Tomorrow at Sun Life Stadium (that's going to take some getting used to), the NFL's Pro Bowl will take place at the same site as the Super Bowl for just the second time in league history. And it's the first time since 1975 that the game will be back in Miami. But does anyone care?
Let's be honest. The Pro Bowl has always been a joke. But rather than just being able to ignore it - like most have done in the past - the league is trying to get the exhibition game some attention by having moved the game to the week before the Super Bowl. But that decision has done nothing but make the game an even bigger joke.
Now instead of just having those players who bail on the game due to "injury" - as they like to call it - we also have to remove the players from the league's two best teams. So now an additional 13 players from the Colts and Saints who were originally selected to play in the game will sit out. And all told, just over 60% of the originally selected players are actually playing in the game. Instead of players like Peyton Manning, Drew Brees, Philip Rivers, and Tom Brady we get players like Vince Young and David Garrard.
Ouch.
Well at least there are two Dolphins. Of course, neither was "supposed" to be on the team. The only player who was originally selected, Jake Long, isn't playing due to injury. That leaves just Yeremiah Bell and Dan Carpenter as the two local representatives.
Well at least we can see DC$ kick a field goal or two and YB knock a few heads. But is that really anything to be excited about?
Official game capsule from the league is after the jump...
2010 AFC-NFC PRO BOWL
SUNDAY, JANUARY 31
AFC ALL-STARS VS. NFC ALL-STARS
SERIES
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AFC |
NFC |
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LEADER (1971-2009) |
20-19 |
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STREAKS |
4 of past 6 |
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COACHES PRO BOWL RECORD |
Turner: 0-1 |
Phillips: 0-0 |
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LAST GAME |
2/8/09: NFC 30, AFC 21 in Honolulu. Arizona WR & 2009 Pro Bowl MVP Larry Fitzgerald catches 2 TD passes, including go-ahead score with 4:03 remaining, as NFC rallies to defeat AFC. |
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LAST GAME AT SITE |
1/20/75: NFC 17, AFC 10 in Orange Bowl. Los Angeles Rams QB James Harris throws 2 4th-quarter TD passes as NFC snaps 3-game AFC Pro Bowl winning streak. Harris is named player of game. |
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BROADCAST |
ESPN (7:20 PM ET): Mike Tirico, Jon Gruden, Ron Jaworski, Suzy Kolber & Michele Tafoya (Field reporters). Westwood One Radio: Larry Kahn, Boomer Esiason, Dan Fouts, Mark Malone (Field reporter). SIRIUS: 124 (WW1). XM: 124 (WW1). |
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PRO BOWL STARTERS - '09 STATS
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QB |
Schaub (Hou.): 396-583-4,770 (1L)-29-15-98.6 |
Rodgers (GB): 350-541-4,434 (2C)-30 (3C)-7-103.2 (3C) |
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RB |
C. Johnson (Ten.): 358-2,006 (1L)-5.6-14 (T3L) |
Peterson (Min.): 314-1,383 (2C)-4.4-18 (1L) |
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FB |
L. McClain (Bal.): 46-180-3.9-2 |
Weaver (Phi.): 70-323-4.6-2 |
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WR |
A. Johnson (Hou.): 101 (T3L)-1,569 (1L)-15.5-9 Marshall (Den.): 101 (T3L)-1,120-11.1-10 (T2C) |
D. Jackson (Phi.): 62-1,156-18.6-9 Austin (Dal.): 81-1,320 (1C)-16.3-11 (T3C) |
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TE |
Gates (SD): 79-1,157-14.6-8 |
V. Davis (S.F.): 78-965-12.4-13 (T1L) |
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DE* |
M. Williams (Hou.): 43-9-0-2 Vanden Bosch (Ten.): 44-3-0-2 |
Allen (Min.): 51-14.5 (1C)-1-5 Peppers (Car.): 42-10.5-2-5 |
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DT* |
Ngata (Bal.): 35-1.5-0-1 Wilfork (NE): 43-0-0-1 |
Dockett (Ari.): 51-7-1-0 Ratliff (Dal.): 40-6-0-2 |
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ILB* |
Lewis (Bal.): 134-3-0-2 |
Willis (S.F.): 152-4-3-3 |
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OLB* |
Dumervil (Den.): 49-17 (1L)-0-4 Harrison (Pit.): 79-10-0-5 |
Ware (Dal.): 57-11-0-5 Orakpo (R) (Was.): 50-11-0-1 |
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CB* |
Revis (NYJ): 54-0-6 (T2C)-0 Asomugha (Oak.): 34-0-1-0 |
Samuel (Phi.): 40-0-9 (T1L)-1 Newman (Dal.): 57-0-3-3 |
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FS* |
Meriweather (NE): 83-0-5-2 |
Collins (G.B.): 53-1-6-0 |
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SS* |
Dawkins (Den.): 116-0-2-1 |
Mikell (Phi.): 90-0-2-0 |
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P |
Lechler (Oak.): 51.1 (1L) |
Lee (SF): 47.6 (1C) |
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K |
Kaeding (SD): 146 (1L) (50/51 PAT; 32/35 FG) |
Akers (Phil.): 139 (1C) (43/45 PAT; 32/37 FG) |
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KR |
Cribbs (Cle.): 27.5 |
Knox (Chi.): 29.0 |
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* Defensive Statistics - Tackles-Sacks-INT-FF |
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NOTES
GAME MARKS ONLY SECOND TIME Pro Bowl & Super Bowl are played in same city (1967, Los Angeles Coliseum)...
