Pro Bowl Preview: Get Your Football Fix
Bored on Sunday night?
The Rundown:
NFC vs AFC -- Sunday Jan. 29th, 7:00 p.m. EST
Jets named for 2012: Darrelle Revis, Nick Mangold, D'Brickashaw Ferguson, Brandon Moore, and Jessica S. of the Flight Crew.
Location: Aloha Stadium, Honolulu, HI.
Coverage: NBC.
Record: The NFC lead the all-time series 21-20.
What happened last time? NFC beat the AFC 55-41.
Injury report (includes injured or Super Bowl players that will not play):
NFC Eli Manning (NYG), Frank Gore (SF), John Kuhn (GB), Calvin Johnson (DET), Jason Pierre-Paul (NYG), Lance Briggs (CHI), Brian Urlacher (CHI), Carlos Rogers (SF), Dashon Goldson (SF).
AFC Tom Brady (NE), Arian Foster (HOU), Ray Rice (BAL), Wes Welker (NE), Rob Gronkowski (NE), Jake Long (MIA), Logan Mankins (NE), Brian Waters (NE), Maurkice Pouncey (PIT), Andre Carter (NE), Haloti Ngata (BAL), Vince Wilfork (NE), Terrell Suggs (BAL), Ed Reed (BAL), Troy Polamalu (PIT), Matthew Slater (NE).
Prediction: NFC 45 AFC 31
With the removal of Tom Brady from the 2012 Pro Bowl, the NFC's offensive advantage becomes even more clear. While the AFC arguably has a better defensive lineup and depth, the NFC offensive powerhouse led by Aaron Rodgers and Drew Brees will largely score at will, and the AFC will not be able to keep pace. Stranger things have happened, especially in games that don't matter, but I think the NFC has this game locked down already.
Will you be watching the 2012 NFL Pro Bowl? Leave your predictions and general thoughts leading up to the not-so-big game below if you like. Also, there will be a full updated Pro Bowl roster per the NFL after the jump, as a point of reference.
Overdue for a Playoff Shakeup
Why even bother winning twelve games when a screwy playoff system awards an 8-8 team with home field advantage? The Steelers won four more games than the Broncos. Four! Isn’t playing in the NFL about winning football games not so much winning titles?
Had the Steelers been playing at home, it probably wouldn’t be too far off the mark to say the outcome of the game would have been more favorable for them.
With the 2011 season playoffs nearly over, a new Super Bowl champion will soon hoist the Lombardi Trophy. But for some teams, the playoff road wasn’t quite as easy or as short as it was for other teams. Some of that makes sense. Some of that doesn’t.
And even still, some deserving teams sometimes don’t get to set their spikes on the road to the playoffs while others with worse records do. The current playoff system is flawed for sure.
Can it be made more fair? Can it be made more competitive? Can it be made more fun for more fans? Yes, yes, yes. Even players and owners can stand to benefit from a little shakeup.
New York Jets: Rocking Out With Mocks
It's a pretty slow news day today so I thought I would put a collection of Jets Picks from around the Internet Mocks for this week. Mock drafts are usually updated on a weekly basis between now and April but right now here is where we stand:
Don Banks, Sports Illustrated:
Mark Barron, S, Alabama. Being able to match up a big, athletic safety on the league's taller receivers and beast-like tight ends (Rob Gronkowski, we're looking in your direction) is the name of the game on defense these days. The Jets were at an obvious disadvantage on that front last season, but they'd be getting the best available talent upgrade in Barron.
Scott Wright, Draft Countdown:
Mark Barron, S, Alabama. The Jets have a star-studded secondary with Darrelle Revis, Antonio Cromartie and Jim Leonhard but there is a weak link and his name is Eric Smith. After a disappointing year in which his flaws were exposed, don’t be surprised if Rex Ryan opts to replace Smith in the offseason. Alabama’s Mark Barron is this year’s top safety prospect by a considerable margin and while he wouldn’t necessarily be a perfect fit alongside Leonard the two could certainly coexist. Not only does Barron possess an excellent blend of size and speed but his football intangibles also stand out............(Click link above for more)
More after the jump:
Talent Watch: Audie Cole, ILB, N.C. State
One position of need that hasn't gotten too much attention is at ILB. The 31 year old Bart Scott is only getting older and slower. There has also been talk about the Jets possibly moving on from Scott. Even if Bart is part of the 2012 Jets, a replacement will be needed sooner rather than later. If the Jets do decide to bring in some new blood to our ILbing group, there are a number of guys that would fit right in. One guy that I have had my eye on this year, is Audie Cole. more after the jump...
