I am not sure when the last time is that you watched the NFL Pro Bowl, or when I watched it for that matter. But this Sunday (January 31), the 2016 version of the NFL’s “all-star” game will feature four former Louisville Cardinals. Teddy Bridgewater, Gary Barnidge, Eric Wood, and Elvis Dumervil will all be hanging out in Hawaii’s Aloha Stadium playing some football and representing their respective NFL teams, as well as the Cards of course.
They do things differently now. There is a draft, so it is not really the NFC vs AFC anymore. That draft happens Wednesday evening. Jerry Rice and Michael Irvin are the team captains and will pick their rosters. The game will be Sunday at 7:00 on ESPN.
–Teddy Bridgewater will be replacing Arizona’s Carson Palmer, who is dealing with an injury. He threw for 3,231 yards this season, completed 65.3% of his passes, and had 14 passing touchdowns with 9 interceptions. He also rushed for 3 touchdowns. To make the Pro Bowl in just his second season speaks volumes for young Theodore.
–Gary Barnidge becomes the 5th Cleveland Browns tight end to ever make the Pro Bowl. He led the team in receptions with 79 and yards with 1,043 this season. He also tied the Browns’ record for touchdowns by a tight end in a single season with nine. It certainly seemed like Barnidge was catching a touchdown pass every week.
–Eric Wood officially made the Pro Bowl when the Cardinals lost on Sunday, which seems weird that he needed THAT team to lose for him to make it. Ryan Kalil of the Carolina Panthers advanced to the Super Bowl, making way for Wood to make the roster. The Buffalo Bills led the NFL in rushing this season with 2,432 rushing yards and 19 touchdowns, and the big man in the middle was a big reason for that. Wood has been a solid anchor for the Bills for years now and it is great to see that finally get recognized.
–Elvis Dumervil will be making his 5th trip to Hawaii for the Pro Bowl, which is incredible. This is also his second year in a row to make the roster. He finished the 2015 season with 48 tackles, 6 sacks, and 1 forced fumble. He was one of the leaders of the defense after Terell Suggs went down with a torn Achilles in the first game of the season.