AFC: NORV TURNER & Chargers staff will coach AFC...QB MATT SCHAUB (Hou, 1st Pro Bowl) had franchise-record 4,770 passing yards, 29 TDs & 98.6 passer rating in '09. Schaub's 9 300-yard games in '09 tied for 3rd-best in a single season in NFL history (RICH GANNON, DREW BREES, 10). QB VINCE YOUNG (Ten, 2nd Pro Bowl) helped Titans become 1st team to reach .500 after starting season 0-6, finishing 8-8. QB DAVID GARRARD (Jax, 1st Pro Bowl) had 3,597 passing yards in '09, 4th-most in single-season in franchise history...RB CHRIS JOHNSON (Ten, 2nd Pro Bowl) became 6th player in NFL history to rush for 2,000 yards (2,006). RB MAURICE JONES-DREW (Jax, 1st Pro Bowl) set franchise record w/15 rushing TDs in '09. Jones-Drew's 1,391 rushing yards ranks 3rd in team annals for a single-season. RB RAY RICE (Bal, 1st Pro Bowl) finished 2nd in franchise history w/2,043 scrimmage yards (JAMAL LEWIS, 2,271 in 2003)...FB LE' RON MC CLAIN (Bal, 2nd) is AFC FB for 2nd consecutive season...WR ANDRE JOHNSON (Hou, 4th) joined MARVIN HARRISON (2001-02) as only players in NFL history to record at least 1,500 receiving yards in consecutive seasons. In '09, WR BRANDON MARSHALL (Den, 2nd) joined Harrison (4), JERRY RICE (3), HERMAN MOORE (3) & WES WELKER (3) as only players to have 100 receptions in at least 3 consecutive seasons. WR CHAD OCHOCINCO (Cin, 6th) posted 7th season w/1,000 receiving yards in '09 (1,047). WR VINCENT JACKSON (SD, 1st Pro Bowl) had career-best 1,167 receiving yards this season, posting 2nd straight season w/1,000 receiving yards & career-high 9 TD rec. TE ANTONIO GATES (SD, 6th) led all NFL TEs in '09 w/1,157 receiving yards. TE HEATH MILER (Pit, 1st Pro Bowl) set franchise single-season record for receptions among TEs w/76 catches in '09...NICK MANGOLD (NYJ, 2nd) & KEVIN MAWAE (Ten, 8) are AFC's centers. RYAN CLADY (Den, 1st Pro Bowl), JOE THOMAS (Cle, 3rd) & D'BRICKASHAW FERGUSON (NYJ, 1st) are AFC's tackles. LOGAN MANKINS (NE, 2nd), ALAN FANECA (NYJ, 9th) & KRIS DIELMAN (SD, 3rd) are AFC's guards...DE MARIO WILLIAMS (Hou, 2nd) ranks 3rd in NFL w/35 sacks since '07. DE KYLE VANDEN BOSCH (Ten, 3rd) leads Titans w/38.5 sacks since '05. DE SHAUN ELLIS (NYJ, 2nd) helped defense rank 1st in NFL in '09 in points per game (14.8), yards per game (252.3) & pass yards per game (153.7). DT HALOTI NGATA (Bal) will make 1st Pro Bowl appearance. DT VINCE WILFORK (NE, 2) attended Univ. of Mia. (Fla). DT CASEY HAMPTON (Pit, 5th) helped Steelers defense rank 3rd in NFL in rushing yards per game (89.9). LB RAY LEWIS (Bal, 10th Pro Bowl) has led Ravens in tackles 12 times during his 14 seasons & has registered at least 150 tackles 11 times. LB ELVIS DUMERVIL (Den, 1st Pro Bowl) set Broncos single-season sack record w/17 & became 1st Bronco to lead NFL in sacks. LB JAMES HARRISON (Pit, 3rd) ranks 4th in NFL w/26 sacks since '08. LB LA MARR WOODLEY (Pit, 1st Pro Bowl) finished season with 8 consecutive games with at least 0.5+ sack, most in team history (GREG LLOYD, 6 games). CB NNAMDI ASOMUGHA (Oak) was selected to 2nd consecutive Pro Bowl. Incl. postseason CB DARRELLE REVIS (NYJ, 2nd) had 8 INTs in '09 & helped Jets pass defense rank 1st in NFL. Since '99, CB CHAMP BAILEY (Den, 9th) leads all active NFL CBs w/46 INTs. S BRIAN DAWKINS (Den, 8) will make 1st All-Star appearance as AFCer. S BRANDON MERIWEATHER had career-high & tied for team-best w/5 INTs. S YEREMIAH BELL (Mia, 1st Pro Bowl) led team w/114 tackles...P SHANE LECHLER (Oak, 5) set NFL record for net punting average in season (43.9) & recorded 2nd-highest yards (51.1) per punt average (SAMMY BAUGH, 51.4). K NATE KAEDING (SD, 2nd) led NFL kickers w/146 points, incl. 32 FGs...ST KASSIM OSGOOD (SD, 3rd) had 13 special team tackles in '09. LS JON CONDO (Oak) will make 1st Pro Bowl appearance. KR JOSHUA CRIBBS has 8 career KR-TDs, most in NFL history.
