Look for fun, and limited intensity, in the Pro Bowl

The ball was thrown perfectly, but it went right through Jeff Hartings' arms.

No surprise there, because Hartings plays center for the Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers.

What did seem a bit irregular was the AFC offensive linemen were running pass patterns before the final practice for Sunday's Pro Bowl when Hartings bungled the reception, not that anybody cared.

A day earlier, NFC coach John Fox laughed as he told one of his players he shouldn't expect much of a game plan.

“There's not going to be a whole lot of scheming going on,” Fox said.

And following a light AFC practice Friday, tight end Tony Gonzalez spent most of the day snorkeling with several friends, probably not the best way to prepare for a game less than 48 hours before kickoff.




“We rented scooters to get there,” he said. “We had a great time.”

That's really the deal – Pro Bowl week is basically a vacation for all involved. Nevertheless, several participants said that once the game begins, the competitor in them comes out. And it's not necessarily about the $40,000 that goes to members of the winning team compared to the $20,000 the losers receive.

“Winning is the key. At what point it gets serious, I don't know. But it will,” AFC wide receiver Chad Johnson said.

“Competitiveness takes over. You're having fun all week. When it comes down to game-time, everyone wants to win,” AFC quarterback Trent Green said.

“I'm not going to go out there trying to be a super hero or anything like that,” NFC wide receiver Santana Moss said. “You never know when, but it's going to be stepped up. Everyone's going to rock and roll.”

The AFC has won four of the past five Pro Bowls to take an 18-17 lead in the series that began in its present format in 1971, and was moved permanently to Aloha Stadium in 1980.
“We consider ourselves the 33rd NFL franchise, if you will,” Honolulu mayor Mufi Hannemann said Saturday. “We consider this a lovefest. I think part of the reason is Hawaii and Polynesia have sent so many players to the NFL. The Steelers and Seahawks have six players of Polynesian descent. There's a natural bond.”

Two of those six – Pittsburgh's Troy Polamalu and Seattle's Lofa Tatupu – will play Sunday.
“The people here know the NFL gives back,” Hannemann said. “That's why we embrace them.”
Each of the 26 previous Pro Bowls at Aloha Stadium has been played before a capacity crowd of around 50,000, and Sunday's game will make it 27 straight sellouts.

Fox and Denver's Mike Shanahan, losing coaches in the conference championship games, head up the respective Pro Bowl teams.

“You don't get a lot of preparation, you want to make sure the players know what you're doing,” Shanahan said. “The rules are very basic. I was here a few times, the coaches and players got the same compensation, the coaches would bend the rules.”

Now, Shanahan pointed out, it's difficult for that to happen because officials in the press box are watching. And members of the winning coaching staff receive $15,000, with their counterparts getting $10,000 each.

The rules limit what the defenses can do, making a high-scoring game almost a sure thing. The AFC won 38-27 last year; the NFC won 55-52 two years ago, and the teams combined for 82, 55, 68 and 65 points in the four games before that.

“It's OK, the rules apply for both teams,” AFC cornerback Champ Bailey said. “If they're going to do that, though, they should bring four corners over here (per team) instead of three.”
Bailey paused before he smiled and said: “We should get paid more.”
Peyton Manning was the MVP last year, passing for 130 yards and three touchdowns. The Colts' star has thrown for a career Pro Bowl-records of 992 yards and 11 touchdowns in five appearances.

“This game doesn't count in the actual standings,” he said. “The thing I appreciate is it's voted on by the fans, your peers, the coaches. It's always a true honor and a privilege to play here.
“You try to win. Everyone wants to stay healthy. When you get out there, the crowd's there, the lights come on, you want to play well.”

That definitely applies to Cincinnati star Johnson, who said: “That's what I'm here for, to put on a show.”

Green and Steve McNair join Manning as quarterbacks on the AFC roster. NFC quarterbacks are Matt Hasselbeck, Michael Vick and Jake Delhomme.

The AFC running backs are Edgerrin James, LaDainian Tomlinson, Larry Johnson and fullback Lorenzo Neal. Their NFC counterparts are Shaun Alexander, Tiki Barber, Warrick Dunn and fullback Mack Strong.

The AFC is favored by four points.
source : http://www.signonsandiego.com/