Pro Bowl Tweaks

In case you missed it, and I know most of you did, last night was the NFL's All-Star Game. I can honestly say that I've never seen more than 30 seconds of a Pro Bowl, but I work on a sports talk radio show, so we briefly discussed it today at work. The question was simple. What changes could be made to the Pro Bowl to make it more interesting?

None of us could really think of any tweaks that would work. Our best idea was to simply get rid of the game altogether, but that's not going to happen because it rates really well on TV. In fact, last night's Pro Bowl received a 7.9 rating (which basically means that nearly 8 million people tuned in).

While we couldn't think of any ways to change the Pro Bowl, our listeners had a few that we liked. The first was to have the NFL's All-Star Game be a contest of white players against black players. This would obviously never happen, but here are what this year's rosters may have looked like. As you'll soon find out, the white team is really thin at running back, white receiver, and in the secondary. I also should note that I didn't include special teams positions on either roster, but the black team would have to use a position player to kickoff, punt, and attempt field goals and extra points.

White Team

Offense

QB- Aaron Rodgers, Packers
QB- Drew Brees, Saints
QB- Tom Brady, Patriots
WR- Jordy Nelson, Packers
WR- Wes Welker, Patriots
WR- Eric Decker, Broncos
FB- John Kuhn, Packers
RB- Toby Gerhart, Vikings
RB- Peyton Hillis, Browns
RB- Danny Woodhead, Patriots
TE- Rob Gronkowski, Patriots
TE- Tony Gonzalez, Falcons
TE- Jason Witten, Cowboys
OT- Jake Long, Dolphins
OT- Joe Thomas, Browns
OT- Joe Staley, 49ers
OG- Logan Mankins, Patriots
OG- Kris Dielman, Chargers
C- Nick Mangold, Jets
C- Ryan Kalil, Panthers

Defense

DE- Justin Smith, 49ers
DE- Jared Allen, Vikings
DE- Jason Babin, Eagles
DE- JJ Watt, Texans
DE- Brett Keisel, Steelers
LB- Clay Matthews, Packers
LB- Brian Urlacher, Bears
LB- Chad Greenway, Vikings
LB- Brian Cushing, Texans
LB- Connor Barwin, Texans
CB- Steve Gregory, Chargers
CB- Julian Edelman, Patriots
FS- Eric Weddle, Chargers
SS- Tom Zbikowski, Ravens
FS- Eric Smith, Jets
SS- Matt Giordano, Raiders
SS- Jim Leonard, Jets


Black Team

Offense

QB- Cam Newton, Panthers
QB- Michael Vick, Eagles
RB- Arian Foster, Texans
RB- LeSean McCoy, Eagles
RB- Ray Rice, Ravens
FB- Vonta Leach, Ravens
WR- Calvin Johnson, Lions
WR- Andre Johnson, Texans
WR- Larry Fitzgerald, Cardinals
WR- Roddy White, Falcons
TE- Jimmy Graham, Saints
TE- Antonio Gates, Chargers
OT- Ryan Clady, Broncos
OT- D’Brickshaw Ferguson, Jets
OG- Jahri Evans, Saints
OG- Carl Nicks, Saints
C- Maurkice Pouncey, Steelers

Defense

DE- Jason Pierre Paul, Giants
DE- Julius Peppers, Bears
DE- Elvis Dumervil, Broncos
DT- Vince Wilfork, Patriots
DT- B.J. Raji, Packers
DT- Jay Ratliff, Cowboys
LB- DeMarcus Ware, Cowboys
LB- James Harrison, Steelers
LB- Terrell Suggs, Ravens
LB- Patrick Willis, 49ers
LB- Ray Lewis, Ravens
CB- Champ Bailey, Broncos
CB- Darrelle Revis, Jets
CB- Charles Woodson, Packers
FS- Ed Reed, Ravens
FS- Ryan Clark, Steelers
SS- Adrian Wilson, Cardinals


I think it's pretty clear that the black team would win, but the white team is a lot better than what I thought they'd be. In fact, 19 of the players I selected were actually pro bowlers this year.

Another idea that our listeners had was to have players that went to schools in the SEC play against the rest. This idea is similar to the NHL's old format of USA born players taking on the world. Here is how the SEC versus the rest of the nation would look.


SEC Team

Offense

QB- Matthew Stafford, Georgia (Lions)
QB- Eli Manning, Ole Miss (Giants)
QB- Cam Newton, Auburn (Panthers)
RB- Darren McFadden, Arkansas (Raiders)
RB- Arian Foster, Tennessee (Texans)
RB- Ben Tate, Auburn (Texans)
WR- A.J. Green, Georgia (Bengals)
WR- Mike Wallace, Ole Miss (Steelers)
WR- Dwayne Bowe, LSU (Chiefs)
WR- Percy Harvin, Florida (Vikings)
TE- Aaron Hernandez, Florida (Patriots)
TE- Jason Witten, Tennessee (Cowboys)
OT- Jason Peters, Arkansas (Eagles)
OT- Michael Oher, Ole Miss (Ravens)
OT- Chad Clifton, Tennessee (Packers)
OG- Travelle Wharton, South Carolina (Panthers)
OG- Anthony Herrera, Tennessee (Vikings)
C- Maurkice Pouncey, Florida (Steelers)

