ORLANDO, Fla. -- Like most of the players at the Pro Bowl, Richie Incognito hears the criticism.
The game lacks intensity. There's not enough drama. It's not real NFL football.
But Incognito, a Buffalo Bills guard, is like the vast majority of the 88 players invited to this all-star gathering tonight. He sees the Pro Bowl more as a celebration of achievement and as a way to thank the fans.
He wouldn't change a thing.
"In my mind, it's as good as it should be," Incognito said. "You really can't ask guys to come out here and fly around at full speed when we've been off for the last two or three weeks. And some guys are just coming down here after conference championship games. Maybe make it more fan interactive, get the fans involved more, do more of the skills competition."
The NFL has seemed open to ways to energize its end-of-the-year showcase, which is now sandwiched between conference championship and Super Bowl weeks. A few years ago the league broke from the traditional AFC-NFC Pro Bowl matchup and allowed celebrity coaches to draft two teams.
Now, in hopes of giving the game a lift, the NFL has moved the Pro Bowl from Hawaii to Orlando, where it has become more of a weeklong event, complete with a reimagined Skill Showdown. The AFC-NFC matchup also has returned after three years of nonconference games.
It remains to be seen whether the NFL can continue selling a game that bears little resemblance to the product it puts on the field during the season. The players come to the Pro Bowl to have fun, not get hurt in an attempt to win.
"This Pro Bowl for me, in a sense, is special because you are coming here to celebrate what you've accomplished," New York Giants receiver Odell Beckham Jr. said. "It's a lot of fun."
Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman said the intensity would rise and more invited players would show up if the NFL gave them their weekly game salaries. Under the collective bargaining agreement, each player from the winning team will make $61,000 this week and the losing players will take home $30,000.
"You pay them what you are paying them and you get this performance," Sherman said. "It's a different element. I guarantee you less guys would miss the Pro Bowl if you told them you are going to pay them their normal salary for one more game."
Former NFL player and coach Herm Edwards said the game as it is played now is fine. He said the Pro Bowl is not about the game; it's about the fans and the players giving back. Thousands of fans have been at ESPN's Wide World of Sports complex watching both the AFC and NFC practice.
"We are all ambassadors to this great game of football and how you conduct yourself once you leave this practice field is more important than how you play the game," said Edwards, who now works as a football analyst. "The fans aren't going to remember the game. The fans remember if Odell Beckham, Patrick Peterson or if Drew Brees takes a picture with them, signs an autograph."
Edwards, however, understands the criticism. He even admits he doesn't watch the Pro Bowl. But he said if the game does become more fiercely contested, it would come at a cost that players, teams and even fans may not want to pay.
"The only way to make it better is you do this: If you want all of them to show up, make the game worth $500,000," Edwards said. "They will all show up and now they play. Here is the problem, when one of them gets hurt you have the same problem."
Oakland Raiders General Manager Reggie McKenzie acknowledges being torn when his players are selected for the Pro Bowl. On one hand, he is excited for their recognition. On the other, he's concerned about injuries.
"It's a risk," said McKenzie, who will have four players representing the AFC. "I cringe every time I go to practice, but it's the nature of the game. It's what it is. But you do everything you can to set your safety-type precautions. What else can you do? Not play? I don't think that's right."
Pro Bowl rosters
*indicates starters
AFC
Offense
Quarterback Alex Smith*, Kansas City Chiefs; Andy Dalton, Cincinnati Bengals; Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh Steelers
Running back DeMarco Murray*, Tennessee Titans; Jay Ajayi, Miami Dolphins; Melvin Gordon, San Diego Chargers
Wide receiver Jarvis Landry, Dolphins; T.Y. Hilton, Indianapolis Colts; Demaryius Thomas, Denver Broncos; Emmanuel Sanders, Broncos
