ORLANDO, Fla. — The NFL made a major change in 2017 by moving the Pro Bowl to Orlando, something commissioner Roger Goodell sees as very positive, though he isn’t ready to make the city the Pro Bowl’s permanent home. Orlando is under contract to host the event next year with a third-year option for 2019.
“We go one year at a time,” Goodell said to ESPN just prior to kickoff. “This is new for us, and we’re still not done. We have a few more hours to go. As I just said to the [Orlando] mayor [Buddy Dyer], ‘We’re really excited, the way the fans have reacted favorably and the community has really embraced it. This is a special night for us.”
The Pro Bowl format changed this year too, returning to the NFC-AFC matchup. It incorporated a new mantra: celebrating football at all levels in a weeklong event held at ESPN’s Wide World of Sports. It included the Punt, Pass and Kick National Championship, NFL Flag Championship, the North American Championship featuring high school players from USA Football and Football Canada, and the USA Football’s Women’s World Football.
The event featured the annual USA Football national conference and the Women’s Careers in Football Forum. There was also the Pro Bowl Experience put on for fans, the EA Madden Bowl and the Pro Bowl Skills Challenge.
“We want to celebrate the game,” Goodell said. “We love seeing the kids play the game. We love to see the high school coaches here. We had a women’s football team here. It’s all about the great game that we have, and we’re able to celebrate it.”
As far as the on-field product that has come under scrutiny in recent years, Goodell said it’s important to understand what the game is and isn’t — the league must keep players safe and still make it entertaining. The key to that? Having fun, he said.
“This is a different kind of a game,” Goodell said. “This isn’t a Super Bowl or a championship game. We recognize that. It’s gotta be something that reflects positively on our end. The thing that really struck me about the skills challenge was how much fun the players had. They were really enjoying it. And that’s what I said to them tonight, ‘Have fun. Enjoy it.'”
INDIANAPOLIS — New Colts general manager Chris Ballard arrives in Indianapolis with the type of knowledge in roster building that Colts owner Jim Irsay talked about last offseason.
Irsay, knowing the financial limitations the Colts were going to face after giving out new contracts to the likes of Andrew Luck, Dwayne Allen, Anthony Castonzo and T.Y. Hilton, said they were going to have to build their roster through the draft and develop those players.
Chris Ballard has been hired as the Colts’ new GM, replacing the fired Ryan Grigson. George Gojkovich/Getty Images
Ballard, who worked his way up through the scouting ranks in the NFL, spent the past four years with the Kansas City Chiefs. And during that same span, all three of their first-round picks — offensive lineman Eric Fisher, linebacker Dee Ford and cornerback Marcus Peters — have played significant roles with the franchise. The Chiefs didn’t have a first-round pick in 2016. They also selected Pro Bowl tight end Travis Kelce in the third round of the 2013 draft and Pro Bowl return specialist Tyreek Hill in the fifth round of the 2016 draft.
Former Chicago director of college scouting Greg Gabriel worked with Ballard with the Bears and had high praise for the Colts’ new general manager.
When I came to Chicago in 2001, Chris Ballard was the first scout I hired. I’m so happy and proud that he is the Colts new GM. THE right guy
— Greg Gabriel (@greggabe) January 29, 2017
Within 3 years of hiring of Ballard I knew he was a future GM. “Got it” better than anyone I have ever been around. Unique talent
— Greg Gabriel (@greggabe) January 29, 2017
“I am extremely excited about Chris coming on as our general manager,” Colts coach Chuck Pagano said through the team’s Twitter account. “He brings a wealth of knowledge and a ton of experience to the organization. I’m looking forward to rolling up our sleeves and going to work alongside of him.”
One of former Colts general manager Ryan Grigson’s biggest downfalls was his inability to draft well. His best draft was his first one in 2012 that featured Luck, Allan and Hilton. But things started to go downhill for him after that. The Colts didn’t have players from their 2013 draft on their active roster this past season.
Grigson traded away their 2014 first-round pick for running back Trent Richardson, who turned out to be a bust. Grigson skipped over the likes of defensive lineman Malcolm Brown and safety Landon Collins in 2015 to select receiver Phillip Dorsett, who hasn’t lived up to expectations so far. The Colts cut their third-round pick from 2015, cornerback D’Joun Smith, last season.
The Colts have to get younger on a defense that finished 30th in the NFL and had five starters who were 30 years old or older last season.
Ballard is a first-time general manager, but he has the knowledge of what it takes to build a roster. Now the Colts hope Ballard will do the same with theirs.
After a four-week search, the New York Jets are poised to hire Saints receivers coach John Morton as their new offensive coordinator, league sources told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter.
Morton will replace Chan Gailey, who held the job for two years before announcing his retirement two days after the 2016 season ended.
Morton, 47, will be the Jets’ fifth coordinator in the past seven years, and the second under coach Todd Bowles. Morton and former Texans offensive coordinator George Godsey were the only known candidates.
Previously, Broncos running backs coach Eric Studesville interviewed for the job, but he decided to remain in Denver.
John Morton is credited with developing young Saints receivers Brandin Cooks, Willie Snead and Michael Thomas, who formed the most prolific receiving trio in the league with a combined 242 catches and 3,205 yards in 2016. Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
The Jets finished 26th in total offense and 30th in scoring this season.
