NFL Nation: Pro Bowl 2010
Antrel Rolle likes idea of playing for Fins
January, 31, 2010
1/31/10
5:18
PM ET
By Tim Graham | ESPN.com
MIAMI -- Arizona Cardinals free safety Antrel Rolle is participating in his first Pro Bowl, and it just so happens to be taking place in his hometown.
RolleRolle told South Florida reporters this week he would love to keep playing in Sun Life Stadium.
Rolle, a native of nearby Homestead and former Miami Hurricanes standout, noted he's happy with the Cardinals but sounded keen on the idea of staying home to play for the Miami Dolphins.
"That would be nice," Rolle told Miami Herald columnist Armando Salguero. "I would love to take some of the burden off of mom and dad seeing as they travel to every game. Miami is home for me. I haven't played here in five years. But, hey, we can make it happen."
The Dolphins certainly could use him. They made Gibril Wilson one of their big free-agent acquisitions last season, signing him to a five-year deal worth $27.5 million. But he proved to be a liability in the secondary. Wilson routinely blew coverages and missed tackles.
An uncapped year, which seems unavoidable, would be the perfect time for teams to dump high-paid players they don't want anymore because they can unload the pro-rated portion of the contract onto this year's ledger and be done with it.
Rolle is supposed to make $12.1 million in 2010, the final year of his contract. If the Cardinals don't want to pay him, then they could part ways.
"I'm still a Cardinal right now, you know," Rolle said. "I don't know what's going to happen. But I love the Cardinals and their organization. I've been good to them, and they've been great to me also. Let's just see what plays out.
"I don't know what's going to play out. They haven't given me any indication. I know they want to keep me there. We're trying to keep our franchise together, but I don't know what they're thinking right now."
Rolle, a native of nearby Homestead and former Miami Hurricanes standout, noted he's happy with the Cardinals but sounded keen on the idea of staying home to play for the Miami Dolphins.
"That would be nice," Rolle told Miami Herald columnist Armando Salguero. "I would love to take some of the burden off of mom and dad seeing as they travel to every game. Miami is home for me. I haven't played here in five years. But, hey, we can make it happen."
The Dolphins certainly could use him. They made Gibril Wilson one of their big free-agent acquisitions last season, signing him to a five-year deal worth $27.5 million. But he proved to be a liability in the secondary. Wilson routinely blew coverages and missed tackles.
An uncapped year, which seems unavoidable, would be the perfect time for teams to dump high-paid players they don't want anymore because they can unload the pro-rated portion of the contract onto this year's ledger and be done with it.
Rolle is supposed to make $12.1 million in 2010, the final year of his contract. If the Cardinals don't want to pay him, then they could part ways.
"I'm still a Cardinal right now, you know," Rolle said. "I don't know what's going to happen. But I love the Cardinals and their organization. I've been good to them, and they've been great to me also. Let's just see what plays out.
"I don't know what's going to play out. They haven't given me any indication. I know they want to keep me there. We're trying to keep our franchise together, but I don't know what they're thinking right now."
Black and Blue all over: Pro Bowl edition
January, 31, 2010
1/31/10
1:29
PM ET
By
Kevin Seifert | ESPN.com
MIAMI -- Soon I’ll be starting the trek over to the Pro Bowl. Colleagues Mike Sando (NFC West) and Tim Graham (AFC East) will be joining John Clayton in a pseudo-live chat throughout the game. Please join us here at NFL Nation Live at 7 p.m. ET.
I read through many of your comments from Saturday’s post on Bryant McKinnie’s dismissal from the NFC team. Many of them were legitimate and one stood out. This from Vikes4ever70:
“Hey KS, I don't think Bryant McKinnie was/is the only NFC north member at the pro bowl. How bout another blog that is about one of them, instead of taking every chance you get to focus on one negative incident involving a Viking.”
I don’t know about taking “every chance,” but you’re right in this regard: It’s time to stop giving McKinnie any more attention. Instead, we’ll focus the rest of our coverage on Aaron Rodgers, Steve Hutchinson, Johnny Knox and the rest of the NFC North players who actually braved the week of practice and will participate in this game.
I’ll check back in a few hours from Sun Life Stadium. Until then, let’s take a Sunday afternoon spin around the division:
I read through many of your comments from Saturday’s post on Bryant McKinnie’s dismissal from the NFC team. Many of them were legitimate and one stood out. This from Vikes4ever70:
“Hey KS, I don't think Bryant McKinnie was/is the only NFC north member at the pro bowl. How bout another blog that is about one of them, instead of taking every chance you get to focus on one negative incident involving a Viking.”
I don’t know about taking “every chance,” but you’re right in this regard: It’s time to stop giving McKinnie any more attention. Instead, we’ll focus the rest of our coverage on Aaron Rodgers, Steve Hutchinson, Johnny Knox and the rest of the NFC North players who actually braved the week of practice and will participate in this game.
I’ll check back in a few hours from Sun Life Stadium. Until then, let’s take a Sunday afternoon spin around the division:
- At the very least, it looks like Mike Martz is a serious contender for Chicago’s offensive coordinator job. He met Saturday with Bears quarterback Jay Cutler in Nashville, Tenn. Here are reports from the Chicago Tribune and Chicago Sun-Times.
