I am not amused that I still have to think about football but okay. Nor am I amused that they chose David Archuleta to sing the National Anthem and not David Cook. That’s crap. I did like that they booed him. Anyway, the game is already in play sooooo:

So here are the stories behind and my pick for the Pro Bowl:

The Pro Bowl facts

• The AFC-NFC Pro Bowl has been going on since 1971. There were other versions before that.
• As of 2008, the series istied at 19 games each for the AFC and the NFC
• In 37 pro bowls, the conference that won the Super Bowl has won the the Pro Bowl 9 times.
• Only two games have gone into overtime
• The coaches of the Pro Bowl teams are the losers from the AFC & the NFC divisional championship game.
• The game is played in Hawaii the week after the Super Bowl
• But now they have decided to move it to the week before the Big Game and move it to the Super Bowl’s host city. Players are not happy.

Pro Bowl Fashion

• Each player used to wear their own team’s uniform.
• That, obviously, got very confusing.
• Now they wear their teams’ helmet but special Pro Bowl AFC or NFC jerseys.
• The jerseys are redesigned every two years and switch from Home & Away jerseys then. (I read that this is a blatant marketing ploy by Nike and Reebok to make more money off of different jerseys!)
• Players on the same team are allowed to wear the same number.

The Fun Story:

Brothers Peyton and Eli Manning are on in the Pro Bowl, on opposite sides, for the first time in NFL history. Peyton is the starting QB for the AFC and Eli is the backup for the NFC. Everyone is crossing fingers and holding breathe to see this matchup!

My Breakdown of the teams:

or if you want to be technical, a breakdown of the players that I actually know to help me pick my team.

The AFC:

QB: Peyton Manning, Indianapolis Colts

Most known for: Um. Who doesn’t know of him?

Most recently known for: Commercials with tennis siblings Venus & Serena Williams.

Strong Safety: Troy Polamalu, Pittsburgh Steelers

Most known for: His crazy hair. And his mad skills. And the fact that his team just won the Super Bowl.

Linebacker: James Harrison, Pittsburgh Steelers

Most recently known for: His record setting 100-yard touchdown in the Super Bowl against the Cardinals that was a critical play before halftime and would have most likely garnered him MVP if his teammate Santonio Holmes didn’t win the game with an amazing catch in the last :35 of the game. Sorry Big Man!

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The NFC: aka The Revenge of the Birds

The NFC has selected FIVE Arizona Cardinals to their starting team! **And they are the best ones! Just when you thought they were down and out from losing the Super Bowl, they get a chance to redeem themselves! They were just saying how hard it is for players to come off a loss in the SB and play in the Pro Bowl but hello, when you have four other members of your team there to back you up (and the other teams QB didn’t even make the cut)—gotta be a good feeling.

** Let me say that I read a piece that said that the Steelers have three defense players to match the three Cardinals offensive players. It was really confusing because based on what I had previously read, the Steelers have 2 starters and one backup, and the Cards had five starters: 3 offensive, 1 defense and1 special team. So if I’m wrong, blame NFL.com.

1 & 2.  Kurt Warner & Larry Fitzgerald

By now, you must know my opinions of these two. I love them. Love. Love. Love.

QB Kurt:

WR: Fitzy (I actually heard an announcer call him Fitzy in the Super Bowl! They also said he was Fabulous! That’s MY word!)

3. Anquan Boldin, wide receiver

4. Adrian Wilson, strong safety

5. Special Teamers: Sean Morey

Yeah, I don’t know who this guy is or what he does. But if he is a Cardinal, I like him!

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Also…

Adrian Peterson, RB, Minnesota Vikings

DeMarcus Ware, Linebacker, Dallas Cowboys

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Just to make it official, (and in case somehow you couldn’t already guess) I am so rooting for Kurt, Fitzy and the Arizona Cardinals in the Pro Bowl. I mean the hot guys. Damn. I mean, the NFC!

About the author: Jennifer Taglione is the owner of this fabulous website Stiletto Sports. Despite writing well over 500 posts, she still maintains that she is not a sports writer! She is however a huge fan of Kurt Warner, Larry Fitzgerald, Mark Sanchez, the Celtics, and totally kicks butt on March Madness brackets! Connect with her by following her on Twitter @StilettoSportsJ and subscribing to her weekly newsletter. For more info check out the About the Editor page!

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