Same Game Different Format

The NFL and NFLPA have agreed upon a new format for the annual Pro Bowl. It's a game that nobody really wants to play because of the threat of injury, but it gets good television ratings. That's all that really matters. The fans who watch the contest seem to enjoy it.

It has been criticized as being more of an exhibition game. The league wanted to do something different for next year and came up with a new format.

They will no longer have teams from the AFC and NFC. Fans will still vote for two teams captained by Hall of Famers Deion Sanders and Jerry Rice. There will be a "fantasy football" format for putting the two squads together.

The rosters will be 43 players without any kickers. Their position will be taken by an extra defensive back There will be numerous rule changes, including no kickoffs. The ball will be placed on the 25 yard  after a scoring play and to start the half. Defensive coverage will aslo be altered. The rule changes sound like they will make the game more interesting.

It will be held the week before the Super Bowl which will preclude players from those teams attending. In the end, players will still bow out and some will get there only because of injuries to others. As long as the NFL makes money, they will be happy.

A Big Date On September 12th

There is no doubt that Jets HC Rex Ryan is on a short leash this year. He needs to come up big if he hopes to retain his job for the 2014 season. His dismal offense from last year doesn't help his chances.

New GM John Idzik said that the starting quarterback selection will be a joint decision between him and Ryan. Mark Sanchez and rookie first round pick Geno Smith are competing for the role, but the final choice won't be made by the head coach.

When asked about this the other day, Ryan said that many head coaches don't have the final say in the 53 man roster. That might be true for many teams, but it shows how much power Ryan has relinquished.

The Jets need to start off the season with a win. If they show up with a record of 0-1 on September 12th for their Thursday night game with the Pats, the vultures might be circling overhead. A loss to the Pats could make things dicey.

Not Enough Fat

Players flunk their physicals and conditioning drills all the time at training camp. No team is immune to this. RB Joe McKnight of the New York Jets failed his physical initially, but passed it on a second attempt.

He had difficulty completing drills the other day and was forced to sit out some of the snaps. It turns out that his body fat was too low at 3.3%. The training staff wants him to get it up to 6%.

Players come in all shapes and sizes. Some of the biggest players have low rates of body fat. It can get too low and cause problems like it did in McKnight's case.

Koppen's Last Stand

Every team loses players to a season ending injury during training camp and exhibition games. It's a fact of life around the NFL. For some players, it's the last time they will ever be on the field. Careers end too soon for some. Veteran players get hurt and never make it back.

Will that be the case of Dan Koppen? The former Pats center was trying to make the Denver roster after becoming a starter last year in mid-season.

Koppen was involved in a 9 on 7 drill and went down in a heap during a play. He was carted off the field with an obvious injury which turned out to be a torn ACL.

Is this the end for Koppen? The 11 year veteran will be 34 next month. He was a 5th round pick by the Pats in 2003. He won two rings and played in three of big games.

Koppen is at the crossroad that so many players face. Not many get to play 11 seasons, but he faces a big decision about his playing future.

The Specialist

Does it mean anything when Tim Tebow gets practice time as a running back and receiver. Will he get playing time in the first exhibition game? In the eyes of Belichick, Tebow is just another guy trying to find a  spot on the roster. Nothing is guaranteed.

I think Tebow will make the roster as a specialist. I wouldn't be surprised to see him on special teams. He is a highly regarded punt protector. At least he did that with the Jets.

Tebow won't be standing on the sideline with a clipboard.

A Possible Distraction

When Tom Brady met with the media yesterday he said it was time for the Pats to move on from the Aaron Hernandez situation. He is certainly right on that. Training camp has begun and opening day is right around the corner.

Can the team actually do this? There could be some explosive allegations coming out concerning team members who may have visited the apartment that Hernandez kept in Franklin. Who was there and what went on? Will players be subpoenaed to testify before a grand jury?

