We are down to the final two weeks of the 2009 National Football League season and for the first time ever the Pro Bowl will precede the Super Bowl.
It promises to be a very exciting two weeks, and before all the pundits begin with their annual diatribes knocking the Pro Bowl, I wanted to get in a couple of comments about the league all-star game.
We all know that the nature of football as a collision sport negates some of the style and strategy used in a regular game, but when was the last time you watched the Pro Bowl and saw somebody frown?
The players are honored to be selected and really enjoy spending a no-pressure week with their peers and in many cases bring wives, kids, and a small entourage of family and friends to celebrate and enjoy the moment with them.
Anytime you receive an honor, it is just that. An honor. Who ever heard of anybody refusing one, whether it was selection to the Pro Bowl or the announcement that you have won the Nobel Prize. The grateful winners humbly accept and enjoy the fruits of their victories, as well they should.
One of the common misconceptions about the Pro Bowl, especially among media members, is that nobody watches.
Actually, that is one of the easiest theories to dispute because it involves facts that can be tracked and counted.
Each year for the last decade or so I have watched Pro Bowl ratings, and they have generally come in at about a 6-7 share, with little deviation from that general figure. While it is true that the weekly ratings for NFL football are higher, it is of course similarly true that NFL TV ratings are higher than any others, all year, all the time.
But the Pro Bowl TV figures show more viewers than anything pro basketball and pro hockey ever produce, and only the biggest of sporting events have higher television marks than the Pro Bowl.
Basically, the World Series (sometimes), the NCAA finals, the last day of the Masters, these are the types of events that have higher numbers, and they should, of course.
But I still remember one Pro Bowl in particular, when basketball great Michael Jordan came out of retirement in mid-season. The Chicago Bulls-Indiana Pacers Sunday game was the first of Jordan’s return, and it was fairly hyped as much as one could imagine by the press corps, which simultaneously chuckled about the fact that nobody watches the Pro Bowl.
Then Sunday came, and I tracked the ratings, as usual, and the Pro Bowl had a higher TV number than Michael Jordan’s return to the NBA.
So critics can say they don’t like it – that is fair. But they can’t say nobody watches.
I’ll be interested in seeing the numbers this week, with the game moved to the South Florida Super Bowl site and serving as a kickoff to a week which should run as a celebration of NFL football.
I suspect those numbers might be pretty high this week.
A lot of football fans will be watching.
Tags: 2010 Pro Bowl, Ratings
List of expansion teams since merger:
1967
New Orleans Saints join NFC as expansion team
1968
Cincinnati Bengals join AFC as expansion team
1971
Boston Patriots move to Foxboro Mass., change name to New England Patriots
1976
Seattle Seahawks join AFC as expansion team Tampa Bay Bucaneers join NFC as expansion team
1982
Oakland Raiders move to Los Angeles, become Los Angeles Raiders
1984
Baltimore Colts move to Indianapolis, become Indianapolis Colts
1988
St. Louis Cardinals move to Tempe, Arizona, become Arizona Cardinals
1995
Jacksonville Jaguars join AFC as expansion team Carolina Panthers join NFC as expansion team Los Angeles Rams move to St. Louis, become St. Louis Rams Los Angeles Raiders move back to Oakland, become Oakland Raiders again
1996
Cleveland Browns move to Baltimore, become Baltimore Ravens
1997
Houston Oilers move to Nashville, Tenn., become Tennessee Oilers
1999
Cleveland Browns join the AFC as expansion team
Wow. My DSL was down and I just got back on line. I hate Moving. Anyway looks like some heated exchanges between some that spend a great deal of time on this blog. Evan in the off season! Chill out Baylin and sndvl its all just opinions nobody has called anybody out and if they did so what! It’s free speech here posting and be prepared to defend it. Cuz I love reading it. Crap I stopped leading with Bronco Nation cuz it pissed Old Southstander off. Disrespect I think he called it even after I have been here 5 years or more!! This is “Bronco Country always was and always will be!” I think he said. So out of respect I no longer call us “The Bronco Nation” No big deal to me I could call us “The Bronco ——–“. What ever. This should be were we all come to post whatever we want and ague our opinions. It’s not a polling post on who likes who! It’s our opinions as Bronco Fans!! I am sure we all want to win.
Just saying!!
GO BRONCOS
FTR
Now then back to lets fire McD!! LOL
FTR
you go FTR, same here and I like having fun doing it, anyone is free to say whatever they want, but I don’t have to participate when it is no longer fun, just saying, just like in real life, not everyone can be your buddy, nothing wrong with that. Not a problem from where I’m standing, just saying.
