No Green and Gold at the Pro Bowl

The Pro Bowl was this past Sunday. Although, the roster was stacked with talent, it was missing some of the NFL’s best players. The Green Bay Packers were supposed to have 6 players in the game, but they weren’t there due to their participation in Super Bowl XLV. The Pittsburgh Steelers also had 4 players that were voted to the Pro Bowl but couldn’t go either. I think that the Pro Bowl should be played after the Super Bowl.

The Pro Bowl is supposed to be a fun event for both the players and the fans. I don’t think that just because you are in the Super Bowl you should be snubbed from the Pro Bowl. I think having 10 total players from the 2 best teams in the NFL, not in the Pro Bowl, is taking away from the game. Not that the players really care if they miss it (I’m sure they would much rather be preparing for the Super Bowl), but they don’t get to go have fun and support their team colors with the league’s top players. I think the Pro Bowl should be moved back to after the Super Bowl so everyone has their chance to play in it.

I know for me, I would be much more interested in the Pro Bowl if the players form my favorite team were actually there. Green Bay and Pittsburgh have the 2 best and largest fan bases in the NFL and I’m sure the majority of them, including myself, didn’t pay much attention to the Pro Bowl. The TV ratings would probably be a lot higher with those players in the game.

Green Bay Players voted to the Pro Bowl:

Tramon Williams

Chad Clifton

Clay Matthews

Charles Woodson

Greg Jennings

Nick Collins

Pittsburgh Players voted to the Pro Bowl:

Troy Polamalu

James Harrison

Maurkice Pouncey

Brett Keisel

Monday's Roundup: Browns Have No OC

Good morning Browns fans. As you're all recovering from your Pro Bowl parties yesterday, I'm sure that you will be very interested in learning that the Browns will not have an offensive coordinator next season. Head coach Pat Shurmur will be calling the plays, as has been previously stated, and new quarterbacks coach Mark Whipple will work closely with Colt McCoy. Whipple has an impressive resume' that includes an NCAA Division 1-AA national championship, many offensive records at many different schools, and significant work with Ben Roethlisberger when he came into the league. Most recently he was the offensive coordinator of the Miami Hurricanes, where they finished 33rd in the nation in total offense.

In other coaching news, the Browns have reportedly hired Bill Davis to coach the linebackers. He has most recently been the defensive coordinator of the Arizona Cardinals. Davis brings 19 years of experience to his new job, and he returns to his familiar stomping grounds in Cleveland. He was on the coaching staff in the same role under head coach Chris Palmer in 1999.

There's not much to say about the Pro Bowl, other than the fact that Joe Thomas made lots of money for his third consecutive Pro Bowl (a $1.5 million bonus) and Alex Mack recorded multiple tackles (only one is shown in the box score though) as well as his first known receiving touchdown! If you don't believe it, here's the video:

Alex Mack Rumbles for the Score!

It may not have been all that legitimate and it may have been on a lateral, but he looked pretty svelte rumbling for 40 yards and diving into the end zone. Maybe we should work in some Center End Around plays for this season...

Should the Browns make an offer to the Eagles for QB Kevin Kolb? According to Cleveland.com, about %75 of Browns fans say no, and I agree. I like where Colt McCoy is going, and I think the asking price is too high for Kolb.

Coming up on Wednesday will be my opinions on this year's Senior Bowl, with a few facts thrown in just to cover my bases. As always, the comments are open and check back soon!

Pro Bowl Time for a Few Browns

As I'm sure everyone is aware of, the Pro Bowl is scheduled for this Sunday. Knowing how action-packed and hard-hitting the Pro Bowl always is, there is no doubt that the NFL's all-star game will pull at least a dazzling dozen viewers nationwide to their TV sets for a few hours. This year, it's set back in Hawaii and is no more or less relevant than it was last year in Miami.

On a semi-related tangent the NHL is preparing for their all-star game by staging a fantasy-type draft where their all-star captains select their teammates from the pool of fellow all-stars, much like many of you did on the playground in your younger years. It's certainly an interesting idea, and it may create more buzz than a more conventional all-star game. I suppose time will tell if it's a good idea and if it will stick around.

Anyways, let's get back to the Browns. As has been previously reported, center Alex Mack will be making his first Pro Bowl appearance, however it is in place of injured Nick Mangold, not Maurkice Pouncey. Either way, it's a great honor for the young lineman and hopefully just the first of many trips to Hawaii for him. Congratulations can be sent on Twitter @alexmack55 . In the unsurprising category of news, left tackle Joe Thomas will be making his third trip to the NFL's all-star game. It's pretty interesting that Thomas had, by his standards, a bit of a down year but is still Pro Bowl-caliber. Hopefully he can bounce back to his previous form instead of being merely Pro Bowl-caliber!

