Giants: Beckham, Collins, Jenkins, & Harris Named to Pro Bowl

(Photo via Giants.com)

On Tuesday night, the NFL announced the results of the Pro Bowl fan vote. With the success the Giants have had this season, fans were wondering who would make the cut for the Pro Bowl, as many were deserving of making the roster. The answer came at 8:00 P.M. Odell Beckham Jr, Landon Collins, Janoris Jenkins, and Dwayne Harris will represent the Giants at the Pro Bowl.

Odell Beckham is in the midst of another impressive season in his three year career. Beckham is the spark plug of the Giants’ offense. When Beckham scores a touchdown, it puts the Giants in a good position to win the game. Beckham has 85 receptions (3^rd in NFL) for 1,173 yards (4^th in NFL) and 10 touchdowns this season. Beckham is the first Giants receiver to be selected to the Pro Bowl three years in a row since Del Shofner from 1961-1963.

“It is exciting,” said Beckham. “It is cool to be on a team with multiple Pro Bowlers, so it is a huge accomplishment for myself and my teammates.”

Landon Collins has emerged as the best strong safety in the entire league in only his second season. The 2015 second round draft pick out of University of Alabama is one of the key pieces on the defensive side of the ball. Collins shows off ball hawking skills, explosive speed, and impressive strength, just like his idol growing up, Sean Taylor. Collins has 108 combined tackles (87 total tackles, 21 assisted tackles), three sacks, five interceptions, one touchdown, and 13 passes defended.

Collins had his breakout performance in Week 7 against the Los Angeles Rams, where he hauled in two interceptions, and returned one for a touchdown. Collins would then have an interception in each of his next three games. Collins is on pace to surpass former Baltimore Ravens safety Ed Reed’s 2004 statistics, in which he won the NFL MVP.

“Oh man, it is exciting,” said Collins. “It is a blessing and all I can do is thank my brothers for staying on top of me and staying on top of my game, and just pushing me to another level. It is a milestone and I have got to put another one on top of that now.”

Janoris Jenkins was signed by the Giants during their offseason spending spree. One of the under the radar signings that did have some criticism from some analysts in the media world. Watching him play in Big Blue this season, Jenkins is the underrated signing of the offseason and is making a name for himself as one of the best cornerbacks in the league this season. A prime example is how Jenkins covered Dez Bryant in their Week 14 matchup. Jenkins held the superstar receiver to one catch, but forced Bryant to fumble the ball, allowing Collins to recover the fumble late in the fourth quarter.

Jenkins has posted 48 combined tackles (43 total tackles, 5 assisted tackles), one sack, three interceptions, one forced fumble, and a team-high 17 passes defended. Jenkins joins Collins as the first time since 1963 where the Giants had two defensive backs represented in the Pro Bowl (Erich Barnes and Dick Lynch). This is the first Pro Bowl selection for the five year veteran and it is an opportunity that he will never forget.

“It took me a while to get here,” said Jenkins. “I am very thankful for everyone who voted and I am just excited. The Pro Bowl was a goal of mine coming in and I just want to thank everybody for playing around me, elevating my game and making me play harder. I thought one day [it would happen]. I dint know what day it was going to be. I am glad that it finally came, and I am truly blessed.”

Dwayne Harris is one of the better known special teams return players in the NFL. Making a name for himself during his time with the Dallas Cowboys for his first four seasons, Harris signed with the Giants in 2015. In 2016, the six year veteran is one of the more consistent kick returners in the league. On kick returns, Harris has 19 returns for 473 yards, with his longest return being 46 yards. On punt returns, Harris has 20 returns for 126 yards, with his longest return being 17 yards. When looking past the return stats, you have to look at the main contribution to the special teams. Harris’ ability to pin punter Brad Wing’s punts inside the five yard line, something that has helped the Giants the past two game against the Cowboys and Lions.  His special teams experience will bode well for the NFC Pro Bowl Team.

“I have been working for this for so long,” said Harris. “I just feel like every year, something happens where I couldn’t get in, especially all the good years I have had…But to get my first one feels amazing…It is one thing that I have been working on since I came into the league and the guys around me helped me get to it, I put it up for them.”

With the Giants on the verge of clinching a playoff berth, getting the news of the Pro Bowl selections should give the Giants extra motivation heading into Thursday night’s matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles. With a victory, the Giants will be in the playoffs for the first time in five years. As much of an honor the Pro Bowl is, the Giants are eyeing a much bigger prize.

“I definitely had fun at the Pro Bowl,” said Beckham of his previous experiences at the Pro Bowl. “I love it, but I would much rather be playing in the Super Bowl than the Pro Bowl.”