- Offensive tackles Chad Clifton and Mark Tauscher, both pending free agents, are the Packers’ two highest priorities this offseason, writes Pete Dougherty of the Green Bay Press-Gazette.
- Lori Nickel of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel has a Q&A with former Packers tight end Mark Chmura, who will be inducted into the Packers Hall of Fame. Chmura: “You know, I've said I'm sorry 100 times. I don't know how many more times I can say it.”
- John Niyo of the Detroit News looks at a relatively rare occurrence for the Lions: Relative continuity on the coaching staff.
- The Lions will improve their defense, one way or the other, with the No. 2 pick in the 2010 draft, writes Nicholas J. Cotsonika of the Detroit Free Press.
ESPN's broadcast crew previews Sunday night's Pro Bowl in Sun Life Stadium.
Pro Bowl Watch: AFC » East | West | North | South NFC » East | West | North | South
Regardless of what fans or players or Bill Polian think about this year's bastardized Pro Bowl, it's no less meaningful to Miami Dolphins safety Yeremiah Bell.
Steve Mitchell/US PresswireYeremiah Getting to the Pro Bowl was easier for Yeremiah Bell than getting to the NFL.Bell was added to the AFC roster because of two injuries and a Super Bowl participant not being able to play. Still, Bell acknowledges that the words "Pro Bowler" will appear in the first sentence of his obituary.
"For me to be where I'm at today and playing in the Pro Bowl," Bell said, "it's something I'm very proud of."
If you think Bell shouldn't be in the Pro Bowl, you're right. The fact he's in the NFL at all is astonishing.
"I often reflect on my past just for motivation," Bell said. "It could've gone wrong for me so many times."
Bell didn't receive a single scholarship offer out of high school and didn't have enough money to enroll in college and walk on a team. He went to work at a Kentucky steel mill for $6.50 an hour. He heaved slabs of steel that weighed nearly 100 pounds.
Football was a dream he lived out through some friends who played at Eastern Kentucky. He would tune in to "The Roy Kidd Show" every Sunday to see if his buddies made the highlights or the coach would talk about them.
Bell said the same thoughts ran through his head every time he watched: "I could do this. I could go back out there. I can play football. What am I going to do with the rest of my life but work?"
Two years removed from high school, Bell enrolled at Eastern Kentucky and became a star. But his career nearly was derailed twice.
On the second day of two-a-day practices his sophomore season, he experienced full body cramps that landed him in the hospital for three days. Scared and confused, he called Kidd and informed him he was quitting. Kidd tried to talk him out of it but couldn't. Kidd told Bell he would give him a week to reconsider.
"Luckily, I did change my mind and he left that door open for me," Bell said. "He could've let me go, and that would have been the end of it."
Bell seemed like he was jockeying for draft position heading into his senior season. Scouts had noticed a gem. He was a first-team All-American and led the Ohio Valley Conference in interceptions as a junior. In a game against Eastern Illinois and future Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo, Bell recorded 10 tackles, two interceptions, a sack, a forced fumble and a recovery.
Before Bell's senior season, he hurt his knee while playing a pickup basketball game. The injury dashed his final year and rendered him a draft-day question mark.
"It could've went so many ways, so many different times," Bell said.
The Dolphins drafted him in the sixth round in 2003. Four months later, they waived him. Nobody picked him up. The Dolphins signed him to their practice squad and four games into the season was placed on injured reserve.
By 2006, Bell had fought his way into the lineup. He started 11 games and recorded 65 tackles with a pair of sacks. Then another setback: He blew out his Achilles in the 2007 opener.
Bell has been the Dolphins' leading tackler the past two seasons. He owns the franchise record with 7.5 career sacks by a defensive back.
And whether somebody wants to list the provisions of his honor and name the players who backed out (Buffalo Bills safety Jairus Byrd and Pittsburgh Steelers safety Troy Polamalu are hurt and Antoine Bethea is in the Super Bowl), Bell will forever be known as a Pro Bowl safety.
"I think guys like the old format, where you play it a week after the Super Bowl," Bell said. "I think that's the way it should be. But I don't look at it as 'Oh, I got in because somebody else.' I just look at it as a great opportunity to enjoy the whole experience.
"I'm a Pro Bowler."
Regardless of what fans or players or Bill Polian think about this year's bastardized Pro Bowl, it's no less meaningful to Miami Dolphins safety Yeremiah Bell.
Steve Mitchell/US PresswireYeremiah Getting to the Pro Bowl was easier for Yeremiah Bell than getting to the NFL."For me to be where I'm at today and playing in the Pro Bowl," Bell said, "it's something I'm very proud of."
If you think Bell shouldn't be in the Pro Bowl, you're right. The fact he's in the NFL at all is astonishing.
"I often reflect on my past just for motivation," Bell said. "It could've gone wrong for me so many times."
Bell didn't receive a single scholarship offer out of high school and didn't have enough money to enroll in college and walk on a team. He went to work at a Kentucky steel mill for $6.50 an hour. He heaved slabs of steel that weighed nearly 100 pounds.
