Tag: 2022 Pro Bowl

Commanders Tress Way: ‘I just try to make a play’

Tress Way always credits his teammates, which is one of the many reasons of why he is so popular.

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Tress Way enjoyed his second Pro Bowl season in 2022.

In celebrating with his teammates.he actually cried when he made a toast during that dinner meal. “I am getting soft in my older age, ” expressed Way to Julie Donaldson recently.

Keep in mind that Way is only age 33. Yet with Terry McLaurin being the longest-tenured offensive player, and Jonathan Allen the longest-tenured defensive player, it is Way who has been with Washington the longest. The 2023 season will be Way’s 10th in the NFL, all with Washington, having first played in the NFL in 2014 with the Redskins.

Though Way enjoyed 37 punts inside the 20 last season, he is quick to credit teammates like Jeremy Reaves, whom Way believes “is an incredible special teams player.”

Way also points to Allen as someone who makes sure Way gets some respect amongst his teammates. “Jon Allen makes sure I have special rights. I don’t actually have them myself, but whenever you have J.A. telling you what is up, everybody listens to him. So yeah, I’m glad I got in good with him… as long as he’s got my back, I have special rights, yes.”

Way points to a significant day in his NFL career coming in 2018 after a win over rival Dallas. Way was upset with himself, having averaged only 40 yards a punt. His wife provided some perspective asking if he played well. Way looked back and realized he had punted six times. Five of them were inside the 20. Four were inside the 10.

Way then told his wife he had played better than he’d realized. She responded, “Just try to make a play, and the numbers will take care of themselves.”

Way told Julie Donaldson, “I kid you not, I have played every game that way since that conversation with her in the kitchen that day. I just try to make a play.”

Later he admitted he knows he makes no plays by himself.

It’s a team game, Way knows it. His humility and humor are the reasons he is liked by so many in the locker room.

 

 

Four Commanders named to the NFL Pro Bowl

Terry McLaurin and Jeremy Reaves earn their first Pro Bowl nods.

Jonathan Allen, for the second consecutive year, was named to the Pro Bowl, leading the way as four Commanders were named to the 2022 NFL Pro Bowl.

The other Commanders also named to the Pro Bowl were wide receiver Terry McLaurin, punter Tress Way and special teams player Jeremy Reaves.

Commanders head coach Ron Rivera decided to have some fun with the players Wednesday, in the manner in which he revealed to them they were named Pro Bowlers (see video below).

 

Allen, a defensive tackle out of Alabama, was taken in the first round by the Commanders in the 2017 NFL Draft (17th overall).  Allen has been a stalwart of the Washington defense, and it is certainly no surprise Allen was voted to the Pro Bowl.

McLaurin, a third-round choice out of Ohio State in the 2019 NFL draft (76th overall) has from his first NFL game, been productive and a leader of the team. It is the first time McLaurin has been voted to the Pro Bowl. McLaurin has collected over 1,000 receiving yards in each of his last three seasons.

Way, a Pro Bowler in 2019 when he led the NFL punting average with 49.6 yards per punt, is averaging 46.8 yards per punt. Undrafted out of Oklahoma, Way signed with Washington in 2014 and this is his ninth consecutive season with the Burgundy and Gold.

Reaves, a veteran of 39 NFL games, has actually only started eight as a defensive back and has one career interception. Reaves has been outstanding on special teams this year and was voted in as the Special Teams representative.

It has no doubt been the defense that has carried this team during its recent success. Consequently, Daron Payne and Montez Sweat were also named as Pro Bowl alternates. Both are unquestionably very deserving of the honor.

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WATCH: Bills’ Stefon Diggs does jersey swap with brother Trevon at Pro Bowl

#Bills WR Stefon Diggs does jersey swap with brother Trevon from the #Cowboys at the Pro Bowl (video):

Buffalo Bills wide receiver Stefon Diggs had a very special Pro Bowl weekend. It featured a lot of football time with his brother, Dallas Cowboys cornerback Trevon Diggs.

It was the first time as pros that the two shared the same field.

The two took advantage of it was siblings would. They horsed around on the field at one point and wrestled on the field. Then during the 2022 Pro Bowl game, the Buffalo wide receiver covered the Dallas cornerback when he ran a route himself.

While it was probably plenty of fun, the two also shared a nice moment when things were all said and done. The Diggs brothers did a jersey swap at the end of the contest.

Check that out below:

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Bills’ Stefon Diggs recruited at Pro Bowl: ‘I’m telling guys to come to Buffalo’

#Bills’ Stefon Diggs recruited at Pro Bowl: ‘I’m telling guys to come to Buffalo’

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Stefon Diggs: Pro Bowl wide receiver–and scout– for the Buffalo Bills.

Over the weekend, Diggs and offensive lineman Dion Dawkins represented the team at the 2022 Pro Bowl. The festivities featured the annual game but also the skills challenges.