Defense

DE- John Abraham, South Carolina (Falcons)
DE- Chris Clemons, Georgia (Seahawks)
DT- Jay Ratliff, Auburn (Cowboys)
DT- Richard Seymour, Georgia (Raiders)
LB- Karlos Dansby, Auburn (Dolphins)
LB- Jerod Mayo, Tennessee (Patriots)
LB- Patrick Willis, Ole Miss (49ers)
LB- Brandon Spikes, Florida (Patriots)
CB- Champ Bailey, Georgia (Broncos)
CB- Carlos Rogers, Auburn (49ers)
CB- Corey Webster, LSU (Giants)
CB- Jonathan Joseph, South Carolina (Texans
CB- Patrick Peterson, LSU (Cardinals)
CB- Joe Haden, Florida (Browns)
S- Ryan Clark, LSU (Steelers)
S- LaRon Landry, LSU (Redskins)
S- George Wilson, Arkansas (Bills)
S- Charlie Peprah, Alabama (Packers)


Nation Team

Offense

QB- Aaron Rodgers, Cal (Packers)
QB- Drew Brees, Purdue (Saints)
QB- Tom Brady, Michigan (Patriots)
RB- LeSean McCoy, Pittsburgh (Eagles)
RB- Adrian Peterson, Oklahoma (Vikings)
RB- Ray Rice, Rutgers (Ravens)
WR- Calvin Johnson, Georgia Tech (Lions)
WR- Andre Johnson, Miami (Texans)
WR- Larry Fitzgerald, Pittsburgh (Cardinals)
WR- Roddy White, Alabama-Birmingham (Falcons)
TE- Rob Gronkowski, Arizona (Patriots)
TE- Jimmy Graham, Miami (Saints)
OT- Joe Thomas, Wisconsin (Browns)
OT- Jake Long, Michigan (Dolphins)
OG- Carl Nicks, Nebraska (Saints)
OG- Jahri Evans, Bloomsburg (Saints)
C- Nick Mangold, Ohio State (Jets)

Defense

DE- Jared Allen, Idaho State (Vikings)
DE- Justin Smith, Missouri (49ers)
DE- Jason Pierre Paul, South Florida (Giants)
DT- Ndamokung Suh, Nebraska (Lions)
DT- Vince Wilfork, Miami (Patriots)
DT- Haloti Ngata, Oregon (Ravens)
LB- DeMarcus Ware, Troy (Cowboys)
LB- James Harrison, Kent State (Steelers)
LB- Clay Matthews, USC (Packers)
LB- Brian Urlacher, New Mexico (Bears)
LB- Ray Lewis, Miami (Ravens)
CB- Charles Woodson, Michigan (Packers)
CB- Darrelle Revis, Pittsburgh (Jets)
FS- Ed Reed, Miami (Ravens)
SS- Troy Polamalu, USC (Steelers)


This would be a closely contested game, but I'd put my money on the nation team.

The final idea was to pit former first round draft picks up against players drafted in rounds 2-7 and those not drafted at all. Here's how those rosters would have looked this year.

1st Round Picks

Offense

QB- Aaron Rodgers, Packers
QB- Cam Newton, Panthers
QB- Eli Manning, Giants
RB- Adrian Peterson, Vikings
RB- Chris Johnson, Titans
RB- Marshawn Lynch, Seahawks
WR- Calvin Johnson, Lions
WR- Larry Fitzgerald, Cardinals
WR- Andre Johnson, Texans
WR- Roddy White, Falcons
TE- Vernon Davis, 49ers
TE- Brandon Pettigrew, Lions
OT- Jake Long, Dolphins
OT- D’Brickshaw Ferguson, Jets
OG- Logan Mankins, Patriots
OG- Mike Iupati, 49ers
C- Maurkice Pouncey, Steelers

Defense

DE- Julius Peppers, Bears
DE- Jason Pierre Paul, Giants
DE- Justin Smith, 49ers
DT- Vince Wilfork, Patriots
DT- BJ Raji, Packers
DT- Haloti Ngata, Ravens
LB- DeMarcus Ware, Cowboys
LB- Patrick Willis, 49ers
LB- Brian Urlacher, Bears
LB- Clay Matthews, Packers
CB- Charles Woodson, Packers
CB- Darrelle Revis, Jets
CB- Champ Bailey, Broncos
FS- Ed Reed, Ravens
SS- Troy Polamalu, Steelers


Non 1st Rounders

Offense

QB- Drew Brees, Saints (2nd round)
QB- Tom Brady, Patriots (6th round)
RB- LeSean McCoy, Eagles (2nd round)
RB- Arian Foster, Texans (undrafted)
RB- Maurice Jones-Drew, Jaguars (2nd round)
WR- Mike Wallace, Steelers (3rd round)
WR- Victor Cruz, Giants (undrafted)
WR- Vincent Jackson, Chargers (2nd round)
WR- Greg Jennings, Packers (2nd round)
TE- Rob Gronkowski, Patriots (2nd round)
TE- Jimmy Graham, Saints (3rd round)
OT- Jason Peters, Eagles (undrafted)
OT- Jermon Bushrod, Saints (4th round)
OG- Carl Nicks, Saints (5th round)
OG- Jahri Evans, Saints (4th round)
C- Ryan Kalil, Panthers (2nd round)

Defense

DE- Jared Allen, Vikings (4th round)
DE- Elvis Dumervil, Broncos (4th round)
DT- Jay Ratliff, Cowboys (7th round)
DT- Geno Atkins, Bengals (4th round)
LB- James Harrison, Steelers (undrafted)
LB- Curtis Lofton, Falcons (2nd round)
LB- Lance Briggs, Bears (3rd round)
LB- London Fletcher, Redskins (undrafted)
CB- Brandon Browner, Seahawks (undrafted)
CB- Charles Tillman, Bears (2nd round)
FS- Ryan Clark, Steelers (undrafted)
SS- Adrian Wilson, Cardinals (3rd round)

Pretty crazy that seven of those guys went undrafted. I think this format would lend to the best game. It's hard to project a clear cut winner, but I like the team of first rounders slightly more than the team of non first rounders. That said, all of the non first rounders would play with such a chip on their shoulder that I think they'd come out on top in an exhibition game.