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

Jim Zorn, Washington Redskins / Photo: Newscom

There were key turnovers—three in all. Late in the first half, with a touchdown lead—after an interception of Saints quarterback Drew Brees, Kareem Moore fumbled into the waiting arms of Saints receiver Robert Meachem who returned it for a touchdown. Deflating. That tied the game at halftime. In the second half and overtime, two costly turnovers (a careless interception by Redskins quarterback Jason Campbell and a fumble after a reception by Mike Sellers) gave the Saints golden chances to put the game away. As they eventually would.

What really turned the tide in this game, though, was a missed field goal. It started with 6:52 to play in regulation. The Skins methodically moved the ball from their own 41 to the New Orleans four-yard-line. In the NFL, you have to assume your kicker (in this case Shaun Suisham) can make a 23-yard field goal to give you a two score lead with less than two minutes to play. It was elementary and it would virtually lock the game. So the Skins played the percentages by running the ball into traffic and burning the clock, forcing the Saints to use the remainder of their timeouts. And I don’t fault Redskins head coach Jim Zorn for that, even though running their regular offense probably would’ve resulted in a two touchdown lead. But Suisham missed the chip-shot field goal attempt and five plays later, the Saints tied the game.

There are a few things you simply can’t get away with (interceptions and missing easy field goals) and still expect to win at this level, especially against a team as good as the New Orleans Saints. The Redskins did all those things today. And in most cases, that’s what separates the good teams (like the Saints) from the bad teams (like the Redskins).

Source: NFL.com

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Redskins Help Saints Stay Undefeated

Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints / Image: Zuma Press

The Saints amassed just under 500 yards of total offense in scoring 38 points—even without slasher back Reggie Bush. Drew Brees was as close to perfect as a quarterback can be in this league. And the defense forced two Tom Brady interceptions and held the Pats to just 17 points—without starting cornerbacks Jabari Greer and Tracy Porter. That’s impressive.

Of their five remaining games, only the Dallas Cowboys appear to pose a serious threat to an undefeated New Orleans Saints season. And that particular game is in the Superdome. So I’m going to go ahead and give the Saints a perfect 16-0 record with home field advantage heading into the playoffs. As far as the road to Super Bowl XLIV is concerned, I’ve got to say—advantage Saints.

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Will the New Orleans Saints Go Undefeated?

Brett Favre, Minnesota Vikings / Photo: Newscom

In his weekly postgame presser, Brett said the arm that was his question mark back in August, is fine:

“I’ve been pretty fortunate. God has blessed me in a lot of ways. And he’s given me a bad but good body, if that makes any sense. It’s not that I don’t wake up in the morning and have aches and pains because I do. And I’m sure when it’s all said and done, I’m going to be saying, ‘What in the hell did I do all this for?’ But my arm feels great. And that was where it started, even debating on playing again.”

Brett has to be a strong consideration for the NFL’s Most Valuable Player Award this season. Not only is he first in passer rating and touchdown passes. And second in completion percentage. But, I can’t think of another player who has meant more to his team than Brett. Some will argue that Peyton Manning or Drew Brees should be mentioned (and those are valid arguments), but Brett is this season’s ultimate difference maker.

Source: Vikings.com

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Brett Favre: ‘My Arm Feels Great’

Joined by children from the Washington, DC area, the President and players come together for a friendly game of touch football, reminding fans about the importance of being active as part of NFL PLAY 60, the league’s youth health and fitness campaign. Filmed on the White House lawn earlier this month by NFL Films, the PSA also encourages viewers to get involved in their communities and remember the importance of service.

Drew Brees, a PLAY 60 spokesman, said:

“Thanksgiving is a time when families come together, and it is also a perfect time to focus on the importance of keeping kids healthy and active. I was honored to spend time with the President on an issue that is clearly important to him. I was also impressed by his wide receiver skills.”

Designed to tackle childhood obesity, NFL PLAY 60 brings together the NFL’s long-standing commitment to health and fitness with partner organizations. Since the program was launched in 2007, the NFL has committed $200 million to youth health and fitness through programming, grants, and media time for PSAs.

