2012 NFL Pro Bowl: 'Open Thread'

by Bruce Raffel on Jan 29, 2012 6:00 PM EST

Join all football fans and especially those of the Baltimore Ravens in this 2012 NFL Pro Bowl 'Open Thread.' There are a few members of the Ravens who are still playing in this game, although they'd surely prefer to be practicing for the Super Bowl next week.

In the meantime, post your comments on the last game involving the Ravens this season and instead of complaining about how the season could have gone, celebrate how well it did, compared to 29 other NFL teams, who wish their season went as "poor;y" as Baltimore's did.

Check out more news and facts about the Pro Bowl after the 'Jump.'

WHAT TO LOOK FOR – 2012 PRO BOWL

HIGH SCORE: It has been a banner year for offenses across the National Football League, thanks in part to high-flying passing attacks led by some of the game’s best quarterbacks. The 2012 NFC Pro Bowl roster will feature two record-setting QBs – Green Bay’s AARON RODGERS led the NFL with a 122.5 passer rating, a single-season NFL best, while New Orleans’ DREW BREES’ 5,476 passing yards surpassed Pro Football Hall of Famer DAN MARINO’s record for passing yards in a season.

The 2012 Pro Bowl will also be the first in series history to feature two rookie quarterbacks, CAM NEWTON of Carolina (NFC) and ANDY DALTON of Cincinnati (AFC).

Other quarterbacks taking part in the game include BEN ROETHLISBERGER of Pittsburgh, who will get the starting nod for the AFC, and PHILIP RIVERS of San Diego, who became the third quarterback in NFL history to pass for 4,000+ yards in four consecutive seasons (Brees, PEYTON MANNING).

High scores have been a recent trend at the Pro Bowl. In fact, the eight highest combined scores in Pro Bowl history have all occurred since 2000, including 96 points last year, the second-highest in Pro Bowl history.

The highest combined scores in Pro Bowl history:

YEAR	WINNER (PTS.)	LOSER (PTS.)	TOTAL POINTS
2004	NFC (55)	AFC (52)	107
*2011*	*NFC (55)*	*AFC (41)*	96
2000	NFC (51)	AFC (31)	82
2010	AFC (41)	NFC (34)	75
2008	NFC (42)	AFC (30)	72
2002	AFC (38)	NFC (30)	68
2003	AFC (45)	NFC (20)	65
2005	AFC (38)	NFC (27)	65

-- 2012 Pro Bowl --

NFL NETWORK'S LIVE COVERAGE FEATURES PRO BOWL RECORD-HOLDER: Seven-time Pro Bowler and Pro Football Hall of Famer MARSHALL FAULK is joined by FRAN CHARLES and TOM WADDLE on-location in Hawaii for NFL Network's live coverage of AFC and NFC practices on Thursday from 2:30-5:30 PM ET and Saturday from 1:30-3:30 PM ET. Practice coverage includes interviews with All-Star players and coaches.

The trio returns on Sunday at 4:00 PM ET for the live three-hour NFL Total Access: Pro Bowl Pregame which leads up to the 7:00 PM ET game time on NBC. Faulk earned 1995 Pro Bowl MVP honors as a Colts rookie when he set still-standing records for rushing yards (180), longest run from scrimmage (49 yards) and yards per carry (13.9, min. 10 attempts).

ELDER STATESMAN: Two of the most frequent participants in Pro Bowl history have made the trip to Honolulu once again in 2012: Atlanta tight end TONY GONZALEZ and Denver cornerback CHAMP BAILEY are each poised to play in their 11th career Pro Bowl, which will tie for the third-most in since 1970.

Only Pro Football Hall of Famer RANDALL MC DANIEL and longtime Kansas City guard WILL SHIELDS, who both played in 12 Pro Bowls apiece, have more All-Star appearances during that span.

Gonzalez is also the all-time career Pro Bowl leader in the following categories: total touchdowns (six), receptions (42) and receiving yards (632). Bailey’s four career Pro Bowl interceptions are tied with Pro Football Hall of Famer DEION SANDERS and EVERSON WALLS for the most in the game’s history.

