2014 Pro Bowl

[berad]

Thread for the build-up to the game, drafting of teams, and in-game commentary!

 

If you're unfamiliar with the new set up, I'll informal run through some of it:

 

Instead of doing the classic AFC vs NFC matchup, the roster is instead one large pool which former players and a couple of team captains draft from. This year pits Team Rice (Jerry Rice, Drew Brees, and Robert Quinn) against Team Sanders (Deion Sanders, JJ Watt, and Jamal Charles).

 

The draft for these two teams is spread across a couple of days. Yesterday, the teams drafted interior and 'non-skill' players; guards, defense. Tonight - at 8PM ET on NFLN - they'll be drafting the flashy players. For a more in-depth explanation, here are the rules on the nfl.com site - LINK

 

Now, for our guys, we had 4 players voted to Hawaii - Suggs, Ngata, Yanda, and Tucker. Ngata withdrew because his wife is expected to give birth soon (unless she already has). I'll post rosters for each team as it happens.

 

The actual game is this Sunday, January 26th.

 

http://www.nfl.com/probowl

[K-Dog]

I like the idea of picking teams.

Flash backs of middle school and being the last one picked though...

[berad]

Team Rice in RED
Team Sanders in BLUE

http://probowl.fantasy.nfl.com/

QB
Drew Brees (Captain)
Nick Foles
Andrew Luck
Cam Newton
Philip Rivers
Alex Smith

RB
Jamal Charles (Captain)
Matt Forte
Eddie Lacy
LeSean McCoy
Alfred Morris
DeMarco Murray
 
FB
Marcel Reece
Mike Tolbert

WR
Antonio Brown
Dez Bryant
Larry Fitzgerald
Josh Gordon
AJ Green
DeSean Jackson
Alshon Jeffery
Brandon Marshall

TE
Jordan Cameron
Tony Gonzalez
Jimmy Graham
Jason Witten

OT
Branden Albert
Duane Brown
Jordan Gross
Tyron Smith
Joe Thomas
Trent Williams
 
OG
Jahri Evans
Ben Grubbs
Kyle Long
Logan Mankins
Evan Mathis
Marshal Yanda
 
C
Ryan Kalil
Alex Mack
Nick Mangold
Mike Pouncey

DT
Marcell Dareus
Jason Hatcher
Gerald McCoy
Dontari Poe
Ndamukong Suh
Kyle Williams

DE
Greg Hardy
Cameron Jordan
Robert Quinn (Captain)
Cameron Wake
JJ Watt (Captain)
Mario Williams

ILB
Vontaze Burfict
Luke Kuechly
Derrick Johnson
Paul Posluszny
 
OLB
John Abraham
Tamba Hali
Justin Houston
Robert Mathis
Brian Orakpo
Terrell Suggs

CB
Antonio Cromartie
Brandon Flowers
Brent Grimes
Joe Haden
Tim Jennings
Patrick Peterson
Darrelle Revis
Alterraun Verner

S
Eric Berry
Jairus Byrd
Eric Reid
Antrel Rolle
TJ Ward
Eric Weddle

K
Stephen Gostowski
Justin Tucker

P
Brandon Fields
Johhny Hekker

PR
Dexter McCluster
Cordarrelle Patterson

ST
Justin Bethel
Matthew Slater

 

LS
JJ Jansen
Matt Overton

*The formatting is subject to change so bear with me.

[berad]

I also find it really interested that the 49ers had 9 players voted to the Pro Bowl and all but 1 (Eric Reid) pulled out due to "injury".

[berad]

I like the idea of picking teams.

Flash backs of middle school and being the last one picked though...

 

They kinda do that every round now lol. The way they pick is by position group so you almost feel sad being the last picked out of your group.

[Mt. Crushmore]

These are also awful colors.

 

Very awful colors

[berad]

Very awful colors

 

I'm all ears for better, more appealing colors. I just used these because these are similar to the uniform colors that the teams will be wearing.

 

[The Raven]

My man Yanda was the second guard off the board. Not too shabby! Haha

[CynBeth]

My man Yanda was the second guard off the board. Not too shabby! Haha

I wish he was on Team Jerry. After the Ravens I love the Saints so when I saw DB was a captain that's the team I am rooting for unless all of the Ravens are on Team Deon. I am glad I watched last night and look forward to tonight.

[Inqui]

I'm all ears for better, more appealing colors. I just used these because these are similar to the uniform colors that the teams will be wearing.

 

For that post with the teams? Try red (Rice's 9ers) and blue (Sanders's Cowboys). I still think of the teams as Rice and Sanders anyway.

