AP

No Pro Bowl selection took more of a beating yesterday than Packers center Jeff Saturday, and perhaps rightfully so.

Chosen to his sixth all-star game a week after being benched by the Packers, Saturday responded by saying he wished he could send teammate Josh Sitton to Hawaii in his stead.

“Obviously, it’s always an honor,” Saturday said, via Jason Wilde of ESPNWisconsin.com. “Anytime you get to go to the Pro Bowl, it is an honor and you appreciate everyone – the players, coaches and fans – that voted for you. As an offensive lineman, it is nice to get the award.

“I am disappointed for Josh Sitton; I think he should be there. It is disappointing for me, for him. I would love to be able to pass it to him. He is a tough player and has played very well all season. I respect the heck out of the way he has played and it has been fun to play next to him.”

The 14-year veteran made five Pro Bowls as a member of the Colts, and his most recent honor was clear a lifetime achievement award more than a reflection of his recent play.

But it’s not as if Saturday was out there shamelessly campaigning for it, as other undeserving players did. Ripping him isn’t fair, or helpful. Ripping a process that has many inequities (such as 4-3 outside linebackers and right tackles essentially having no chance to make it) makes much more sense.