Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Derrick Johnson may have drawn the ire of head coach Andy Reid, but he also helped save the Pro Bowl.
Commissioner Roger Goodell had mentioned that cancelling the game was a real possibility because of the lack of interest by the fans and the lack of intensity from the players in recent years.
The NFL's version of the all-star game got a reprieve Sunday when a change in the format resulted in much more intense and much more interesting 22-21 Team Rice victory over Team Sanders in Honolulu.
Rather than split teams into AFC-NFC, which had been the case since 1971, the new format called for pro football Hall of Famers Jerry Rice and Deion Sanders to "draft" teams. That meant players from one team could play on opposite sides.
Concern mounted that a defensive player would not want to lay a big hit on an offensive teammate who happened to be on the other side in the Pro Bowl.
Johnson put those fears to rest in the first quarter. Charles, playing for Team Sanders, took a handoff and was immediately met by a charging Johnson, who appeared to make a helmet-to-helmet tackle against Charles.
As NBC analyst Cris Collinsworth pointed out, Charles suffered a concussion in the Chiefs' playoff loss to the Indianapolis Colts, but he appeared to be all right.
ProFootballTalk.NBCSports.com reprinted a quote Charles told The Associated Press that he was surprised by the hit but wasn't mad at his teammate.
But Johnson's effort was representative of the raised intensity that drew raves from Commissioner Roger Goodell.
"You have to admit it was very competitive," Goodell told ESPN Radio's Mike & Mike in the Morning. "Exciting. Fun. I think the players played much harder.
"I believe it was a very, very positive step," Goodell said. "I salute the players."
Carolina Panthers fullback Mike Tolbert scored on a two-point conversion with 41 seconds left in the game, and Baltimore's Justin Tucker missed a 67-yard field goal at the end of the game to seal the win for Team Rice.
Even the friendly trash talk between Rice and Sanders spiced up the game. According to USA TODAY Sports, Sanders was even a little annoyed about the outcome.
"Great Job Goat!!!!" Sanders tweeted toward Rice after the game. "Enjoy this moment cause u know I'm hot right now."
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