Holmgren finds Engram deserving of Pro Bowl

KIRKLAND, Wash. – Mike Holmgren and his fellow NFL coaches have already cast their ballots for this season’s Pro Bowl, and the Seattle Seahawks’ head coach figures he has eight players – four on offense, four on defense – worthy of a trip to Honolulu, with the league announcing the NFC and AFC teams today.

Holmgren wasn’t naming individual players on Monday, except when someone brought up Bobby Engram. To which, Holmgren said emphatically, “He should be in the Pro Bowl.”

Engram, the 12th-year wide receiver, is having his best pro season, statistically speaking. He leads the team in receptions with 85 – he has more than doubled No. 2 Deon Branch, who has 47 – leaving him just shy of his career best of 88, which he did with Chicago in 1999. He ranks third in the NFC and tied for eighth in the entire NFL.

Also, Engram has gone over 1,000 receiving yards for the first time in his career, after Sunday’s total of 84 yards against the Panthers pushed him to 1,013 for the season. He ranks seventh in NFC receiving yards and 13th for the league.

Because Engram often lines up in the slot, he not only catches a lot of passes, but also does a lot of blocking.

Making the Pro Bowl “would be a tremendous accomplishment,” Engram said, “especially in light of the type of receivers we have in the league now. … I think I’ve got a shot. I deserve to go, but sometimes you don’t know how the voting is going to go.”

Holmgren’s offensive picks, meanwhile, are most likely Engram, quarterback Matt Hasselbeck, offensive tackle Walter Jones and wide receiver Deion Branch. On defense, defensive end Patrick Kearney, linebackers Julian Peterson and Lofa Tatupu, and cornerback Marcus Trufant.