Tonight at 7:30 p.m. ET the NFL Pro Bowl will kick off on NBC with a brand new format-the teams have been chosen by NFL legends Jerry Rice and Deion Sanders. Fans can live stream the two sides full of the NFL's top performers, sans all Broncos and Seahawks free by clicking this link.
The NFL's Pro Bowl has become a target of derision for many NFL fans, who view this showcase of the league's best players as a glorified seven-on-seven exhibition in which defenders have at best a passive interest in really playing. The league is hoping this new format will add a little flavor to it; if not, this game could be seeing its end come sooner rather than later.
In fact, NFLPA head Dominique Foxworth recently said that NFL commissioner Roger Goodell was very close to axing it without trying the new pickup style of choosing sides.
"Roger was very serious about potentially canceling the Pro Bowl because apparently it's very expensive and isn't of a ton of value to them," Foxworth said. "To be honest with you, I was completely comfortable with eliminating it until I talked to the players, and they said they loved it and they want to be there."
With injuries a major concern for any game, there will be no kickoffs tonight. Instead each team will start every drive on the 25-yard line. In addition, two-minute warnings will be issued at the end of every quarter, giving these elite quarterbacks more time to engineer no-huddle drives.
Curious about the rosters? Here is how Deion and Jerry chose them up:
Team Rice
Coach: Ron Rivera, Panthers
QB Drew Brees, Saints
QB Philip Rivers, Chargers
QB Alex Smith, Chiefs
WR Josh Gordon, Browns
WR Alshon Jeffery, Bears
WR Brandon Marshall, Bears
WR Larry Fitzgerald, Cardinals
TE Jimmy Graham, Saints
TE Tony Gonzalez, Falcons
RB LeSean McCoy, Eagles
RB DeMarco Murray, Cowboys
RB Matt Forte, Bears
FB Mike Tolbert, Panthers
T Joe Thomas, Browns
T Tyron Smith, Cowboys
T Jordan Gross, Panthers
G Jahri Evans, Saints
G Ben Grubbs, Saints
G Evan Mathis, Eagles
C Ryan Kalil, Panthers
C Nick Mangold, Jets
DE Robert Quinn, Rams
DE Cameron Jordan, Saints
DE Cameron Wake, Dolphins
DT Jason Hatcher, Cowboys
DT Marcell Dareus, Bills
DT Kyle Williams, Bills
OLB Justin Houston, Chiefs
OLB Robert Mathis, Colts
OLB John Abraham, Cardinals
ILB Vontaze Burfict, Bengals
ILB Derrick Johnson, Chiefs
CB Joe Haden, Browns
CB Brandon Flowers, Chiefs
CB Antonio Cromartie, Jets
CB Alterraun Verner, Titans
S Eric Reid, 49ers
S Jairus Byrd, Bills
S Antrel Rolle, Giants
ST Justin Bethel, Cardinals
PR Dexter McCluster, Chiefs
K Stephen Gostkowski, Patriots
P Johnny Hekker, Rams
LS Matt Overton, Colts
Team Sanders
Coach: Chuck Pagano, Colts
QB Andrew Luck, Colts
QB Cam Newton, Panthers
QB Nick Foles, Eagles
WR A.J. Green, Bengals
WR Dez Bryant, Cowboys
WR Antonio Brown, Steelers
WR DeSean Jackson, Eagles
TE Jason Witten, Cowboys
TE Jordan Cameron, Browns
RB Jamaal Charles, Chiefs
RB Eddie Lacy, Packers
RB Alfred Morris, Redskins
FB Marcel Reece, Raiders
T Trent Williams, Redskins
T Duane Brown, Texans
T Branden Albert, Chiefs
G Marshal Yanda, Ravens
G Logan Mankins, Patriots
G Kyle Long, Bears
C Mike Pouncey, Dolphins
C Alex Mack, Browns
DE J.J. Watt, Texans
DE Greg Hardy, Panthers
DE Mario Williams, Bills
DT Ndamukong Suh, Lions
DT Gerald McCoy, Buccaneers
DT Dontari Poe, Chiefs
OLB Brian Orakpo, Redskins
OLB Tamba Hali, Chiefs
OLB Terrell Suggs, Ravens
ILB Luke Kuechly, Panthers
ILB Paul Posluszny, Jaguars
CB Patrick Peterson, Cardinals
CB Darrelle Revis, Buccaneers
CB Brent Grimes, Dolphins
CB Tim Jennings, Bears
S Eric Berry, Chiefs
S Eric Weddle, Chargers
S T.J. Ward, Browns
ST Matthew Slater, Patriots
PR Cordarrelle Patterson, Vikings
K Justin Tucker, Ravens
P Brandon Fields, Dolphins
LS J.J. Jansen, Panthers
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