Football was a dream he lived out through some friends who played at Eastern Kentucky. He would tune in to "The Roy Kidd Show" every Sunday to see if his buddies made the highlights or the coach would talk about them.
Bell said the same thoughts ran through his head every time he watched: "I could do this. I could go back out there. I can play football. What am I going to do with the rest of my life but work?"
Two years removed from high school, Bell enrolled at Eastern Kentucky and became a star. But his career nearly was derailed twice.
On the second day of two-a-day practices his sophomore season, he experienced full body cramps that landed him in the hospital for three days. Scared and confused, he called Kidd and informed him he was quitting. Kidd tried to talk him out of it but couldn't. Kidd told Bell he would give him a week to reconsider.
"Luckily, I did change my mind and he left that door open for me," Bell said. "He could've let me go, and that would have been the end of it."
Bell seemed like he was jockeying for draft position heading into his senior season. Scouts had noticed a gem. He was a first-team All-American and led the Ohio Valley Conference in interceptions as a junior. In a game against Eastern Illinois and future Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo, Bell recorded 10 tackles, two interceptions, a sack, a forced fumble and a recovery.
Before Bell's senior season, he hurt his knee while playing a pickup basketball game. The injury dashed his final year and rendered him a draft-day question mark.
"It could've went so many ways, so many different times," Bell said.
The Dolphins drafted him in the sixth round in 2003. Four months later, they waived him. Nobody picked him up. The Dolphins signed him to their practice squad and four games into the season was placed on injured reserve.
By 2006, Bell had fought his way into the lineup. He started 11 games and recorded 65 tackles with a pair of sacks. Then another setback: He blew out his Achilles in the 2007 opener.
Bell has been the Dolphins' leading tackler the past two seasons. He owns the franchise record with 7.5 career sacks by a defensive back.
And whether somebody wants to list the provisions of his honor and name the players who backed out (Buffalo Bills safety Jairus Byrd and Pittsburgh Steelers safety Troy Polamalu are hurt and Antoine Bethea is in the Super Bowl), Bell will forever be known as a Pro Bowl safety.
"I think guys like the old format, where you play it a week after the Super Bowl," Bell said. "I think that's the way it should be. But I don't look at it as 'Oh, I got in because somebody else.' I just look at it as a great opportunity to enjoy the whole experience.
"I'm a Pro Bowler."
Pro Bowl Watch: AFC » East | West | North | South NFC » East | West | North | South
In case you missed it, the NFC East (namely the Cowboys and Eagles) has taken over the NFC Pro Bowl roster. We've mentioned several times the fact that more players than ever seem to be dropping out of Sunday's game in South Florida, but let's take a moment to focus on a player who truly appreciates his spot on the roster.
Howard Smith/US PresswireAfter being overlooked for years, London Fletcher is finally going to the Pro Bowl.The fact that Redskins middle linebacker London Fletcher needed the Saints' Jonathan Vilma to miss the Pro Bowl isn't significant in the whole scheme of things. At age 34, Fletcher probably should have played in five or six Pro Bowls by now but for whatever reason he's come up short in the voting process.
In '09, Fletcher was credited for 142 tackles (the Redskins say he had 172), which ranked second in the league behind the 49ers' Patrick Willis. It didn't help Fletcher's cause that he played on one of the worst teams in the league, but you never saw him back down. His streak of playing in 192 consecutive games is second only to Brett Favre. The 5-foot-10, 245-pound linebacker from Division III John Carroll has always been an underdog, but that hasn't kept him from being one of the most productive players in the league.
He admitted to being incredibly nervous in the final moments of the NFC Championship Game because his Pro Bowl ticket was hanging in the balance. Now, he's in the process of trying to secure tickets for family and friends who never gave up on him making it to the NFL's all-star game.
"I'm thinking, 'Man, here I am in my 12th year. Is it ever going to happen for me?' When it finally became a reality, yeah, it was a big relief. I didn't sleep much at all last night," Fletcher told reporters via conference call this week. "The Pro Bowl is something they have all been waiting for. They've gone to two Super Bowls with me. But now, finally getting the Pro Bowl is something that they've also been looking forward to."
Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb told reporters in South Florida that he was thrilled for Fletcher, but he's not cutting him any slack when it comes to "rookie" hazing. He indicated that Fletcher would soon have some large tabs at the team hotel's pool bar.
And something tells me that Fletcher won't hesitate in picking up the check. He's long overdue.
In case you missed it, the NFC East (namely the Cowboys and Eagles) has taken over the NFC Pro Bowl roster. We've mentioned several times the fact that more players than ever seem to be dropping out of Sunday's game in South Florida, but let's take a moment to focus on a player who truly appreciates his spot on the roster.
Howard Smith/US PresswireAfter being overlooked for years, London Fletcher is finally going to the Pro Bowl.In '09, Fletcher was credited for 142 tackles (the Redskins say he had 172), which ranked second in the league behind the 49ers' Patrick Willis. It didn't help Fletcher's cause that he played on one of the worst teams in the league, but you never saw him back down. His streak of playing in 192 consecutive games is second only to Brett Favre. The 5-foot-10, 245-pound linebacker from Division III John Carroll has always been an underdog, but that hasn't kept him from being one of the most productive players in the league.
