Pro Bowl Stuff

This is the second year that the NFL has selected players for the Pro Bowl without consideration of conference. All of the players will be picked for two teams just like the old days on the playground. The picking is done by former greats. Last year Deion Sanders and Jerry Rice picked the teams. This year Cris Carter and Micheal Irvin will pick the teams. The picking of teams will take place next Wednesday. As with damn near everything in the NFL, it will be televised. Wonder who gets picked last. Gotta be a kicker.

Yesterday the NFL announced that four of the all-stars were selected to serve as captains for the game. Which seemed like a strange thing to do since they have yet to be picked by Carter or Irvin. Not to fear. Someone has a plan. Apparently they will help Carter and Irvin pick the respective teams. So, clearly two of the captains will be assigned to Carter and two of the captains will be assigned to Irvin. Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown and Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt will help pick one Pro Bowl team. Cleveland Browns corner Joe Haden and Dallas Cowboys running back DeMarco Murray will help pick the other team. Seeing as I'm on the side of whatever team that Cris Carter picks I'm hoping that Brown and Watt are assigned to that team. Haden and Murray are fine players but I'd prefer to have Watt and Brown on my side if I were starting a team.

I was thrilled to hear that Cris Carter was blessed with the addition of John Randle as his defensive co-captain. Irvin will be assisted by Darren Woodson but who cares? Carter and Randle together again! That's a real treat. Any Vikings fan over the age of 30 likely has Carter and Randle as two of their all-time favorites. What a thrill! Especially since no Vikings players are currently included in this Pro Bowl. That could change after the conference championship games with safety Harrison Smith added as a replacement.

The Pro Bowl will be held on Sunday, January 25th at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.