By Mark Gaughan
The Buffalo Bills have come up empty in the all-star department.
For the third straight season, no Bills were selected for the NFL's Pro Bowl, to be played Jan. 27 in Hawaii.
Safety Jairus Byrd figured to be the Bills' top prospect in the voting, conducted by NFL players, coaches and fans. He was beaten out despite the fact he's tied for the AFC lead in interceptions with five.
It’s still possible a Bill could get a trip to Hawaii. The Bills’ last representative in the game was defensive tackle Kyle Williams in 2010. He was a first alternate that season and was named to the squad due to an injury to another player.
If the Bills don’t get a replacement spot in the game, it will be the first time the franchise has gone two straight seasons without a Pro Bowl player since 1985 and 1986. Each of the next 22 years, through 2008, the Bills had at least two players who made the Pro Bowl. Byrd was the lone Bill in the game in 2009, his rookie season. Williams was the lone Bill the next year.
Other Bills who figured to have a shot to make the team but were beaten out included running back C.J. Spiller and return man Leodis McKelvin. Spiller ranks third in the AFC in yards from scrimmage but he's fifth in rushing yards, and just three running backs are named to the team. McKelvin has two punt returns for touchdowns this season. But just one return man is named to the squad. Baltimore's Jacoby Jones and three kick returns for touchdowns.
