The Pro Bowl used to be a ‘thing’ in Hawaii.
Unfortunately, the NFL has done everything in its power to take the fun out of the league’s all-star game. However, as the 2013 season winds down, let’s enjoy the fireworks while we still can!
What: 2013 Pro Bowl game
When: 7:30 p.m. ET
Where: Aloha Stadium, Hawaii
TV: NBC
Announcers: Cris Collinsworth and Al Michaels
Team Rice Roster
QB- Drew Brees, Philip Rivers, Alex Smith
RB- Matt Forte, LeSean McCoy, DeMarco Murray
FB- Mike Tolbert
WR- Larry Fitzgerald, Josh Gordon, Alshon Jeffery, Brandon Marshall
TE- Tony Gonzalez, Jimmy Graham
OT- Jordan Gross, Tyron Smith, Joe Thomas
G- Jahri Evans, Ben Grubbs, Evan Mathis
C- Ryan Kalil, Nick Mangold
DE- Cameron Jordan, Robert Quinn, Cameron Wake
DT- Marcell Dareus, Jason Hatcher, Kyle Williams
ILB- Vontaze Burfict, Derrick Johnson
OLB- John Abraham, Justin Houston, Robert Mathis
CB- Antonio Cromartie, Brandon Flowers, Joe Haden, Alterraun Verner
S- Jairus Byrd, Eric Reid, Antrel Rolle
PR- Dexter McCluster
ST- Justin Bethel
K- Stephen Gostkowski
P- Johnny Hekker
LS- Matt Overton
Team Sanders Roster
QB- Nick Foles, Andrew Luck, Cam Newton
RB- Jamaal Charles, Eddie Lacy, Alfred Morris
FB- Marcel Reece
WR- Antonio Brown, Dez Bryant, A.J. Green, DeSean Jackson
TE- Jordan Cameron, Jason Witten
OT- Branden Albert, Trent Williams, Duane Brown
G- Kyle Long, Logan Mankins, Marshal Yanda
C- Alex Mack, Mike Pouncey
DE- Greg Hardy, J.J. Watt, Mario Williams
DT- Gerald McCoy, Dontari Poe, Ndamukong Suh
ILB- Luke Kuechly, Paul Posluszny
OLB- Tamba Hali, Brian Orakpo, Terrell Suggs
CB- Brent Grimes, Tim Jennings, Patrick Peterson, Darrelle Revis
S- Eric Berry, T.J. Ward, Eric Weddle
PR- Cordarrelle Patterson
ST- Matthew Slater
K- Justin Tucker
P- Brandon Fields
LS- J.J. Jansen
Change in format
For the first time in the modern history of the Pro Bowl, rosters are not allocated by conference. Instead, the NFL instilled a fantasy draft with Hall-of-Famers Deion Sanders and Jerry Rice picking teams. The league decided to change it up after recent issues with television ratings and the quality of the product on the field. We can expect more competitive play, as teammates will be lining up against one another.
Which teams are most represented?
A total of 19 players from the Denver Broncos, Seattle Seahawks and San Francisco 49ers–arguably the three best teams in the NFL–will not be taking part in the Pro Bowl. That’s like the NBA playing its mid-season classic without LeBron James, Kevin Durant and Stephen Curry. In fact, I am just glad this isn’t called an all-star game, because it clearly isn’t one.
Seahawks: Russell Wilson, Marshawn Lynch, Max Unger, Richard Sherman, Earl Thomas and Kam Chancellor.
Broncos: Peyton Manning, Demaryius Thomas, Julius Thomas, Louis Vasquez and Matt Prater.
49ers: Frank Gore, Vernon Davis, Joe Staley, Mike Iupati, Justin Smith, Ahmad Brooks, Patrick Willis and NaVorro Bowman.
Now, one could come to the conclusion that San Francisco’s group of Pro-Bowlers bailed out after its NFC Championship Game loss, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. Every one of these players are injured right now. Contrarians will suggest that these 49ers players wouldn’t have suited up, no matter when the game was held. That’s likely true.
However, it makes little sense that players from the teams who are matching up in the Super Bowl will not be participating in the Pro Bowl.
Key matchups to watch
Larry Fitzgerald vs Patrick Peterson: These two Arizona Cardinals teammates will line up against one another with bragging rights on the line. I guess it could be said that this is what’s good about the new format that eliminates teams based on the conferences that they play. Now we just need to make sure that Peterson and Fitzgerald actually go up against one another. It’s up to Chuck Pagano and Ron Rivera, the two head coaches, to make this happen.
Andrew Luck vs Robert Mathis: Does anyone expect Mathis to throw down on Luck come Sunday night in Hawaii? I wonder just how much Jim Irsay would rant on Twitter if his star defensive end laid the wood on his franchise quarterback. Either way, it will be pretty cool to see how Mathis reacts when he’s given a free look at hitting Luck. Man up, it’s football.
Josh Gordon vs Darrelle Revis: Gordon led the NFL in receiving yards during the regular season. He did so despite missing the first two games of the season and having to catch passes from a group of quarterbacks that included Brandon Weeden. Now imagine Brees throwing him the ball. Gordon is an under-the-radar candidate for MVP. The only thing standing in his way is the best cornerback in the NFL not named Richard Sherman.
Jason Witten vs Eric Reid: Two injury replacements, this is the old guard against the new guard. I am excited to see Reid’s hard-hitting mentality going up against one of the best pure pass-catching tight ends in NFL history. Reid can show everyone why he belonged in the first place, while Witten can shut up those who have concluded he’s over the hill.
Prediction
If you are betting on the Pro Bowl, I have a 1-800 number you might want to call for help. With that said, it’s fun to look at the rosters and draw a final conclusion about how the game will end up. It appears that Rice got the better of Sanders in the draft. His team will be lining up four receivers (Fitzgerald, Gordon, Jeffery and Marshall) who combined for over 5,300 receiving yards on the season. They will be catching passes from the likes of Brees and Rivers. I am not even sure that The Legion of Boom could stop the onslaught that we will see in Hawaii Sunday night.
I also like the pass-rush group that Rice’s team will be lining up against a lesser quarterback unit that Sanders is going to be throwing out there. Jordan, Wake, Quinn, Houston and Mathis. Give me a break.
MVP Prediction: Josh Gordon
With defensive backs unable to play WRs physically, Gordon should be good for 150+ yards and multiple TDs in this game.
Final Score: Team Rice 49, Team Sanders 35