Throughout it all, Diggs was evidently putting on his recruitment pitch for his team. Via video interview with the Bills’ social media team via YouTube, Diggs openly admitted he’s making the pitch to other Pro Bowlers to come to Buffalo.

Although, he thinks it’s not needed.

“I’m telling guys to come to Buffalo,” Diggs said. “It’s definitely a place to be– I mean it’s a football town. We got some great things happening, as far as the season and the players that we got. That’s evident and everybody knows that, so, hopefully they want to join more than you got to get them to join.”

Diggs does have a point. The Bills have completely changed the narrative surrounding the team in recent years.

While Buffalo isn’t going to have the allure of other places because of weather and other outside football factors, in terms of on the field, the Bills absolutely have that going for them. Now the expectation is Super Bowl or bust.

Not only is the roster good from top-to-bottom, Josh Allen is establishing himself as one of the NFL’s best quarterbacks.

That alone could get players to sign with the Bills in the future. Look no further than now retired tight end Greg Olsen. He recently admitted that not joining the Bills when he had the chance to is something he second guesses a bit.

Olsen also admitted his final decision also had to do with talent on another team, which could comparable to Buffalo in the future.

“When I chose to go to Seattle to play with Russell (Wilson), obviously because of how good he is, I look back now when I made that decision of just how good Josh Allen now two years after that decision and I think all the time what could have been in Buffalo,” Olsen said.

Even with some potential limited cap space currently, some exciting signings could be heading to Buffalo soon.

Or at least if Diggs has his way.

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Despite NFC loss, Cowboys’ Micah Parsons brings the wood at 2022 Pro Bowl

Micah Parsons can’t turn it off, even at at the league’s all-star walkthrough; Trevon Diggs and CeeDee Lamb also had memorable moments. | From @ToddBrock24f7

The NFC lost the 2022 Pro Bowl, 41-35, to their AFC counterparts. But thae final score is not why anyone watches the Pro Bowl. The league’s all-star event is more for the unique moments that the scrambled-squad exhibition provides: this quarterback throwing passes to that receiver, the best running backs rushing behind the best of the best lines, every position group on the field a murderer’s row with no weak spots.

It’s fantasy football come to life, even if the resulting action often doesn’t look like football at all, what with the complete lack of things like tackling and all.

But Cowboys rookie linebacker Micah Parsons must have tossed the memo where they talked about this being just a walkthrough.

Not a particularly hard hit, except maybe to Pittsburgh’s Diontae Johnson, who likely assumed this was two-hand touch.

Parsons, though, clearly came to Las Vegas looking to collect more pelts. Earlier in the skills showdown, he won a foot race against noted speedster Tyreek Hill, who was running at little more than a jog. Parsons also took the NFC to a Madden 22 Pro Bowl win, earning the MVP award for his work at the controls alongside Minnesota wide receiver Justin Jefferson.

Unsurprisingly, the ultra-competitive Parsons issued a warning that he intended to take things just as seriously on the real-life gridiron.

“I already told them I’m going hard as heck. I’m going to be like Sean Taylor out in that joint,” Parsons told NFL Network on Saturday, referencing the late Washington cornerback’s brutal hit on AFC punter Brian Moorman during a fake punt in the 2007 Pro Bowl. “They’re going to tell me to slow down. They’re going to be so mad.”

Indeed, Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes didn’t look thrilled after Parsons flattened him and stripped the ball as he tried to roll out for a Hail Mary pass attempt to close out the first half of play.

Like Parsons, Cowboys cornerback Trevon Diggs was making his first Pro Bowl appearance, after his 11-interception season. Of course, the league’s regular-season pick leader came up with another one, off New England’s Mac Jones.

But the second-year standout also got to do something he’d been lobbying for all season when he lined up as a wide receiver on offense. And in one of those only-in-the-Pro-Bowl moments, his brother Stefon (normally a wide receiver for Buffalo) lined up opposite him in defensive coverage.

After a season where Cowboys players and fans had plenty to say about officiating, the refs appeared to miss Stefon’s hold of his younger brother.

The siblings also met up on a goal-line play, with Stefon juking Trevon badly for an AFC score. It may have been payback for Trevon winning the Best Catch competition over Stefon and two other wideouts.

But the brothers made up, and by game’s end, shared a special jersey swap.

Wide receiver CeeDee Lamb had four catches on the day, including a two-point conversion from his former college quarterback, Kyler Murray.

Punter Bryan Anger was the fourth Cowboys player attending this year’s Pro Bowl, but he did not get into the game.

Offensive linemen Zack Martin and Tyron Smith opted out of this year’s game despite being named to the NFC roster. Quarterback Dak Precott was invited as an alternate, but he also declined to participate, citing a desire to begin prep for the 2022 season.

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Titans players’ stats and highlights from 2022 Pro Bowl

A look at how the Titans fared in the 2022 Pro Bowl.

Four Tennessee Titans players took part in the 2022 Pro Bowl on Sunday, a game that saw the AFC, which was coached by head coach Mike Vrabel, defeat the NFC, 41-35.

