A Look At The NFL Pro Bowl

Christine O'Connor

@christineeeeO

​Image Credit: nflcommunications.com

The NFL held its coin toss leading up to the 2015 Pro Bowl on Tuesday, and NFL Media's Michael Irvin won.

Following Tuesday’s press conference and initial captain selections, 26 players (13 per team) were subject to pre-draft selection from the position groups: guards, centers, fullbacks, interior defensive linemen, placekickers, punters, return specialists, and special team players. 

The second-ever Pro Bowl Draft will continue with 56 players yet to be selected during a nationally televised primetime broadcast on NFL Network at 8:00 PM ET on Wednesday, January 21. The 2015 Pro Bowl Draft is being held at the Arizona Biltmore in Phoenix. All 88 Pro Bowl players are expected to be in attendance for Wednesday’s live show. won the coin toss and chose the pair of Cowboys running back DeMarco Murray and Cleveland Browns cornerback Joe Haden as his captains. Hall of Fame wide receiver Cris Carter in turn has Texans star defensive end J.J.Watt and Steelers receiver Antonio Brown.

The captains are determined by being the players receiving the most votes among those no longer playing after the Divisional Round who are also healthy and participating. In this instance, J.J Watt, the defensive player receiving the most votes, was paired with the offensive player receiving the second most votes and meeting the above criteria, which was Antonio Brown. The offensive player receiving the most votes and meeting the requirements (DeMarco Murray) was paired with Joe Haden.

​Image Credit: timesunion.com 

TEAM CARTER (THROUGH DAY 1 PRE-SELECTION)

WIDE RECEIVERS 

Antonio Brown, Pittsburgh (Captain)

GUARDS  

Evan Mathis, Philadelphia

Mike Pouncey, Miami

Josh Sitton, Green Bay

CENTERS

Jason Kelce, Philadelphia

Maurkice Pouncey, Pittsburgh

FULLBACK 

John Kuhn, Green Bay

DEFENSIVE ENDS

J.J. Watt, Houston (Captain)

INTERIOR DEFENSIVE LINEMEN

Marcell Dareus, Buffalo

Dontari Poe, Kansas City

Kyle Williams, Buffalo

SPECIALISTS

Justin Bethel, Arizona

Devin Hester, Atlanta

Pat McAfee, Indianapolis

Cody Parkey, Philadelphia

TEAM IRVIN (THROUGH DAY 1 PRE-SELECTION)

RUNNING BACKS

DeMarco Murray, Dallas (Captain)

GUARDS

Kyle Long, Chicago 

Zack Martin, Dallas 

Marshal Yanda, Baltimore

CENTERS

Travis Frederick, Dallas 

Nick Mangold, New York Jets

FULLBACK

Marcel Reece, Oakland

CORNERBACKS

Joe Haden, Cleveland (Captain)

INTERIOR DEFENSIVE LINEMEN

Geno Atkins, Cincinnati

Aaron Donald, St. Louis

Sheldon Richardson, New York Jets

SPECIALISTS

Kevin Huber, Cincinnati

Darren Sproles, Philadelphia

Darrell Stuckey, San Diego

Adam Vinatieri, Indianapolis

Nike unveiled the jerseys for Sunday:

​Image Credit: bleacherreport.com

The NFL Is Losing Money Because Of Suspensions? Wait just ONE second...

Image Credit: NYDailyNews.com

By: Kai Jones

Since 2012, the NFL has dealt with a major scandal every season. In 2012, it was the New Orleans Saints with Bountygate. In 2013, it was the Dolphins with Bullygate. This year, it has been multiple incidents: most famously Ray Rice, Adrian Peterson, and Josh Gordon. The NFL suspension list has increased since Commissioner Roger Goodell came into office. In 2005, Ricky Williams was the only player suspended. In 2006, Goodell’s inaugural year as commissioner, it jumped to seven players suspended throughout the year. The number has seemingly increased almost every year, as Goodell tries to hold the players to a higher standard. But this year over 40 players have been suspended. That does not include Ray Rice who has been nearly erased from anything NFL related. Also does not include Peterson, who was placed on the Commissioner’s Exempt List for allegedly abusing his son; or Greg Hardy who was also placed on the Commissioner’s Exempt List for his ongoing domestic violence case.

It seems like the NFL cannot avoid bad publicity this year, as the St. Louis Rams received outrage because they cut the first openly gay player: Michael Sam. Many believed he was cut for being gay. The Dallas Cowboys picked him up as a favor to the league, so the league could avoid more bad publicity as they were dealing with the backlash of Ray Rice’s domestic violence case. Sam was cut two days ago, and the league avoided the LGBT community’s backlash that they had began to receive after the Rams cut him. Other than that incident, it seems like the league’s image has taken a hit at almost every other angle. From having to suspend Josh Brent for intoxication manslaughter (a case from 2012) to Josh Gordon for drug abuse: but does it matter?

With all these suspensions and outrage from various groups you would think the NFL would be hit where it hurts (the wallet), right? Nope, the Super Bowl rematch received a 44 percent increase in TV ratings from the Super Bowl game, and Monday Night’s matchup between the Texans and Steelers received better TV ratings than MLB’s World Series Game 1. The NFL has moral issues, but do the owners really care considering their wallets aren’t hurt? Probably not, but do the fans care? Probably not, but Commissioner Goodell doesn’t care as long as he can flex his iron fist and receive his paycheck. It seems we all turn a blind eye to the shortcomings of these athletes. Even though these athletes play a gladiator sport, but at the end of the day they are just humans and make mistakes: so grab a beer and watch football since we all have our vices, even millionaire athletes. 

Setback for Cowboys, Scandrick SUSPENDED Four Games,

Image credit: USA Today 

Cornerback Orlando Scandrick from the Dallas Cowboys has been suspended for the first four games of the season after testing positive for Molly. 

Owner Jerry Jones stated Monday nightthat Scandrick violated the NFL's substance-abuse policy while on vacation in Mexico. 

Scandrick stated, "Failing a drug test is far out of my character, and although I never knowingly took a performance enhancing drug/banned stimulant while on vacation in Mexico, I take full responsibility for what goes in my body and more importantly for the embarrassment of a failed drug test.
It’s my goal by issuing this statement to clear my name and more importantly to be judged by what happens to me in the future. I hope that my family, my Cowboys football family and all my fans can forgive me for this situation. I look forward to a successful 2014 season." 

Scandrick was signed to a two-year contract extension last season which extends through 2018, adding $9 million in guaranteed money. Last season Scandrick ranked fifth on the team in tackles, second in pass breakups and third in interceptions. 

Scandrick suspension is a major setback and leaves the Cowboys defense in a difficult position. As one of the Cowboy's top cornerback last season, Scandrick is the best in the league. He was the first-round pick while Morris Claiborne continued to battle with injuries. Head coach Jason Garrett stated Sunday that Scandrick and Claiborne were battling for the starting outside cornerback spot, but due to Claiborne's injury Scandrick had the position. 

Cornerback Brandon Carr has yet to participate in the team drills at practice due to the lost of his mother. 

Claiborne also hasn’t finished a practice since July 29 while battling right knee tendinitis. It is reported that Claiborne and Carr could be back in team drills this week.

In order for the Cowboys to defeat this setback, they will need a strong start this season to avoid missing the playoffs for the fifth consecutive year. 

Kateri Fischer
@Katikiii