He admitted to being incredibly nervous in the final moments of the NFC Championship Game because his Pro Bowl ticket was hanging in the balance. Now, he's in the process of trying to secure tickets for family and friends who never gave up on him making it to the NFL's all-star game.
"I'm thinking, 'Man, here I am in my 12th year. Is it ever going to happen for me?' When it finally became a reality, yeah, it was a big relief. I didn't sleep much at all last night," Fletcher told reporters via conference call this week. "The Pro Bowl is something they have all been waiting for. They've gone to two Super Bowls with me. But now, finally getting the Pro Bowl is something that they've also been looking forward to."
Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb told reporters in South Florida that he was thrilled for Fletcher, but he's not cutting him any slack when it comes to "rookie" hazing. He indicated that Fletcher would soon have some large tabs at the team hotel's pool bar.
And something tells me that Fletcher won't hesitate in picking up the check. He's long overdue.
Pro Bowl Watch: AFC » East | West | North | South NFC » East | West | North | South
It is a meaningless all-star game that has been watered down more than usual this year. So why is there some NFC South intrigue to Sunday’s Pro Bowl?
Well, it just might be the last time we see Julius Peppers in a Carolina Panthers uniform. Well, not quite a full uniform because he’ll be wearing an NFC Pro Bowl jersey that will include a patch with the Panthers logo and he’ll be wearing a Carolina helmet.
That’s easily the biggest NFC South storyline in this game because the Saints are sitting out, the Bucs don’t have a representative and Atlanta’s Roddy White and Carolina’s DeAngelo Williams and Ryan Kalil are the only other NFC South players in the game. There’s mystery with Peppers because we have no idea what his future holds.
He’s already been named to the NFL’s All-Decade team, which will be fully revealed Sunday, but Peppers is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent and that brings all sorts of questions about his future with the Panthers. Peppers was in a similar situation last year and asked out of Carolina. The Panthers didn’t grant his wish, instead placing the franchise tag on him and paying him about $18 million.
Peppers has stayed quiet about his desires this time around and the Panthers also have been silent on this issue. But a decision must be made about Peppers in February. The Panthers simply can let him walk into free agency, but that’s unlikely because they would get nothing in return.
It’s more likely they’ll use the franchise tag on him again. That doesn’t necessarily mean he’ll play for the Panthers at a salary of more than $20 million next season. The Panthers could use the franchise tag to protect their investment and then and trade Peppers for draft picks.
Stay tuned as this plays out in February, but you might want to watch the game because it may be the last time you’ll see Peppers as a Panther.
It is a meaningless all-star game that has been watered down more than usual this year. So why is there some NFC South intrigue to Sunday’s Pro Bowl?
[+] Enlarge
Rick Scuteri/US PresswireSunday's Pro Bowl may be the last time we see Julius Peppers play as a member of the Panthers.
Rick Scuteri/US PresswireSunday's Pro Bowl may be the last time we see Julius Peppers play as a member of the Panthers.That’s easily the biggest NFC South storyline in this game because the Saints are sitting out, the Bucs don’t have a representative and Atlanta’s Roddy White and Carolina’s DeAngelo Williams and Ryan Kalil are the only other NFC South players in the game. There’s mystery with Peppers because we have no idea what his future holds.
He’s already been named to the NFL’s All-Decade team, which will be fully revealed Sunday, but Peppers is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent and that brings all sorts of questions about his future with the Panthers. Peppers was in a similar situation last year and asked out of Carolina. The Panthers didn’t grant his wish, instead placing the franchise tag on him and paying him about $18 million.
Peppers has stayed quiet about his desires this time around and the Panthers also have been silent on this issue. But a decision must be made about Peppers in February. The Panthers simply can let him walk into free agency, but that’s unlikely because they would get nothing in return.
It’s more likely they’ll use the franchise tag on him again. That doesn’t necessarily mean he’ll play for the Panthers at a salary of more than $20 million next season. The Panthers could use the franchise tag to protect their investment and then and trade Peppers for draft picks.
Stay tuned as this plays out in February, but you might want to watch the game because it may be the last time you’ll see Peppers as a Panther.
Pro Bowl Watch: AFC » East | West | North | South NFC » East | West | North | South
Two tight ends drafted since 2006 have earned Pro Bowl honors.
One of them, Houston's Owen Daniels, is recovering from reconstructive knee surgery. The other, San Francisco's Vernon Davis, has already overcome reconstructive attitude surgery.
In 15 months, Davis has gone from budding draft bust and loose cannon to arguably the most dynamic all-around tight end in the NFL. Coach Mike Singletary's decision to banish Davis to the locker room during a 2008 home loss to Seattle will go down as one of the most unusual and effective motivational tactics in NFL history. Singletary later named Davis a team captain, an appointment that became self-fulfilling.
Only wide receivers Larry Fitzgerald and Randy Moss matched Davis' 13 touchdown receptions in 2009. And of the 19 players with more than seven scoring grabs, Davis was the only one whose team made a performance-based change at quarterback. He wasn't catching passes from Kurt Warner or Tom Brady, in other words.
