Tag: flag football

Geno Smith thrills, but some past Seahawks don’t like new Pro Bowl format

Here’s how past and present Seahawks reacted to the new Pro Bowl Games format.

The NFL finally decided to do away with the traditional “football game” at the Pro Bowl between the AFC and the NFC. This year they added some new skills competitions and turned the main event into a flag football game.

Some players appeared to enjoy it a great deal. Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith, for one – seemed to be having a ball as he dominated the flag football game, throwing five touchdown passes. Meanwhile, a few former Seattle players found the new Pro Bowl Games unbearably lame. Here’s how past and present Seahawks reacted to the new Pro Bowl Games format.

How to watch 2023 Pro Bowl flag football: Channel, time, stream, rules

The Jaguars’ Trevor Lawrence and Jamal Agnew will compete in the first ever Pro Bowl flag football game Sunday.

The NFL’s annual all-star game is a normal football game no more. After years of injury concerns and half-hearted effort put out by the league’s stars, the NFL tossed the game in favor of a variety of skills competitions and a flag football game.

Earlier this week, Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence competed in a precision passing game, and returner Jamal Agnew was part of a water balloon toss. On Sunday, both of the Jaguars players will be part of the flag football game.

The rule changes for the game go beyond taking off pads and shutting down tackling. Rather than needing to gain 10 yards a time, teams will have just four downs to cross midfield and another four downs to get in the end zone. If a team opts to punt, the opposing team will start on its own 5-yard line.

Here’s how to tune into the finale of the 2023 Pro Bowl Games:

2023 Pro Bowl Games, Flag Football

  • Date: Sunday, Feb. 5, 2023
  • Kickoff Time: 3 p.m ET
  • Location: Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas, Nevada
  • TV Channel: ESPN, ABC, Disney XD
  • Live Stream: ESPN+
  • Commentators: Kirk Herbstreit, Pat McAfee

Broncos CB Pat Surtain will start for AFC in Pro Bowl’s flag football game

Broncos CB Pat Surtain will start for AFC in Pro Bowl’s flag football game this afternoon.

The Pro Bowl will look different this year.

The NFL has renamed the all-star event the Pro Bowl Games, and it now features several skills competitions and a flag football game.

Each conference can earn points in the skills competitions and initial two flag football games before the ultimate Pro Bowl winner is determined in the third and final flag football game on Sunday afternoon.

Peyton Manning (AFC) and Eli Manning (NFC) are serving as the head coaches of their respective conferences. Eli recruited DeMarcus Ware, who won Super Bowl 50 with the Denver Broncos, to serve as the NFC’s defensive coordinator.

Broncos cornerback Pat Surtain will start for the AFC’s defense in the flag football game after the defensive back was voted into the all-star game by players, coaches and fans. Surtain also received first-team All-Pro recognition this season from Players and the Associated Press.

The flag football Pro Bowl game will be played at 1 p.m. MT on Sunday. The game will be televised on ESPN, ABC and Disney XD. Here are the rosters for each team.

Follow the Broncos Wire Podcast:
Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts

[vertical-gallery id=620142]

Here are the rosters for the 2023 Pro Bowl flag football game

The Pro Bowl will feature a flag football game this year. Here are the rosters for Sunday’s AFC vs. NFC showdown.

After a series of skills challenges on Thursday, the 2023 Pro Bowl Games will continue with more skills competitions on Sunday followed by a flag football game to determine the ultimate winner between the AFC and NFC.

Here are the rosters for each conference for the 2023 Pro Bowl.

AFC Pro Bowl Roster (*starter)

Quarterback (3)

Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs*
Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills
Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals
Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars (replacement for Mahomes)
Tyler Huntley, Baltimore Ravens (replacement for Allen)
Derek Carr, Las Vegas Raiders (replacement for Burrow)

Running back (3)

Nick Chubb, Cleveland Browns*
Josh Jacobs, Las Vegas Raiders
Derrick Henry, Tennessee Titans

Fullback (1)

Patrick Ricard, Baltimore Ravens*

Wide receiver (4)

Tyreek Hill, Miami Dolphins*
Stefon Diggs, Buffalo Bills*
Davante Adams, Las Vegas Raiders
Ja’Marr Chase, Cincinnati Bengals

