That is something I hadn't thought of, but I don't know that they have to be there as players to make that happen. Look at Drew Brees with Sproles. It didn't happen at the Pro Bowl, Brees recruited him when the two of them were working out together in the off-season. I would imagine the talk about where players may be interested in going has already started, even before the playoffs began.

And word has it that although he's not playing in the game, Calvin leased a private jet and is taking the entire receivers group with him to Hawaii this week. I'm sure they'll be talking to some of their buddies around the league about the team.

I think Eli is over-rated, and I think Stafford got a bad rap. The only reason Eli is in the Pro Bowl is because he made it before, he's a Manning, he plays for the Giants, he won a Super Bowl, and he threw for a lot of yards this year, which was a career record for him.

Cam was 1st alt because nobody expected much of him, and he vastly exceeded expectations, thus giving him a TON of air time on TV and radio. Cam Newtons name was heard weekly.

Stafford got a bad rap because all the focus was on CJ. CJ this and CJ that. I hardly ever heard of Stafford the entire season. No publicity, but he was EASILY a top 3 QB in the NFC. He didn't even have a running game to take the pressure off of him. Very sad and pathetic that he's not in the Pro Bowl.

That said, I watch the Pro Bowl each and every year. I watch all the Pre-Season games too. I watch ALL games in the regular season, even games where the teams are already eliminated from the playoffs. I just love football, and digest every minute of it. Just because I watch it, doesn't mean I agree with the voting though.

I can't believe I'm about to type this but... I agree with the 9ers fan's last paragraph.

Well most things I write are either pro-49ers or neutral about the Lions, neither of which you are so that's why there are disagreements.

PS - you don't agree with all the other stuff I said about the Lions? Weird.

Well most things I write are either pro-49ers or neutral about the Lions, neither of which you are so that's why there are disagreements.

PS - you don't agree with all the other stuff I said about the Lions? Weird.

Calvin Johnson takes fellow Lions WRs to Hawaii to say thanks
5:08 PM, January 24, 2012 | By Dave Birkett

A sore Achilles tendon will keep Calvin Johnson out of the Pro Bowl on Sunday, but the Detroit Lions' All-Pro receiver still is headed to the islands -- and he’s bringing some of his teammates with him.

Johnson took the Lions’ entire receiving corps to Hawaii to say thanks for the support they gave him this year, when he set career highs with 96 catches and 16 touchdowns and led the NFL with 1,681 receiving yards.

The group includes regulars Nate Burleson, Stefan Logan and Maurice Stovall and practice-squad receivers Marcus Harris and Nate Hughes, among others. Logan tweeted that the group was flying out of Los Angeles via private jet today.

Johnson is entering the final year of his rookie contract. and the Lions are expected to begin work on a new deal that will make him the highest-paid receiver in the NFL this off-season.

“If something happens, it happens,” Johnson said after the season. “Like I said, I’m not worried about that. I’m worried about going home right now and resting up, letting my body heal up.”

With Johnson out because of his injury, the Lions do not have anyone playing in Sunday’s Pro Bowl.

That's a good sign actually, means CJ will want to stay in Detroit.

Last paragraph only?

I agree with everything he said.

Regularjoe12, here's the story:

http://www.freep.com/article/20120124/SPORTS01/120124059/calvin-johnson-detroit-lions-hawaii

I didn't see Titus Young mentioned in the story, but I would think that he got invited to.