Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints / Image: Zuma Press

Balloting for the 2010 Pro Bowl will conclude on Monday, December 21 following the conclusion of Monday Night Football (New York Giants at Washington Redskins, ESPN, 8:30 PM ET). The teams will be announced at 4 PM (ET) Tuesday, December 29 on a special NFL Total Access 2010 Pro Bowl Selection Show on NFL Network. The 2010 Pro Bowl will be played on Sunday, January 31, 2010 and televised live on ESPN at 7:20 PM ET from Dolphin Stadium in South Florida, also the site of Super Bowl XLIV a week later on Sunday, February 7. Fans can buy tickets to the 2010 Pro Bowl at NFL.com/probowl and TICKETMASTER.com or by calling 800-745-3000.

Source: NFL Media

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NFL Pro Bowl Top Ten, One Week Left to Vote

Adrian Peterson, Minnesota Vikings / Image: Zuma Press

As I said, I admire the effort. His old school style reminds me of the great Walter Payton. It’s very rare. And it’s fun to watch. But I noticed his name on today’s injury report and I can’t really say that I’m surprised. His practice time was limited because of a back problem. I expect to see more of this as the season wears on. My advice? Only demolish your opponent when it’s necessary—rather than just for fun.

Source: NFL Media

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Adrian Peterson on Week 3 Injury Report

Nike Pro Combat is a lightweight, breathable padded protective base layer ergonomically designed to provide sport-specific protection to athletes without restricting flexibility. It was introduced in competition at the end of last year’s college football season by a number of teams competing in Bowl games. Nike Pro Combat is currently available at retail.

To coincide with the launch of its “Prepare For Combat” campaign, Nike also launched COUNTDOWN2COMBAT on www.nikefootball.com. COUNTDOWN2COMBAT is a digital feature that provides high school football players with fresh content daily such as tips and motivational videos, Nike gear spotlights, wake-up calls from Nike football athletes; as well as free music downloads.

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Adrian Peterson Nike Pro Combat Commercial

Adrian Peterson, Minnesota Vikings / Image: Zuma Press

My reaction was one of disbelief as I watched on DirecTV’s NFL Sunday Ticket. After running through two arm tackles, Adrian nearly stopped to throw defensive back Eric Wright out of his way with one arm along the sideline. He then stiff-armed defensive back Brandon McDonald and outran DB Abram Elam and linebacker Kamerion Wimbley to the end zone for the score.

You can watch the play for yourself here—Adrian Peterson 64-yard touchdown run against the Browns.

The Vikings offensive philosophy is to never give up on the run because at some point, AD will wear down an opposing defense and make them pay the ultimate price. And for those who were expecting quarterback Brett Favre to grab the headlines this NFL Kickoff Weekend, they’ll have to wait another day. In fact, I believe those days will be few and far between. This is still Adrian Peterson’s team.

Source: NFL.com

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Adrian Peterson 64-Yard TD Run vs. Browns

Brad Childress, Minnesota Vikings / Photo: Newscom

Here are five good reasons — in no particular order — why Brett will be the Vikings’ starting quarterback this season (somewhere in Seattle, T.J. Houshmandzadeh is having second thoughts):

1. In Minnesota, Brett will be running a similar offense to the one he ran in Green Bay. Comfy.
2. With Adrian Peterson and Chester Taylor in the offensive backfield, the Vikings have one of the NFL’s strongest running games. Minnesota is a run-first offense so Brett won’t be asked to throw the ball 30-40 times a game for 16 weeks. But when it comes time to win a few, Brett Favre can still do that.
3. The Vikings have one of the NFL’s strongest defenses (sixth overall last season giving up just 292 yards/game) — and a great defense is every quarterback’s best friend.
4. Minnesota plays in the NFC North so Brett will be able to get his much-desired revenge on the Packers twice this season. Maybe more if the two meet in the playoffs.
5. The Vikings are a legitimate Super Bowl contender with Brett at quarterback. The team is arguably a starting QB away from being a serious threat in the NFC. Sage Rosenfels, Tarvaris Jackson or John David Booty won’t cut it. The Vikings will be lucky to win eight games with one of those three at starting QB.
6. OK, I thought of a sixth reason — the Vikings had a hard time selling out their playoff game against the Eagles last season and the team’s future in Minnesota is on shaky ground. How many seats do you think Brett Favre can fill? He’ll re-energize the organization and city.

Source: ESPN.com

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Brad Childress to Meet With Brett Favre

National Football League Blogcast, NFL Blogcast

New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees was named the NFL’s Offensive Player of the Year today. Drew was a great choice. All he did was re-write the Saints’ record books this season. He became just the second player in NFL history to throw for 5,000 yards in a single season and he had a team-record and league-leading 34 touchdown passes. Naturally, he spoke of team first:

“I don’t come out from week to week and say I have to throw for 300 (yards). I don’t think about that. It’s really about what I can do to help this team win. Certainly in this offense, being the quarterback, you’re in the driver’s seat. You have the opportunity to control every play and have it in your hands. Every play is about me making good decisions and putting it in a guy’s hands who is open or our playmakers working to their strengths. That’s my job.”

This choice is a little odd considering Drew didn’t get one MVP vote, but he deserves the award. It seems like Drew gets a little better each season. His 5,069 yards passing this season came up just 15 yards short of the all-time record held by Dan Marino. Even if the Saints didn’t make the playoffs, that is called having one heck of a season, especially when you consider the number of injuries the Saints had on the offensive side of the ball (Marques Colston, Reggie Bush, Jerome Shockey). Drew finished with 22 votes. Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning and Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson had nine votes each. Philip Rivers had six votes.

