NFL Network to Televise First-Ever Pro Bowl Draft

The first-ever Pro Bowl Draft will be nationally televised during a live three-hour primetime broadcast on NFL Network at 8:00 PM ET on Wednesday, January 22, 2014. The 2014 Pro Bowl Draft will be held on January 21-22 in Kapolei, HI on the grounds of Lanikuhonua, adjacent to the JW Marriott Ihilani Ko Olina Resort & Spa. All 88 Pro Bowl players are expected to be in attendance for Wednesday's live show.

On Tuesday, January 21, 22 players (11 per team) will be drafted from certain position groups - guards, centers, fullbacks, interior defensive linemen, punters and special teamers. The remaining players will be drafted on Wednesday during NFL Network's live broadcast.

Players selected on Tuesday will kick off Wednesday night's live primetime Draft show by walking the red carpet. Taped elements of the previous day's draft process also will be featured.

Fans can follow along with every pick of the Pro Bowl Draft in an exclusive second screen experience at www.NFL.com/probowl. Browse selected Pro Bowl players, view up-to-the-minute team rosters and weigh in on who should be the next pick. Post-draft, an interactive depth chart will preview all of the best matchups leading up to game day.

Pro Football Hall of Famers Jerry Rice and Deion Sanders will serve as alumni team captains for their eponymously named Pro Bowl squads - Team Rice and Team Sanders - and have final say over draft decisions. The NFL legends will each be assisted by two active player captains and one NFL.com fantasy football champion in the draft process.

The four active player captains will be comprised of the top two leading vote getters on offense and defense from the teams that do not advance to the Conference Championship round of the postseason.

One of the fantasy football champions will earn their spot as part of Lenovo's Fantasy Coach of the Year program, which provides NFL.com fans a chance to be rewarded for their fantasy football skills. The other champion can compete for a Pro Bowl role by playing at NFL.com/fantasy.

The 2014 Pro Bowl, presented by McDonald's, will be played at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu, Hawaii. The game will be televised live on Sunday, January 26 on NBC at 7:00 PM ET.

For the first time ever, the Pro Bowl will be unconferenced.

Gone is the familiar AFC vs. NFC match-up that has existed since 1971. Instead, players will be selected without regard to conference in voting by fans, coaches and players. For example, the top six quarterbacks following voting will earn distinction as All-Stars, regardless of how many are from AFC or NFC teams.

The Pro Bowl players are determined by the consensus votes of fans, players and coaches. Each group's vote counts one-third toward determining the 86 All-Star players who will be eligible for the Pro Bowl Draft. Each head coach will also chose one need player, which must be a long snapper.

Fans can help select players for the 2014 Pro Bowl by voting online and on web-enabled mobile phones by going to www.NFL.com/probowl/ballot until 6:00 PM ET on Thursday, December 26.

The Pro Bowl players will be announced on Friday, December 27 on NFL Network and NFL.com.

NFL players and coaches will cast their votes on December 23-26. The NFL is the only sports league that combines voting by fans, coaches and players to determine its all-star teams. It was the first professional sports league to offer online all-star voting in 1995.

Tickets to the 2014 Pro Bowl are now on sale through www.ticketmaster.com. Fans may also call 1-800-745-3000 or visit the Aloha Stadium box office.

LINK:	http://sportsvideo.org/main/blog/2013/12/nfl-network-to-televise-first...
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