The best players of the current NFL season will gather on Sunday (live on DAZN from 9pm) for the Pro Bowl in Orlando, Florida. The NFL’s All-Star Game takes place a week before the Super Bowl and, as in the past year, will feature a duel between the best players from AFC and NFC. SPOX explains who will be there on Sunday and what to watch out for at this year’s Pro Bowl.
For the second time in a row, the Pro Bowl will take place at the Camping World Stadium in Orlando. In any case, the event will be held in Central Florida next year, after the Pro Bowl was previously located almost exclusively in Aloha Stadium in Hawaii since 1980.
While between 2014 and 2016, two legends each chose their teams similarly to the sports lessons, this year’s players will be divided into their two conferences. 44 players are available per roster.
As the players are at the end of a strenuous season, the most important thing with pro Bowl is to avoid injuries. Therefore, the NFL makes certain rule changes to make the game less intense.
Coaches, players and fans decide who is allowed to play in the Pro Bowl. The latter could vote online on the homepage of the NFL, which stars they would like to see in showmatch.
With ten players, the Pittsburgh Steelers send more than any other team to the Pro Bowl with ten players. In the NFC, Los Angeles Rams lead the squad with eight nominations.
Traditionally, there are a few surprises in the Pro Bowl squad line-up every year that lead to controversial discussions. Many stars find no attention, or only slipped into the line-up after injuries or cancellations. In addition, the New England Patriots and Philadelphia Eagles players are not included as they prepare for the Super Bowl.
QB Case Keenum (MIN), RB Leonard Fournette (JAX), DL Akiem Hicks (CHI), T David Bakhtiari (GB), DE Yannick Ngakoue (JAX), LB Deion Jones (ATL), DE Melvin Ingram (LAC), K Justin Tucker (BAL), LB Sean Lee (DAL), CB Marcus Peters (KC), G Rodger Saffold (LAR), D
Le’ Veon Bell (Pittsburgh Steelers), Demarcus Lawrence (Dallas Cowboys), Jarvis Landry (Miami Dolphins) and Drew Brees (New Orleans Saints) all have contracts that expire at the end of the season. They will become free agents in March, but all four players have expressed their confidence over the past few days in renewing their current teams. Nevertheless, the quartet could wear their team’s helmet for the last time at the showdown in Orlando.
The New Orleans Saints experienced the possible “Miracle of Minneapolis” in the Divisional Round. But the Minnesota Vikings couldn’t climb the final stage on their way to the home Super Bowl and were devastated in the NFC Championship game. Meanwhile, the Jacksonville Jaguars are trying to get over their bitter bankruptcy against the New England Patriots.
These three teams represent the majority of both squads with 17 players.
On Sunday, Ben Roethlisberger’s play caller is not Todd Haley for the first time since 2011, who was severely criticized for his lack of quarterback sneaks in short fourth-down situations following his defeat in the AFC Divisional Round. Randy Fichtner is the new offensive coordinator in Mike Tomlin’s team, who coaches the AFC in the Pro Bowl.
On the other hand, Sean Payton leads the NFC team. Running Back Alvin Kamara, a big contender for the Rookie of the Year Award, will also be present. The setting of the Pro Bowl could be used by Kamara to set off another fireworks display.
For years, the NFL has been discussing how to make its All-Star Game more attractive. Last year there was a veritable flood of cancellations, which will not be so clear in 2018. Nevertheless, stars like A. J. Green, DeAndre Hopkins, Philip Rivers or Julio Jones despite being nominated for a participation.
The fact is that the players are waiting for lucrative bonuses from their respective clubs, which will be released in case of a move into the Pro Bowl. In addition, participation continues to be a prestige for the business card, as well as a $32,000 entry fee. In the event of a victory, this sum doubles again.
And the audience response to the Pro Bowl continues unabated. The ratings are still higher than those of the Stanley Cup, and can even match those of the NBA Conference Finals.
Page 1: All information about the Pro Bowl, the Skills Challenge and the Storylines
Page 2: Who won the Skills Challenge?
Page 2: Overview of the current AFC and NFC pro-bowl squads