Panther Paw Prints: Pro Bowl Edition
by Jaxon on Jan 28, 2010 6:00 AM EST
27 comments
In case you are like me and just realized yesterday that the Pro Bowl is actually being played BEFORE the Super Bowl this year...now you know. It's this Sunday. There's a few more changes as well. For the first time since I can remember the game is not being played in Hawaii. It is instead being held in Miami, FL. But is that all the change that is needed to revive this at best ho-hum game?
Fixing The Pro Bowl: Can It Be Done? - SB Nation
The Pro Bowl has a fundamental flaw that is unlikely to be overcome. It's a problem the NBA and MLB don't really face when putting on their mid-season classics. Football is by nature a very violent sport. When that intensity-level is missing, the very soul of the game is missing. Because of injury concerns, the Pro Bowl is a shell of a football game that even has certain rules inserted to further erode the "real game" feel, all because of injury concerns. You can play a basketball or baseball game at 85% intensity and the final product still holds together and can create the kind of excitement we crave in our sports. The Pro Bowl simply can't match that.
I like the idea of a NFC versus AFC skills competition. I think I would tune that in...We've talked a lot already about the possibility of Panthers DE Julius Peppers being involved in a sign and trade deal. Well due to the potentially uncapped season there are eight teams that will find making a deal for a player like Peppers virtually impossible:
- MASNsports.com
The Final Eight Plan will affect the eight teams that made it to the Divisional Round of the playoffs this season (hence the name) and is intended to reduce the ability of the rich to get richer in an uncapped year. There are even more restrictions on the four teams that made the AFC and NFC Championship games, but since we're worried about the Ravens here, I'll give some bullet points on how the final eight teams will be affected.
Let's add one more team that is a possible destination for Peppers:
"The Future of the Washington Redskins" | Bleacher Report
On the defensive side of the ball this team needs more depth and possibly a pass rusher, on the defensive line. I know everyone will be going after Julius Peppers, if he doesn’t resign with Carolina, but here are two other, possible free agent candidates : Elvis Dumervil, Denver Broncos, (15 sacks), and Ray Edwards, Minnesota Vikings,( 6.5 sacks).
Has the genius that is Bill Bilicheck lost it's mojo? Even the Patriots faithful are questioning his shunning of Peppers last season.
Here’s why Pats are just watching - NashuaTelegraph.com
We thought Belichick was on the right track last year when it was rumored he was going after Julius Peppers. Then not only did he not make a move on Peppers, he dumped Seymour.
Straight from the 'Say What?' category:
Offseason Outlooks: Carolina Panthers - Bill Bender - Fantasy Source Blitz - Sporting News
Smith likely will fall to WR2 status in 2010, and it's up to the owner to take that leap of faith. You'll have to be a big believer in Moore to make that investment in Smith.
Fall to #2 WR status? 89? Have you read the NFL Rules & Regulations? I don't think so...
Speaking of 89, he gets dissed again to a degree in this Top 5 list. Though I agree Jon Beason was a great draft pick, getting 'the playmaker' in the 3rd round is the best of the decade in my view
No. 2: Steve Smith | Draft Day: Carolina Panthers' Five Best Selections | Bleacher Report
Those touchdowns were simply a sign of things to come. Eight seasons into his career he has taken four total punts, and those two kickoffs back for touchdowns, on top of two rushing touchdowns and 50 receiving touchdowns bringing his career total to 58.
If you've never seen a Big Nick video check out his season wrap up where he gives a shout out to CSR regarding the Chris Harris Haiti effort.
YouTube - Bignick2700's Channel
Big Nick gives CSR a shout out in his season finale video. Nick makes some good points on the Fox and Peppers offseason situations. Keep pounding Nick...don't wait too long get back on the Tube!
Keeping pounding Big Nick and please don't wait too long before getting back on the Tube....Two 1,100 yard backs? I'm still amazed the Panthers did that yet still went only 8-8.
Year in review: RBs and FBs
Granted, that circumstance transpired largely because DeAngelo Williams spent most of the season's last six weeks grappling with an ankle injury that ultimately ended his year in the first quarter of the 26-7 win over Minnesota in Week 15. But Jonathan Stewart responded to the burden at the end of the season, notching with three consecutive 100-yard games and a franchise-record 206 yards in Week 16 against the New York Giants.
The Panthers will enter the 2010 season with probably the best #2 QB in the NFC and I say that with all seriousness.
Delhomme likely to open as No. 2 QB? - NFL- nbcsports.msnbc.com
The Charlotte Observer's Scott Fowler expects Jake Delhomme to enter Panthers training camp in 2010 as the team's No. 2 quarterback. Delhomme's 4-7 record in 2009, compared to Matt Moore's 4-1, is probably enough for Moore to take first-team reps throughout the offseason. Despite his declining physical skills and age (35), Delhomme will be on the roster.