I HOPE U GUYS ARE FOLLOWING THE SENIOR BOWL PRACTICES… REAL INTERESTING!!! YOU CAN CATCH ON NFL NETWORK OR YOUTUBE HAVE SOME HIGHLIGHTS ALSO.. THERE’S A LOT OF TALK OF WHO’S RISING & FALLING IN THE DRAFT.. (TERRENCE CODY CAME IN OVER WEIGHT AT 370LBS & VERY OUT OF SHAPE)
370 lbs, OUT OF SHAPE!?!?!?!? LMAO…..
Baylin
I got ya Baylin and I understand! You can pick your friends but you can not pick your inlaws!! LOL
It gets better with age, at my age they’re both gone, I’m not going to put a LOL after that in respect for them.
Yeah but Cody has still be dominating O lineman at the practices. I like him even if he is over weight. Hey if he puts in the work and drops his weight by the combine I will be impressed. I still say we draft him.
YEAH MIKE MAYLOCK IS SAYING CODY IS NOT EVEN A 2DOWN TACKLE CAUSE HE GETS TIRED SO FAST
BTW, at the onset of the NFL/AFL merger they had 24 teams, so the league has grown by eight teams.
He played mostly as a two down lineman in college but I think he could be the perfect NT for the Broncos if he can drop some weight. Down to 360-350.
I THINK SO TO IF HE DROPS THE WEIGHT.. THE OTHER THING IS U DON’T WANT TO USE A HIGH PICK ON A TACKLE THAT’S NOT A 3-DOWN TACKLE…
He could drop into the 2nd round as an early pick which would be good. That would be good value for him.
One of the most intriguing things to me as off late are handles. I happen to be like most twenty somethings of modern times and blog constantly on many different blogs and would like to carry another to this one. How and why did you choose yours?
Mine is long but bear with it or ignore it up to you. Steve is my first name, and the can2 stems from high school. Playing baseball and football my best friend was the star quarterback and I was his back up, much like in baseball he was the star starting pitcher and I was middle relief, usually coming in after him. One occurrence our senior year, he was in bad shape from an out of school incident, but wanted to hide what it was. So half time during a game he faked an injury and in I went. Going on to be the first qb for my school to pass for over 200 yds in a single game in over 10 years. We were a straight up option team (much to my dismay seeing as how I couldn’t run the option to save my life, but couldn’t move so I could go to a pass friendly school with known coaches), with 5 pass plays in our entire playbook. I went 12 for 15 that game 3 tds, and we won. At the end of the game the coach was running off about what it took to win and said something after a comment from a player saying Steve can too. It became a joke between my friend and I for years.
hey roualbeast i see a MAJOR problem with drafting mccoy and here it is:he is terrible against good defenses like Nebraska and if u think they are good then look at nfl defenses cuz they are a lot better
thats my oppinoun so i would rather we took Pike from cincinatti
Stevecan2, cool story, congrats on your awesome game. My handle is very simple, it’s for the mistress in my life, my cabin cruiser. Bayliner is the boat brand and Orange Crush is it’s name on the stern, combine it, here you go baylinorcrush, but I think most everyone knew that already.
Ftr
I can’t recall that anything you posted upset me and if something did, it sure wasn’t leading with “Bronco Nation”. I’m sure that there isn’t a single post by anyone that doesn’t upset somebody. What we all need to remember is that we all have an equal right to our opinons and deserve to be treated civially no matter how stupid anothers remark may seem to someone else.
P. S. I’ve had tickets in the South Stands since the mid 60′s, so the monicer is obvious.
LOL
I chose something that doesn’t have anything to do with broncos. ( I always get confused by all the bronco names here)
I chose my handle in reference to Mike Florio from PFT. (or his mom i guess)
Baylin
THx for info on expansions. Came to America in like mid 97 so the only NFL set up i know for the most part is the current one lol
FTR
I remember the incident u are talking about and the quote is very perfect. Only thing is i cant remember who said it lol. but such a quote was said and since then I also realized that it really is Raider Nation and Broncos Country…thats even the name of our forum
Stevecan2
As far as handles go. Im a WR fanatic. Woulda played more in school if I wasnt too lazy to put on weight (for some reason my body avoids weight like the plague 6’1 160). Anyway, my name is a tribute to what i believe was the best tandem receiver set….Brandon “The Beast” Marshall (my favorite bronco/possibly ex bronco lol) and Eddie Royal = TheRoyalBeast
simple right? lol
I was actually born as:
Orange Crusher
Broncos Country Citizen number 21634
My birth certificate is signed by Pat Bowlen…
Mine is plain and simple. My name is Cody and everyone has always said if you cut me open I will bleed orange and blue. Although it bleeds purple and gold during college basketball and baseball season and on saturdays during football season.
For those who are upset about the current state of the Broncos, consider these facts:
1) 1977 was only the SECOND season the Broncos had a winning record.