Investigators are keeping a tight lid on the situation. Coach Belichick mentioned that the team is looking into this. It might not be anything, but I think we will be hearing some names at some point. How will team officials react? Will this become an ongoing issue throughout the season? Only time will tell.

The Coach Speaks

I thought Coach Belichick did a great job addressing the Aaron Hernandez issue. It had to be done before training camp. I'm sure there will be those who think it should have been done sooner.

It was typical of the press to ask him questions that he couldn't comment on because of the ongoing legal process. They never seem to get it. They should know better, but they will always say that they are asking on behalf of the fans.

The comments on the talk shows were favorable. I'm not sure what else the Pats could have done in the drafting process when they selected Hernandez. The NFL is not made up of a bunch of choir boys. There is talk about the league examining tattoos on players at the Scouting Combine to see if they have any gang affiliation. I'm sure there are some legal issues there.

Nobody knows how the Hernandez situation will play out. You can be guaranteed that reporters will continue to badger Belichcik throughout the season with questions that he can't comment on.

Collecting His 12th Jersey

Kicker Bill Cundiff is a great example of perseverance. He was just signed by the Jets to compete for a roster spot. It was his 19th contract with twelve different teams.

His transactions are difficult to follow at times. He was signed by the Cowboys as an undrafted player in 2002. From there he went to Tampa Bay, Green Bay, New Orleans, Atlanta, Kansas City, Detroit, Cleveland, Baltimore, Washington, San Francisco and finally to the Jets.

He has often been signed as a replacement. His constant releases resulted him being out of the league in 2007 and 2008. Pats fans will always remember him for missing a 32 yard field goal in the AFC Championship game during the 2011 playoffs. It sealed a win over the Ravens and sent the team to the Super Bowl.

The Unwanted List

It looks like the Pats will struggle in training camp to have their main offense on the field. Rob Gronkowski, Jake Ballard and Julien Edelman will all start camp on the PUP list. It will cause them to lose valuable snaps with Tom Brady.

The team will be able to bring other players into camp to fill in for them, but they will probably be released at the end of camp unless things change for the worse with the three players. Many think that Gronk and Ballard will start the season on the PUP list, causing them to miss the first six games.

This will be one of the biggest challenges facing Coach Belichick during his tenure in Foxborough. If more players get hurt, things could get real dicey.

So Many New Faces

As training camp opens around the league, we see a dizzying amount of players on the 90 man roster. The Pats are no exception. Some of these new players will be on the final 53 man roster and contribute to the team. Others will try to live the dream for a few years before time and a younger player catches up with them.

The Philadelphia Eagles under new coach Chip Kelly are looking at a lot of players. Almost half of them have no experience with the Eagles.

It must be difficult for the coaches to get every name and number straight. It must be even more awkward for the players in the locker room who dress next to strangers.

Still Playing At That Age

The oldest players in the NFL tend to be kickers. Of the ten players with the longest service, six of them are kickers and one long snapper.

Adam Vinatieri of the Colts became the oldest player in the league with the retirement of Jason Hanson of the Lions. Vinatieri at 40 years and 7 months will be entering his 18th season and shows no signs of slowing down.

Kickers see less of the physical aspect of the game which contributes to their longevity. It's more remarkable to see LB London Fletcher of the Redskins still going strong at 38 years and 4 months.

In Atlanta, we see TE Tony Gonzalez at 37 years and 7 months still trying to get to the Super Bowl. Vinatieri has four rings to show.

No mater what position, these players defy the odds by still playing.

No More Mr Jones

The Pats are following their trend from last year's group of free agent signings. They just released WR Donald Jones who they had signed to a three year contract a few months ago.

They will have a lot of bodies in camp, especially their two draft picks Aaron Dobson and Josh Boyce. They also have Michael Jenkins, Danny Amendola and a revolving door of others.

The timing might be coincidental, but Jones was due a bonus of $200,000 for reporting to training camp on Thursday. The Pats are never afraid to pull the trigger and release a player, especially if they can save money.