Davis will get a chance to play with elite quarterbacks during his Pro Bowl debut Sunday. He might also get a chance to show his dominant skills as a blocker. As tough as it might have once been to envision Davis earning Pro Bowl honors, it's now tougher to envision him failing to make return trips.
Two tight ends drafted since 2006 have earned Pro Bowl honors.
[+] Enlarge
Kirby Lee/US PresswireTight end Vernon Davis caught 78 passes for 965 yards and 13 touchdowns in 2009.
Kirby Lee/US PresswireTight end Vernon Davis caught 78 passes for 965 yards and 13 touchdowns in 2009.In 15 months, Davis has gone from budding draft bust and loose cannon to arguably the most dynamic all-around tight end in the NFL. Coach Mike Singletary's decision to banish Davis to the locker room during a 2008 home loss to Seattle will go down as one of the most unusual and effective motivational tactics in NFL history. Singletary later named Davis a team captain, an appointment that became self-fulfilling.
Only wide receivers Larry Fitzgerald and Randy Moss matched Davis' 13 touchdown receptions in 2009. And of the 19 players with more than seven scoring grabs, Davis was the only one whose team made a performance-based change at quarterback. He wasn't catching passes from Kurt Warner or Tom Brady, in other words.
Davis will get a chance to play with elite quarterbacks during his Pro Bowl debut Sunday. He might also get a chance to show his dominant skills as a blocker. As tough as it might have once been to envision Davis earning Pro Bowl honors, it's now tougher to envision him failing to make return trips.
Pro Bowl Watch: AFC » East | West | North | South NFC » East | West | North | South
(UPDATE: After injuring himself in Wednesday's practice, Kaeding has withdrawn from the Pro Bowl. Kaeding suffered a small tear in his groin and will be replaced by Miami kicker Dan Carpenter.)
Perhaps other than Minnesota running back Adrian Peterson, there will be no other player at the Pro Bowl on Sunday in Miami with a more bitter taste in his mouth than San Diego kicker Nate Kaeding.
KaedingThe fact that the Pro Bowl will be played in the very same place Kaeding wanted to be the next Sunday -- at the Super Bowl -- will only make the experience more depressing for Kaeding.
Like Peterson’s fumble issues in the Vikings’ NFC Championship Game loss at New Orleans, Kaeding hurt his team in the playoffs. Kaeding missed three field goals -- two inside 40 yards -- in a 17-14 home loss to the New York Jets in the AFC divisional playoff round Jan. 17. San Diego was the No. 2 seed in the AFC and entered the playoffs with 11 straight victories.
Kaeding missed a total of three field goals during the regular season. That is why he was not only named to to the Pro Bowl, but was also named but a first-team All-Pro player. He was fantastic all season, and then failed in the playoffs. He is now 3-of-9 in the postseason at home. He cost the Chargers a playoff game against the Jets in 2004 during his rookie season.
Of course, he wasn’t the only reason why San Diego lost to the Jets, but if he was his usual self, San Diego would have won the game.
Kaeding will definitely be thinking about his playoff woes when he lines up for a field goal in the Pro Bowl. That’s just human nature. He’s sure to be jittery.
Ultimately it may be good for Kaeding to kick in a game situation so soon after his playoff misery. It will give him a chance to make a field goal and get in a good mental frame of mind, instead of waiting more than seven months for another opportunity.
(UPDATE: After injuring himself in Wednesday's practice, Kaeding has withdrawn from the Pro Bowl. Kaeding suffered a small tear in his groin and will be replaced by Miami kicker Dan Carpenter.)
Perhaps other than Minnesota running back Adrian Peterson, there will be no other player at the Pro Bowl on Sunday in Miami with a more bitter taste in his mouth than San Diego kicker Nate Kaeding.
Like Peterson’s fumble issues in the Vikings’ NFC Championship Game loss at New Orleans, Kaeding hurt his team in the playoffs. Kaeding missed three field goals -- two inside 40 yards -- in a 17-14 home loss to the New York Jets in the AFC divisional playoff round Jan. 17. San Diego was the No. 2 seed in the AFC and entered the playoffs with 11 straight victories.
Kaeding missed a total of three field goals during the regular season. That is why he was not only named to to the Pro Bowl, but was also named but a first-team All-Pro player. He was fantastic all season, and then failed in the playoffs. He is now 3-of-9 in the postseason at home. He cost the Chargers a playoff game against the Jets in 2004 during his rookie season.
Of course, he wasn’t the only reason why San Diego lost to the Jets, but if he was his usual self, San Diego would have won the game.
Kaeding will definitely be thinking about his playoff woes when he lines up for a field goal in the Pro Bowl. That’s just human nature. He’s sure to be jittery.
Ultimately it may be good for Kaeding to kick in a game situation so soon after his playoff misery. It will give him a chance to make a field goal and get in a good mental frame of mind, instead of waiting more than seven months for another opportunity.
Polian finds Pro Bowl plan 'a disruption'
January, 26, 2010
1/26/10
2:47
PM ET
By
Paul Kuharsky | ESPN.com
Bill Polian’s not a fan of what the NFL has done with the Pro Bowl.