The four Titans who took part were safety Kevin Byard, left guard Rodger Saffold, defensive lineman Jeffery Simmons and outside linebacker Harold Landry. Byard was the only one of the four to be initially voted in, while Landry, Simmons and Saffold were all injury replacements.

Byard had the most notable play of the contest among Titans players after he snatched an interception on a pass from Minnesota Vikings quarterback, Kirk Cousins, which he returned for 44 yards. Byard also added a pair of tackles and one pass defended.

Simmons didn’t record a tackle or sack in the contest, but he did have this pass break-up against Seattle Seahawks quarterback, Russell Wilson.

Landry finished the game with five tackles (three solo), tied for the second-most on the team. Even Saffold got in the mix with a tackle of his own.

The AFC has now been victorious in each of the last five Pro Bowls. Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert and Las Vegas Raiders edge rusher Maxx Crosby were named the MVPs of the game.

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Ravens TE Mark Andrews has stellar performance in 2022 NFL Pro Bowl

Ravens tight end Mark Andrews put on an incredible performance in the 2022 NFL Pro Bowl

Baltimore Ravens tight end Mark Andrews was selected to the Pro Bowl for the second time in his NFL career. He didn’t disappoint in the 2022 festivities, putting on an incredible performance.

Andrews notched two touchdowns and led all pass catchers with 82 yards receiving. The two-time Pro Bowler also hauled in five of his six targets.

Andrews’ first touchdown catch came early in the first quarter on a 15-yard pass by Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert. Herbert threw a pass between multiple defenders to find Andrews in the back of the end zone.

The second touchdown of the tight end’s day also came from Herbert. Nearing the end of the second quarter, Herbert found Andrews in the corner of the end zone to give the AFC a 28-21 lead.

While Andrews arguably had the best performance on Sunday, it was Herbert who won offensive MVP. Even though Herbert threw both of his touchdown passes to Andrews, he also finished the day with an interception and only had 98 yards passing.

Andrews ended the 2021 season with 1,361 receiving yards and nine touchdowns. He also broke the record for most receptions in a single season by a pass catcher in franchise history with 107.

Top Chargers highlights, photos from 2022 Pro Bowl

A compilation of some of the top highlights and photos of the Chargers players who participated in the 2022 Pro Bowl.

Four Chargers participated in the 2022 Pro Bowl: quarterback Justin Herbert, safety Derwin James, tackle Rashawn Slater, and center Corey Linsley.

Wide receiver Keenan Allen and edge defender Joey Bosa were initially selected, but they decided to opt out.

Throughout the week, Herbert, James, Slater, and Linsley were all documented at the practices and Sunday’s all-star game.

With that, here are some of the top highlights and photos from the guys who represented the Bolts in this year’s Pro Bowl.

Chargers QB Justin Herbert named Offensive MVP as AFC holds off NFC in 2022 Pro Bowl

Just another day in the office for Chargers QB Justin Herbert.

The AFC defeated the NFC 41-35 on Sunday at the 2022 NFL Pro Bowl at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, NV.

Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert was named the game’s offensive MVP after finishing 7-of-11 for 98 yards, two touchdowns, and an interception.

Herbert connected with Ravens tight end Mark Andrews on both of his passing touchdowns.

Not too shabby for winning the prestigious award after being named to the Pro Bowl for the first time in just his sophomore season.

Raiders edge defender Maxx Crosby was named defensive MVP.

The other Chargers players who participated in the all-star game were safety Derwin James, tackle Rashawn Slater, and center Corey Linsley.

James had an interception, and Slater played some right tackle.

Here are some highlights from the action below:

Panthers DE Brian Burns (sorta) gets his revenge on Patriots QB Mac Jones

Pro Bowlers Brian Burns and Mac Jones shared a field for the first time since the rookie’s dirty play in Week 9. And the Panthers defensive end got his revenge . . . sorta.

Not to reopen old wounds—or sprains in this particular case—but Sunday was the first time Brian Burns and Mac Jones shared a football field since Week 9. And you remember what happened in Week 9, don’t you?

Burns probably does—as the rookie passer grabbed and twisted his ankle following a strip-sack in the first quarter of that Nov. 7 matchup between the Carolina Panthers and New England Patriots.

Unsurprisingly, some bad blood would also follow the incident. Jones mildly addressed the dirty play, claiming he didn’t intend to injure Burns despite, well, intentionally injuring Burns. The third-year defensive end, in turn, thought Jones’ move and subsequent explanation was “some bull.”

Well, Burns had a chance to settle that bull during the 2022 Pro Bowl and, boy, did he ever!

Okay, it’s the dang Pro Bowl. What did you expect?

As he did earlier in the season, Jones helped guide his squad to the win over Burns’—with the AFC coming away with a 41-35 victory. Jones led the red with 112 passing yards while Burns led the NFC side with 2.0 sacks.

So, hopefully, it’s all water under the bridge and Panthers fans can go back to hating the Patriots for just being the Patriots.

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