After the Super Bowl there will be more news regarding free agents, both departing and incoming, as well as more draft news, so stay tuned!

Panthers in the Pro Bowl

The NFL's all-star game, the Pro Bowl, will take place this weekend in Honolulu, Hawaii.  The Carolina Panthers will have more Pro Bowlers (three) than they did wins (two).

Chicago's Lance Briggs has withdrawn, giving linebacker Jon Beason his spot, and a third consecutive trip to the game.  Beason is a middle linebacker by trade but spent a lot of time playing outside this season because Thomas Davis was hurt. 

Beason joins left tackle Jordan Gross, considered one of the league's best, and center Ryan Kalil.  The Panthers' offensive line looked spotty early in the year but that was partly due to interchanging lineups that injuries had forced on the team.  Their play, and with it the running game, improved greatly later in the year; third-string back Mike Goodson reeled off three consecutive 100-yard rushing efforts at one point.

"Thanks for all the congrats about the pro bowl," Beason wrote via Twitter.  "I appreciate you all. Things always work themselves out when u keep the faith."

In other news, GM Marty Hurney has made it clear that fixing the quarterback position is the Panthers' top priority this offseason.  He did not specify whether that meant drafting another passer or bringing in a veteran to compete with Clausen.  Hurney wouldn't rule out the Panthers drafting a quarterback with their first pick - keep in mind, trading down is a possibility.  The team has also begun looking into the background of Auburn DT Nick Fairley, according to Darin Gantt and Joseph Person, the two main reporters for the team.

Falcons in the Pro Bowl

Matt Ryan (photo via Newscom)

Seven Falcons starters were named to the Pro Bowl roster, with two alternates also making the team for a league high nine players from one team. This is a great honor for a franchise that didn't play a single game on Sunday Night Football and only one game on Monday Night Football. Falcons' highlights never led SportsCenter, and the team was never taken very seriously by national pundits (which as it turned out, they were right in the end). Meaning that the seven Falcons voted into the Pro Bowl by players, coaches, and fans, earned that honor without much, if any, national exposure. The Falcons' coaches will also be coaching the Pro Bowl. Their reward, I guess, for their terrible, play-not-to-lose offensive and defensive game plan against the Green Bay Packers.

On offense, Matt Ryan was the third QB named, after the DogKilla and Drew Brees. Michael Turner, who led the NFL in rushing attempts and the NFC in rushing yards, is the Pro Bowl starter at running back for the NFC, and Ovie Mughelli, acting as Turner's on-field valet if you will, is the starting fullback.

Tyson Clabo, RT, is Atlanta's first alternate to make the team and will play with starter at wideout Roddy White, who led the NFL in receptions and yards this year. Tony Gonzaelez also made the Pro Bowl for the eleventh time in his career, a record for tight ends.

Pro Bowl snub Brent Grimes, who led the league in passes defended at corner back, got into the Pro Bowl when Charles Woodson and the Green Bay Packers made it to the Super Bowl. John Abraham, Atlanta's beast defensive end will be starting in the Pro Bowl, and to bring it all home, the Falcons' do-everything special teams ace, Eric Weems, who this season became the first Falcons' returner to house a kickoff and and punt return in the same season, will be do the same in this All-Star game in Hawai'i.

These nine Pro Bowlers aren't just a team-high for this season, it sets the Atlanta Falcons' record for most players selected (seven) and playing (nine) in the Pro Bowl. While this honor is something to be proud of no doubt, I'm sure every single one of these guys, and their fans, would have rather declined the honor in order to prepare to be facing the Steelers right now. Unfortunately, many of these same players didn't have their best game against Green Bay, in fact, some had their worst game of the year, and that includes the Atlanta coaching staff, who will be coaching the NFC Pro Bowl players in Hawai'i on Sunday.

Then again, in "real" life, when us regular schmoes fail, we don't get an all expenses-paid trip to Hawaii for a week as our consolation prize, heh. So enjoy it guys. And be ready (as soon as the lockout is over) to work harder than ever (especially the coaching staff) to make 2011 a memorable season in Atlanta!