“It’s stupid,” he said on the Dan Dakich Show on 1070 The Fan in Indianapolis. “It’s a disruption, but we’ll deal with it.”
Of course, the Colts can be pretty inflexible, and if they want to fly Monday, they're going to fly Monday.
Last week, Peyton Manning mentioned how silly he thought it was that before the Colts-Patriots AFC Championship Game in January 2004 he had to fly to Boston and back for a Friday news conference, per league rules.
Well, he and those with him, including Tony Dungy, didn’t have to fly back. The Colts could have all gone to New England on Friday like plenty of road teams in the championship game had done before them.
It was Indy’s inflexibility that set things up for him to go back to Indianapolis, then fly again with the team Saturday.
But wouldn’t you know it, those Friday news conferences before championship game weekend don’t exist anymore.
Through Sports Radio Interviews, here's a link to the whole Polian interview.
“It’s stupid,” he said on the Dan Dakich Show on 1070 The Fan in Indianapolis. “It’s a disruption, but we’ll deal with it.”
Polian: “Well, we’ll come back to practice on Wednesday. We’ll practice Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. They’ll have off Saturday. If it weren’t for the Pro Bowl disruption, they would have the weekend off, but they can’t because we have to send those players to Miami to do Lord knows what. We’ll come back and practice on Sunday and the Pro Bowl players will go and do whatever they have to do and then the team will leave on Monday."
(So the Pro Bowl players you will fly down there and they just fly back that day?)
"I don’t know that they fly them back. I think they plan to keep them down there that evening. They haven’t even told us yet what this is all about. We don’t even have any details or anything like that. Maybe they will call us Friday and tell us. In any event, the fact of the matter is that we’re thinking that they’re down there Sunday night and they will meet us Monday, which is a hell of a thing isn’t it? It sends a great message to all the young people out there and all the coaches that talk teamwork that you take your best seven players and split them up from your team at the ultimate moment in sports.”
Polian has a legitimate complaint. The league should have had this spelled out for the two Super Bowl teams immediately. But he could also easily fix the problem by just flying his entire team to Miami on Sunday instead of Monday to sync up with the league’s schedule.Of course, the Colts can be pretty inflexible, and if they want to fly Monday, they're going to fly Monday.
Last week, Peyton Manning mentioned how silly he thought it was that before the Colts-Patriots AFC Championship Game in January 2004 he had to fly to Boston and back for a Friday news conference, per league rules.
Well, he and those with him, including Tony Dungy, didn’t have to fly back. The Colts could have all gone to New England on Friday like plenty of road teams in the championship game had done before them.
It was Indy’s inflexibility that set things up for him to go back to Indianapolis, then fly again with the team Saturday.
But wouldn’t you know it, those Friday news conferences before championship game weekend don’t exist anymore.
Through Sports Radio Interviews, here's a link to the whole Polian interview.
Pro Bowl Watch: AFC » East | West | North | South NFC » East | West | North | South
It was the year of the small, speedy tailbacks in the AFC. But perhaps the lowest-profile of the miniature rushers was Ray Rice of the Baltimore Ravens.
RiceThe second-year tailback led the Ravens in rushing with 1,339 yards in the regular season in addition to 78 catches for 702 receiving yards. He was Baltimore's most reliable weapon and nearly tripled his rushing total from a year ago (454 yards).
But perhaps the scariest part is Rice, 23, is just scratching the surface.
"He was awfully good this year, but I do think he can get better," Scouts Inc.'s Matt Williamson said. "He was a tremendous workhorse at Rutgers, a do-it-all guy. I think the Ravens drafted Rice with intentions of him being their third-down guy, and he immediately exceeded those expectations to the point where they almost had to restructure the offense around his abilities."
Rice is the third tailback for the AFC in the Pro Bowl behind league-leading rusher Chris Johnson of the Tennessee Titans and Maurice Jones-Drew of the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Rice's production took off when he packed on additional muscle last offseason to help with durability and running between the tackles. As a rookie, Rice missed three games due to injury. This season he played in all 16 regular season games, and two more contests in the playoffs.
With fellow second-year player Joe Flacco at quarterback and Rice at tailback, Baltimore has two young players to build its offense around.
Sunday will mark Rice's first Pro Bowl appearance, but odds are it won't be his last.
It was the year of the small, speedy tailbacks in the AFC. But perhaps the lowest-profile of the miniature rushers was Ray Rice of the Baltimore Ravens.
But perhaps the scariest part is Rice, 23, is just scratching the surface.
"He was awfully good this year, but I do think he can get better," Scouts Inc.'s Matt Williamson said. "He was a tremendous workhorse at Rutgers, a do-it-all guy. I think the Ravens drafted Rice with intentions of him being their third-down guy, and he immediately exceeded those expectations to the point where they almost had to restructure the offense around his abilities."
Rice is the third tailback for the AFC in the Pro Bowl behind league-leading rusher Chris Johnson of the Tennessee Titans and Maurice Jones-Drew of the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Rice's production took off when he packed on additional muscle last offseason to help with durability and running between the tackles. As a rookie, Rice missed three games due to injury. This season he played in all 16 regular season games, and two more contests in the playoffs.