The players with the most Pro Bowl games played since 1971:

PLAYER	YEARS	PRO BOWLS
Randall McDaniel	Minnesota, 1990-2000; Tampa Bay, 2001	12
Will Shields	Kansas City, 1996-2007	12
*Champ Bailey*	*Washington, 2001-04; Denver, 2005-08, 2010-12*	11
Tony Gonzalez*	*Kansas City, 2000-01, 2003-09; Atlanta, 2011-12*	11
Reggie White**	Philadelphia, 1987-93; Green Bay, 1994, 1996-97, 1999	11
Junior Seau*	San Diego, 1992-2002	11
Rod Woodson	Pittsburgh, 1990-95, 1997; Baltimore, 2000-02; Oakland, 2003	11
Lawrence Taylor	N.Y. Giants, 1982-1991	10
Ronnie Lott	San Francisco, 1982-85, 1987-91; L.A. Raiders 1992	10
Mike Singletary	Chicago, 1984-1993	10
Bruce Matthews****	Houston, 1989-95, 1997; Tennessee, 2000, 2002	10
Jerry Rice***	San Francisco, 1987-88, 1990-94,1996, 1999; Oakland, 2003	10
Peyton Manning*	Indianapolis, 2000-01, 2003-09, 2011	10
Also selected, but did not play, in one additional game Also selected, but did not play, in two additional games Also selected but did not play, in three additional games **Also selected, but did not play in four additional games

-- 2012 Pro Bowl --

ALL HAIL THE "U": Seven players named to the 2012 Pro Bowl roster played collegiately at the University of Miami (FL), more than any other college program.

Below is a breakdown of schools with at least four players named to the 2012 Pro Bowl squads:

COLLEGE	2012 PRO BOWL PLAYERS	NO.
Miami	RB Frank Gore, TE Jimmy Graham, RB Willis McGahee, C Chris Myers, LB Ray Lewis, DT Vince Wilfork, S Ed Reed	7
Auburn	QB Cam Newton, G Ben Grubbs, DT Jay Ratliff, CB Carlos Rogers	4
Georgia	WR A.J. Green, CB Champ Bailey, DT Richard Seymour, DT Geno Atkins	4
Pittsburgh	CB Darrelle Revis, WR Larry Fitzgerald, P Andy Lee, RB LeSean McCoy	4

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Comments

Chirp, chirp...

by Smiley4660 on Jan 29, 2012 7:09 PM EST reply actions

I wasn't going to watch

but I couldn’t help myself. I miss our ravens already. but only watching until Once upon a time comes on. lol

by GayleG on Jan 29, 2012 7:38 PM EST via Android app reply actions

Rules

- No 3 WR sets on one side
- TE in every formation
- Intentional grounding is encouraged
- No blitzing
- No press coverage

And a whole bunch more.

Flacco has to trust his receivers to make catches, but shouldn’t throw towards coverage. He needs to attack deep more often, but shouldn’t hold onto the ball so long. He needs to show more awareness in the pocket and move to extend plays, but nothing good comes of him leaving the pocket. He should run with the ball if nobody’s open, but he definitely can’t run with the ball.

Flacco should have the awareness of Roethlisberger, the elusiveness of Vick, the control of the offense of Manning, the leadership of Brady, the accuracy of Brees, and the arm strength of … Flacco? - Ampallang

by Mr MaLoR on Jan 29, 2012 7:44 PM EST reply actions

Rules

- No 3 WR sets on one side
- TE in every formation
- Intentional grounding is encouraged

What is Cam Cameron’s playbook?

daytime commentator. night time ninja.

by El.Dude on Jan 30, 2012 8:40 AM EST up reply actions 2 recs

Say what?

Two of the most frequent participants in Pro Bowl history have made the trip to Honolulu once again in 2012: Atlanta tight end TONY GONZALEZ and Denver cornerback CHAMP BAILEY are each poised to play in their 11th career Pro Bowl, which will tie for the third-most in since 1970.

Only Pro Football Hall of Famer RANDALL MC DANIEL and longtime Kansas City guard WILL SHIELDS, who both played in 12 Pro Bowls apiece, have more All-Star appearances during that span.

Ummm … I think there is another player with more appearances. I forget his name but I think he plays LB for the Ravens. Ray something. Playing in his 13th Pro Bowl.

(SMH @ Bruce. How soon they forget)

"the croaking raven doth bellow for revenge."
Hamlet, William Shakespeare

by Fandemonium on Jan 29, 2012 8:21 PM EST reply actions

Little misunderstanding.

I dont think Ray actually appeared in all 13. I remember him backing out one year so that Bart could get his first one under his feet, I know he didn’t go in 02’ and im guessing theres one or two more he skipped out on.

Scott Hines

by shines on Jan 30, 2012 12:06 AM EST up reply actions