At times during the AFC Pro Bowl voting, the Ravens have had at least six players leading in votes at various positions. It is fitting for a team that has been one of the NFL's best.
But the Pro Bowl is nothing more than a popularity contest. If you've been to one, you're probably going to go to at least two or three more. So with that logic, pencil in Ravens linebackers Ray Lewis and Terrell Suggs, safety Ed Reed and defensive tackle Haloti Ngata.
Most of them deserve to go. Two other Ravens leading in votes are running back Ray Rice and special teams performer Brendon Ayanbadejo.
They deserve to be honored as well.
But what about the grunts on the Ravens? There are a couple who have been overlooked, and have had a significant impact this season.
If Rice deserves to go, then so does fullback Vonta Leach. There isn't a better bodyguard in the league. While the position seems to be fading in the pass-happy NFL, Leach has put some toughness back in the offense and given them an identity.
He's big, ornery and nasty, possibly the best fullback in the game. In a city that identifies itself with gritty, blue collar performers, Leach is the poster child.
"What I really tried to do this week was stay with Vonta," Rice said after he gained 204 yards on 29 carries against Cleveland Sunday. "Usually, he will take me home whether it's going to be a 5-yard run or a 6-yard run. He's been my best friend."
Left guard Ben Grubbs is the Ravens' best offensive lineman, but the six games he missed earlier this season because of a toe injury probably cost him a Pro Bowl appearance. But right guard Marshal Yanda hasn't missed a game or a snap, and has played just as well.
In short-yardage situations when the Ravens have chosen to run, it's usually behind Yanda. In the second half of the New York Jets game earlier this season, the Ravens ran the ball about 10 or 11 straight times behind Yanda.
There's the proof.
If you have a star running back, then you either have to have a good fullback or good offensive lineman to go with him.
On the defensive side, the Ravens have two unsung heroes who are deserving of Pro Bowl recognition. Outside linebacker Jarret Johnson never gets noticed because he plays with Lewis and Suggs.
Lewis is simply the best middle linebacker to ever play the game and Suggs is one of the game's top pass rushers. There isn't much glamour in being a strong side linebacker. Every down, you just take on bigger and stronger tight ends and try to hold your spot on the edge.
And if you survive the double-teams and crack-back blocks, then you have a chance to make tackles like Johnson.
Each year, he is among one of the team's leading tacklers (8th this season with 45). With Johnson, though, you get more than what you usually get out of a strong side linebacker. Johnson has 2.5 sacks this season, and a lot of hurries.
Johnson has been around for nine years, so it's about time for him to get some due recognition. Cornerback Lardarius Webb is just in his third season, and it's unlikely he'll garner enough votes to make the Pro Bowl squad this season.
But wait until next year.
A few days into training camp of Webb's rookie year, defensive coordinator Greg Mattison pulled me aside and declared Webb would be the Ravens' next shudown cornerback. He isn't there yet, but he is getting close.
He came back with a vengeance this season after giving up the last minute long pass in the AFC Divisional playoff game to Pittsburgh last season. A year ago, Webb was still getting beat on out and up moves because he was too aggressive.
Now, he is playing like a poised pro. When the 2011 training camp started, he was challenging Chris Carr for the No. 3 or nickel cornerback position. Right now, he is the best cornerback on the team and leads the Ravens in interceptions with four.
He has no fear coming up in run support, part of the reason he has 57 tackles, second best on the team.
And now that Webb is returning punts again, he is a difference maker.
But Webb's notoriety will come in time. That might not be the case with Ravens punter Sam Koch. He is one of the best in the NFL, but he happens to play in the same conference as Oakland's Shane Lechler.
Koch has averaged 46.2 yards on 56 punts with 18 inside the 20 and seven touchbacks. Lechler has averaged 50.8 yards on 63 punts with 20 inside the 20 and seven touch backs.
Lechler is a six-time Pro Bowl choice and has appeared in the last four. And we know how those Pro Bowls work. It's a popularity contest. But maybe this time voters will take a harder look at the Ravens.
The Ravens have their share of popular players but some grunts who deserve to go as well.