President Obama launched United We Serve to challenge all Americans—young and old, from every background across the country—to create meaningful change in their communities by engaging in service that is sustained and focuses on impact. When volunteers commit to long-term service projects in their communities, they build expertise and strengthen the community’s capacity to meet its challenges. To learn more about United We Serve or find service projects in specific communities, the President is encouraging everyone to visit www.serve.gov.

In support of NFL PLAY 60, all Thanksgiving weekend games will raise awareness of the childhood obesity epidemic and showcase the NFL and its clubs’ commitment to help reverse this trend. Beginning on Thanksgiving Day and continuing throughout Weeks 12-14, teams will designate a home game as an ‘NFL PLAY 60’ game. On-field elements will include PLAY 60 field stencils, banners and goal post wraps. Teams also will invite ‘NFL PLAY 60 youth ambassadors’ to run on-field and stand alongside players for the National Anthem. These youngsters were selected by each team for their commitment to being healthy, through programs like NFL Punt, Pass & Kick, NFL FLAG Football and through participation in the NFL-American Heart Association PLAY 60 Challenge.

Fans can visit NFLRUSH.com/Play60 or Serve.gov to learn about volunteer opportunities and how they can get involved.

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NFL Players Join President Obama in PSA

Drew Brees and Jeremy Shockey, New Orleans Saints / Photo: Newscom

So why wouldn’t they do the same thing to the Miami Dolphins? They did, of course. The Saints’ offense and defense outscored the Dolphins 22-0 in the final quarter en route to a 46-34 win. And they remained one of three undefeated teams at 6-0 on the season.

So, I’m looking for a crack in the New Orleans armor, but I’m having a hard time finding it. As I mentioned, the offense is the NFL’s best, averaging 427 yards and just under 40 points/game. And the defense is a respectable 11th overall, allowing 307 yards/game. Offensively and defensively, the Saints have the talent to go deep into the playoffs. And if they can keep their key players healthy, they could very well be right back here at Landshark Stadium in Miami for Super Bowl XLIV in February.

Source: NFL.com

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Can Anyone Stop the New Orleans Saints?

Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints / Image: Zuma Press

Source: NewOrleansSaints.com

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Drew Brees Explodes on Detroit Lions

Philip Rivers, San Diego Chargers / Photo: Newscom

The deal makes sense. Philip is one of the top five quarterbacks in the NFL and his 36-18 record (including the playoffs) proves it. So the Bolts were determined not to let him get away. And they put him in a happy place for the 2009 season in the process. Now he must accomplish what peers Ben Roethlisberger and Eli Manning—who also got this kind of cash—did. Philip needs to follow-up with a Super Bowl victory. That is what the Chargers hope they’re paying for.

Here are some of Philip’s thoughts following the announcement:

“The one thing I’ve said throughout the summer was that my contract was never going to become a distraction for this team. I was focused on the season. I’m obviously grateful that it got done and that I’m going to be a Charger for years to come. I’m very appreciative to the Spanos family for keeping me around and allowing this to get done. You never are guaranteed that you will be here, but I hoped I would be for a long time. I’ll never get the South out of me, but San Diego is definitely home. Three of our four children have been born out here. I love the people, love the town and love being part of the city.”

Sources: Chargers.com, NFL.com

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Philip Rivers $92M Contract Extension: Quotes

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

National Football League Blogcast, NFL Blogcast

Of all those players who were unfortunately snubbed for the 2009 AFC-NFC Pro Bowl (and there will always be a bunch), San Diego Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers has to be the most glaring omission. I mean, be serious. Philip leads the entire NFL with a 101.4 passer rating and touchdown passes thrown with 28 (tied with Drew Brees). Obviously, the fact the disappointing Chargers are just 6-8 and about to miss the playoffs worked against him, but if these are individual honors (which they are), Philip should be on the AFC roster.

Source: NFL.com

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Philip Rivers Snubbed For Pro Bowl