Sources: NewOrleansSaints.com, NFL.com, Photo: Newscom

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Drew Brees Offensive Player of the Year

Here is the NFC Pro Bowl roster. Starters are listed in bold.

OFFENSE

QB: Kurt Warner, Cardinals; Drew Brees, Saints; Eli Manning, Giants
RB: Adrian Peterson, Vikings; Michael Turner, Falcons; Clinton Portis, Redskins
FB: Mike Sellers, Redskins
WR: Larry Fitzgerald, Cardinals; Anquan Boldin, Cardinals; Steve Smith, Panthers; Roddy White, Falcons,
TE: Jason Witten, Cowboys; Chris Cooley, Redskins
T: Jordan Gross, Panthers; Walter Jones, Seahawks; Chris Samuels, Redskins
G: Chris Snee, Giants; Steve Hutchinson, Vikings; Leonard Davis, Cowboys
C: Andre Gurode, Cowboys; Shaun O’Hara, Giants

DEFENSE

DE: Justin Tuck, Giants; Julius Peppers, Panthers; Jared Allen, Vikings
DT: Kevin Williams, Vikings; Jay Ratliff, Cowboys; Pat Williams, Vikings
OLB: DeMarcus Ware, Cowboys; Lance Briggs, Bears; Derrick Brooks, Buccaneers
MLB: Patrick Willis, 49ers; Jon Beason, Panthers
CB: Charles Woodson, Packers; Antoine Winfield, Vikings; Asante Samuel, Eagles
S: Nick Collins, Packers; Adrian Wilson, Cardinals; Brian Dawkins, Eagles

SPECIAL TEAMS

K: John Carney, Giants
P: Jeff Feagles, Giants
KR: Clifton Smith, Buccaneers
ST: Sean Morey, Cardinals

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2009 NFC Pro Bowl Roster

National Football League Blogcast, NFL Blogcast

New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees received 951,246 votes to lead all NFL All-Stars in fan balloting for the 2009 NFL Pro Bowl. N.Y. Jets quarterback Brett Favre (880,833 votes) ranks second overall, while N.Y. Giants quarterback Eli Manning (821,852 votes), Washington Redskins running back Clinton Portis (767,817 votes) and Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner (673,710 votes) round out the top-five. Here is the list of Top-Ten vote-getters for the 2009 National Football League Pro Bowl:

1. Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints
2. Brett Favre, N.Y. Jets
3. Eli Manning, N.Y. Giants
4. Clinton Portis, Washington Redskins
5. Kurt Warner, Arizona Cardinals
6. Adrian Peterson, Minnesota Vikings
7. Larry Fitzgerald, Arizona Cardinals
8. Jason Witten, Dallas Cowboys
9. Peyton Manning, Indianapolis Colts
10. Chris Cooley, Washington Redskins

The Top-Five rookie vote-getters were Chris Johnson (Tennessee Titans), Matt Ryan (Atlanta Falcons), Matt Forté (Chicago Bears), Chris Horton (Washington Redskins), and Steve Slaton (Houston Texans).

The teams will be announced at 4 p.m. (ET) Tuesday, December 16 on a special NFL Total Access 2009 NFL Pro Bowl Selection Show on NFL Network. The 2009 NFL Pro Bowl presented by State Farm will be played at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu, Hawaii on Sunday, February 8 and televised by NBC.

Source: NFL Media, Photo: Newscom

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NFL All-Stars Top-Ten Vote-Getters

National Football League Blogcast, NFL Blogcast

Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson became the first player over 1,000 yards rushing this season in a wild 28-27 win over Green Bay this afternoon. It took 30 carries to get him to 192 for the day (his third best rushing output ever), but AD rests at 1,015 yards rushing through nine games. Which makes me think if he stays healthy, it’s possible that he can challenge Eric Dickerson’s all-time single-season rushing record of 2,105 yards. I realize it was up for discussion last season until AD injured a knee and missed two games. Then teams were putting 11 men in the box down the stretch. But he’s within striking distance and he’s hitting his stride after a “slow” start — 563 rushing yards and four touchdowns in his last four games.

Of course, more important than eying Eric Dickerson’s record, AD gained more total yards (225) than the entire Green Bay offense and scored the game winning touchdown with 2:22 to play. The win tied the Vikings with the Chicago Bears for first place in the NFC North and kept head coach Brad Childress off the hot seat after beginning the season 1-3.

Source: NFL.com, Photo: Newscom

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Adrian Peterson Over 1,000 Yards

National Football League Blogcast, NFL Blogcast

Brett Favre’s N.Y. Jets jersey is the hottest selling NFL jersey right now. Here’s how the rest of the top ten shake out. These are the top-selling jerseys on NFLShop.com from April 1-Oct. 15, 2008:

1. Brett Favre, New York Jets
2. Tony Romo, Dallas Cowboys
3. Eli Manning, New York Giants
4. Marion Barber, Dallas Cowboys
5. Tom Brady, New England Patriots
6. Adrian Peterson, Minnesota Vikings
7. Peyton Manning, Indianapolis Colts
8. Jason Witten, Dallas Cowboys
9. LaDainian Tomlinson, San Diego Chargers
10. Terrell Owens, Dallas Cowboys

The only surprise on the list was Jason Witten. I didn’t see him as being that popular. And where is Chad Johnson Ocho Cinco? Or Reggie Bush?

Source: CNBC.com, Photo: Newscom

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Top Ten Best-Selling NFL Jerseys