PHOENIX (AP) — Like sandlot players when they were kids, Hall of Famers Chris Carter and Michael Irvin chose sides on Wednesday night.
This time, they were drafting some of the best football players in the game for Team Carter and Team Irvin in their Pro Bowl matchup on Sunday.
Quarterback Andrew Luck of Indianapolis went No. 1 to Team Carter. Irvin chose Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo as No. 2.
They were the only two quarterbacks left from the original Pro Bowl roster. The other six bowed out.
The NFL scrapped its AFC vs. NFC format and went to the current system a year ago. The game is being played for one year in Glendale, Arizona, site of next week’s Super Bowl, and will return to Hawaii next season.
Chicago Bears
LAKE FOREST, Ill. (AP) — Adam Gase is the new offensive coordinator for the Bears, following coach John Fox from Denver to Chicago.
The Bears also interviewed Gase for head coach before selecting Fox for the job. Gase also had head-coaching interviews with San Francisco, Buffalo and Atlanta.
Gase was Denver’s offensive coordinator for the past two seasons, and the Broncos led the NFL in scoring offense, total offense and passing offense during that time period. He joined the Broncos as the wide receivers coach in 2009.
The Bears also hired Ed Donatell to coach defensive backs. Donatell replaces Jon Hoke, who was released Wednesday.
Donatell is a 36-year coaching veteran, including 24 in the NFL. He spent the last four seasons as the secondary coach for the 49ers.
Seattle Seahawks
RENTON, Wash. (AP) — All-Pro cornerback Richard Sherman still expects to play in the Super Bowl despite injuring his left elbow in the NFC championship game.
“That’s my story and I’m sticking to it,” Sherman said Wednesday.
Sherman said his elbow is “better than it was” during the fourth quarter of Seattle’s 28-22 overtime win over Green Bay.
Sherman was injured on the first play of the fourth quarter when he appeared to hyperextend his elbow while getting sandwiched between Green Bay’s James Starks and teammate Kam Chancellor.
Sherman played the rest of the game with his left arm pinned against his chest.
Referee Honored
Two-time Super Bowl referee Bill Carollo has been honored by the National Football League Referees Association.
The organization chose Carollo, who worked 20 years in the NFL and retired in 2008, on Wednesday. The award recognizes an NFL official’s outstanding career on the field and in support of the NFLRA.
One of 22 NFL game officials to work 10 or more championship or Super Bowl games, Carollo joined the league’s officiating staff in 1989 as a side judge. He moved to the referee position in 1996, where he remained until his retirement.
Carollo refereed the 30th and 37th Super Bowls. He now is coordinator of football officials for the Big Ten, Mid-American and Missouri Valley conference.
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