With fellow second-year player Joe Flacco at quarterback and Rice at tailback, Baltimore has two young players to build its offense around.
Sunday will mark Rice's first Pro Bowl appearance, but odds are it won't be his last.
Pro Bowl Watch: AFC » East | West | North | South NFC » East | West | North | South
We all know Green Bay linebacker Clay Matthews III comes from a deep lineage of football success. His father, Clay Jr., was a 19-year linebacker in the NFL. His uncle, Bruce Matthews, also played 19 seasons as an offensive lineman and is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
But only one member of that trio managed a Pro Bowl berth as a rookie. Clay III was originally a first alternate and received an invitation to play after Chicago linebacker Lance Briggs bowed out.
“It means a great deal,” Matthews said in a national conference call this week. “I’m very happy, fortunate and blessed to have made it in my rookie season. My dad and uncle were telling me, ‘Man, it took me four and six years to make it, and you're already making it in your first year.’ I definitely have big shoes to fill, but I'm looking forward to the opportunity and I think I'm off to a good start.”
Indeed, Matthews set a Packers rookie record with 10 sacks this season after cracking the starting lineup in Week 4. His father played in a different era, including five seasons before sacks became an official NFL statistic, but it’s worth noting that Clay Jr. only hit double digits in sacks for one season (12 in 1984). (For more, see Mike Spofford's piece over on Packers.com.)
“It’s really about staying on top,” Clay III said, “and that’s what I look forward to doing -- just keeping it up and just trying to make plays from here on out.”
Matthews will play a reserve role for the NFC in Sunday’s game at Sun Life Stadium. I’ll be there to chronicle his afternoon, along with that of the other 11 NFC North players expected to participate. Because of the recent rash of changes to the Pro Bowl roster, below is a list of NFC North players. As always, we’re here to serve.
Chicago Bears
Kick returner Johnny Knox
Green Bay Packers
Quarterback Aaron Rodgers
Safety Nick Collins
Linebacker Clay Matthews
Minnesota Vikings
Running back Adrian Peterson
Wide receiver Sidney Rice
Left guard Steve Hutchinson
Left tackle Bryant McKinnie
Defensive end Jared Allen
Defensive tackle Kevin Williams
Special teams cover man Heath Farwell
We all know Green Bay linebacker Clay Matthews III comes from a deep lineage of football success. His father, Clay Jr., was a 19-year linebacker in the NFL. His uncle, Bruce Matthews, also played 19 seasons as an offensive lineman and is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Rob Grabowski/US PresswireGreen Bay linebacker Clay Matthews added to his family's NFL history by making the Pro Bowl as a rookie.
“It means a great deal,” Matthews said in a national conference call this week. “I’m very happy, fortunate and blessed to have made it in my rookie season. My dad and uncle were telling me, ‘Man, it took me four and six years to make it, and you're already making it in your first year.’ I definitely have big shoes to fill, but I'm looking forward to the opportunity and I think I'm off to a good start.”
Indeed, Matthews set a Packers rookie record with 10 sacks this season after cracking the starting lineup in Week 4. His father played in a different era, including five seasons before sacks became an official NFL statistic, but it’s worth noting that Clay Jr. only hit double digits in sacks for one season (12 in 1984). (For more, see Mike Spofford's piece over on Packers.com.)
“It’s really about staying on top,” Clay III said, “and that’s what I look forward to doing -- just keeping it up and just trying to make plays from here on out.”
Matthews will play a reserve role for the NFC in Sunday’s game at Sun Life Stadium. I’ll be there to chronicle his afternoon, along with that of the other 11 NFC North players expected to participate. Because of the recent rash of changes to the Pro Bowl roster, below is a list of NFC North players. As always, we’re here to serve.
Chicago Bears
Kick returner Johnny Knox
Green Bay Packers
Quarterback Aaron Rodgers
Safety Nick Collins
Linebacker Clay Matthews
Minnesota Vikings
Running back Adrian Peterson
Wide receiver Sidney Rice
Left guard Steve Hutchinson
Left tackle Bryant McKinnie
Defensive end Jared Allen
Defensive tackle Kevin Williams
Special teams cover man Heath Farwell
Vince Young is going to his second Pro Bowl, Jim Wyatt reports. The Titans quarterback is replacing San Diego’s Philip Rivers.
Young
It’s the second replacement among AFC quarterbacks Wednesday.
The original three quarterbacks were Peyton Manning, Rivers and Tom Brady.
Matt Schaub got a spot after a banged up Brady dropped out and Ben Roethlisberger passed because of a shoulder injury. Now Carson Palmer has also opted out because of an injury and Young replaces Rivers.
Young was very good, and sometime great, after taking over as Tennessee’s starter following an 0-6 record with Kerry Collins at quarterback.
But we’re now seven deep in the AFC Pro Bowl quarterback pool, and if the Colts win the AFC Championship and advance to the Super Bowl, it’ll be eight because Peyton Manning won’t play.
Eight of sixteen starters in the conference may be able to call themselves Pro Bowlers. Apologies, but that doesn’t feel like a big honor and it’s another reason why the Pro Bowl is broken.
