How to Fix the Pro Bowl

I was thinking about this yesterday when everybody was bagging on the Pro Bowl. They definitely have a valid point - exhibition games can be fun, but for the NFL it's tough throwing your most valuable players out there and expecting them to go at each other with anything approaching a game effort.

Here's how I would fix it. Name your All-Pro Teams for the NFC and AFC. Then, have these guys COACH the game.

Your players? The top first and second-year players in the NFL, NFC vs. AFC. Kind of like the Rookie-Sophomore game in the NBA, except it would be conference vs. conference, for a more even game.

Your superstars still get Pro Bowl exposure on the sidelines, while the new generation of players gets a spotlight to make The Leap into prime time.

Imagine Peyton Manning coaching up Joe Flacco and Mark Sanchez while Kurt Warner or Brett Favre schemed with Matt Ryan on the other side.

Imagine Ray Lewis huddling with Rey Maualuga and Brian Cushing, or Austin Collie and Pierre Garcon giving some credit to their main man Reggie Wayne.

That's just scratching the surface.

Good idea?

Knox Goes Bowling

It's been annouced that Johnny Knox will be in South Florida this week to particpate in the Pro Bowl. Johnny Knox will officially replace Percy Harvin as the return specialist for the game. Even though he is listed as kick return specialist, look for Knox to get a lot of playing time at wide receiver as well. Traditionally the stars don't want to play very long and will let the younger guys play a greater number of snaps. This used to happend to Bears special teamer Brendon Ayanbadejo who would rarely play a snap at linebacker for the Bears, but would play linebacker for 40 or 50 plays in the pro bowl because no one else wanted to play.

Congrats to Johnny, who will be the first Bears rookie since Hester to make the Pro Bowl, hopefully he can win the MVP trophy for a nice little bonus.