On a warm mid-day at Kapolei High’s football field, cornerback Tim Jennings of the Chicago Bears was doing push-ups during a Pro Bowl practice.

"I dropped an interception," Jennings lamented. "I have to pay the price."

The scene also served as a metaphorical message for today’s National Football League all-star game in search of rejuvenation: drop the ball, pay the price.

The game’s relevance and entertainment value have been under review the past few years, particularly in 2012, when football became futbol, with flops and phantom tackles.

The competition was more palatable last year. But with Super Bowl players exempt from participation in what is essentially a postseason bye week, a makeover was needed.

In concert with the players’ union — self-styled stakeholders — the format was changed. Instead of rosters divided by conference membership, a draft of Pro Bowlers was conducted.

To boost the prime-time appeal for the East Coast television audience, "Prime Time" — Hall of Fame cornerback Deion Sanders — was brought in as a team captain. With Sanders tabbed as a hero, the other captain was the GOAT — "greatest of all time," a nickname coined for Hall of Fame receiver Jerry Rice.

Team Sanders chose Houston defensive end J.J. Watt and Kansas City running back Jamaal Charles as player captains and draft consultants. Team Rice picked New Orleans quarterback Drew Brees and St. Louis defensive end Robert Quinn.

Brees promised a competitive game.

"I think what it comes down to is pride — pride in your effort and pride in your performance," Brees said. "I don’t want to sit here and say this game has completely deteriorated. I don’t believe that. I think we had one year, two years ago, where early on there were some things that happened in the game, where you kind of sat back and said: ‘That’s not what we’re looking for here, and that’s not what the fans deserve,’ kind of thing. I think last year’s effort was great. I thought it was extremely competitive."

For Brees, it is helpful he selected four Saints teammates. Also, the Carolina Panthers staff, which is coaching Team Rice, employs offensive schemes that Brees ran when he was with the San Diego Chargers a decade ago.

In turn, Brees said it wasn’t easy moonlighting as Team Rice’s assistant general manager.

"That’s the hardest part of this deal," Brees said of the draft. "I’ve had five guys come up to me and go, ‘You took so-and-so before me,’ or ‘Why did you take so long to take me?’ I’m like, ‘Listen, man, you don’t know how stressful that part of it was.’ That’s the part I didn’t want to deal with in this whole thing, having guys think, maybe, you view them in a lesser light than somebody else, when that’s not the case at all."

To be sure, there have been highlights, and not just the fluorescent orange and lime practice gear.

Sanders, a Florida State alumnus, selected Carolina quarterback Cam Newton, who attended Auburn. Those schools met in the BCS championship game.

Wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald and cornerback Patrick Peterson are Arizona teammates playing on opposite Pro Bowl teams.

Tight end Tony Gonzalez, who was set to retire, is playing in his 14th Pro Bowl. Rookie running back Eddie Lacy, who led Alabama to the BCS title a year ago, is in his first Pro Bowl.

Carolina defensive end Greg Hardy brought along his alter-ego, "Kraken." Hardy crossed out "Hardy" on his jersey, replacing it with the Sharpie-written "Kraken."

"That’s what I do to all my jerseys," said Hardy, speaking as Hardy. "That’s my persona, so to speak."

Another rule change is cornerbacks will be allowed to play press coverages.

"We can get up and jam (receivers) and put our hands on them, make it more of a competitive game," Tampa Bay cornerback Darrelle Revis said. "It’ll be exciting for the fans to see how we really play in the regular season instead of just being off and ‘Ahh, let them catch it’ and then tackle them."

Watt said it will be aggressive in the trenches.

"You know the O-line and the D-line are going to play hard," Watt said. "I think it comes down to pride and the type of person you are and the type of product you want to put on the field."

Even Rice and Sanders wore cleats during practices.

Still, there are Instagram moments. Dallas wide receiver Dez Bryant admitted to several don’t-pinch-me thoughts.

"I can’t believe I’m in Hawaii," Bryant said. "I can’t believe I’m in the Pro Bowl."

Detroit defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh spent an afternoon at Kailua Beach, and a morning at the pier.

"I got to see all the boats come in with all of the yellow-tailed tuna," said Suh, who relies on a photographic memory to navigate Oahu.

Newton recalled the 2006 Pro Bowl, when Sean Taylor flattened Brian Moorman on a fake punt.

"He nailed him," Newton said. "I can remember watching that in my living room and dreaming, if I had that opportunity (to play in the Pro Bowl), I’d make the most of it."

Brees fulfilled a second wish when he threw a pass to Rice during a practice this week. The first time was during warm-ups in 2001, when Rice was with the Oakland Raiders.

"He threw me a fade," Rice said. "I remember that. … You have to look at the crowd. How’s the crowd going to respond? It was borderline, but I did that."

Brees said: "He’s the man. Considering I threw him one pass in pregame in 2001, and I was able to throw him one pass in a Pro Bowl practice, that was enough for me. I’ve thrown him two passes in my career, and I loved every second of them. I completed both of them. We are 100 percent together."