Seahawks DT Williams sounds off on Pro Bowl snub -- 'It's frustrating' - ESPN

RENTON, Wash. — Cornerback Devon Witherspoon was the Seattle Seahawks' lone Pro Bowl selection Thursday, earning a second straight nod with a strong season belied by his underwhelming stat line.

Leonard Williams experienced the opposite fate.

The veteran defensive tackle was passed over despite what might end up being the productive season of his 10-year NFL career, and as Williams spoke with reporters on the same day Pro Bowl rosters were announced, he made no attempt to hide how upset he was by the snub.

«It's pretty disappointing, if I'm being honest,» Williams said.

This isn't the first time Williams thought he should have made it but didn't. He recorded a career-best 11.5 sacks in 2020 with the New York Giants (he had 8.5 when rosters were announced) but was left off the NFC team that year. He tried to convince himself after that experience that, with a flawed voting system, the Pro Bowl doesn't matter. But Williams also realizes how Pro Bowls and All-Pro selections impact legacies, and he has become more conscious of his as he gets further into his career.

«I feel like I definitely deserved it this year, but I'm happy for the guys that made it,» Williams said. «They equally deserved it. That's why they're in the Pro Bowl.»

Williams' 9.0 sacks are tied for most among NFC interior defensive lineman while his 15 tackles for loss and 26 quarterback hits are tops among that group. He has matched or outperformed the three players selected over him: the Giants' Dexter Lawrence (9.0 sacks, 8 TFLs, 16 QB hits), the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' Vita Vea (6.0 sacks, 9 TFLs, 12 QB hits) and the Philadelphia Eagles' Jalen Carter (4.5 sacks, 12 TFLs, 16 QB hits).

Lawrence suffered a season-ending elbow injury on Thanksgiving.

Williams