Tight end (2)

Travis Kelce, Kansas City Chiefs*
Mark Andrews, Baltimore Ravens
Dawson Knox, Buffalo Bills (replacement for Kelce)

Offensive tackle (3)

Laremy Tunsil, Houston Texans*
Terron Armstead, Miami Dolphins*
Orlando Brown, Kansas City Chiefs
Dion Dawkins, Buffalo Bills (replacement for Brown)

Offensive guard (3)

Joel Bitonio, Cleveland Browns*
Quenton Nelson, Indianapolis Colts*
Joe Thuney, Kansas City Chiefs
Rodger Saffold, Buffalo Bills (replacement for Nelson)
Wyatt Teller, Cleveland Browns (replacement for Thuney)

Center (2)

Creed Humphrey, Kansas City Chiefs*
Mitch Morse, Buffalo Bills
Ben Jones, Tennessee Titans (replacement for Humphrey)

Defensive end (3)

Myles Garrett, Cleveland Browns*
Maxx Crosby, Las Vegas Raiders*
Trey Hendrickson, Cincinnati Bengals

Interior linemen (3)

Chris Jones, Kanas City Chiefs*
Quinnen Williams, New York Jets*
Jeffery Simmons, Tennessee Titans
Cameron Heyward, Pittsburgh Steelers (replacement for Jones)

Outside linebacker (3)

Matt Judon, New England Patriots*
Khalil Mack, Los Angeles Chargers*
T.J. Watt, Pittsburgh Steelers
Bradley Chubb, Miami Dolphins (replacement for Mack)
Matt Milano, Buffalo Bills (replacement for Watt)

Inside/middle linebacker (2)

Roquan Smith, Baltimore Ravens*
C.J. Mosley, New York Jets

Cornerback (4)

Sauce Gardner, New York Jets*
Pat Surtain II, Denver Broncos*
Marlon Humphrey, Baltimore Ravens
Xavien Howard, Miami Dolphins

Free safety (1)

Minkah Fitzpatrick, Pittsburgh Steelers*

Strong safety (2)

Derwin James, Los Angeles Chargers*
Jordan Poyer, Buffalo Bills

Long snapper (1)

Morgan Cox, Tennessee Titans*

Punter (1)

Tommy Townsend, Kansas City Chiefs*
AJ Cole, Las Vegas Raiders (replacement for Townsend)

Placekicker (1)

Justin Tucker, Baltimore Ravens*

Return specialist (1)

Devin Duvernay, Baltimore Ravens*
Jamal Agnew, Jacksonville Jaguars (replacement for Duvernay)

Special teamer (1)

Justin Hardee, New York Jets*

NFC Pro Bowl Roster (*starter)

Quarterback (3)

Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia Eagles*
Geno Smith, Seattle Seahawks
Kirk Cousins, Minnesota Vikings
Jared Goff, Detroit Lions (replacement for Hurts)

Running back (4)

Saquon Barkley, New York Giants*
Tony Pollard, Dallas Cowboys
Miles Sanders, Philadelphia Eagles
Dalvin Cook, Minnesota Vikings (replacement for Pollard)
Christian McCaffrey, San Francisco 49ers (replacement for Sanders)

Fullback (1)

Kyle Juszczyk, San Francisco 49ers*

Wide receiver (4)

Justin Jefferson, Minnesota Vikings*
A.J. Brown, Philadelphia Eagles*
CeeDee Lamb, Dallas Cowboys
Terry McLaurin, Washington Commanders
Amon-Ra St. Brown, Detroit Lions (replacement for Brown)

Tight end (2)

George Kittle, San Francisco 49ers*
T.J. Hockenson, Minnesota Vikings

Offensive tackle (3)

Trent Williams, San Francisco 49ers*
Lane Johnson, Philadelphia Eagles*
Tristan Wirfs, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Penei Sewell, Detroit Lions (replacement for Johnson)

Offensive guard (3) 

Zack Martin, Dallas Cowboys*
Landon Dickerson, Philadelphia Eagles*
Chris Lindstrom, Atlanta Falcons
Elgton Jenkins, Green Bay Packers (replacement for Dickerson)

Center (2)

Jason Kelce, Philadelphia Eagles*
Frank Ragnow, Detroit Lions
Tyler Biadasz, Dallas Cowboys (replacement for Kelce)

