Tag: 2023 Pro Bowl

LB Bradley Chubb names three Dolphins who were Pro Bowl snubs

Bradley Chubb says 3 Dolphins were snubbed from Pro Bowl.

The 2023 regular season is about to come to an end with Week 18 on the horizon, and with that being said, the NFL announced the rosters for the 2024 Pro Bowl Games on Wednesday night.

Six Dolphins made the team – quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, running back Raheem Mostert, fullback Alec Ingold, wide receiver Tyreek Hill, left tackle Terron Armstead and cornerback Jalen Ramsey.

While everyone is excited for those who made the Pro Bowl, there are always discussions surrounding who should’ve made the roster. And, after the team was announced, Dolphins linebacker Bradley Chubb took to social media to voice his displeasure in three of his teammates who didn’t make it.

Andrew Van Ginkel, Christian Wilkins and Zach Sieler are having incredible seasons.

Van Ginkel, despite being a rotational piece for part of the year, has recorded 68 tackles (eight for a loss), 18 quarterback hits, eight passes defensed (career-high), six sacks (career-high) and an interception that he returned for a touchdown. He’s also been Pro Football Focus’ seventh-highest graded edge defender (91.2).

Wilkins has put up 61 tackles (11 for a loss), 20 quarterback hits (career-high), eight sacks (career-high) and two passes defensed.

Sieler, after receiving a contract extension before the year, has 56 tackles (11 for a loss), 20 quarterback hits (career-high), 9.5 sacks (career-high), four passes defensed, one forced fumble and one interception that was returned for a score. Only one interior defensive lineman has more sacks than Sieler in the AFC – Justin Madubuike (13).

Even Chubb, himself, had a strong case before tearing his ACL, as he recorded 74 tackles (career-high), 22 quarterback hits (career-high), 11 sacks, a league-leading six forced fumbles (career-high) and two passes defensed.

All four were named as alternates, so there’s a chance that three healthy Dolphins (Van Ginkel, Wilkins and Sieler) get to represent Miami this year eventually if players bow out.

WATCH: Dolphins’ Tyreek Hill vlogs 2023 Pro Bowl week

How the wideout spent his seventh Pro Bowl week

The NFL changed up their Pro Bowl format in 2023 after fan interest continued to dip in a game that featured none of the intensity of a real football game.

Instead, the league switched to a flag football game, dodgeball and skills competitions which provided some intrigue that was lacking in the weekend in previous years.

Wide receiver Tyreek Hill was one of four Miami Dolphins to participate in the games, as he was joined by offensive tackle Terron Armstead, cornerback Xavien Howard and linebacker Bradley Chubb (alternate).

For the week of the event, Hill vlogged his schedule, which included a shoot for his “Soul Runner” brand, an appearance in the dodgeball contest, a podcast appearance and a meet and greet.

It would’ve been interesting to get more of a behind-the-scenes look at the league events, but it’s cool to see what goes into the week for a superstar.

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Tua Tagovailoa explains why he didn’t attend the Pro Bowl Games

It was probably a wise decision.

Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa had one of the most fascinating seasons of any signal-caller in the NFL this season.

Between MVP-caliber performances, multiple head injuries and missing the team’s final stretch, including their first postseason contest since 2016, the year was one to follow.

While Tagovailoa led the league’s fan vote for the 2023 Pro Bowl Games, he wasn’t selected as a starter. With Patrick Mahomes in the Super Bowl, and Josh Allen and Joe Burrow bowing out, Tagovailoa would’ve been one of the alternates called up to represent the AFC, but he declined.

At the time, he was just exiting the league’s concussion protocol after sustaining a blow to the head in the team’s Christmas Day loss to the Green Bay Packers, but that wasn’t only reason, as Tagovailoa recently explained.

“I’m good. I didn’t think it was necessary the first thing I came back to do football-related wasn’t team related with the Dolphins,” Tagovailoa said on the Dan Le Batard show (transcribed by the Miami Herald). “That was one of the reasons I didn’t attend. [Also], I’m a new father. I’m spending time with my son and trying to help out my wife, get him on a sleep schedule.”

Tagovailoa is focused on working with his teammates that had to play without him for multiple games last season, and he wants to get back to performing with them. That’s commendable, as is wanting to spend time with your family after a long season.

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WATCH: Xavien Howard mic’d up for Pro Bowl flag football

It’s always really cool to see the top players in the league mix it up.

While the NFL made massive changes to their Pro Bowl schedule, they still had some of their top stars playing a football game, even if it was flag football.

The Miami Dolphins had four players represent their franchise in the festivities, including Xavien Howard, who went for the fourth time in his career.

In what feels like a tradition at this point, the Dolphins mic’d up the former Baylor Bear for the flag football game where he shared the field with the league’s elite talent.

Howard has always been considered a man of few words, but just seeing him interact with the other stars is very cool. One of the funniest moments was him trying to corral teammate Bradley Chubb for a team picture where Howard essentially told him he’s not a Bronco anymore.