Tight end Travis Kelce*, Chiefs; Delanie Walker, Titans
Tackle Joe Thomas, Cleveland Browns; Taylor Lewan, Titans; Andrew Whitworth, Bengals
Guard Kelechi Osemele, Oakland Raiders; David DeCastro, Steelers; Richie Incognito, Buffalo Bills
Center Rodney Hudson*, Raiders; Jeremy Zuttah, Baltimore Ravens
Fullback Kyle Juszcyzyk*, Ravens
Defense
Defense end Khalil Mack, Raiders; Cameron Wake, Dolphins; Jadeveon Clowney, Houston Texans
Interior linemen Geno Atkins, Bengals; Ndamukong Suh, Dolphins; Jurrell Casey, Titans
Outside linebacker Von Miller, Broncos; Lorenzo Alexander, Bills; Brian Orakpo, Titans
Inside/middle linebacker Ryan Shazier*, Steelers; Zach Brown, Bills
Cornerback Aqib Talib, Broncos; Casey Hayward, Chargers; Chris Harris, Broncos; Stephon Gilmore, Buffalo
Free safety Reggie Nelson*, Raiders; Eric Weddle, Ravens
Strong safety Darian Stewart*, Broncos
Special Teams
Punter Dustin Colquitt*, Chiefs
Kicker Justin Tucker*, Ravens
Long snapper Morgan Cox*, Ravens
Return specialist Tyreek Hill*, Chiefs
Special teamer D.J. Alexander*, Chiefs
NFC
Offense
Quarterback Dak Prescott*, Dallas Cowboys; Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints; Kirk Cousins, Washington Redskins
Running back Ezekiel Elliott*, Cowboys; Jordan Howard, Chicago Bears; Devonta Freeman, Atlanta Falcons
Wide receiver Odell Beckham*, New York Giants; Mike Evans, Tampa Bay Buccaneers; Larry Fitzgerald, Arizona Cardinals; Dez Bryant, Cowboys
Tight end Greg Olsen*, Carolina Panthers; Jimmy Graham, Seattle Seahawks
Tackle Tyron Smith, Cowboys; Trent Williams, Redskins; David Bakhtiari, Green Bay Packers
Guard Zack Martin, Cowboys; Trai Turner, Panthers; Josh Sitton, Bears
Center Travis Frederick*, Cowboys; Jason Kelce, Philadelphia Eagles
Fullback Mike Tolbert*, Panthers
Defense
Defensive end Everson Griffen, Minnesota Vikings; Cliff Avril, Seahawks; Michael Bennett, Seahawks
Interior linemen Gerald McCoy, Buccaneers; Fletcher Cox, Eagles; Linval Joseph, Vikings
Outside linebacker K.J. Wright, Seahawks; Thomas Davis, Panthers; Anthony Barr, Vikings
Inside/middle linebacker Bobby Wagner*, Seahawks; Sean Lee, Cowboys
Cornerback Janoris Jenkins, Giants; Patrick Peterson, Cardinals; Richard Sherman, Seahawks; Xavier Rhodes, Vikings
Free safety Harrison Smith*, Vikings; Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, Packers
Strong safety Landon Collins*, Giants
Special Teams
Punter Johnny Hekker*, Los Angeles Rams
Kicker Matt Prater*, Detroit Lions
Long snapper Jake McQuaide*, Rams
Return specialist Cordarrelle Patterson*, Vikings
Special teamer Dwayne Harris*, Giants
Players Replaced
QB Derek Carr (injured) replaced by Smith; Tom Brady (Super Bowl) replaced by Dalton; Aaron Rodgers (?) replaced by Cousins; Matt Ryan (Super Bowl) replaced by Drew Brees
Running back LeSean McCoy (injured) replaced by Ajayi; Le’Veon Bell (injured) replaced by Gordon; David Johnson (injured) replaced by Howard; Devonta Freeman (Super Bowl) replaced by Sproles
Wide receiver Amari Cooper (injured) replaced by Sanders; A.J. Green (injured) replaced by Landry; Antonio Brown (injured) replaced by Thomas; Julio Jones (Super Bowl) replaced by Bryant
Tight End Jordan Reed (injured) replaced by Graham
Tackle Donald Penn (injured) replaced by Whitworth; Jason Peters (injured) replaced by Bakhtiari
Guard Marshal Yanda (injured) replaced by Incognito; Brandon Scherff (injured) replaced by Turner; T.J. Lang (injured) replaced by Sitton
Center Ryan Kalil (injured) replaced by Wood; Maurkice Pouncey (injured) replaced by Zuttah; Alex Mack (Super Bowl) replaced by Kelce
Linebacker Dont’a Hightower (Super Bowl) replaced by Brown; C.J. Mosley (injured) replaced by Shazier; Ryan Kerrigan (injured) replaced by Wright; Vic Beasley (Super Bowl) replaced by Barr; Luke Kuechly (injured) replaced by Lee
Defense end Jadeveon Clowney (injured) replaced by Dunlap; Khalil Mack (injured) replaced by Williams
Defensive tackle Aaron Donald (injured) replaced by Joseph
Cornerback Marcus Peters (injured) replaced by Gilmore
Strong safety Eric Berry (injured) replaced by Stewart
Free safety Devin McCourty (Super Bowl) replaced by Weddle
Punter Pat McAfee (injured) replaced by Colquitt
Kicker Matt Bryant (Super Bowl) replaced by Prater
Special teamer Matthew Slater (Super Bowl) replaced by Alexander
Sports on 01/29/2017