2014 NFL Pro Bowl Teams Have Been Picked! Sanders Vs. Rice – Roster Breakdown

A lot of people complain about the NFL Pro Bowl, it's not really a competitive game, no one really tries to hard because they don;t want to get hurt, the players from the Superbowl aren't there, etc.  I understand all that but for whatever reason I as well as a great many of people still sit down and watch it every year. This year, it's a little different and I have to give the NFL props for trying something new.

This year with the indisputable rise of Fantasy Football , the NFL chose to have team captains pick their teams fantasy football draft style. The game will be this Sunday night at 7:30 pm. Your Team Captains are Deion Sanders and Jerry Rice. Team Sanders' Coach will be Chuck Pagano from the Colts and Team Rice's Coach will be Ron Rivera from the Panthers.

Now let's take a look at their rosters piece by piece and evaluate how well they drafted. After each category I will tell you who I think has the "edge" ( you may disagree) and then we can pick a winner at the end.

Special Teams:

Team Sanders: ST Matthew Slater, Patriots. PR Cordarrelle Patterson, Vikings. K Justin Tucker, Ravens. P Brandon Fields, Dolphins. LS J.J. Jansen, Panthers.

Team Rice:

ST Justin Bethel, Cardinals. PR Dexter McCluster, Chiefs. K Stephen Gostkowski, Patriots. P Johnny Hekker, Rams. LS Matt Overton, Colts

Edge: Sanders

Offensive Line

Team Sanders: T Trent Williams, Redskins. T Duane Brown, Texans. T Branden Albert, Chiefs. G Marshal Yanda, Ravens. G Logan Mankins, Patriots. G Kyle Long, Bears. C Mike Pouncey, Dolphins. C Alex Mack, Browns

Team Rice: 

T Joe Thomas, Browns. T Tyron Smith, Cowboys. T Jordan Gross, Panthers. G Jahri Evans, Saints. G Ben Grubbs, Saints. G Evan Mathis, Eagles. C Ryan Kalil, Panthers.     C Nick Mangold, Jets

Edge: Sanders

Defensive Line:

Team Sanders: DE J.J. Watt, Texans. DE Greg Hardy, Panthers. DE Mario Williams, Bills. DT Ndamukong Suh, Lions. DT Gerald McCoy, Buccaneers. DT Dontari Poe, Chiefs

Team Rice: DE Robert Quinn, Rams. DE Cameron Jordan, Saints. DE Cameron Wake, Dolphins. DT Jason Hatcher, Cowboys. DT Marcell Dareus, Bills .DT Kyle Williams, Bills

Edge: Sanders

Line Backers

Team Sanders: OLB Brian Orakpo, Redskins. OLB Tamba Hali, Chiefs. OLB Terrell Suggs, Ravens. ILB Luke Kuechly, Panthers. ILB Paul Posluszny, Jaguars

Team Rice: 

OLB Justin Houston, Chiefs. OLB Robert Mathis, Colts. OLB John Abraham, Cardinals. ILB Vontaze Burfict, Bengals. ILB Derrick Johnson, Chiefs

Edge: Sanders

Defensive Backs:

Team Sanders: CB Patrick Peterson, Cardinals. CB Darrelle Revis, Buccaneers. CB Brent Grimes, Dolphins. CB Tim Jennings, Bears. S Eric Berry, Chiefs. S Eric Weddle, Chargers. S T.J. Ward, Browns

 Team Rice: CB Joe Haden, Browns. CB Brandon Flowers, Chiefs. CB Antonio Cromartie, Jets. CB Alterraun Verner, Titans. S Eric Reid, 49ers. S Jairus Byrd, Bills. S Antrel Rolle, Giants

Edge: Rice

Tight Ends / Wide Receivers:

Team Sanders: WR A.J. Green, Bengals. WR Dez Bryant, Cowboys. WR Antonio Brown, Steelers. WR DeSean Jackson, Eagles. TE Jason Witten, Cowboys

Team Rice: WR Josh Gordon, Browns. WR Alshon Jeffery, Bears. WR Brandon Marshall, Bears. WR Larry Fitzgerald, Cardinals. TE Jimmy Graham, Saints. TE Tony Gonzalez, Falcons

Edge: Rice

Running Backs: 

Team Sanders: RB Jamaal Charles, Chiefs. RB Eddie Lacy, Packers. FB Marcel Reece, Raiders

Team Rice:  RB LeSean McCoy, Eagles. RB DeMarco Murray, Cowboys. RB Matt Forte, Bears. FB Mike Tolbert, Panthers

 Edge: Rice

Quarterbacks:

Team Sanders: QB Andrew Luck, Colts. QB Cam Newton, Panthers. QB Nick Foles, Eagles

Team Rice: QB Drew Brees, Saints. QB Philip Rivers, Chargers. QB Alex Smith, Chiefs

Edge: Draw

My Take: If this were an actual NFL regular season game, I would have to go with Sanders without hesitation. I gave him the edge on both the O line and the D line, in my opinion that is where you win football games.

However this is NOT a regular season game, it is the Pro Bowl and in the Pro Bowl the line is what effects the game the least. There are too many restrictions, and none of them want to twist a knee up.

So that means I have to go with Rice on this one. If I give the Quarterbacks a draw, Rice got the edge in just about every other category that mattered. SO once again Jerry Rice will show his dominance as he has done so many times in the past in football, dancing, golf and now ...drafting.

Tell me what you think? What did I get wrong?