While it must be nice to get the Pro Bowl recognition, Howard would probably rather be preparing for a Super Bowl.

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WATCH: Tyreek Hill mic’d up at the 2023 Pro Bowl Games practice

He always brings the energy.

For Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill, being invited to the annual Pro Bowl is not a new experience, as this was the seventh time that he’s received the honor in as many seasons as he’s been in the NFL.

Except, this time, the league wasn’t running it’s usual game. For 2023, the weekend before the Super Bowl consisted of skills challenges and a flag football game with some of the league’s top talents.

Before the event, the Dolphins set Hill up with a mini microphone for practice to have him record some of the best moments for their YouTube channel. Here’s what they caught:

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WATCH: Jalen Ramsey delivers a shot to Tyreek Hill in flag football

The wideout took to Twitter after.

While the NFL tried to eliminate the contact from the Pro Bowl in 2023, making it a flag football game, not everyone adhered to those rules.

On a Davante Adams catch-and-run, the Las Vegas Raiders star pitched the ball back to Miami Dolphins wideout Tyreek Hill with Los Angeles Rams cornerback Jalen Ramsey bearing down on him. While Hill received the toss at the goal line, he was slammed by Ramsey at the pylon.

Hill got up looking for a flag, and not the kind you’re supposed to tackle with in this game.

After the contest, the wideout took to Twitter.

While it always seems like fun and games, Hill and Ramsey have their own history. During the preseason, Hill picked Ramsey as the person he’d most like to fight in the sports world.

This came after Ramsey called Hill a return specialist back in 2019, something that the wideout still clearly remembers to this day.

It doesn’t sound like their issues are all that serious, but their both top-notch competitors battling at the top of their craft.

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Watch: Trevor Lawrence hits Stefon Diggs for deep TD in Pro Bowl

Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence led the AFC to a flag football win, ending his day with a 45-yard bomb to Bills receiver Stefon Diggs.

Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence got off to a shaky start in the flag football competition at the 2023 Pro Bowl Games, throwing a pick six on his first drive.

Lawrence redeemed himself late in the game by connecting with the Buffalo Bills’ Stefon Diggs for a huge touchdown.

After three straight incompletions — including one to a streaking Jamal Agnew — the AFC faced a fourth down from its own 5-yard line. While 20 yards would’ve been enough a first down, Lawrence went for it all and found Diggs down the right sideline for a 45-yard touchdown.

It was the second touchdown pass of the game for Lawrence, who led a lengthy drive in the first half that ended with a short touchdown pass to the Las Vegas Raiders’ Davante Adams.

Earlier in the game, the AFC ran a trick play with a couple backward passes that eventually led to Lawrence running a route in the end zone and Diggs throwing a pass his direction. However, that throw was intercepted by Diggs’ younger brother, Dallas Cowboys cornerback Trevon Diggs.

With Lawrence at quarterback, the AFC won the second flag football game of the day, 18-13.

Here is the NFL’s event schedule for the 2023 Pro Bowl

The Pro Bowl will be much more than just a flag football game this year. Here is the full schedule of events.

As the 2023 season winds to its conclusion, the NFL’s best will have one last chance to showcase their skills in front of fans at the 2023 Pro Bowl Games in Las Vegas this week.

The Pro Bowl’s two-day schedule will feature several events from golf to kicker tic-tac-toe, ending on Sunday with the first-ever flag football games.

Below is the event schedule, which will begin on Thursday, Feb. 2nd and continue on Sunday, Feb. 5. All Pro Bowl coverage begins on ESPN starting at 7:00 pm on Thursday.

This year, the Denver Broncos will be represented by All-Pro cornerback Patrick Surtain.

