"He can do it all," Smith said of David. "I get a chance to see him up close and personal. I've seen the linebackers that go to the Pro Bowl, I've had a chance to coach them, I know what they look like and that is definitely the case with him."

Neither did Saints head coach Sean Payton, who is tasked with competing against David twice a year.

"Each year when this Pro Bowl balloting comes out, I look down to see if No. 54 Lavonte David has made it,'' Payton told to the Tampa Bay Times. "I told him this last year. He's as underrated a weakside linebacker in our game. But he's a heck of a football player.''

ESPN's Pat Yasinskas echoed Smith and Payton's thoughts, calling the decision not to select David, "Unfair".

"Why was David once again overlooked when the Pro Bowl selections were announced?" Yasinskas wrote. "It's simple. It also is unfair and shows a flaw in how the Pro Bowl rosters are structured."