The Pro Bowl roster is full of a number of big name stars, including Peyton Manning, Adrian Peterson, Eli Manning and Russell Wilson who will play in Hawaii Sunday on NBC.
The roster has changed up from the original starts due to injuries, including to Tom Brady and Matt Ryan, who were replaced by rookies Andrew Luck and Russell Wilson, respectively. Some of the other big names replaced in Hawaii include the entire NFC quarterback roster, with Aaron Rodgers, Ryan and Robert Griffin III being replaced by Eli Manning, Drew Brees and Wilson.
Last season the game turned into a farce, with the AFC coming out on top 59-41 after Brandon Marshall caught four touchdowns against the softest coverage ever seen in any professional game.
"You know what? I wanted it," he said. "It's a Pro Bowl. Some guys are playing 100 (percent), some guys are playing 90, some guys aren't playing at all, but it means a lot to be up in the rafters with some of these guys."
Following the game, Aaron Rodgers and commissioner Roger Goodell criticized the level of play and the league said the game's future would be under consideration. The current game could be the last for the players if they do not give a premium effort. In the past it was not as much of an issue, but with injuries and other factors being involved, some feel it is too risky to go 100 percent in an all-star game.
Arian Foster made some news about the game and the effort earlier in the week, saying that the NFL season is hard enough as it is.
"This isn't basketball - you can't go play a pickup game of football," Foster said, according to the Associated Press. "I think it's an honor and a tradition, but for you to expect the best athletes in the NFL to come out and play a game 100 percent when you can't game plan, you can't blitz, you can't do all these things, it's not going to be competitive like everybody wants it to be."
Some players getting late entry to the game includes Denver wideout Demariyus Thomas, who had 1,434 yards receiving and 10 touchdowns, as well as Houston tight end Owen Daniels, who caught 62 passes for 716 yards in 2012. Daniels is the ninth Texans player to make it to Hawaii, joining tackle Duane Brown, running back Arian Foster, receiver Andre Johnson, cornerback Johnathan Joseph, center Chris Myers, quarterback Matt Schaub, left guard Wade Smith and defensive end J.J. Watt.
The Pro Bowl will also mark the final game of Green Bay Packers center Jeff Saturday's career. The longtime Indianapolis Colt said that he would retire following this season after playing in the All-Star event. The San Francisco 49ers and Baltimore Ravens put a number of players on the Pro Bowl teams, but names like Joe Staley, Ray Rice, Vonta Leach, Patrick Willis and NaVorro Bowman will be in New Orleans preparing for the Super Bowl.
Here are some player and game predictions for the 2013 Pro Bowl from Honolulu.
Player Predictions:
Eli Manning, New York Giants: 125 passing yards, one touchdown
-Manning will benefit from playing with wide receiver Victor Cruz and he will want to end the year on a high note after sneaking into the game due to injuries.
Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints: 200 passing yards, two touchdowns
-That number is probably impossible, but Brees can light things up. Plus he has the best wideouts in the game.
Andrew Luck, Indianapolis: 155 yards passing, one touchdown
-It's amazing that Luck and Peyton Manning are playing together on this team and Luck will have the benfit from playing with Reggie Wayne.
Peyton Manning, Denver: 160 yards passing, two touchdowns
-Manning will be reunited with Wayne in Honolulu after leaving Indianapolis and he will also have Demariyus Thomas. Manning will want to erase some memories of the AFC playoffs.
Reggie Wayne, Indianapolis: 125 yards, one touchdown
-Wayne gets to play with his last two quarterbacks, one of which is a sure Hall of Famer. He also will be playing against some lax coverage.
Victor Cruz, N.Y. Giants: 115 yards, one touchdown
-Eli is playing in this game, meaning Victor Cruz has the inside track to some action if he can get some space against the AFC secondary.
Larry Fitzgerald, Arizona: 150 yards, two touchdowns
-Fitzgerald will be playing with talented quarterbacks for the first time all season. He will wish every game was in Hawaii.
Adrian Peterson, Minnesota Vikings: 85 yards, one touchdown
-After the amazing season Adrian Peterson had, he will be able to show off his reconstructed knee under the Hawaii sun.
Prediction: NFC 38, AFC 34. This time things will look good (but not great), but it will be a major upgrade from last year's joke of a game. The Manning brothers both will put up some solid numbers, but it will be the NFC that comes out on top.
Watch the NFL or NBC live stream of the 2013 Pro Bowl online HERE at the league website or on NBC.com.