Defensive end (3)

Nick Bosa, San Francisco 49ers*
Brian Burns, Carolina Panthers*
Demarcus Lawrence, Dallas Cowboys
Cameron Jordan, New Orleans Saints (replacement for Bosa)

Interior linemen (3)

Aaron Donald, Los Angeles Rams*
Jonathan Allen, Washington Commanders*
Dexter Lawrence, New York Giants
Daron Payne, Washington Commanders (replacement for Donald)

Outside linebacker (3)

Micah Parsons, Dallas Cowboys*
Za’Darius Smith, Minnesota Vikings*
Haason Reddick, Philadelphia Eagles
Danielle Hunter, Minnesota Vikings (replacement for Reddick)

Inside/middle linebacker (2)

Fred Warner, San Francisco 49ers*
Demario Davis, New Orleans Saints

Cornerback (4)

Darius Slay, Philadelphia Eagles*
Trevon Diggs, Dallas Cowboys*
Tariq Woolen, Seattle Seahawks
Jaire Alexander, Green Bay Packers
Jalen Ramsey, Los Angeles Rams (replacement for Slay)

Free safety (1)

Quandre Diggs, Seattle Seahawks*

Strong safety (2)

Budda Baker, Arizona Cardinals*
Talanoa Hufanga, San Francisco 49ers

Long snapper (1)

Andrew DePaola, Minnesota Vikings*

Punter (1)

Tress Way, Washington Commanders*

Placekicker (1)

Jason Myers, Seattle Seahawks*

Return specialist (1)

KaVontae Turpin, Dallas Cowboys*

Special teamer (1)

Jeremy Reaves, Washington Commanders*

The flag football Pro Bowl game will be played at 1 p.m. MT on Sunday. The game will be televised on ESPN, ABC and Disney XD.

Follow the Broncos Wire Podcast:
Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts

[vertical-gallery id=620142]

 

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.

Follow the Broncos Wire Podcast:
Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts

[vertical-gallery id=620142]

WATCH: Eli Manning teaches Demario Davis flag football basics in Pro Bowl ad

A new Pro Bowl ad features Eli Manning teaching Demario Davis some flag football basics, with collateral damage for his brother Peyton’s tackling dummy:

A new Pro Bowl ad features former NFL quarterback Eli Manning teaching New Orleans Saints linebacker Demario Davis some flag football basics, with a little collateral damage to his brother Peyton’s tackling dummy. Eli will be coaching the NFC team against Payton’s AFC squad in the upcoming 2023 Pro Bowl Games, which will include a new flag football games. It will air on ESPN, ABC and Disney XD on Sunday, Feb. 5.

In the new ad, Eli is showing Davis how to “grip and rip” a flag from a tackling dummy with Peyton’s face printed on it — only for Davis to tear the entire dummy in half, quipping “Too much rip?”

It’s a fun preview to spark some interest in the retooled Pro Bowl Games, but more than anything it’s great to see Davis featured here. He’s been selected for the very first Pro Bowl of his career after toiling for years, having spent the first leg of his NFL career with the New York Jets and Cleveland Browns before playing his best football for the Saints. This is the kind of thing he didn’t get to experience before. Good for him on making the most of it.

[listicle id=121164]

Peyton and Eli Manning to coach NFL’s flag football teams at Pro Bowl

The Pro Bowl will feature a flag football game this year, with Peyton (AFC) and Eli Manning (NFC) serving as the coaches.

The Manning brothers continue their post-retirement media dominance by making another splash.

Peyton Manning and Eli Manning will serve as the head coaches for the revamped NFL Pro Bowl in February of 2023. Because Eli spent his entire career with the New York Giants, he will represent the NFC. As for Peyton, he will serve as the AFC coach due to playing in the conference with the Denver Broncos and the Indianapolis Colts.

The Manning brothers will coach in a Pro Bowl that will look quite different from their own Pro Bowl days. In September, Peyton was a part of the change to make the Pro Bowl more of a relaxed event: the game will transition to a flag football game, and there will also be skill events leading up to the matchup.

Given that the Manning brothers have proven their popularity with the media since retirement, it’s no doubt that the two will be entertaining, even from the sidelines.

