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.

Listed below are the top 10 overall All-Star vote-getters:

1. Drew Brees, Saints (1,120,535)
2. Brett Favre, Vikings (1,120,174)
3. Peyton Manning, Colts (1,113,934)
4. Adrian Peterson, Vikings (1,079,993)
5. Larry Fitzgerald, Cardinals (684,698)
6. Tom Brady, Patriots (622,916)
7. Dallas Clark, Colts (603,492)
8. Cedric Benson, Bengals (565,763)
9. Chris Johnson, Titans (560,479)
10. Andre Johnson, Texans (546,693)

Source: NFL Media

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NFL Pro Bowl Top Ten, One Week Left to Vote

Larry Johnson signed by Cincinnati Bengals / Image: Zuma Press

I figured the only other team that would even take a look at this guy would be the Oakland Raiders. The Bengals might be playing better football, but they still make some very questionable decisions when it comes to the character of the players they involve themselves with. It’s almost as though that aspect isn’t even a consideration.

Nevertheless, Larry might bring some needed depth at the running back position. Cedric Benson left Sunday’s game against the Pittsburgh Steelers with a sore abductor muscle. His status for this weekend is still up-in-the-air. Backup rookie running back Bernard Scott was a training camp phenom and performed very well in Ced’s absence. Plus there’s hard-nosed running back who looks like a fullback Brian Leonard. So, I’m not really sure where Larry fits in, but if he can keep his mouth shut (and his Twitter under control) and let his game do the talking, the Bengals will have a very solid group of runners in their offensive backfield.

Source: Bengals.com

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Cincinnati Bengals Sign Larry Johnson

Cedric Benson, Cincinnati Bengals / Photo: Newscom

How did he explain having his career-best game against his former team?

“It’s hard to explain. It was a bit of an emotional week coming into this one. At the end of the day, we played against my ex-team. With the way things unfolded there until my arrival here, it was just a bit of an emotional day.”

I’m sure the Bears are wondering where this outburst came from. Cedric had a hard time cracking the starting lineup in Chicago and never really fit in with the organization. Thus his release. But now he’s the NFL’s leading rusher with 720 yards and he’s part of a very balanced and productive Bengals offense. Sometimes a player just needs a little change of scenery to make all the difference for the better. And in Cedric’s case, a new life in Cincinnati is exactly what jump-started his NFL career.

Source: NFL.com, Bengals.com

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Cedric Benson Gets Revenge on Bears

Like Kevin Jones, Cedric Benson and Ron Dayne, Shaun Alexander is a high-profile, veteran running back looking for a job in the National Football League. Hard to believe — especially in Shaun’s case — considering he led the Seattle Seahawks to the Super Bowl and was the NFL’s Most Valuable Player just three years ago. Some reports are saying that teams are shying away from Shaun because he’s more committed to his faith than he is football, but I’m not buying that. Anybody that knows Shaun knows that he will give 100% to whatever he is doing in life. But his faith is obviously important to him:

“I’m asking God to close doors that need to be closed and open up whatever needs to be open so I can go there, win a Super Bowl, impact the team, impact the community. That’s been my goal.”

Apparently, Shaun is in contact with seven teams but did not identify who they were. I can understand the interest in Shaun’s services, but I also understand the concern. And it has nothing to do with his faith. Shaun’s a 30-year-old running back without a lot of tread left on his tires. And his durability and numbers have dropped off the past two seasons. Not that it’s entirely his fault, but there is not a big market for aging running backs. The shelf life isn’t a long one and every running back knows this going in to their NFL career. Shaun will find a suitable home in 2008, but he’ll most definitely split time with another back (or two). Which is exactly what he needs at this point in his career. Divine intervention? Yes, I think so.

Source: Boston Herald

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Faith and Football for Shaun Alexander

Blogcasting the National Football League, Blogcasting the NFL

Chicago Bears RB Cedric Benson was released by the team today following two recent alcohol-related arrests. About five weeks ago, Cedric was charged with boating while intoxicated and resisting arrest following a random safety check on his boat on Lake Travis in Austin, TX. He was then charged with driving while intoxicated after failing a field sobriety test this past Saturday, also in Austin. I’m not surprised with the decision to waive Cedric. In a news release I received from the Bears Media Relations Department, GM Jerry Angelo made this statement:

“Cedric displayed a pattern of behavior we will not tolerate. As I said this past weekend, you have to protect your job. Everyone in this organization is held accountable for their actions. When individual priorities overshadow team goals, we suffer the consequences as a team. Those who fail to understand the importance of ‘team’ will not play for the Chicago Bears.”

It’s the right move for the Bears, but just like any other player who makes bad decisions and suffers through difficult times, I am hopeful Cedric will — first and foremost — get his life together and secondly, be able to return to the game. I spent some time with Cedric before the 2005 NFL Draft and all I can say is he seemed uncomfortable with the media attention and really acted like he would rather be somewhere else. I can’t say that I blame him, but there are certain things an NFL player has to deal with and talking with the media is one of them. You might as well embrace the job or you’re in for a painful existence in the National Football League — especially if you are a high-profile player. And Cedric was just that, being selected by the Bears with the 4th overall pick in ‘05. The best of his three seasons was last year when he rushed for a mere 674 yards in 11 games. He played in 35 regular season games with 12 starts. So as it turns out, Cedric Benson never lived up to the expectations of the Chicago Bears on- or off-the-field.

Source: ChicagoBears.com

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Chicago Bears Release Cedric Benson

Ahman Green rebounded from an injury-plagued 2005 by rushing for over 1,000 yards last season with the Packers. He moves to Houston where he’ll join Domanick Williams (formerly Davis) and Wali Lundy in what should be a formidable backfield. The only thing the Texans are forgetting (so far) is that they still don’t have anyone to block for these guys or protect the QB.

Travis Henry (formerly Tennessee) now finds himself in a running back’s paradise — Denver — in a five-year, $22.5 million deal ($12 million guaranteed). The Broncos have fielded a 1,000-yard back in all but one season (2001) under head coach Mike Shanahan, so Henry should find great success teaming with Mike Bell. The Titans rolled the dice in letting Henry go. An unproven LenDale White is now at the top of their depth chart.

Thomas Jones thrived in Chicago’s sometimes inept offense with over 1,200 yards and six TDs, helping to lead the Bears to the Super Bowl. Obviously, everyone was paying attention, especially the N.Y. Jets who, according to an early NFL.com report, gave up a second round pick (37th overall) in this year’s Draft to get him. As is the trend in securing two quality backs, Jones will join up-and-comer Leon Washington (650 yards last season) in the Jets backfield. The Bears now turn to Cedric Benson and most-likely Adrian Peterson to carry the load. And carry it they will if Rex Grossman is still the starting QB.

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Running Backs Find New Homes