I can see Jake coming off the bench and sparking the offense at some point....on our way the SB. But it won't be our QB that gets us there, it will be the return to the stout Panther defenses of the past:
Saints seeking first trip to Super Bowl; NFL kickers had bad year - Don Banks - SI.com
Anyone else sensing something of a trend here? The 2005 Steelers were a defensively-led No. 6 seed that went on the road to win the Super Bowl, having knocked off the No. 1 seeded Colts in the divisional round. The 2007 Giants were a defensively-led No. 5 seed that went on the road to win the Super Bowl, having knocked off the No. 1 seeded Cowboys in the divisional round.
Give me a #6 seed next season I don't care. The rest will take care of itself.
Hey, if you haven't done it yet give $10 to the Haiti earthquake relief via the Red Cross per Panthers SS Chris Harris post here.
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Peppers for Wilfork
Just throwing this out there. If Peppers does not want to play for the panthers and the fact that Keamo has a broken ankle and that Wilfork does not want to stay with the Patriots…..How does a Peppers for Wilfork and a 2nd rounder sound?
no
No
Richardson you better not screw this up for me!
by STEVEN 785 on Jan 28, 2010 9:48 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
Achilles
Not ACL.
The early bird catches the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese.
by Flowing Willow on Jan 29, 2010 2:06 AM EST up reply actions
Don't think that it would work
Wilfork’s beef is that he thinks that the franchise tag won’t pay him what he’s really worth. He doesn’t think that the average for the top 5 players at his position is fair because he’s not an average player. I don’t think that the Panthers want to inherit that attitude. On the Pats’ side, they don’t want to pay megabucks for a player and I don’t think that Peppers would sign for anything close to what the Pats want to pay Wilfork.
p.s. It’s a torn achilles, not a broken ankle.
whew
I am glad there are many who think that ATTITUDE really matter.
by Indian Panther on Jan 28, 2010 2:22 PM EST up reply actions
Fixing the Pro Bowl
They were talking about this on the radio this morning. A skills competition would make it more intriguing, sort of like the Home Run Derby in MLB. I don’t really watch baseball, but I like to tune in to the home run derby and watch sluggers knock ball after ball out of the park. It is a good opportunity for the best of the best to show off individual skills without much risk of injury.
That is the primary problem with an NFL all-star game. It is not an individuals sport, it is a team sport, and it also carries a massive risk of injury. Playing a good game of football requires lots of time and practice as a team to master the fine arts of timing that it requires to run successful plays. It is not the kind of sport where you can just take 11 of the best players and walk onto a field and win. I would wager that if you took the 22 best players in the NFL and had them play the super bowl champs, I would bet the Super Bowl champs wipe the floor with them, because they have tons of practice time and coordination under their belt.
This all leads to a sub-par football game.
I would much rather watch Drew Brees, Peyton Manning, etc. see who can throw a football into a trash can from the farthest away. I’d like to see a speed competition amongst all the great WRs, or maybe a competition with a JUG machine where they can attempt to make amazing catches (one handers, behind the back, etc.). Bench press competitions that put the offensive linemen vs. the defensive linemen. Things like that.
I couldn't agree with you more...
Those are my feelings exactly. Replace the Pro Bowl with a skills challenge.
Who wouldn’t enjoy seeing Peyton Manning and Drew Brees talking smack about who throwing a football into a trash can — it would be 1000% more entertaining than a glorified flag football game.
i bet the 22 best...
Couldn’t beat the lions…with 1 week of prep…no way kimosabe
Richardson you better not screw this up for me!
by STEVEN 785 on Jan 29, 2010 2:52 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
I believe this is the same article I linked in the story...
fyi
I blog the Carolina Panthers at www.catscratchreader.com
I agree..
A skills challenge would be excellent.. I’d like to see different ‘classes’ though.. Perhaps Rookies, 1st & 2nd year players, and 3rd year + players, or something along those lines. And a Free Agent class! What better way to get FA’s out there and give them the chance to perhaps garner some attention?
I think it’d really do wonders to help keep fans informed of players that aren’t named Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, Drew Brees, Brett Favre, and Chris Johnson.
Helpful reminder for James at seasons end: 2nd Rnd CSR Fan Draft Pick.
I'm all about the skills challenge.
For me, that’s become the most interesting part of the NBA all star weekend, the skills contest, 3 pt contest and dunk contest are often far more interesting than the game itself.
I think a great way to do it would have:
- QB contest (accuracy and distance)
- 40 time
- WR contest (have 3 QBs, or machines throw passes in sequence that the WR has to cut to get)
And other for defensive players. Have a rookies contest, and a vets contest with the winner of the rookies being the last entrant in the vets competition.
