Garett Bolles’ turnaround year ends in Pro Bowl snub
Garett Bolles was not selected as part of the AFC Pro Bowl roster.
At this time last year, Broncos Country was bouncing around ideas on social media on ways the Denver Broncos could be rid of left tackle Garett Bolles, whose 2019 season was one he’d surely much rather forget, and was the second most penalized NFL linemen behind Laremy Tunsil.
This season, Broncos Country was commending his amazing transformation, and prayed that he would be extended.
Life comes at you fast.
Fans got their wish when Bolles was given a contract extension at the end of November, and the next task was to get Bolles voted into his very first Pro Bowl, a place where very few thought he ever could have been a year prior.
Unfortunately, when the roster was released on Monday afternoon, Bolles’ name was not included, which will go down as one of the biggest Pro Bowl snubs of 2020.
Bolles has been one of the best and most efficient linemen in the league this season, ranking fourth in pass blocking with a PFF rating of 87.8; an 85.4 run blocking grade, good for fifth best in the league, and an overall grade of 89.2, best for third in the league total (stats obtained via PFF).
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Another factor worth mentioning is how much Bolles’ discipline has improved. After being called for 18 penalties in 2019 (not all accepted, of course), Bolles has cut his penalty count down to just seven in 2020. This was arguably the biggest weakness in his game, and the improvement is dramatic.
Perhaps it is because Bolles has improved so much, that it is so disappointing that he was snubbed for a deserving opportunity to qualify for his first Pro Bowl.
While it will be done via Madden, the accolade itself is an exciting one to have, and Bolles deserved it.
2020 was the year that we saw Bolles go from not having his fifth-year option picked up due to performance, to being extended and being one of the best tackles in football. It is simply ridiculous that Bolles was not selected for the Pro Bowl, but Broncos Country knows that he won’t let them make the same mistake again in 2021.
Garett, Broncos Country recognizes the hard work you have put in, and you are a Pro Bowler to us.