Sign me up for a league where the half the people with my job qualify as all-stars.
Schaub should be excited, it’s a big moment for him. But he said the Pro Bowl is “the highest honor in my opinion you can get in this league.”
I feel very strongly that All-Pro is way bigger, as you can read here. There are 27 All-Pros and that list can’t grow. There are already 94 Pro Bowlers and that list will continue to grow, and that doesn’t count people like Roethlisberger and Palmer who passed.
It’s the second replacement among AFC quarterbacks Wednesday.
The original three quarterbacks were Peyton Manning, Rivers and Tom Brady.
Matt Schaub got a spot after a banged up Brady dropped out and Ben Roethlisberger passed because of a shoulder injury. Now Carson Palmer has also opted out because of an injury and Young replaces Rivers.
Young was very good, and sometime great, after taking over as Tennessee’s starter following an 0-6 record with Kerry Collins at quarterback.
But we’re now seven deep in the AFC Pro Bowl quarterback pool, and if the Colts win the AFC Championship and advance to the Super Bowl, it’ll be eight because Peyton Manning won’t play.
Eight of sixteen starters in the conference may be able to call themselves Pro Bowlers. Apologies, but that doesn’t feel like a big honor and it’s another reason why the Pro Bowl is broken.
Sign me up for a league where the half the people with my job qualify as all-stars.
Schaub should be excited, it’s a big moment for him. But he said the Pro Bowl is “the highest honor in my opinion you can get in this league.”
I feel very strongly that All-Pro is way bigger, as you can read here. There are 27 All-Pros and that list can’t grow. There are already 94 Pro Bowlers and that list will continue to grow, and that doesn’t count people like Roethlisberger and Palmer who passed.
Winfield wasn't a Pro Bowl player in 2009
January, 19, 2010
1/19/10
11:04
AM ET
By
Kevin Seifert | ESPN.com
If there were ever a time for the NFL to re-evaluate its Pro Bowl procedures, I think we’ve hit it. Minnesota cornerback Antoine Winfield, who played in only 10 regular season games and is still playing in a limited capacity because of foot soreness, was added to the NFC roster Tuesday.
Don’t get me wrong. I think Winfield deserved this honor for several seasons before he finally broke through in 2008. When healthy, he’s one of the league’s best tacklers and is more than reliable in coverage.
But that’s just it. Winfield hasn’t been healthy for three months. He sprained his foot Oct. 18, missed six games and finished the year with one interception. He has spent the past two games as the Vikings’ nickel back because the foot has limited his speed in coverage.
Nevertheless, Winfield was a first alternate for the Pro Bowl and was presumably added to the roster because of an injury to Arizona cornerback Dominque Rodgers-Cromartie. Again, this isn't an attempt to mute Winfield's honor. There have been years when he's deserved to go to the Pro Bowl and been shut out, so I guess you could argue that what goes around, comes around.
But I think we can all agree on this: Any system that elevates a player who missed 40 percent of his team’s games -- no matter who he is -- is deeply, deeply flawed.
Don’t get me wrong. I think Winfield deserved this honor for several seasons before he finally broke through in 2008. When healthy, he’s one of the league’s best tacklers and is more than reliable in coverage.
But that’s just it. Winfield hasn’t been healthy for three months. He sprained his foot Oct. 18, missed six games and finished the year with one interception. He has spent the past two games as the Vikings’ nickel back because the foot has limited his speed in coverage.
Nevertheless, Winfield was a first alternate for the Pro Bowl and was presumably added to the roster because of an injury to Arizona cornerback Dominque Rodgers-Cromartie. Again, this isn't an attempt to mute Winfield's honor. There have been years when he's deserved to go to the Pro Bowl and been shut out, so I guess you could argue that what goes around, comes around.
But I think we can all agree on this: Any system that elevates a player who missed 40 percent of his team’s games -- no matter who he is -- is deeply, deeply flawed.
The Associated Press announced its 2009 All-Pro team Thursday, and the AFC North had three players make the cut.
Surprisingly the Cleveland Browns (5-11), who finished last in the division, had the most players with two. Starting left tackle Joe Thomas and return specialist Josh Cribbs, both Pro Bowlers, made the team.
Linebacker Ray Lewis of the Baltimore Ravens was the third player from the AFC North. He had 134 tackles and three sacks during the regular season.
The reigning champion Pittsburgh Steelers and current AFC North division champion Cincinnati Bengals were shut out of the All-Pro first team. This isn’t a surprise for Cincinnati. Despite team success, no Bengals were selected for the Pro Bowl this season.
Surprisingly the Cleveland Browns (5-11), who finished last in the division, had the most players with two. Starting left tackle Joe Thomas and return specialist Josh Cribbs, both Pro Bowlers, made the team.
Linebacker Ray Lewis of the Baltimore Ravens was the third player from the AFC North. He had 134 tackles and three sacks during the regular season.
The reigning champion Pittsburgh Steelers and current AFC North division champion Cincinnati Bengals were shut out of the All-Pro first team. This isn’t a surprise for Cincinnati. Despite team success, no Bengals were selected for the Pro Bowl this season.
