Article:2008 AFC/NFC Pro Bowl Preview

Today is the very last game of the 2007-2008 NFL season, the AFC/NFC Pro Bowl:( So, just like every other Sunday this fall/winter, I will be doing my preview. I know what you're thinking, "A preview of the Pro Bowl???" Yes, that's right, it's Football, isn't it? This is how much I love the NFL, I write previews of the most meaningless game of the season, which is, in fact, more meaningless than the preseason, but alot more exciting (to me, anyway). So, instead of getting ready for High School Baseball tryouts, which start March 1st, I spent my free time this morning writing, yes, writing.

Ok, so maybe this isn't exactly a "Preview", but it's as close to one as you're gonna get.

Here are the rosters for both the AFC, and NFC All-Star teams. Both rosters were rapidly changing after the Super Bowl, when Tom Brady and Randy Moss dropped out (replaced by Derek Anderson, and Chad Johnson), and several injured players were replaced, as well.

AFC (replacements marked with a *):
QB: Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, Ben Roethlisberger, Derek Anderson*

RB: LaDainian Tomlinson, Joseph Addai, Willie Parker , Fred Taylor*, Willis McGahee*

FB: Lorenzo Neal

WR: Randy Moss, Reggie Wayne, Braylon Edwards, TJ Houshmandzadeh, Chad Johnson*

TE: Antonio Gates, Tony Gonzalez, Kellen Winslow*

OT: Matt Light, Jason Peters, Jonathan Ogden , Marcus McNeill*, Joe Thomas*

G: Alan Faneca, Logan Mankins, Kris Dielman

C: Jeff Saturday, Dan Koppen

DE: Jared Allen, Kyle Vanden Bosch, Jason Taylor, Aaron Schobel*

DT: Albert Haynesworth, Vince Wilfork, Jamal Williams, Casey Hampton*

OLB: James Harrison, Mike Vrabel, Shawne Merriman

ILB: DeMeco Ryans, Ray Lewis

CB: Champ Bailey, Asante Samuel, Antonio Cromartie

FS: Ed Reed

SS: Bob Sanders, Troy Polamalu , John Lynch*, Antione Bethea*

P: Shane Lechler

PK: Rob Bironas

KR/PR: Joshua Cribbs

ST: Kassim Osgood

NFC (replacements marked with a *):
QB: Brett Favre, Matt Hasselbeck, Tony Romo, Jeff Garcia*

RB: Adrian Peterson, Marion Barber, Brian Westbrook

FB: Tony Richardson

WR: Larry Fitzgerald, Terrell Owens, Donald Driver, Torry Holt

TE: Jason Witten, Chris Cooley

OT: Flozell Adams, Walter Jones, Chris Samuels, Chad Clifton*

G: Leonard Davis, Steve Hutchinson, Shawn Andrews

C: Andre Gurode, Matt Birk

DE: Aaron Kampman, Patrick Kerney, Osi Umenyiora, Trent Cole*

DT: Kevin Williams, Pat Williams, Tommie Harris, Darnell Dockett

OLB: Julian Peterson, DeMarcus Ware, Lance Briggs, Greg Ellis*

ILB: Lofa Tatupu, Patrick WIllis

CB: Al Harris, Marcus Trufant, Terence Newman

FS: Ken Hamlin, Sean Taylor

SS: Darren Sharper, Roy Williams (replaces Sean Taylor on Roster)

P: Andy Lee

PK: Nick Folk

KR/PR: Devin Hester

ST: Brendon Ayanbadejo

LS: Ethan Albright

Interesting Facts:
- Dallas has the most selections this year with 13 (7 Offense, 5 Defense, 1 ST)

- Both of the starting DT for the NFC play for the Minnesota Vikings, and coincidentally have the same last name (Kevin, and Pat Williams).

-Four of the 11 defensive starters for the NFC play for the Seattle Seahawks (Patrick Kerney, Lofa Tatupu, Julian Peterson, and Marcus Trufant). Although Kerney dropped out of the Pro Bowl.

- Three rookie were selected this year, and two of them are starters.

- Both LB Mike Vrabel, and RB Fred Taylor are going to their first Pro Bowl, after being in the NFL for 10+ years (Taylor was an injury replacement, while Vrabel is a starter).

My Prediction:
AFC will win, they have won 7 of the last 10 Pro Bowls, and I think they will go for their 8th win in 11 years. The Pro Bowl is very hard to predict, as a matter of fact, I don't think anyone has ever even tried to predict the outcome, but oh well. AFC wins, the MVP will be Asante Samuel, who's going to pick off the NFC QB's two times.

So, there you have, the first EVER Pro Bowl Preview. Enjoy the final, (...and meaningless) game of the 2007-2008 NFL season.