2011 Pro Bowl Preview

January 30th, 2011  at  7:00pm ET

Aloha Stadium Honalulu, Hawaii

Partly Cloudy   Temperature: 77 F   Precip: 20%   Wind: NW at 7mph

Channel:  FOX

AFC Roster                     * =  Denotes a Starter

Quarterbacks:                                         

* Tom Brady, New England
Philip Rivers, San Diego
Peyton Manning, Indianapolis

Running Backs:                                       

* Maurice Jones-Drew, Jacksonville
Arian Foster, Houston
Jamaal Charles, Kansas City

Full Back:

* Vonta Leach, Houston

Wide Receivers:                                     

* Andre Johnson, Houston
* Reggie Wayne, Indianapolis
Brandon Lloyd, Denver
Dwayne Bowe, Kansas City

Tight Ends:

* Antonio Gates, San Diego
Marcedes Lewis, Jacksonville

Centers:

* Nick Mangold, N.Y. Jets
Maurkice Pouncey, Pittsburgh (Will not play, going to Super Bowl)

 

Guards:* Kris Dielman, San Diego
* Logan Mankins, New England
Brian Waters, Kansas City

Tackles:

* Jake Long, Miami
* Joe Thomas, Cleveland
D'Brickashaw Ferguson, N.Y. Jets

Defensive Ends: * Dwight Freeney, Indianapolis
* Robert Mathis, Indianapolis
Jason Babin, Tennessee

Interior Linemen:
* Haloti Ngata, Baltimore
* Vince Wilfork, New England
Richard Seymour, Oakland

Inside-Middle Linebackers:
* Ray Lewis, Baltimore
Jerod Mayo, New England

Outside Linebackers:
* James Harrison, Pittsburgh (Will not play, going to Super Bowl)
* Cameron Wake, Miami
Terrell Suggs, Baltimore

Cornerbacks:
* Nnamdi Asomugha, Oakland
* Darrelle Revis, N.Y. Jets
Devin McCourty, New England
Strong Safety: * Troy Polamalu, Pittsburgh  (Will not play, going to Super Bowl)
Free Safeties: * Ed Reed, Baltimore
Brandon Meriweather, New England

Punter:
Shane Lechler, Oakland
Kick-return Specialist: Marc Mariani, Tennessee

Place-kicker:
Billy Cundiff, Baltimore
Special-teamer: Montell Owens, Jacksonville

NFC Roster

Quarterbacks:
* Michael Vick, Philadelphia
Matt Ryan, Atlanta
Drew Brees, New Orleans

Running Backs:
* Michael Turner, Atlanta
Adrian Peterson, Minnesota
Steven Jackson, St. Louis
Fullback:* Ovie Mughelli, Atlanta

Wide Receivers:
* Roddy White, Atlanta
* Calvin Johnson, Detroit
DeSean Jackson, Philadelphia
Greg Jennings, Green Bay (Will not play, going to Super Bowl)

Tight Ends:
* Jason Witten, Dallas
Tony Gonzalez, Atlanta

Centers:
* Andre Gurode, Dallas
Shaun O'Hara, N.Y. Giants
Guards: * Jahri Evans, New Orleans
*Chris Snee, N.Y. Giants
Carl Nicks, New Orleans

Tackles:
* Jason Peters, Philadelphia
* Jordan Gross, Carolina
Chad Clifton, Green Bay (Will not play, going to Super Bowl) 

Defensive Ends:
* Julius Peppers, Chicago
* John Abraham, Atlanta
Justin Tuck, N.Y. Giants

Interior Linemen:
* Ndamukong Suh, Detroit
* Jay Ratliff, Dallas
Justin Smith, San Francisco

Inside-Middle Linebackers:
* Patrick Willis, San Francisco
Brian Urlacher, Chicago

Outside Linebackers:
* Clay Matthews, Green Bay (Will not play, going to Super Bowl)
* DeMarcus Ware, Dallas
Lance Briggs, Chicago

Cornerbacks:
* Asante Samuel, Philadelphia
* Charles Woodson, Green Bay (Will not play, going to Super Bowl)
DeAngelo Hall, Washington Strong Safety:
* Adrian Wilson, Arizona

Free Safeties:
* Nick Collins, Green Bay (Will not play, going to Super Bowl)
Antrel Rolle, N.Y. Giants 

Punter:
Mat McBriar, Dallas

Kick-return Specialist:
Devin Hester, Chicago

Place-kicker:

 David Akers, Philadelphia

Special-teamer:

Eric Weems, Atlanta