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By Lucy Coleman December 22, 2022
What we once regarded as the Pro Bowl is now a relic of the past, to be replaced in 2023 by a new weeklong “Pro Bowl Games” event which is a celebration of player skills and features an exciting new format that spotlights flag football.
When the NFL announced a revamping of the Pro Bowl, it was an answer to the many years of concerns from players about the safety of the exhibition and complaints from fans about the low quality of play.
By revamping the event and making it more of a celebration, the NFL hopes it can rejuvenate both fan and player excitement in the contest.
It will be overseen by Peyton Manning’s Omaha Productions—culminating with the flag football game on Feb. 5. at the Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.
In addition to flag football, the league announced three separate competitions set for Sunday, February 5th, 2023;
Gridiron Gauntlet: This is a full-field relay race between six AFC players and six NFC players.
Move the Chains: An offensive and defensive lineman strength-and-speed competition.
Best Catch Finals: Two winners selected exclusively will compete for the title of “Best Catch.”
The National Football League unveiled the rosters for the National Conference and American Conference teams that will participate in the 2023 Pro Bowl Games.
However, the construction of Pro Bowl rosters has changed relatively little with six NFL teams sending at least five players to Las Vegas
The Eagles led the way with eight selections and six starters; wide receiver A.J. Brown, guard Landon Dickerson, quarterback Jalen Hurts, tackle Lane Johnson, center Jason Kelce, pass rusher Haason Reddick, running back Miles Sanders and cornerback Darius Slay
This is followed up by the Dallas Cowboys (seven selections), Kansas City Chiefs (seven selections), the Baltimore Ravens (six selections), San Francisco 49ers (six selections), and Minnesota Vikings (five selections) who are the other teams to have at least five Pro Bowlers
On Monday, two Pro Bowl players were revealed. Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald earned his ninth straight Pro Bowl bid despite the injury which forced his recent absence. Wednesday’s roster reveal is indeed full of fun milestones. Travis and Jason Kelce each made the Pro Bowl in the same season yet again which is a record fifth time for a pair of brothers.Their 14 combined Pro Bowls now trail only Peyton and Eli Manning and Bruce and Clay Matthews (18 Pro Bowls each) for most Pro Bowls by brothers in the entire NFL history.
AFC PRO BOWL ROSTER
Here are the selections for the AFC Pro Bowl event ;
QB: Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs
QB: Josh Allen of the Buffalo Bills
QB: Joe Burrow of the Cincinnati Bengals
RB: Nick Chubb of the Cleveland Browns
RB Josh Jacobs of the Las Vegas Raiders
RB Derrick Henry of the Tennessee Titans
FB: Patrick Ricard of the Baltimore Ravens
WR: Tyreek Hill of the Miami Dolphins
WR: Stefon Diggs of the Buffalo Bills
WR: Davante Adams of the Las Vegas Raiders
WR: Ja’Marr Chase of Cincinnati Bengals
TE: Travis Kelce of the Kansas City Chiefs
TE: Mark Andrews of the Baltimore Ravens
TE: Travis Kelce of the Kansas City Chiefs
TE, Mark Andrews of the Baltimore Ravens
OT: Laremy Tunsil of Houston Texans
OT: Terron Armstead of the Miami Dolphins
OT: Orlando Brown of the Kansas City Chiefs
OG: Joel Bitonio of the Cleveland Browns
OG: Quenton Nelson of the Indianapolis Colts
OG: Joe Thuney of the Kansas City Chiefs
C: Creed Humphrey of the Kansas City Chiefs
C: Mitch Morse of the Buffalo Bills
DE: Myles Garrett of the Cleveland Browns
DE: Maxx Crosby of the Las Vegas Raiders
DE: Trey Hendrickson of Cincinnati Bengals
DT: Chris Jones of the Kansas City Chiefs
DT:Quinnen Williams of the New York Jets
DT: Jeffery Simmons of Tennessee Titans
OLB: Matt Judon of the New England Patriots
