The NFL is doing something different with the Pro Bowl this year. The changes forced the NFL to come up with a new word. Unconferenced is trending now. I might be one of the few that didn't think that the Pro Bowl needed some changing. It's an all-star game and a football all-star will always be, at best, a scrimmage. The NFL viewed things differently. They decided to shake things up a bit. The new word, unconferenced, comes from the conferences no longer being relevant. There's no more NFC and AFC. All the selected players are tossed into a pot. From that pot, team captains Jerry Rice and Deion Sanders will select the all-star teams. There might be actual teammates across the line from each other with the new Pro Bowl format. We might be seeing Patrick Willis hitting Frank Gore in the hole. Maybe these changes will result in some amped up enthusiasm. I'm skeptical. It's not that I don't like the changes. I just don't think that the changes were necessary. But, that's just me.
NFL Network unveiled the selected players last night. Here they are:
QB
Peyton Manning Denver Broncos
Tom Brady New England Patriots
Russell Wilson Seattle Seahawks
Philip Rivers San Diego Chargers
Cam Newton Carolina Panthers
Drew Brees New Orleans Saints
RB
Adrian Peterson Minnesota Vikings
LeSean McCoy Philadelphia Eagles
Jamaal Charles Kansas City Chiefs
Marshawn Lynch Seattle Seahawks
Matt Forte Chicago Bears
Frank Gore San Francisco 49ers
FB
Marcel Reece Oakland Raiders
Mike Tolbert Carolina Panthers
WR
Calvin Johnson Detroit Lions
Josh Gordon Cleveland Browns
AJ Green Cincinnati Bengals
Dez Bryant Dallas Cowboys
Antonio Brown Pittsburgh Steelers
Andre Johnson Houston Texans
Brandon Marshall Chicago Bears
Demaryius Thomas Denver Broncos
TE
Jimmy Graham New Orleans Saints
Jordan Cameron Cleveland Browns
Vernon Davis San Francisco 49ers
Julius Thomas Denver Broncos
T
Joe Thomas Cleveland Browns
Joe Staley San Francisco 49ers
Trent Williams Washington Redskins
Branden Albert Kansas City Chiefs
Jason Peters Philadelphia Eagles
Tyron Smith Dallas Cowboys
G
Jahri Evans New Orleans Saints
Ben Grubbs New Orleans Saints
Mike Iupati San Francisco 49ers
Louis Vasquez Denver Broncos
Marshall Yanda Baltimore Ravens
Logan Mankins New England Patriots
C
Ryan Kalil Carolina Panthers
Alex Mack Cleveland Browns
Mike Puncey Miami Dolphins
Max Unger Seattle Seahawks
DE
Robert Quinn St. Louis Rams
J.J. Watt Houston Texans
Cameron Jordan New Orleans Saints
Cameron Wake Miami Dolphins
Greg Hardy Carolina Panthers
Mario Williams Buffalo Bills
DT
Gerald McCoy Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Haloti Ngata Baltimore Ravens
Dontari Poe Kansas City Chiefs
Justin Smith San Francisco 49ers
Ndamukong Suh Detroit Lions
Kyle Williams Buffalo Bills
OLB
John Abraham Arizona Cardinals
Ahmad Brooks San Francisco 49ers
Tamba Hali Kansas City Chiefs
Justin Houston Kansas City Chiefs
Robert Mathis Indianapolis Colts
Terrell Suggs Baltimore Ravens
CB
Richard Sherman Seattle Seahawks
Darrelle Revis Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Aqib Talib New England Patriots
Alterraun Verner Tennessee Titans
Brent Grimes Miami Dolphins
Brandon Flowers Kansas City Chiefs
Joe Haden Cleveland Browns
Patrick Peterson Arizona Cardinals
S
Earl Thomas Seattle Seahawks
Troy Polamalu Pittsburgh Steelers
Jairus Byrd Buffalo Bills
Eric Weddle San Diego Chargers
Eric Berry Kansas City Chiefs
Kam Chancellor Seattle Seahawks
K
Matt Prater Denver Broncos
Justin Tucker Baltimore Ravens
P
Johnny Hekker St. Louis Rams
Brandon Fields Miami Dolphins
KR
Antonio Brown Pittsburgh Steelers
Dexter McCluster Kansas City Chiefs
ST
Justin Bethel Arizona Cardinals
Matthew Slater New England Patriots
The draft will be held January 21-22. I'm not sure why it's taking Sanders and Rice two days to draft the teams.
The San Francisco 49ers and Kansas City Chiefs lead the way with eight players selected to the team.
The one problem that I have with the Pro Bowl, before and after the changes, is the outside linebacker position. The 3-4 rush linebackers are dominating the Pro Bowl. Sacks seem to be the only responsibility that matters for an outside linebackers. Some of those linebackers have to do so much more than rush the passer. Some have a role to play in pass defense. Some even have to defend against the run. Heaven forbid that a linebacker has to deviate from his path to the quarterback. The 4-3 linebackers are routinely and unfairly shut out of the game. The greatest injustice this year is the omission of Lavonte David of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Pro Bowl teams have to play the 4-3 in the game so all these pass rushers are playing out of position. You might as well have a player or two, or four, that actually plays the position that is played in the game.
Some people were bitching about some quarterbacks that were snubbed. Nick Foles, Andrew Luck, etc. There's no doubt that there are other terrific quarterbacks in the league but there is no criticizing the six that made it.
There is room for the criticism of Mike Tolbert being selected as one of the fullbacks. I don't think that I've seen Tolbert line up at fullback all season. He's a big running back.
I don't see how any kick returner could be selected over Minnesota Vikings rookie Cordarrelle Patterson.
I really hope that Jordan Cameron and Cameron Jordan end up on the same all-star team.
Many congratulations to Justin Bethel of the Arizona Cardinals. I saw this kid out of tiny Presbyterian College play against Cal. He was the best football player on the field that day.
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