What Happens in Vegas
02/04/2022By: Jeff Yoder
Happy Friday
It’s the All-Star edition! The NFL Pro Bowl and NHL All-Star Game overlap in Las Vegas for a star-studded weekend in the desert. Meanwhile, the NBA released its All-Star reserves to make today an all-All-Star newsletter. The Winter Olympics opening ceremonies are also underway right now (7:00 am ET) as a loaded sports weekend arrives.
Letter Rip!
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NFL
Pro Bowl: Here Come the Stars
Photo: Mark Brown / Getty Images
2022 NFL Pro Bowl Heads to Las Vegas for First All-Star Showcase in 2 Years
A warm “welcome back” to the most underwhelming all-star game in professional sports. No offense to the NFL’s Pro Bowl, but football without the risk is merely a red carpet event for the game’s elite. After the 2021 edition was canceled due to COVID-19, this year’s event heads to Las Vegas and Allegiant Stadium for the first time. The game kicks off at 3:00 pm ET on Sunday (ESPN) with flag football and skills events throughout the weekend. Here’s a look at the Pro Bowl rosters and starters.
AFC Starters | Full AFC Roster
OFFENSE
QB: Justin Herbert (LAC)
RB: Jonathan Taylor (IND)
WR: Tyreek Hill (KC)
WR: Ja’Marr Chase (CIN)
TE: Mark Andrews (BAL)
OT: Rashawn Slater (LAC)
OT: Orlando Brown (KC)
OG: Quenton Nelson (IND)
OG: Joel Bitonio (CLE)
C: Corey Linsley (LAC)
DEFENSE
DE: Myles Garrett (CLE)
DE: Maxx Crosby (LVR)
DL: DeForest Buckner (IND)
DL: Chris Jones (KC)
LB: T.J. Watt (PIT)
LB: Joey Bosa (LAC)
LB: Darius Leonard (IND)
CB: J.C. Jackson (NE)
CB: Xavien Howard (MIA)
S: Kevin Byard (TEN)
S: Derwin James (LAC)
SPECIAL TEAMS
K: Justin Tucker (BAL)
P: A.J. Cole (LVR)
NFC Starters | Full NFC Roster
OFFENSE
QB: Aaron Rodgers (GB)
RB: Dalvin Cook (MIN)
WR: Cooper Kupp (LAR)
WR: Davante Adams (GB)
TE: George Kittle (SF)
OT: Trent Williams (SF)
OT: Tristan Wirfs (TB)
OG: Zack Martin (DAL)
OG: Brandon Scherff (WAS)
C: Jason Kelce (PHI)
DEFENSE
DE: Nick Bosa (SF)
DE: Brian Burns (CAR)
DL: Aaron Donald (LAR)
DL: Jonathan Allen (WAS)
LB: Chandler Jones (ARI)
LB: Robert Quinn (CHI)
LB: Micah Parsons (DAL)
CB: Trevon Diggs (DAL)
CB: Jalen Ramsey (LAR)
S: Quandre Diggs (SEA)
S: Budda Baker (ARI)
SPECIAL TEAMS
K: Matt Gay (LAR)
P: Bryan Anger (DAL)
2022 NFL Pro Bowl: Sunday (3:00 pm ET)
Additional Storylines
B/R: NFL Pro Bowl Skills Challenge Highlights, Results & Reaction
CBS Sports: Pro Bowl Game to Use ‘Spot and Choose’ Method, New Rules & Format
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NBA
All-Stars on the Court
Image via @NBA Twitter
14 Reserves Join the Pool of Starters for Next Week’s All-Star Draft
The remaining NBA All-Star rosters were announced on Thursday, as well, joining the group of starters. The players named to the All-Star Game will be selected by captains LeBron James and Kevin Durant during next week’s All-Star Draft (Thursday, Feb. 10). Two Eastern Conference reserves will make their first ASG appearances (Darius Garland & Fred VanVleet), while two West starters are also first-timers (Ja Morant & Andrew Wiggins). This year’s game will take place in Cleveland, and it’ll once again adopt the target-score finish in honor of the late Kobe Bryant.
NBA All-Star Game: Sunday, Feb. 20
Additional Storylines
B/R: NBA All-Star 2022: Starters, Reserves, Top Snubs & Reactions
Yahoo! Sports: Draymond Green Selected for NBA All-Star Game, But Will Not Participate
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NHL
All-Stars on Ice
Image via NHL
NHL All-Star Weekend to Feature 3-Game 3-on-3 Tournament
This weekend’s NHL All-Star Game takes the best players in the league to Las Vegas for a unique twist. The Skills event (tonight) gets things started before Saturday’s 3-on-3 style tournament that features nine skaters and two goalies from each division. The two winning divisions will face off in the finale. Each game will be a 20-minute blitz with three men on the ice at a time. It’s nothing but stars in Vegas!
