The NFL is willing to radically change its Pro Bowl format, but some things, such as allowing Hall of Fame defensive back Deion Sanders back on the field for its annual all-star game, cross the line.
Sanders, who will be one of the captains for the Jan. 26 game at Aloha Stadium, tweeted Monday his intention to suit up. "Ladies and Gentlemen I am officially announcing "I WILL SUIT UP IN HAWAII" Please let @JerryRice know that a real captain leads by example!" Sanders tweeted.
Sanders also notified Cardinals cornerback Patrick Peterson that his jersey number 21 might not be available to him, tweeting, "@RealPeterson21 u may have to wear another number in the pro bowl for #teamDeion because your Captain may play in the #Probowl! WHAT!!!"
NFL PLAYOFFS
WILD-CARD ROUND
Jan. 4 >> Indianapolis 45, Kansas City 44 >> New Orleans 26, Philadelphia 24
Jan. 5 >> San Diego 27, Cincinnati 10 >> San Francisco 23, Green Bay 20 Divisional Playoffs
Saturday >> Seattle 23, New Orleans 15 >> New England 43, Indianapolis 22
Sunday >> San Francisco 23, Carolina 10 >> Denver 24, San Diego 17
CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIPS
Sunday >> New England at Denver, 10 a.m. (KGMB) >> San Francisco at Seattle, 1:30 p.m. (KHON)
Pro Bowl
Jan. 26 >> All-Star game at Aloha Stadium, 2:30 p.m. (KHNL)
Super Bowl Feb. 2 >> AFC champion vs. NFC champion, at East Rutherford, N.J., 1:30 p.m. (KHON)
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But Brian McCarthy NFL spokesman threw a flag on the ideas.
"Like NFL fans and those of us at the league, Deion’s pumped for the Pro Bowl, but he and Jerry won’t be playing in the game," McCarthy said in an email.
Sanders and Rice were earlier named as the team captains for the new-look all-star game that will no longer have an NFC vs. AFC format.
They will "draft" rosters for the game next week on a three-hour prime-time broadcast that will air Jan. 22 on the NFL Network.
Last month Rice noted Sanders’ non-appearance for a media teleconference, saying, "I can tell Deion (Sanders) is afraid of me."
The switch to a "draft" comes as the NFL attempts to perk up interest and TV ratings for a game that commissioner Roger Goodell had considered scrapping a year ago after a lackluster performance by players in 2012 and declining TV viewership.
Rice and Sanders are to be assisted by two active player-captains and an NFL.com fantasy football champion.