Pro Bowl Preview, Hawks finally get to play
By Dan Viens
There’s finally a reason for Seahawks fans to watch the Pro Bowl, as five Seattle players will be participating.
It’s a small, and mostly unwanted, consolation for Seahawk players selected to play in the NFL Pro Bowl. As much as an all-expenses-paid week in Hawaii playing patty-cake (almost touch) football against their peers may seem appealing, the new format prevents Super Bowl participants from playing in the event. That’s obviously where the Hawks were the last two years, and they certainly wish that were so again this year. But, alas, there will be no Seahawks in Super Bowl 50, so this is what we’re stuck with.
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Did I say stuck with? I mean…. privileged to be able to witness!!!
Seriously though, at least there’s a nominal reason for Seahawks fans to watch the game, as five Seattle players will be sporting their blue helmets this evening.
Here are a few things to watch for if you’re a Seahawks fan:
- Michael Irvin loves him some Seattle Seahawks! He chose Russell Wilson with the first overall pick in the new-ish draft format, and followed that up by taking Richard Sherman 3rd and Michael Bennett 5th. Clearly, Team Irvin has to be the favorites in the game now right?
- Being picked first should give Wilson an outstanding chance at winning the game’s MVP award. He’ll likely get the most snaps for Team Irvin, and with nary a hard hit likely to be made, will have all the time in the world to survey the field and throw passes to teammates Julio Jones, A.J. Green, Deandre Hopkins and Tyler Eifert. Wilson threw 3 TD’s in this game as a rookie backup. Expect him to at least double that this time out.
- It’ll be fascinating to watch Sherman go up against WR’s Odell Beckham Jr. and rookie Amari Cooper.
- Let’s see what rookie WR Tyler Lockett can do in this format. He was voted to the game as a kick-returner, but if Jerry Rice allows him to play much receiver he could bust some big plays.
Next: Is Russell Okung already gone?
The NFL Pro Bowl is played at Hawaii’s Aloha Stadium. Kickoff is set for 4:00pm PST and the game will be televised on ESPN2.