2) At one point in time they were so bad that they didn’t get a single first down an entire game.
3) The only reaon the Broncos exist is that the NFL expanded into Minnesota which was where the team was originally supposed to be located and so Denver was second choice.
How soon we forget how bad thing really were and expect a trip to the Super Bowl every year.
I chose my handle when Jake the Snake was our QB. My last name is Sandoval, so i removed the vowels and it became- sndvl!
Im still waiting for the Denver/Minnesota Superbowl…lol
GO BRONCOS!!!!!!!!!!
I heard this superbowl will be the highest over/under ever. 56 and a half! If any two teams can score that many points it would be these two. It should be a good game. Better than the probowl. I’d take the Colts.
The reason that I chose this handle is because I think that Elvis Dumervil is a beast. Pretty simple.
I like the Saints to beat the Colts, 31-21.
oldsouthstander, thanx for the tidbit of us not getting a single first down in an entire game, by any chance do you remember when and against who? No need to do a bunch of research about it, was just wondering if you knew that on top of your head is all.
This is what Mike Klis had to say about this pro bowl, pretty much rings true with some of our comments at the top of this blog:
I give commissioner Roger Goodell credit for trying to find ways to make the NFL’s all-star game entertaining. But moving the event from the week after the Super Bowl, to the week before, and from Hawaii to the same site of the Super Bowl isn’t the answer.
There is no answer. Not with football’s inherent injury-risk factor there’s not. And clearly the star players weren’t exactly willing to play through pain for a trip to Miami. Garrard is the AFC’s No. 8 quarterback. Tom Brady, Philip Rivers, Ben Roethlisberger and Carson Palmer turned down the chance to play because of injury, and Peyton Manning can’t play because he’s in the Super Bowl. That’s five down. Matt Schaub, Vince Young and Garrard accepted their invitations by default.
In all, 29 Pro Bowlers had to be replaced. This isn’t an all star game. It’s a bunch of guys getting together for a scrimmage.
And folks, that’s the truth of the matter… (my line, not Klis’)
I wish they didn’t move the Pro Bowl in anyway, either by location or date. I liked it the way they had it. It made for a good ending to the season.
First of all I love getting into debates. If everyone just agreed on everything this blog would get very boring, just as life would if we all agreed. So lets continue to have those crazy salmon swim upstream if you will. LOL!
Well if you haven’t guessed by now my handle stems from my name, pretty self explanitory.
IMO we need at least a 3 down NT/DT. We want someone in there every play to give us a plug in the middle. I also believe that this also allows the d-line to get into a groove just as every other player. They start knowing how the o-line guy is going to try and block him or whatever. If you’re switching guys out every other play it kind of seems not to work. I’m sure all the scouts will take into concideration Cody’s weigth. I’m sure whatever team he gets signed with they’ll either make him drop some weight or have weight clauses in his contract.
Pro Bowl I’ll be watching. I know my wife likes it because its probably one of the only games I can watch and not get crazy and yell at the TV, cause they can here you on the field if you yell loud enough at the TV. LOL!! I just enjoy watching because like Jim said, it’s a stress free game, just a fun game, pretty much like backyard football but for proffesionals. Also its fun to watch those crazy plays, like Cutler’s fumble rooskie last year.
Colts beat Saints with a last minute Stover FG 31-28. All I know is the Saints got handed the game by Peterson with his fumbleitis. They are going to need to play a lot better against the Colts if they want a chance to win. Should be a good game though. Two of the most high powered offenses going at it. I really don’t expect a defensive battle. Which is totally awesome for the fans watching.
Tebow = No No for McD. Maybe if Tebow goes in like the 5th or 6th round maybe then.
Like I said on a previous post, the best thing to do in this league about the pro bowl is to have it on paper only, to have it played out is a farce. The only other option would be to play it as a flag football game, no pads, no contact, no one is hitting anybody anyway, so what would the difference be, at least it would be a novelty. I enjoy watching them once in a while like in the 2006 pro bowl week, they had a flag football game between teams ran by Elway vs. Steve Young where Mecklenburgh turned out to be a scoring receiving machine for Young to give them the win. That was fun, the pro bowl as it is, is not. Turn it into a globe trotters type of thing, you want entertainment, give us entertainment, not this fake football game, just a this fan’s opinion.
Don’t know what that “a” is doing in the last sentence, LOL.
Baylinorcrush
Not sure who it was against. I want to say the Houston Oilers in the late 60′s. Surprisingly enough, the Broncos did score a touchdown as they returned a kickoff for a TD. I remember Bob Martin wondering aloud whether or not runnning back a kickoff gave to a first down. Needless to say, it doesn’t. Glad you enjoy an occasional “blast from the past”.