Thursday, February 2

  • Epic Pro Bowl Dodgeball: A multi-round tournament of classic dodgeball featuring four teams of five players that begins with the offenses and defenses from both conferences squaring off and culminates in an AFC vs. NFC showdown. In the first match, the AFC offense will face the AFC defense to determine the AFC winner. In the second game, the NFC offense squares off with the NFC defense to determine the NFC winner. In the finales, the AFC winner and NFC winner meet to determine which conference will earn three points.
  • Lightning Round: New this year, each conference will select 16 players to compete in a three-part elimination challenge that will leave one player left at the end to earn three points for his conference. In the first event, “Lightning Round – Splash Catch,” teammate pairings from each conference will toss water balloons back and forth from increasing distances. Each tandem that completes all of their tosses advances to the second phase. In part two, “Lightning Round – High Stakes,” advancing players will attempt to catch punts from a JUGS machine to earn a place representing their conference in the final round of the competition. In the final part of the challenge, “Lightning Round – Thrill of the Spill,” the remaining players from each conference will aim at targets attached to a bucket hanging above the head of an opposing conference’s coach. The first team to dump the bucket on the opposing coach wins and earns three points for his conference
  • Longest Drive: Four players from each conference will compete in a challenge to drive a golf ball the furthest distance off a tee. Each player will get three swings and the player that drives the furthest within the boundaries on each side of the fairway will win three points for his conference
  • Precision Passing presented by EA SPORTS Madden NFL 23 Mobile: Each of the conference’s three quarterbacks will battle it out in a one-minute accuracy competition, as they attempt to accumulate points by hitting as many targets as possible. The quarterback with the highest individual score among all participants is the winner and earns three points for his conference. There are a total of 10 targets that are either static or attached to robotic dummies and drones, each worth a different amount, ranging from one to five points. There is also a Long Toss Bucket 60 yards away that is worth 10 points.
  • Best Catch presented by Uber Eats (First Round): Two players from each conference will compete in a best catch competition, showing off their creativity, inventiveness and talent. In the first round on Thursday, the players will showcase their best receptions in highlight reels shot at iconic venues around Las Vegas. Fans will vote online to determine their favorite catch by a player in each conference, and the players with the highest votes will compete in the finals on Sunday.

Sunday, February 5

  • Best Catch presented by Uber Eats (Finale): On Sunday, the top vote getters from each conference will compete head-to-head, as they perform in front of panel of celebrity judges. The pass-catcher who accumulates the highest score from the judges will be determined the winner.
  • Gridiron Gauntlet: A side-by-side relay race showcasing strength, speed and agility, six players from each conference will compete to see who finishes first and wins three points for his team. The four-part Gauntlet, each segment 40-yards in length, includes a series of breakaway walls, a section of climbing over walls and under tables, a tire run and a blocking sled carrying a Legend coach across the finish line.
  • Kick Tac Toe: Each team’s kicker, punter and long snapper compete in a giant Tic-Tac-Toe competition to showcase their respective skills. The first team to complete a connecting line of three squares or hit five squares total will be declared the winner and earn three points for his conference.
  • Move The Chains: Four teams (two teams from each conference) will compete side by side in a weighted wall pull that will showcase their strength, speed and ingenuity. Each team of five players is responsible for pulling a wall, loaded up with heavy weights, 10-yards as quickly as possible using first-down chains. The winner of the best-of-three playoff will earn three points for their conference.

Peyton Manning (AFC) and Eli Manning (NFC) will serve as coaches for the Pro Bowl, and their funny commercials have fans excited for the upcoming week of activities.

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Cowboys center Tyler Biadasz added to NFC Pro Bowl roster

Biadasz will replace Philadelphia’s Jason Kelce in the Pro Bowl festivities, bringing the Cowboys’ total of honorees to eight. | From @ToddBrock24f7

As a unit, the Cowboys are done for several months. But a select group of players from the roster have one more obligation to fulfill in order to close out the 2022 season.

And their ranks just increased by one.

Center Tyler Biadasz has been named to the Pro Bowl, serving as an alternate for Jason Kelce of Philadelphia. Kelce and the Eagles will be preparing for their Super Bowl LVII appearance after their win Sunday over the 49ers.

It will be the first Pro Bowl for Biadasz, the Cowboys’ fourth-round draft pick out of Wisconsin in 2020. He started the team’s first 16 games this season, missing only the regular-season finale against Washington with an ankle injury.

Biadasz joins Zack Martin, CeeDee Lamb, Tony Pollard, Micah Parsons, Trevon Diggs, DeMarcus Lawrence, and KaVontae Turpin as the team’s other Pro Bowl selections. More could be added in the coming days as alternates for injured NFC stars.

Pollard was forced to bow out, for example, due to the high ankle sprain and fractured fibula he suffered in the Cowboys’ divisional-round loss to San Francisco on Jan. 22.

The Pro Bowl Games will be held in Las Vegas, with events beginning Thursday. Players will take part in various skills competitions and fan-focused events, with a flag football game replacing the traditional Pro Bowl contest this year.

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NFL’s 2023 Pro Bowl to feature a long drive contest

Get ready for football players to hit bombs.

Among professional sports, golf is transcendent, as numerous athletes from many ranks play golf all times during the year.

Stephen Curry, Michael Jordan, Tony Romo, Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen, Larry Fitzgerald, John Smoltz and dozens of other pros have picked up sticks and used it as an escape from their realm.

Now, golf is making its way to the NFL’s annual Pro Bowl competition in an interesting way: a long drive challenge.

Come the 2023 Pro Bowl in Las Vegas, four Pro Bowlers from each conference will compete against one another in a long drive challenge. Each player will get three swings, and the player who drives the ball the furthest within the boundaries of the fairway will win three points for his conference. The long drive will be contested Thursday, Feb. 2.

With the NFL doing more skill challenges ahead of its All-Star week, it’s no surprise to see golf make its way into the event. Now we’ll get to find out which football players can hit bombs on the golf course.

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