2012 Pro Bowl: The NFL’s Elite Prepare To Battle In Hawaii

Now that we know who’s going and not going, the NFC starters for the 2012 Pro Bowl on Sunday are all set and they look just as imposing as they did originally.

The offensive line protecting them consists of Jason Peters, Joe Staley, Jahri Evans, Carl Nicks and center Ryan Kalil.

For updates leading up to the Pro Bowl and the Super Bowl, keep it with SB Nation’s NFL hub.

The 2012 Pro Bowl will take place at Aloha Stadium in Hawaii on Sunday, January 29. The annual All-Star game nicely bridges the gap between the final round of playoffs and Super Bowl XLVI, so NFL fans don’t have to spend a week without football.

During practices this week, the AFC and NFC players took the time to model the 2012 Pro Bowl uniforms for their respective teams. Since the game takes place in Hawaii and the NFL doesn’t for one second want you to forget that, there were the requisite floral leis and hula dancer-esque models, also decked out in the team colors. Cam Newton in particular seemed to be having an especially good time.

Kubiak brings Offensive Coordinator Rick Dennison and Defensive Coordinator Wade Phillips with him to run the respective units.

For updates leading up to the Pro Bowl and the Super Bowl, keep it with SB Nation’s NFL hub.

A select number of the NFL’s best players will be making a trip to Hawaii to participate in this Sunday’s AFC-NFC Pro Bowl. However, it’s not just the players who get rewarded for good seasons, some of the league’s top coaches get the chance to be there as well.

For updates leading up to the Pro Bowl and the Super Bowl, keep it with SB Nation’s NFL hub.

The NFL’s best players will be making a trip to Hawaii to participate in this Sunday’s AFC-NFC Pro Bowl. The NFC will field an impressive array of all-stars.

The selected NFC starting defense won’t be undergoing a whole lot of changes, with Rogers the lone honoree to bow out of the contest. The 49ers will still have a presence on the unit, however, with disruptive tackle Justin Smith (58 tackles, 7.5 sacks) and inside linebacker Patrick Willis (97 tackles, 2 sacks, 1 INT) each receiving well-deserved citations for their contributions to one of the NFL’s stingiest defenses in 2011.

A select number of the NFL’s best players will be making a trip to Hawaii to participate in this Sunday’s AFC-NFC Pro Bowl, though the league’s annual all-star game will be lacking some of its star power once again due to a variety of factors.

For updates leading up to the Pro Bowl and the Super Bowl, keep it with SB Nation’s NFL hub.

It’s pretty impossible to not like Cam Newton. In addition to his play on the field -- he was very, very good this year, if you missed it -- Newton has a personality that just makes him a star. For example...

Sideways hat, leggings, shorts pulled way up. Yep, it’s awesome.

The 2012 Pro Bowl, the NFL’s post-season all-star game, will take place in Honolulu on January 29th. And while we’re still getting used to some of the recent changes with the game, some things haven’t changed since the beginning.

Officially, the game has been called the AFC–NFC Pro Bowl since the 1970 merger, matching the top players in the American Football Conference (AFC) against those in the National Football Conference (NFC).

For updates leading up to the Pro Bowl and the Super Bowl, keep it with SB Nation’s NFL hub.

The Pro Bowl is voted on by the fans, coaches and players with each group counted equally. That means some players who are deserving may not make it in because they’re not a fan favorite. Others will make it based largely on name recognition alone.

Here’s a look at a few of the top snubs in the 2012 Pro Bowl and what SB Nation bloggers had to say about them.

Newton is the first alternate for the NFC and will likely play in the game, according to the Charlotte Observer. Newton has had an impressive rookie campaign, even though his team has won many games. On the season, Newton has thrown for 3,893 passing yards with 20 touchdown passes and 16 interceptions. Newton also added 673 rushing yards with 14 rushing touchdowns, for a total of 34 touchdowns on the season.

Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford is also an alternate, according to Tim Twentyman of DetroitLions.com. It’s unsure what number alternate Stafford is, but like Newton has should have a good chance to make it into the game. On the season, Stafford had 4,518 passing yards with 36 touchdowns and just 14 interceptions. He’s led the Lions to their first playoff appearance in quite some time.

Dalton, named the AFC’s first QB alternate, was a second-round selection of the Bengals in the 2011 NFL Draft and started all 16 games for the Bengals, leading them to a current record of 9-6 and still in the hunt for the playoffs. On the season, Dalton has 3,199 passing yards with 20 touchdowns and just 13 interceptions.

Either Tebow or Dalton have a very good chance of playing in the game, as history has shown one or two quarterbacks will typically bow out of the game due to playing in the Super Bowl or having suffered an injury.

Note: * indicates starter, number of Pro Bowl appearances appears in paranthesis

SS: *Troy Polamalu (7)

Note: * indicates starter, number of Pro Bowl appearances appears in paranthesis

The 2012 Pro Bowl rosters will be released on Tuesday evening at 7:00 p.m. (ET) and if the fans’ vote is any indication you can expect to see a lot of Green Bay Packers on the team. The Packers had nine players leading their position in the fans’ vote including OT Chad Clifton, who hadn’t played since Week 5. It’s obvious the Packers have a lot of fans across the country.

In the fans voting, Aaron Rodgers was the overall vote-getter followed by Tom Brady, Drew Brees, Calvin Johnsonand Wes Welker. Jared Allen was the top defensive vote-getter and Devin Hester was tops on special teams.