I think Shields is getting a little too much love here. Consider these guards:Matthews: 14 seasons, 7 1st team All Pro selections, 3 2nd team All Pro selections, 14 Pro Bowl selections, 0 ringsMcDaniel: 14 seasons, 7 1st team All Pro selections, 2 2nd team All Pro selections, 12 Pro Bowl selections, 0 ringsAllen: 14 seasons, 6 1st team All Pro selections, 1 2nd team All Pro selection, 11 Pro Bowl selections, 1 ringFaneca: 13 seasons, 6 1st team All Pro selections, 2 2nd team All Pro selections, 9 Pro Bowl selections, 1 ringHutchinson: 11 seasons, 5 1st team All Pro selections, 2 2nd team All Pro selections, 7 Pro Bowl selections, 0 ringsShields: 14 seasons, 2 1st team All Pro selections, 4 2nd team All Pro selections, 12 Pro Bowl selections, 0 ringsAnd consider these other OL contemporaries
awson: 13 seasons, 6 1st team All Pro selections, 0 2nd team All Pro selections, 7 Pro Bowl selections, 0 ringsOgden: 12 seasons, 4 1st team All Pro selections, 5 2nd team All Pro selections, 11 Pro Bowl selections, 1 ringRoaf: 13 seasons, 3 1st team All Pro selections, 6 2nd team All Pro selections, 11 Pro Bowl selections, 0 ringsWalter Jones: 12 seasons, 4 1st team All Pro selections, 2 2nd team All Pro selections, 9 Pro Bowl selections, 1 ringPace: 13 seasons, 3 1st team All Pro selections, 1 2nd team All Pro selection, 7 Pro Bowl selections, 1 ringThere are some other relevant factors, like blocking for top offenses, MVPs, and 2000 yard seasons.Don't get me wrong, I think Shields will ultimately make it, and he should IMO. However, I think most of the other OL identified here, maybe all of them, are more deserving, including all of the other guards. In particular, I think it is fairly clear that both Dawson and Roaf are more deserving, which is enough IMO for Shields to wait another year.All that said, I think it is difficult to effectively compare offensive linemen. If there are counterpoints that help Shields, I'm interested in seeing them.