Flight Connections 01-27-12

Yahoo!: HC Rex Ryan is a big loser leading to the big game.
Asbury Park Press: Jet and Eagles fans are green with envy.
Newsday: WR Plaxico Burress's legacy still lingers for the Giants.
Daily News: CB Darrelle Revis made it clear that there was plenty of discord.
The Post: C Nick Mangold calls Peyton Manning joining the Jets a "big crazy idea".
Jets Flight Deck: Pros and cons with the Manning debate.
JetNation: Peyton's place should not be with the Jets.
ESPN New York: Positional analysis, linebackers.
Central Michigan Life: Catching up with LB Nick Bellore.
U of L Card Game: Catching up with RB Bilal Powell.
Fox Sports: Penn State's D'Anton Lynn is digging an NFL path of his own. This is the son of RB Coach Anthony Lynn.
Daily Record: Former Jets DT Lou Benfatti remembers the lessons he learned from playing for PSU's Joe Paterno.
Newsday: Former Jets RT Kareem McKenzie isn't thrilled with the way things unfolded with the iconic coach.
New York Times: Former Jets QB Joe Namath looks back with a smile.
Washington Post: Greg Schiano and the Jets could have made a perfect match.
OSN: Football fans are excited to watch the Patriots or Giants lose the Super Bowl.
Scouting The Draft: Vinny Curry, DE Marshall University
Coming to you today with another prospect who I think the Jets would be wise to look at, none other than Vinny Curry from Marshall university. I have more than a passing interest in Marshall football and Curry may be the best NFL prospect to come out of Marshall since Chad Pennington in 2000 and the best defensive player since Chris Crocker in 2003, your right; Marshall hasn't produced much defensive talent recently.
23 sacks the last two years, 21.5 tackles for loss (second nationally) in 2011; 6'4 263lb's, conference USA first team. Was mentioned as being in the running for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy (nation's best defensive player), the Chuck Bednarik Awards (nation's best defensive player) and Rotary Lombardi Awards (nation's best lineman).
Join me after the jump for a little information on his game:
Would Going After Manning Go Against the Jets Offseason Philosophy?
The Peyton Manning talk won't be going away anytime soon. I have the feeling the Jets will be mentioned in connection to Manning, up until a destination is decided. The thought of two of the best QBs, of this era, playing in the same division, is very tempting. The thought brings me back to the days of Favre. When Brett came in, our hopes and dreams went into overdrive, knowing a Hall of Famer, would be tossing the rock for us. Of course, we know how that whole ordeal ended. With that being said, a healthy Manning is on a whole other level of QB play than Favre ever was. His field general mentality would take over our offense, and make it his own.
Once you look past all the glamor of a move to bring Manning to the Jets, you are left with theory that doesn't make much sense for the Jets. More after the jump...
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What Is Our Biggest Need?
It seems to me that as the Jets move forward into the offseason, they need to prioritize. There a lot of things that need to be fixed on the team, but when push comes to shove, there needs to be a priority list. Among the things that need to be addressed are safety, right tackle, wide receiver, linebacker, quarterbacks, coaching, and so on.
Some things should be the focus of the draft, such as wide receiver and linebacker. Others are more suited to free agency, like safety and right tackle. But I believe the biggest concern has to be coaching. Last year, many people believed our most important "move" was signing Tom Moore as a consultant. Damien Woody was very adamant on Twitter that it was the biggest change we made.
We've long said that the team will only go as far as Mark Sanchez can take us. Other positions like safety and right tackle can be fixed with a new player. With all we have invested in Sanchez, it's nearly impossible for us to get a "new" player. Instead, we have to look to coaching to get him where he needs to be. We all saw with the Panthers, Broncos, and 49ers what good coaching can do for a quarterback. Sanchez needs something similar, an innovator who can play to his strengths, while helping him get better at his weaknesses.
Now, Tony Sparano is, in my opinion, a good replacement for Schottenheimer. But he isn't what's important. Getting a QB coach or passing coordinator who can balance with the ground game and play to Sanchez's strengths is. I've made it clear before that I don't think Matt Cavanaugh is that guy. I feel as though our next season lies in the hands of Mike Tannenbaum and his decision on how to progress with the coaching of the quarterback position.
How about you all, though? What do you think is our biggest need, coming in to the offseason?







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