Move it back to Hawaii to motivate the players are give them a bonus and have the NFL donate, say, $10,000 to each category winner’s charity of choice.
Cat Scratch Reader's resident optimist.
by James The Aussie on Jan 28, 2010 1:09 PM EST reply actions
they had those 3 things not sure why they stopped i really liked it the cb’s/wr’s raced and had an obstacle course they had to run thru and catch 3 passes thrown by one of the qbs i cant remember how steve did.. and the qbs had to throw thru different distanced holes delhommes failed miserably. and there was a kicking constest
Here's how you fix the Pro-Bowl
Add incentive.
If you want players to perform well at the Pro-Bowl, add a good group of prizes for the guys to win. Add a bunch of swag, plain and simple. There should be a competition throughout the Pro-Bowl in each and every position for a prize, and those prizes could be sponsored and given away in a quick reward ceremony at the end of the game.
Secondly, move the Pro-Bowl away from Hawaii. What’s the point of having it there if most people can’t take a huge vacation package in a recession to go see it in the first place? Nothing but Suits, Jerseys, Hawaiians, and Media people at those games nowadays. They should alternate the Pro-Bowl to various stadiums like they do the Super Bowl, or host it at college stadiums at their choosing. Or even better, they could fuse the Pro-Bowl and Super Bowl into the same event and run them during back to back weeks in the same stadium.
The skills challenge can be worked into it too! They can hold various events for people to watch leading up to the big Pro-Bowl game. I’m not going to go into my various ideas on that. Too numerous to count. As long as the players are properly rewarded though, they’ll do their best and make it exciting :D
"Once again the trousers of evil are yanked down by the mocking hands of justice!"-Revshawn
Rev...the game this Sunday is in Miami
I mentioned that…lol!
I blog the Carolina Panthers at www.catscratchreader.com
I know Jaxon! Don't worry, I'm not crazy! =p
This year it is, that’s true. But they’re going to move it back to Hawaii next year again and no one will be able to go.
"Once again the trousers of evil are yanked down by the mocking hands of justice!"-Revshawn
Weird. I lost the 2nd half of my comment.
Oh well! :D
"Once again the trousers of evil are yanked down by the mocking hands of justice!"-Revshawn
Ohhh? okay...just checking!
I’d like to see a skills competition instead of the game
I blog the Carolina Panthers at www.catscratchreader.com
I guess there is some hitting in the Pro Bowl
Its a warning…if you are going to run a fake then we can hit you…hard.
I blog the Carolina Panthers at www.catscratchreader.com
Here's an idea.
I happen to enjoy the Pro Bowl it’s when the best of the best come together, they just don’t play their best. Not saying that this would work exactly, but if good ol’ Roger was to say Tommy here’s the keys what do we do. First: I would announce to the world that indeed the world would be the playground for the Pro Bowl from here on out. This would help the NFL gain fans worldwide, give players a different exotic atmosphere each year to play at, and the fans overseas would be the biggest winners. Second: The Pro Bowl would not be played until a fews weeks after the Super Bowl. I think this would get more Americas to watch I think most people don’t watch the Pro Bowl for being wore out from the Postseason and the that fact the Pro Bowl is not a real game doesn’t help. Get the fatigue off by football being gone a few weeks and people will get hungry. Third: A bonus to ether team that is winning after each quarter and a winner takes all purse. Each year I notice the guys playing better toward the end of the game if you give me incentives for each quarter I would play a little harder and probably give my all at the end no matter what my head coach at home told me this is cash with a winner takes all purse. Fourth: Give extra picks or salary cap help to a team if they do have a player get hurt. Hold off the attack I know you can’t replace a Pro Bowler but at least teams don’t get nothing to where thei like I don’t want my players to go it might cost me a championship which he really means it will cost him money. Fifth: Promote the game better have a fast food resturaunt with Pro Bowl bobbleheads of your favorite player plus local stores would have local Pro Bowlers. I’m cool with a D-Will bobblehead while i eat my burger it’d be like adult toy meal oh and have similar kid meals with cheerleaders and moveable little action football players. Well I think this could be the ground-rules please add if you think there is something missing. Go Panthers.
by Tommy_The_Pantherian on Jan 30, 2010 10:29 AM EST reply actions
Add more sweepstakes
Meet the players, attend practice. Maybe even participate in practice. Have a joes vs pros practice/scrimmage. Have a meet-the-cheerleaders thingy, it’s the best of the best for cheerleaders too, I’m sure some men will appreciate that.
The early bird catches the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese.
by Flowing Willow on Jan 31, 2010 6:56 AM EST up reply actions
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