OLB: Khalil Mack of the Los Angeles Chargers
OLB: T.J. Watt of the Pittsburgh Steelers
ILB: Roquan Smith of the Baltimore Ravens
ILB: C.J. Mosley of the New York Jets
CB: Sauce Gardner of the New York Jets
CB: Patrick Surtain II of the Denver Broncos
CB: Marlon Humphrey of the Baltimore Ravens
CB: Xavien Howard of the Miami Dolphins
FS: Minkah Fitzpatrick of the Pittsburgh Steelers
SS: Derwin James of the Los Angeles Chargers
SS: Jordan Poyer of the Buffalo Bills
LS: Morgan Cox of Tennessee Titans
P: Tommy Townsend of the Kansas City Chiefs
Return Specialist: Devin Duvernay of the Baltimore Ravens
Special Teamer: Justin Hardee of the New York Jets
NFC Pro Bowl Roster
Here are the selections for the NFC Pro Bowl event ;
QB: Jalen Hurts of Philadelphia Eagles
QB: Geno Smith of the Seattle Seahawks
QB: Kirk Cousins of the Minnesota Vikings
RB: Saquon Barkley of the New York Giants
RB: Tony Pollard of the Dallas Cowboys
RB: Miles Sanders of the Philadelphia Eagles
FB: Kyle Juszczyk of the San Francisco 49ers
WR: Justin Jefferson of the Minnesota Vikings
WR: A.J. Brown of the Philadelphia Eagles
WR: CeeDee Lamb of the Dallas Cowboys
WR: Terry McLaurin of the Washington Commanders
TE: George Kittle of the San Francisco 49ers
TE: T.J. Hockenson of the Minnesota Vikings
OT: Trent Williams of the San Francisco 49ers
OT: Lane Johnson of the Philadelphia Eagles
OT: Tristan Wirfs of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
OG: Zack Martin of the Dallas Cowboys
OG: Landon Dickerson of the Philadelphia Eagles
OG: Chris Lindstrom of the Atlanta Falcons
C: Jason Kelce of the Philadelphia Eagles
C: Frank Ragnow of the Detroit Lions
DE: Nick Bosa of the San Francisco 49ers
DE: Brian Burns of the Carolina Panthers
DE: Demarcus Lawrence of the Dallas Cowboys
DT: Aaron Donald of the Los Angeles Rams
DT: Jonathan Allen of the Washington Commanders
DT: Dexter Lawrence of the New York Giants
OLB: Micah Parsons of the Dallas Cowboys
OLB: Za’Darius Smith of the Minnesota Vikings
OLB: Haason Reddick of the Philadelphia Eagles
ILB: Fred Warner of the San Francisco 49ers
ILB: Demario Davis of the New Orleans Saints
CB: Darius Slay of the Philadelphia Eagles
CB: Trevon Diggs of the Dallas Cowboys
CB: Tariq Woolen of the Seattle Seahawks
CB: Jaire Alexander of the Green Bay Packers
FS: Quandre Diggs of the Seattle Seahawks
SS: Budda Baker of the Arizona Cardinals
SS: Talanoa Hufanga of San Francisco 49ers
LS: Andrew DePaola of the Minnesota Vikings
P: Tress Way of the Washington Commanders
K: Jason Myers of the Seattle Seahawks
Return Specialist: KaVontae Turpin of Dallas Cowboys
Special Teamer: Jeremy Reaves of the Washington Commanders
The Biggest 2023 Pro Bowl Roster Snubs
Our hearty congratulations go to players who made the Pro Bowl in 2023. But as usual, several deserving players failed to earn appropriate recognition. They are often referred to as snubs. Here are three of the biggest 2023 Pro Bowl snubs and the players who surprisingly got into the Pro Bowl but we feel the snubs could have easily replaced
1.SNUB: Matt Milano, LB, Buffalo Bills (AFC)
With two interceptions, nine pass deflections and 1.5 sacks, Milano has made the most splash plays for the Bills. The fact that he didn’t make the cut was quite the shock.
PLAYER HE COULD REPLACE: Roquan Smith, LB, Baltimore Ravens
2.SNUB: Christian McCaffrey, RB, San Francisco 49ers (NFC)
Ever since McCaffrey left the Carolina Panthers for the San Francisco 49ers, he has transformed the team’s offense and put the 49ers in third place in the NFC playoff race. McCaffrey’s snub this season was the most obvious.
PLAYER HE COULD REPLACE : Tony Pollard, RB, Dallas Cowboys
3.SNUB: Jeff Okudah, CB, Detroit Lions (NFC)
Despite the elite season Okudah have enjoyed by being instrumental to the Detroit defense, the 23-year-old cornerback being snubbed at the Pro Bowl was disappointing to say the least.
PLAYER WHO GOT INTO PRO BOWL: Jaire Alexander, CB, Green Bay Packers