[CynBeth]

Is anyone watching? What do you think?

[Ravenseconbeast]

Is anyone watching? What do you think?

 

So far so bad

[The Raven]

It's a lot more entertaining than in recent years. It's not great, but I like it

[K-Dog]

The game is on now?

[Purple_ICE 81]

I do like the idea of picking teams, however this will probably remain a stale and boring Pro Bowl as per usual...with players giving minimal effort. The uniforms look absolutely HIDEOUS white and orange...REALLY? And the other ones pretty much just a black Seahawks jersey. You dont have to go with red and blue but I mean the colors could have been better.

 

If I was the head coach of either team my objective would be to put 100 points on the board and I would do nothing but 2 point attempts in order to make it the most aggressive game and to actually give the fans something to watch. What they really need to do is add in a Saturday night full of events such as a foot race to see who is the fastest, a strength competition, and my personal favorite idea a kicking competition to see if anyone can nail some 80 yarders or something like that. They used to have this but got rid of it because someone got injured, but come on its just kind of backyard kind of events.

 

I will still watch the pro bowl...just not expecting to be astonished....especially because Justin Tucker will be doing nothing but extra points and t-sizzle cant sack anyone.

[FreckleNate]

Now with current status of the pro bowl it is a joke and the whole NFL knows it. Players don't even care to play in it anymore and when they do, the effort is less than pathetic. So I was wondering what you guys would do to change the pro bowl to add incentive to the outcome and make players want to actually play in the game and want to win. 

 

My idea... which might not be perfect, but you know how every season we play one division from the opposing conference? Well I think it would be a nice small incentive to force the losing conference of the pro bowl to have to travel for all 4 of their cross-conference games. So this would redivide the pro bowl by conference but I think it could be just enough incentive to make the players actually play. It might screw up scheduling though, I don't know much about all that. But I also think more money for playing in the game would help.

 

Thoughts/Opinions?

[Tru11]

winners receive money,  loser receive nothing , normal rules= worth watching

[bpytnjr58]

Do not think I have ever watched a Pro Bowl game from start to finish...even though I knew it was the final game until the next season.

[JO_75]

I have to laugh at this Draft Selection Show. Using the full 2 minutes and basically if they have their pick, they are filling up time with non sense. This format will still not generate any interest in the Pro Bowl. NFL should just give up on it. 

[berad]

This draft is silly and painfully slow / unprofessional. But Sizzle and JT are hilarious and definitely the highlights.

[BirdWatcher]

I get a kick out of the Pro Bowl. If you tune in expecting football, you'll be disappointed. If you watch for some entertaining interviews, sideline antics, etc., it's not bad.

[Willbacker]

Ooooohhhh they did a fantasy draft. Sounds so not exciting. I think I'll not watch. Next year to add some pizzazz they should have T.O. and Ochostinko pick the teams.

[berad]

The game is at 7:30 PM ET on NBC. Our 3 Ravens - Yanda, Suggs, and Tucker - will all be on Team Sanders.

A few new rules for the revamped Pro Bowl:

-Ball changes possession at the end of every quarter, creating two more "two minute drills".

-No kickoffs, ball is spotted at the 25 to start each drive.

-Defenses allow to play press and cover-2

some more - http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap1000000224052/article/2014-pro-bowl-features-new-format-for-nfl-allstar-game

Who will be watching?

[T3hRaven]

Wait, they're actually rushing the QB?

[Jokerraven]

I didn't think I would watch. I love this you can hear the calls the pass rushers have definitely shown up. Team Rice  oline is getting beat badly  poor drew brees. I didn't like the draft format but the game has been fun to watch thus far.

 

the uniforms are interesting as well.

[Gordo52]

Mike Evans will one day play in this game.

[T3hRaven]

I didn't think I would watch. I love this you can hear the calls the pass rushers have definitely shown up. Team Rice  oline is getting beat badly  poor drew brees. I didn't like the draft format but the game has been fun to watch thus far.

 

the uniforms are interesting as well.

 

It doesn't make sense, that OL has Joe Thomas and both the NO guards.  I noticed Brees basically took his teammates.

[Jokerraven]

It doesn't make sense, that OL has Joe Thomas and both the NO guards.  I noticed Brees basically took his teammates.

the pass rush has gotten to brees every single snap just about

[Jokerraven]

Maybe they are not giving it a 100 percent . I'm not familiar with the saints but I know Thomas is better then that .

[Jokerraven]

the browns have so much talent it makes you ill they should be dominating the division if they get a half decent qb. I thought the seahawks were stacked .

 

and a big man interception run go poe!!