Yeah, that’s what it all about in life as I get there in years, memories, thanks again for sharing this one, 7 points, no first down!?!?!? That should be in the Guiness world record book, LOL.
baylin,
Did the research it has happened 5 times that a team failed to score a first down:
NY Giants v. Green Bay 1-1-33 Won 10-7
Pittsburgh v. Boston 10-29-33 Won 16-14
Philadelphia v. Detroit 9-20-35 Lost 0-35
NY Giants v. Washington 9-27-42 Won 14-7
Denver v. Houston 9-3-66 Lost 7-45
As impressive as it is to not have a first down and score 7 points its even more impressive to not have a first down and win a game.
Well guys, I’ll be at the Pro Bowl in Miami so deff. look for me on the tv. I have a field pass so I will be on the field the whole time with the players. I will have on a Dawkins Pro bowl jersey and probably a broncos hat so that will be me if you see someone dressed in that!! I am going to try to get all of our guys sign the jersey for me since ill be out on the field with them!!!
Cool cody, nice info about incredible stuff, but how can teams score respectively 10, 16 and 14 points without ever getting a first down? That just blows my mind, I guess like Denver, KO return or maybe punt returns or of course defensive scores, it still boggles the mind and done only five times in the history of the NFL going back to 1933 shows how extremely rare it is. With how the game has evolved on the offensive side of the ball, I am willing to bet that the Broncos will go down in history as the last team to ever perform the feat in 1966 for the rest of NFL history.
And kuddos to oldsouthstander for REMEMBERING it was against the Houston Oilers, 44 years ago, that’s some memory there!
Jim,
Congrats on the promotion.
baylin,
I could not find out how the points were scored. I am still looking though! My guess is KO returns, punt returns, INT returns, and Fumble returns. Although if you start a drive and score on the first play is it considered a first down?
I don’t see how a score, no matter from where it originates on the field, can be considered a first down, it simply goes down as a score. So, yeah, that’s one more way to get points without needing a first down.
Well then there is your answer!
If an offensive play results is TD, you are awarded a first down. Not sure if that applies is you started inside the other teams 10 yard line. I suspect so, but….. It wasn’t always true that you got a first down if you scoree a TD. The worst college defeat ever to happen, 220 -0 had neither team getting a first down. Bad team never got one, good team sdcored a TD on every play the ran. At that time the rule was that you had to go your ten yards without score a TD to be awarded a first down. Also not sure, but I believe at that time TD was only 5 points.
Please check out my newest article: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/334576-martindale-hired-as-broncos-defensive-coordinater
Would love some feedback!
Handle?
Broncfalls – I live in a town called Rock Falls. This is in Illinois. So……..I simply wanted to represent from the Midwest……Broncfalls!
Now,
I have a question for you guys/gals and it’s a loaded one at that. Hear me out.
Do you believe McDaniels knows football? Be honest. Do you believe he knows talent? Marshall? Cutler? etc….Do you really think a 32 year old takes on a head coaching job in the NFL for one of the most respected organizations in all of sports and utilizes a “I’m in charge attitude” as a building block?
I guess what I’m getting at is doesn’t anyone understand what is happening or will happen? Bailey’s comments on Nolan was quite interesting on Nolan! Future Hall of Fame DB at that!
Yes, I support McDaniels 100%. I don’t necessarily see his vision from time to time but I am certainly in position to be questioning a NFL head coach! LOL! I was just thinking last night after reading numerous articles on and off this site about fans wanting McDaniels gone! …..uh why? 1 year 8-8 gone? Yeah, I know the 6-0 start and the 2-8 finish….but after 1 year? New players, new scheme, new coaches and you get 1 year? despite how it went…you get 1 year?
There have certainly been times I “believe” PR could’ve been handled better but if so many are wanting Marshall to be given a pass after pass after pass and a new contract to boot with his issues, can’t we sit idle and see how McDaniel’s vision plays out? I mean it’s been 1 year LOL!
Is the Cutler trade looking so dreadful as once thought by even myself? I don’t know…..maybe not.
Lastly, I want to say I enjoy reading all your posts! This is just my opinion and thoughts. To me, McDaniels knows football and knows it well. Did it work out this year? No….but I am extremely excited to see how our coach rebounds and builds off of his 1st year head coaching experience!
GO GET EM’ BOYS!
Sorry….I mean to say in the middle that “I am certainly n no position to questioning a NFL head coach”
It’s fun from time to time…but if you’re going to be serious about critizing a NFL head coach I think a reality check needs to come into play. There is WAY to much we don’t know. Practices, locker room, team meetings, conversations, attitudes…..then there’s all the football stuff….
GO GET EM’ BOYS!
draft dt williams n dt cody beef our d line up