NFC: WADE PHILLIPS & Dallas staff will coach NFC...QB AARON RODGERS (GB, 1st Pro Bowl) had 4,434 pass yards & became 1st player in NFL history to throw for 4,000+ yards in each of 1st 2 seasons as starter. QB DONOVAN MC NABB (Phi, 5th) passed for 3,553 yards & 22 TDs to become 1st Eagles QB with 3,000+ pass yards & 20+ pass TDs in 5 different seasons. QB TONY ROMO (Dal, 3rd) passed for franchise-record 4,483 yards...RB ADRIAN PETERSON (Min, 3rd) rushed for 1,383 yards & 18 TDs, joining HOFers EARL CAMPBELL & BARRY SANDERS as only players with 1,300+ yards & 10+ TDs in each of 1st 3 years. Named MVP of 2008 Pro Bowl. RB DE ANGELO WILLIAMS (Car, 1st) has 2,632 rush yards since 2008, 4th most in NFL. RB FRANK GORE (SF, 2nd) rushed for 1,120 yards, 1st 49er with 4 consecutive 1,000-yard seasons...FB LEONARD WEAVER (Phi, 1st) scored career-high 4 TDs (2 rush, 2 rec.)...WR MILES AUSTIN (Dal, 1st) led NFL with 8 rec. TDs of 20+ yards. WR DE SEAN JACKSON tied NFL record with 8 TDs of 50+ yards. Selected at both WR & KR. WR STEVE SMITH (NYG, 1st) had franchise-record 107 receptions. WR RODDY WHITE (Atl, 2nd) became 1st Falcon with 80+ catches & 1,100+ yards in 3 consecutive seasons...TE VERNON DAVIS (SF, 1st) had 13 rec. TDs, tied for most by TE in season in NFL history. TE JASON WITTEN (Dal, 5th) had 94 catches & 1,030 yards, his 2nd career 90-catch, 1,000-yard season...SHAUN O'HARA (NYG, 2nd) & RYAN KALIL (Car, 1st) are NFC's centers. JASON PETERS (Phi, 3rd), BRYANT MC KINNIE (Min, 1st) & DAVID DIEHL (NYG, 1st) are NFC's tackles. STEVE HUTCHINSON (Min, 7th), LEONARD DAVIS (Dal, 3rd) & CHRIS SNEE (NYG, 2nd) are NFC's guards...DE JARED ALLEN (Min, 3rd) had 14.5 sacks & is only player in NFL with 14.5 sacks in each of past 3 seasons. DE JULIUS PEPPERS (Car, 5th) had 10.5 sacks, his 6th career season with 10+ sacks. DE TRENT COLE (Phi, 2nd) had 0.5+ sack in 11 of 16 games (12.5 sacks)...DT DARNELL DOCKETT (Arz, 2nd) had 7 sacks, most by DT. DT JAY RATLIFF (Dal, 2nd) had 6 sacks, 2 FFs & 4 FRs. DT JUSTIN SMITH (SF, 1st) has started 139 consecutive games, longest current streak by D-lineman...LB PATRICK WILLIS (SF, 3rd) has led team in tackles all 3 seasons. LB DE MARCUS WARE (Dal, 4th) has 45 sacks since 2007, most in NFL. LBs BRIAN ORAKPO (Was, 1st) & CLAY MATTHEWS (GB, 1st) were top 2 among rookies in sacks (Orakpo 11, Matthews 10). LB LONDON FLETCHER (Was, 1st) has recorded 100+ tackles in each of past 11 seasons...CB ASANTE SAMUEL (Phi, 3rd) has 29 INTs since 2006, most in NFL. CB TERENCE NEWMAN (Dal, 2nd) had 3 INTs & career-high 3 FFs. CB MIKE JENKINS (Dal, 1st) had career-best 5 INTs...S NICK COLLINS (GB, 2nd) has 13 INTs since 2008, most by S in NFL. S QUINTIN MIKELL (Phi, 1st) led Eagles in tackles for 2nd consecutive season. S ANTREL ROLLE (Arz, 1st) had 4 INTs, his 2nd most in season...KR-PR JOHNNY KNOX (Chi, 1st) tied for 5th among rookies with 6 TDs. K DAVID AKERS (Phi, 4th) led NFC with 139 points. LS JON DORENBOS (Phi) makes 1st PB appearance. P ANDY LEE (SF, 2nd) led NFC with 47.6 yards per punt. LB HEATH FARWELL (Min, 1st) was named NFC's special teamer.