Morton has no coordinator experience at the NFL level, but has spent 10 seasons as an assistant coach with the Raiders, 49ers and Saints.
His biggest coaching influences are Saints coach Sean Payton and Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh, who was the 49ers’ head coach while Morton worked as the receivers coach from 2011 to 2014.
Morton returned for a second stint with the Saints in 2015 and was credited with developing young receivers Brandin Cooks, Willie Snead and Michael Thomas.
Thomas, a second-round pick, finished with 92 catches, the second-most of any rookie receiver, behind only Anquan Boldin’s 101 in 2003 and just ahead of Odell Beckham Jr. (2014) and Eddie Royal (2008) with 91 each.
Thomas’ 1,137 yards ranked sixth among rookies in NFL history, and his nine touchdowns tied for 15th, according to ESPN Stats & Information.
Thomas, Cooks and Snead formed the most prolific receiving trio in the league in 2016, combining for 242 catches and 3,205 yards.
Bowles still has two vacancies on his offensive staff, at quarterbacks and running backs coaches.
FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — Ryan Schraeder didn’t hesitate when asked which member of the Atlanta Falcons offensive line has the best touchdown spike.
“Well, me, of course,” the right tackle said.
Schraeder is particularly proud of a spike during an October win at Green Bay. He put so much of his 6-foot-7, 300-pound frame into spiking the ball and it went so high that he’s not sure it has come down.
A few days later, Schraeder posted pictures of the moment around the team’s practice facility to remind those who may have missed it how good it was.
“I don’t blame him for feeling that way,” left tackle Jake Matthews said. “He’s had a few good ones. But if you go back and check the tape, I think mine went a little higher.
“Honestly, I’d say I’m the best.”
You don’t often hear offensive linemen debating about spiking the football. You don’t often hear about offensive linemen spiking the football. That honor typically goes to the player who scored the touchdown.
That changed in Atlanta in 2015 when running back Devonta Freeman showed his appreciation for the O-line after a Week 4 touchdown against the Houston Texans by letting then-center Mike Person celebrate with a spike.
It’s rare to see offensive linemen such as Alex Mack spike the football, but the Falcons’ unit has earned it with its continuity this season. Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images
This year, the spikes have become such a big deal that linemen unofficially rate who’s best.
But spikes aren’t the biggest deal on an offensive line that has helped Atlanta reach Super Bowl LI. What’s bigger? They’re the only group of linemen in the NFL to start every game this season.
Not just that, but the unit that should be dubbed the “Falcons Five” has barely missed a snap.
Mack, easily the most significant addition to the Falcons’ line last offseason, is being held out of practice this week with a sore ankle. But the four-time Pro Bowl selection is expected to return next week so the line can keep its streak intact against the AFC champion New England Patriots.
That’s important because continuity up front is a big reason the Falcons have the NFL’s top-scoring offense and are headed to the Super Bowl in Houston.
“It’s not just the quarterback,” Matthews said with a laugh.
But quarterback Matt Ryan has benefited. He’s thrown a career-best 38 touchdown passes and had a career-low seven interceptions to make himself the front-runner for the NFL Most Valuable Player Award.
He’s benefited in the same way reigning NFL MVP Cam Newton of the Carolina Panthers did a year ago when only two of his five linemen missed a total of four starts. With a line decimated by injuries this season, Newton statistically had the worst season of his career.
“It’s huge,” backup Falcons quarterback Matt Schaub said of the continuity on the line. “It’s everything. That group is where it all starts, whether it’s the run game, the pass game, the protections, making all those calls. When you can have that continuity, it goes a long way.”
Before this season, Levitre, 30, hadn’t been part of a line at any level in which no starter missed a game. But it’s not as rare as you might think.
Over the past 15 seasons, 31 teams have started the same five offensive linemen in all 16 games, according to ESPN Stats & Information.
Those who did typically were successful. Their average win total was 10, and only two of 31 finished under .500.
Atlanta is the fourth of those teams to make the Super Bowl. The 2007 New York Giants beat New England, the 2008 Arizona Cardinals lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers, and the 2012 San Francisco 49ers lost to the Baltimore Ravens.
“Having five guys stay healthy all year and start every game together is something that really goes to show how close we are and how tight-knit of a group we are,” Schraeder said.
The bond goes beyond the field. These guys hang out away from the meeting room and practice. During their playoff bye week, they had a team-building bowling outing.
They typically go to the nearby district of Buckhead for dinner at least once a week. There’s competition in that just as there is in spiking.
For that title, Schraeder concedes to Levitre.
“We can all put some food away, but he’s something special,” Schraeder said.
Told of his distinction, Levitre said: “I guess I can throw down every once in a while.”
He just doesn’t throw down spikes very well. He had never tried one until earlier this year.
“If you look, I had to get my grip right a couple of times before I spiked it,” Levitre said.
When it comes to throwing down spikes, Schraeder concedes nothing, although he admittedly wasn’t so proud of his muffed attempt against the Panthers.
“Somebody hit my arm,” he explained. “I don’t think too many people saw it, though.”
It wasn’t the worst spike of the year, though. That honor, Matthews said, goes to Chester.
“Chris one time tried to do a little stupid dance, and it slipped out of his hand when he tried to spike it,” Matthews said. “That would have to be the worst.
“We don’t have an official tally, but we do like to give each other a hard time.”
More importantly, the continuity up front allows the Falcons to give opponents a hard time.
