Pro Bowl may be missing some super talent
For the first time ever, the NFL's Pro Bowl will be held the week before the Super Bowl. The NFL feels that this will help the Pro Bowl attract more viewers, but that prediction could be mistaken, as the game could be without several of its top players.
Should the Indianapolis Colts and Minnesota Vikings play in this year's Super Bowl, the Pro Bowl rosters will be without 11 starting players. Now, if the goal of moving the Pro Bowl was to create viewers, this will likely be seen as a disaster.
For this week, I will take a look at the top three starters on each team, as well as one player that didn't make the line up and should have.
American Football Conference
- Titans running back Chris Johnson: The NFL's Offensive Player of the Year will be the starting running back for the AFC team, and will look to prove to everyone that his 2,000 yard season was no fluke. The starters generally don't play past half time, so a 100-yard performance from Johnson would be remarkable.
- The starting defensive ends: The AFC's defensive line will be bookended by the Colts Robert Mathis and Dwight Freeney. However, should the Colts be in the Super Bowl, the AFC will be without its two starting ends. The current AFC roster only has one backup end, Houston Texans defensive end Mario Williams, so the roster could be in trouble.
- Texans linebacker Brian Cushing is the only player on the AFC roster who is in his rookie season. Cushing was one of the leading tacklers in the NFL, and excelled in all situations as a rookie. He would have been joined by first-year safety Jairus Byrd from Buffalo, but he was injured late in the year.
- One player who should have made the roster is Bengals RB Cedric Benson. Benson rejuvenated the Bengals rushing attack, and carried the offence for much of the season. However, due to the seasons that Ray Rice and Maurice Jones-Drew had, Benson didn't make the cut.
National Football Conference
- The NFC roster will feature three first-time Pro Bowlers at the wide receiver position. DeSean Jackson, Miles Austin and Sidney Rice all had breakout seasons for their respective teams. All three will likely be in the game, unless the Vikings make the Super Bowl, and that would eliminate Rice from the game.
- The defensive line: The NFC roster has a similar problem to that of the AFC. Two of its starting players may be playing in the Super Bowl. DE Jared Allen and defensive tackle Kevin Williams both had outstanding seasons, but will be unavailable in the Pro Bowl if the Vikings make the Super Bowl.
- The NFC team features two rookie players, and both are at the linebacker position. Green Bay's Clay Matthews and Washington Redskins Brian Orakpo will each suit up for the NFC team.
- One player that should have made the roster was New York Giants wide receiver Steve Smith. He became a major threat in the Giants' passing game. He has very reliable hands, and became the go-to guy for Eli Manning.
The AFC generally dominates the Pro Bowl, and I think that will likely continue. I'll take the AFC by a score of 48-35.
Coming up next week: THE SUPER BOWL! After months of games and excitement, the final game of the NFL season is finally upon us. I will delve deep into the Super Bowl matchup, and analyze the game.
For more from the NFL Czar, check out his blog at jvzsblog.blogspot.com
Should the Indianapolis Colts and Minnesota Vikings play in this year's Super Bowl, the Pro Bowl rosters will be without 11 starting players. Now, if the goal of moving the Pro Bowl was to create viewers, this will likely be seen as a disaster.
For this week, I will take a look at the top three starters on each team, as well as one player that didn't make the line up and should have.
American Football Conference
- Titans running back Chris Johnson: The NFL's Offensive Player of the Year will be the starting running back for the AFC team, and will look to prove to everyone that his 2,000 yard season was no fluke. The starters generally don't play past half time, so a 100-yard performance from Johnson would be remarkable.
- The starting defensive ends: The AFC's defensive line will be bookended by the Colts Robert Mathis and Dwight Freeney. However, should the Colts be in the Super Bowl, the AFC will be without its two starting ends. The current AFC roster only has one backup end, Houston Texans defensive end Mario Williams, so the roster could be in trouble.
- Texans linebacker Brian Cushing is the only player on the AFC roster who is in his rookie season. Cushing was one of the leading tacklers in the NFL, and excelled in all situations as a rookie. He would have been joined by first-year safety Jairus Byrd from Buffalo, but he was injured late in the year.
- One player who should have made the roster is Bengals RB Cedric Benson. Benson rejuvenated the Bengals rushing attack, and carried the offence for much of the season. However, due to the seasons that Ray Rice and Maurice Jones-Drew had, Benson didn't make the cut.
National Football Conference
- The NFC roster will feature three first-time Pro Bowlers at the wide receiver position. DeSean Jackson, Miles Austin and Sidney Rice all had breakout seasons for their respective teams. All three will likely be in the game, unless the Vikings make the Super Bowl, and that would eliminate Rice from the game.
- The defensive line: The NFC roster has a similar problem to that of the AFC. Two of its starting players may be playing in the Super Bowl. DE Jared Allen and defensive tackle Kevin Williams both had outstanding seasons, but will be unavailable in the Pro Bowl if the Vikings make the Super Bowl.
- The NFC team features two rookie players, and both are at the linebacker position. Green Bay's Clay Matthews and Washington Redskins Brian Orakpo will each suit up for the NFC team.
- One player that should have made the roster was New York Giants wide receiver Steve Smith. He became a major threat in the Giants' passing game. He has very reliable hands, and became the go-to guy for Eli Manning.
The AFC generally dominates the Pro Bowl, and I think that will likely continue. I'll take the AFC by a score of 48-35.
Coming up next week: THE SUPER BOWL! After months of games and excitement, the final game of the NFL season is finally upon us. I will delve deep into the Super Bowl matchup, and analyze the game.
For more from the NFL Czar, check out his blog at jvzsblog.blogspot.com