[vertical-gallery id=620142]

Vote your favorite Seahawks onto the 2023 NFL Pro Bowl Games roster

Voting is now open for the 2023 NFL Pro Bowl Games. Here’s how you can vote your favorite Seattle Seahawks players onto the roster.

The NFL Pro Bowl has been reimagined into a flag football contest and a week-long celebration of player skills coined the Pro Bowl Games. This year’s event will once again be held in Las Vegas.

While some of the pomp and circumstance have been altered, making the Pro Bowl Games roster is still a great honor for players around the league who are fortunate enough to garner enough votes.

As of this week, the 2023 Pro Bowl Games Vote presented by Castrol is now open! You can click here and follow to prompts to vote for your favorite Seahawks. Don’t miss out, the polls close on Thursday, Dec. 15.

[lawrence-related id=96729]

[vertical-gallery id=96827]

Girls flag football approved as official HS sport in California southern section

The CIF-SS, one of the premier high school football sections in the country, has voted to approve girls flag football as an official HS sport.

In a move that comes on the heels of growing traction in recent years and could prelude growth in other states, the California Interscholastic Federation-Southern Section has voted to approve girls flag football as an official sport.

The governing body voted 61-26 with two abstentions to make it an official sports with the goal of launching it for the 2023-24 school year, according to ABC7.

At both high school and college, girls flag football participation has increased in recent years. It is sanctioned at the high school level seven states — Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Nevada and New York, per CBS — and is an NAIA collegiate sport. In 2021, the NFL and Nike launched a $5 million grant toward the sport, and the Los Angeles Rams and Chargers launched a pilot high school league that elicited response from more than 70 schools wanting in, according to the Associated Press.

At the start of the 2022 high school season, Nike and the NFL launched a kickoff event with boys and girls football players taking part at an event at the Nike headquarters in Oregon.

Former NFL player Bobby Taylor said in an interview with USA TODAY High School Sports during the event said that the challenge to growing girls flag football hasn’t been willingness from athletes, but instead garnering enough support and resources.

“When you have entities like the NFL, Nike, supporting all of the efforts … the states that bring on girls flag as a sanctioned high school sport, and you also have the opportunity for girls to get scholarships … When you have this type of energy, it’s kind of hard for you to fail,” he said.

[lawrence-related id=101500336,101498666]

Live-Stream High School Football:

NFHS Network

NFL intends to replace Pro Bowl with ‘The Pro Bowl Games’

The NFL has announced its plans to replace the Pro Bowl with “The Pro Bowl Games” which includes a flag football game and a week-long celebration of player skills.

This offseason it was revealed that NFL was looking to reinvent the Pro Bowl to keep both fans and players interested in the annual event.

Now, we’ve learned exactly what that reinvention will look like. The league announced on Monday that the 2023 Pro Bowl will be replaced by “The Pro Bowl Games.”

Taking place in Las Vegas at Allegiant Stadium in 2023, The Pro Bowl Games will consist of a flag football game and a week-long celebration of player skills, including both football and non-football skills. A big difference this year is that fans will actually be given some more control with their online voting. They’re not just going to be voting on players, but they’ll be voting on key elements related to the skills competition, like events, participants and more.

“We’ve received invaluable feedback from players, teams and fans about reimagining the Pro Bowl, and as a result, we’re thrilled to use The Pro Bowl Games as a platform to spotlight Flag football as an integral part of the sport’s future while also introducing fun, new forms of competition and entertainment that will bring our players, their families and fans closer than ever before,” NFL executive Peter O’Reilly said, via press release. “Building on the success of the 2022 Pro Bowl and 2022 Draft, as well as our strong partnership with the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) and Las Vegas Raiders, we look forward to bringing The 2023 Pro Bowl Games to the capital of world-class sports and entertainment.”

With the NFL continually promoting flag football over the years, this seemed like the natural solution to hosting a contact football game. They’ll include events such as “Play Football Opening Night” and “NFL FLAG Championships” in the week-long event. The question remains: Will it be enough to capture the interest of fans and players?

The AFC vs. NFC flag football match will air on ESPN and ABC on Sunday, February 5, 2023. Let us know your thoughts on the new format in the comment section down below or on Twitter and Facebook.

[listicle id=137182]