There are a lot of folks eating crow Thursday in Baltimore with the news that Daniel Faalele is an AFC Pro Bowl alternate.
Head Coach John Harbaugh, who saw the criticisms of Faalele this season, is feeling quite proud of Faalele and the Ravens' confidence in him.
"I feel great for him," Head Coach John Harbaugh said Thursday. "He had to take a lot of criticism from some, some standing around this very circle right here. 'When are you going to replace Daniel Faalale?', and we didn't bite. It paid off.
"I expect him to go play his best game on Saturday night, but I think it's also a confidence boost for him that ... he doesn't just have to read what people think he's not; he gets the chance to realize that players and coaches around the league – what they think he is – proven by when they vote for you to be in the Pro Bowl."
Faalele won the starting right guard job out of training camp and has played every single offensive snap in every game this year.
While there have been some tough plays, which is to be expected for a first-year starter who is A) newer to football and B) switched from tackle to guard, Faalele has more than held his own.
According to Pro Football Focus (PFF), Faalele has surrendered one sack and 30 pressures in 504 pass blocking opportunities this season.
"This is just the beginning for Daniel," Harbaugh said. "So, heck yes for Daniel. It's a great thing, and I'm really happy for him and excited for him, but I'm more excited for the player he's going to become."
Faalele got the news from General Manager Eric DeCosta, who was also quite excited by the honor, and Faalele called his mom first. Faalele said he was "completely shocked."
"It means a lot," he said. "It gives me more confidence in myself, knowing that I belong. It's a good achievement. Next year I want to be in the Pro Bowl though.
"I feel like everything happens for a reason. I was able to learn from my losses and get better each week and just trust my coaching, trust each other."
Kyle Van Noy Is 'Pretty Disappointed' By Pro Bowl Snub
Despite being tied for the most sacks in the AFC at his position, Ravens outside linebacker Kyle Van Noy was left off the Pro Bowl roster.
Van Noy has been a productive player throughout his 11-year career and has two Super Bowl rings from his time with the Patriots, but he has yet to get any individual honors.
The Broncos' Nick Bonitto and Steelers' T.J. Watt are the AFC starters, followed by the Chargers' Khalil Mack. Mack has six sacks to Van Noy's 11.5.
However, Mack is a former Defensive Player of the Year (2016) and this is his ninth Pro Bowl. He has a reputation.
"I was pretty disappointed," Van Noy said. "But, you know, it's not in the cards. I've always been a team guy, but it would've been cool to get an accolade."
While Van Noy's career year at age 33 is already impressive enough, the fact that he's done it after suffering a broken orbital bone in Week 1 adds to the feat. According to a story from The Athletic's Dan Pompei, a doctor recommended season-ending surgery for Van Noy that he rejected.
Van Noy said he slept a total of 12 hours the week before the Ravens' Week 2 game against the Raiders but still played. That was the beginning of a stretch of three straight games with two sacks each, and Van Noy kept rolling from there.
"I don't think people know how crazy of a season I've had and was doing it with a broken face for eight weeks," Van Noy said. "I still can't believe I did it myself, but I'm glad I did it. It didn't feel good."
Myles Garrett: Lamar Jackson Lost His Baby Weight
Remember all the training camp fuss in Baltimore about Lamar Jackson's weight loss this offseason?
Well, Jackson's body has held up just fine as he's set to start every game this season, and he's already rushed for more yards (852) than in any season since 2020 (1,005).
At the end of the day, it matters how Jackson feels and how his opponents fare chasing him. Browns defensive end Myles Garrett made it clear Thursday that Jackson's weight loss paid off.
"He lost that baby weight and now he's back to being lean and fast as hell," Garrett said.
Kyle Hamilton Wanted to Be Like Sean Taylor in the Pro Bowl
Kyle Hamilton said his family often reminds him that he's a "special kid," but when you're so focused on the mission of winning, it's hard to step back and realize your accomplishments.
Hamilton is a Pro Bowler for the second time in his first three seasons, joining Hall of Famer Ed Reed (2003 & 2004) as the only Ravens defensive backs to earn multiple Pro Bowl nods within the first three years of a career.
"When I'm done playing football and just see the culmination of everything that I've done, I think it'll be a little more satisfactory then [and] a little cooler when I look back on it and have my kids say, 'My dad was a multi-time Pro Bowler,'" Hamilton said. "But at the same time, we have bigger things to accomplish."
Hamilton said his first goal growing up was to be in the NFL and making a Pro Bowl "would've been a plus."
"But growing up [and] just seeing Sean Taylor hit that punter [Brian Moorman] in the Pro Bowl, that was pretty cool, and I was like, 'Yes, I want to do that someday,'" Hamilton said with a laugh. "Obviously, you can't do that now, but yes, it's always been a dream of mine."
