Aussie punter stuns America with insane 33-year first
Australian rookie punting sensation Michael Dickson has achieved the remarkable by being selected to play in the NFL’s Pro Bowl game.
Dickson will punt for the NFC conference in the January 27 game in Orlando that brings together the best players in the NFL.
Dickson’s appointment to the all-star team makes him the first rookie punter elected to the Pro Bowl in 33 years, a truly incredible achievement for the former Sydney Swans AFL prospect.
The 22-year-old has repeatedly created headlines during his debut season for the Seattle Seahawks with pinpoint monster punts, rugby-style drop kicks and a game-winning running play.
The Pro Bowl teams were determined by fan, player and coach votes, with each group comprising one-third of the vote pool.
The NFL announced last week Dickson topped the fan vote, while the coach and player votes were kept secret until Tuesday’s announcement.
The quarterbacks named for the Pro Bowl were: Tom Brady (New England Patriots); Drew Brees (New Orleans Saints); Patrick Mahomes (Kansas City Chiefs); Jared Goff (Los Angeles Rams); Philip Rivers (LA Chargers); and Aaron Rodgers (Green Bay Packers).
Two other Aussie punters, the Pittsburgh Steelers Jordan Berry and Philadelphia Eagles Cameron Johnston, also finished in the top 10 of the fan vote but missed out on invites.
The AFC Pro Bowl punter is Tennessee Titans’ Brett Kern.
Australian punting trailblazer Darren Bennett made the Pro Bowl in 1995 and 2000 and Melbourne’s Mat McBriar, while playing for the Dallas Cowboys, was selected in 2006 and 2010.
The major snubs in NFL Pro Bowl rosters
The NFL announced Pro Bowl rosters for the 2018 season on Tuesday with several new faces.
Rosters were selected via votes from fans, players and coaches, with each group’s vote given equal weight. The Los Angeles Chargers led the way with seven Pro Bowl nods, while New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady earned his 14th Pro Bowl selection.
Here are the rosters.
AFC
Offense
Quarterback: Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs; Philip Rivers, Los Angeles Chargers; Tom Brady, New England Patriots
Running back: James Conner, Pittsburgh Steelers; Melvin Gordon, Los Angeles Chargers; Phillip Lindsay, Denver Broncos
Fullback: Anthony Sherman, Kansas City Chiefs
Wide receiver: DeAndre Hopkins, Houston Texans; Tyreek Hill, Kansas City Chiefs; Antonio Brown, Pittsburgh Steelers; Keenan Allen, Los Angeles Chargers
Tight end: Travis Kelce, Kansas City Chiefs; Eric Ebron, Indianapolis Colts
Offensive tackle: Taylor Lewan, Tennessee Titans; Alejandro Villanueva, Pittsburgh Steelers; Eric Fisher, Kansas City Chiefs
Guard: David DeCastro, Pittsburgh Steelers; Marshal Yanda, Baltimore Ravens; Quenton Nelson, Indianapolis Colts
Center: Maurkice Pouncey, Pittsburgh Steelers; Mike Pouncey, Los Angeles Chargers
Defense
Defensive end: J.J. Watt, Houston Texans; Myles Garrett, Cleveland Browns; Melvin Ingram, Los Angeles Chargers
Interior lineman: Geno Atkins, Cincinnati Bengals; Jurrell Casey, Tennessee Titans; Cameron Heyward, Pittsburgh Steelers
Outside linebacker: Von Miller, Denver Broncos; Jadeveon Clowney, Houston Texans; Dee Ford, Kansas City Chiefs
Inside linebacker: C.J. Mosley, Baltimore Ravens; Benardrick McKinney, Houston Texans
Cornerback: Xavien Howard, Miami Dolphins; Jalen Ramsey, Jacksonville Jaguars; Stephon Gilmore, New England Patriots; Denzel Ward, Cleveland Browns
Free safety: Derwin James, Los Angeles Chargers; Eric Weddle, Baltimore Ravens
Strong safety: Jamal Adams, New York Jets
Special Teams
Kicker: Jason Myers, New York Jets
Punter: Brett Kern, Tennessee Titans
Return specialist: Andre Roberts, New York Jets
Special teamer: Adrian Phillips, Los Angeles Chargers
NFC
Quarterback: Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints; Jared Goff, Los Angeles Rams; Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers
Wide receiver: Julio Jones, Atlanta Falcons; Michael Thomas, New Orleans Saints; Adam Thielen, Minnesota Vikings; Davante Adams, Green Bay Packers
Tackle: Tyron Smith, Dallas Cowboys; Terron Armstead, New Orleans Saints; Trent Williams, Washington Redskins
Guard: Zack Martin, Dallas Cowboys; Brandon Brooks, Philadelphia Eagles; Trai Turner, Carolina Panthers
Center: Alex Mack, Atlanta Falcons; Max Unger, New Orleans Saints
Tight end: Zach Ertz, Philadelphia Eagles; George Kittle, San Francisco 49ers
Running back: Todd Gurley, Los Angeles Rams; Saquon Barkley, New York Giants; Ezekiel Elliott, Dallas Cowboys
Fullback: Kyle Juszczyk, San Francisco 49ers
DEFENSE
Defensive end: Cameron Jordan, New Orleans Saints; DeMarcus Lawrence, Dallas Cowboys; Danielle Hunter, Minnesota Vikings
Interior lineman: Aaron Donald, Los Angeles Rams; Fletcher Cox, Philadelphia Eagles; Akiem Hicks, Chicago Bears
Outside linebacker: Khalil Mack, Chicago Bears; Ryan Kerrigan, Washington Redskins; Anthony Barr, Minnesota Vikings
Inside linebacker: Luke Kuechly, Carolina Panthers; Bobby Wagner, Seattle Seahawks
Cornerback: Kyle Fuller, Chicago Bears; Patrick Peterson, Arizona Cardinals; Darius Slay, Detroit Lions, Byron Jones, Dallas Cowboys
Free safety: Eddie Jackson, Chicago Bears; Harrison Smith, Minnesota Vikings
Strong safety: Landon Collins, New York Giants
SPECIAL TEAMS
Kicker: Aldrick Rosas, New York Giants
Punter: Michael Dickson, Seattle Seahawks
Return specialist: Tarik Cohen, Chicago Bears
Special teamer: Cory Littleton, Los Angeles Rams
With Yahoo Sports