NHL All-Star Weekend
Friday: NHL All-Star Skills (7:30 pm ET)
Saturday: NHL All-Star Game (3:00 pm ET)
Additional Storylines
Yahoo! Sports: Alex Ovechkin to Miss All-Star Game Due to Positive COVID-19 Test
USA Today: NHL Awards Leaders: Picks for Who is Leading the Way at All-Star Break
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THE HIGHLIGHTS
NBA: Trae Young’s 43 Snaps Suns’ Streak
The Suns saw their latest 11-game win streak struck down on Thursday by the Hawks and Trae Young (124-115). Young dropped 43 points with five assists, including six 3s. Atlanta has won eight of their last nine games.
PGA: Hoge Holds Top of Pebble Beach Pro-Am
Tom Hoge (-9) was the low man on the scorecards Thursday at the Pebble Beach Pro-Am. Celebrities like former soccer star Mia Hamm, Bills QB Josh Allen, Dodgers OF Mookie Betts and country music singer Darius Rucker headline the celebs.
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THE STORYLINES
2022 NFL Quarterback Commitment Index
Tom Brady has retired, Jimmy Garoppolo is feeling the heat, and Aaron Rodgers and Russell Wilson could be on the move next. Who is really committed to whom this offseason? And which teams and QBs are single and ready to mingle? (The Ringer)
NASCAR’s Unique Kickoff at The Coliseum
The thing is, no one really knows what will happen Sunday in the Busch Light Clash staged on the temporary, quarter-mile, 2.5-degree-banked, asphalt oval NASCAR constructed inside one of the nation’s most iconic sports venues. (FOX Sports)
NBA Power Rankings: Unstoppable Suns
The Suns are a given at No. 1. The Nets are plummeting with Kevin Durant. And the Celtics are on the rise. Here’s the latest power rankings check-in as the NBA season approaches the All-Star break. (CBS Sports)
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THE HEADLINES
NBA Reveals Kobe Bryant Trophy Images for MVP of NBA All-Star Game
(Bleacher Report)
Jaguars Hire Doug Pederson as Next Head Coach
(NBC Sports)
U.S. Hockey’s Brianna Decker Stretchered Off Ice With Leg Injury in Winter Olympics
(ESPN)
5-Star DL Lebbeus Overton Reclassifies to 2022 Class, Will Announce Decision in April
(CBS Sports)
Dolphins Owner Stephen Ross Calls Brian Flores’ Lawsuit Allegations ‘False’
(Sports Illustrated)
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WEEKEND SCHEDULE
The Must-Watch List
One of the busiest weekends in the sports calendar is here! Not one, but two all-star showcases take the stage in the NHL and NFL. The Winter Olympics get rolling in Beijing. And a full slate of basketball — both pros and college — dominate the schedule. We’ll run it back on Monday. Enjoy!
NFL
Pro Bowl (Sun. 3:00 pm)
NHL All-Star Weekend
Friday: NHL All-Star Skills (7:30 pm)
Saturday: NHL All-Star Game (3:00 pm)
Winter Olympics
NBA
76ers at Mavericks (Fri. 10:00 pm)
Knicks at Lakers (Sat. 8:30 pm)
Nets at Nuggets (Sun. 3:30 pm)
Bucks at Clippers (Sun. 9:00 pm)
NCAA Men’s Basketball
#17 UConn at #12 Villanova (Sat. Noon)
#18 Illinois at Indiana (Sat. Noon)
#20 Iowa State at #23 Texas (Sat. 2:00 pm)
#8 Baylor at #10 Kansas (Sat. 4:00 pm)
#19 USC at #7 Arizona (Sat. 5:00 pm)
#9 Duke at North Carolina (Sat. 6:00 pm)
#5 Kentucky at Alabama (Sat. 8:00 pm)
#2 Gonzaga at BYU (Sat. 10:00 pm)
NCAA Women’s Basketball
#13 Texas at #9 Baylor (Fri. 8:00 pm)
#19 Oregon at #8 Arizona (Fri. 10:00 pm)
#7 Tennessee at #10 UConn (Sun. Noon)
Purdue at #5 Indiana (Sun. 1:00 pm)
#21 Iowa at #6 Michigan (Sun. 6:30 pm)
PGA Tour
Pebble Beach Pro-Am (All Weekend)
NASCAR
Clash at The Coliseum (Sun. 6:00 pm)
*All Times Eastern
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