the board late in the second round and Green Bay’s turn came, it was a no-brainer for general manager Ted Thompson. The value that the Packers received from that late second round choice has been phenomenal.
With a full offseason of knowing what they have in Lacy, the Packers will surely install an offensive game plan that should produce much success in 2014.
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Jason Perone is an independent sports blogger writing about the Packers on AllGreenBayPackers.com
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Congrats to Eddie. Good job.
Question though. When you get the nod based on replacing someone who’s injured or declines to go, are you still considered “a Pro Bowler”, ie Packers Pro Bowl running back Eddie Lacy?
I’m not 100% sure but I think it’s largely based on fan voting and Lacy was the next guy up at RB. Because the format is changed, I don’t know if it had to be a NFC guy subbed in for a NFC guy or if Lacy was the next RB all around. I’m sure we’ll learn more.
I am really glad that Lacy is a Packer.
I don’t like the format of this year’s Pro Bowl. Deion, is not somebody that motivates me to like anything. Rice I am indifferent to. I bet the NFL pushed for Lacy to get in so that they could get some interest from Packer nation. Though Lacy definitely earned this honor.
I usually vote as many times as I can for Packers player to go to the Pro Bowl, they play for my team and I am proud of them. This year, I don’t even think I voted. I just felt that the new format made it a silly promotion. They could have made so many, more valuable solutions to the Pro Bowl.
Any way, Good for Lacy. I am very proud of him. I will be truly happy when they give him the ROY he has earned.
There’s no good solutions for the Pro Bowl. They should quite having the game and let the players take a week long vacation in Hawaii. THe game is and will remain unwatchable. I think the only reason they even play a game is for the Hawaii residents and football fans.
Can’t we just nominate to “Pro Bowl” for status sake and have them compete in skills competitions specific to their position? I still wonder, “does the old man still got it” with 40 times, bench press, etc. Watching Favre out-throw others back in the day made me laugh. I would turn on the tv to watch that, more than watching watered down football.
I’m also thinking it hilarious if the NFL believes an offensive and defensive players from the same team are really going to compete against each other.
Absolutely! Incorporate a “net” drill and watch Rodgers drop 8 out of 10 in from 50 yards away. Would be awesome.
Congrats to Eddie Lacy! He did a great job this past season. We sure are lucky to have him on the Packers roster.
Congrats to Lacy! He also deserves to be rookie of the year. I am also glad that he is a pro-bowl player, but for obvious reasons I would prefer that he did not participate in the game. Also, the pro-bowl is stupid. It looks like the NFL is trying to save a game which no one would miss anyway. Name the pro-bowl teams and the alternates so that the players get the honor and rewards they deserve but bag the meaningless game.
Thanks, Since ’61
Here’s where I sort of disagree with you, Since ’61. It’s a paid trip to Hawaii in the middle of winter. All for excelling as a player. The game is less important than the award/recognition and the winter trip to beautiful Hawaii. 🙂
Jim- Agree on the trip and the recognition. Although most of these players can afford to go to Hawaii anytime they want. Speaking just for me I haven’t watched a pro bowl game in years. All I do is check the following Monday to make sure that none of the Packers in the game were injured. Other than that the game is of no concern to me. I do know that the TV ratings for the game have been dereasing for years, especially if there is a reasonably warm day up in the North and Northeast of the country. Thanks, Since ’61
Eddie Lacy deserves to be recognized. He’s an old time, buckle up the helmet, I’m bringing it to you football player. He’s not out there pounding his chest and looking for recognition. Wish we had some more like him on defense.
Good for Lacey, he deserves it. It’s great to see the Packers land a talented battering ram like Lacey , who is a top effort guy, in the second round. This makes me feel better about our non- existent 1st rounder this year. I hope D Jones can take the next step next year.
Awesome…