First off, let's assume or pretend a couple things: 1) That Christian Ponder is healthy enough to play football next weekend, even though he wasn't a couple weeks ago. 2) Clarence Swamptown is in no way involved in the selection process. Now: Just how close is Ponder to being a Pro Bowler this year, considering:

*Aaron Rodgers, Robert Griffin III and Matt Ryan, the three QBs selected, will all miss the game because of injuries.

*Their three replacements are: Drew Brees, Eli Manning and Russell Wilson.

*Neither of the QBs from the Super Bowl-bound 49ers is eligible to play in the Pro Bowl next weekend.

That leaves these QBs, more or less, if someone else gets hurt: Ponder, Tony Romo, Cam Newton, Sam Bradford, Josh Freeman, Jay Cutler, Matthew Stafford, Michael Vick and Nick Foles.

OK, so Ponder isn't next in line. But in a year with slightly weaker QB play, he sure could be.