Bill Cowher a bit miffed that some Steelers not Pro Bowlers

Ben Roethlisberger is more realistic in saying he doesn't deserve the honor.
PITTSBURGH (AP) -- On a day that four Pittsburgh Steelers learned they're going back to the Pro Bowl, much of the talk in their locker room was about who isn't going.
Wide receiver Hines Ward, left off the AFC squad for the first time in five years. Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, ignored again despite having a 20-3 record as an NFL starter over two seasons.
Guard Alan Faneca, center Jeff Hartings, linebacker Joey Porter and safety Troy Polamalu were chosen again after also being selected last season, when the Steelers sent nine players to Honolulu.
But, on Wednesday, coach Bill Cowher seemed more unhappy than usual about the snubs. His reaction: Sure, the Steelers' passing game isn't designed to produce big numbers like the offenses of other teams, but come on.
His beef
"You can judge quarterbacks all you want, but if you look at the won-lost percentage, our quarterback can match up with anybody," Cowher said. "Hines Ward, I think you know what he is. I think a lot of people are looking at numbers when they vote."
Of course, it's hard to argue against who is going at quarterback for the AFC: Peyton Manning, Tom Brady and Carson Palmer. Only Manning and Palmer have passer ratings higher than Roethlisberger's 102.0.
Maybe that's why Roethlisberger didn't seemed bothered by not being chosen after missing four of the Steelers' 14 games with sore knees.
"Oh, no, I don't deserve it," Roethlisberger said. "I know when I deserve to be there and I don't feel like I deserve it yet. In this offense, you don't put up big numbers, so ..."
Ward was the first Steelers receiver to play in the Pro Bowl in four consecutive seasons, but wasn't chosen despite having 10 touchdown catches -- six more than last season. His receptions have dropped from 80 a year ago to 61, with two games remaining, and the Steelers are 9-5 after being 13-1 a season ago.
"I think some guys definitely got left off that deserve it," Faneca said.
This is the fifth consecutive appearance for Faneca and the third in four years for Porter, who has eight sacks despite having been slowed by preseason knee surgery.
One of most versatile
Polamalu is one of the NFL's most versatile defensive players, sometimes lining up in the secondary and other times as a blitzing linebacker. He has three sacks, two interceptions and three fumble recoveries, one for a touchdown.
Other Steelers who made it last year but weren't chosen again were running back Jerome Bettis, linebacker James Farrior, defensive end Aaron Smith and left tackle Marvel Smith.
Bettis is now a backup, while Smith has been injured and out of the lineup for nearly a month. Farrior has had problems with a sore knee and his statistics are way down from last season.
Aaron Smith has two sacks after having eight last season, but teammates said he has played so well they had hoped he would be chosen again.
"I feel bad because I wish more of my teammates would've made it," Polamalu said.