Giants James Bradberry, Evan Engram named to Pro Bowl

The New York Giants will have two players on the 2021 NFC Pro Bowl team, and one of them is a major surprise. Cornerback James Bradberry and tight end Evan Engram have been named to the team.

Both players earned the honor for the first time.

The pair would have represented the NFC team in the game. But the league announced in October that it canceled the game to focus on completing its season amid the pandemic. Las Vegas, which had been scheduled to host the game, will instead host the Pro Bowl after the 2021 season. This will be the first time since the 1949 season that the NFL hasn’t held some form of postseason all-star game.

Bradberry is in his first season with the Giants after spending four years with the Carolina Panthers. He signed a free agent contract with New York in the offseason, and has been the team’s best defensive back.

Bradberry has 3 interceptions and a career-high 17 passes defensed in 13 games. He missed Sunday’s game as he was on the Reserve/COvID-19 list after being identified as a close contact of a person outside the Giants organization who tested positive for the virus.

“It definitely means a lot that I made it,” Bradberry said in a statement released by the team. “I try not to put too much emphasis on it beforehand because I just felt like it was something I couldn’t control. The one thing I can control is how I play on the field, and that’s what I try to control. But, of course, I wanted to be a Pro Bowler, so it feels good to be recognized as one.”

Engram made the team despite averaging career lows in receptions per game (3.9), yards receiving per game (40.9) and yards per target (6.0). Engram also has only one touchdown catch this season and is third in the league in drops with six.

“I’m really just truly thankful,” Engram said. “Just blessed and thankful for just the whole process that I’ve been through. This past year has been hard for literally everybody. Me and my mom were talking about it this weekend.”

Snubbed?

There are several Giants players who might have had legitimate cases to be named pro Bowlers. Among them are linebacker Blake Martinez, safety Logan Ryan, defensive lineman Leonard Williams, placekicker Graham Gano and perhaps even safety Jabrill Peppers.

Your thoughts on who made it, and who didn’t, Giants fans?