Seahawks Players Dominate Pro Bowl

With no trip to the Super Bowl for the Seattle Seahawks this season, their stars came to play -- and dominate -- at the Pro Bowl.

Russell Wilson threw three first-half touchdown passes to lead Team Irvin to a 49-27 victory over Team Rice on Sunday and earn offensive MVP honors at Aloha Stadium. Wilson's Seattle teammate Michael Bennett was the defensive MVP, after recording the game's only sack and deflecting a pass.

"To see us Seahawks out there is a real special thing," Wilson said. "It's a testament to our hard work, and to see two Seahawks out there as MVPs is really cool."

The Seahawks quarterback, who was the first player picked in the all-star game's draft, went 8-of-12 for 164 yards. He led scoring drives on three of Team Irvin's first four possessions.

Wilson threw touchdown passes of 14 and 2 yards to Atlanta Falcons teammates Julio Jones and Devonta Freeman, respectively, in the opening quarter. Early in the second quarter, Wilson connected with Los Angeles Rams running back Todd Gurley for a 10-yard score.

The teams were drafted and captained by Hall of Fame wide receivers Michael Irvin and Jerry Rice. Winston Moss, Green Bay's assistant head coach and linebackers coach, filled in for the ill Mike McCarthy and coached Team Irvin. Kansas City's Andy Reid led Team Rice.

A record 47 players declined to participate in this year's Pro Bowl, either due to injury or for personal reasons, or couldn't play because their teams are in the Super Bowl. Carolina had 10 players selected, including quarterback Cam Newton, while Denver had four, including defensive stars Von Miller and DeMarcus Ware.

Wilson was the lone quarterback originally selected to participate in the game.

Lions' Johnson Says He Will Retire

Detroit Lions star receiver Calvin Johnson told his family and a close circle of friends before the past season that 2015-16 would be his final season in the NFL. He delivered the same message to coach Jim Caldwell the day after the regular season ended, sources told ESPN.

Caldwell told Johnson not to rush his decision and to take his time, sources told ESPN. Out of respect to Caldwell, Johnson agreed to do just that, according to sources.

The Lions have not given up hope that Johnson will change his mind, but one person who knows Johnson well said, "He's pretty content with his decision."

After nine seasons in the NFL, Johnson's body is beaten down. The five-time Pro Bowler has battled lingering ankle injuries and general body soreness to the point that it would be difficult for him to return for another season, during which he would turn 31 years old.

Johnson's body has been so sore and his conviction so strong that he shared his decision to retire after the 2015 season with only two teammates -- quarterback Matthew Stafford and linebacker Stephen Tulloch -- with the request that they keep it confidential, according to sources.

Stafford and Tulloch honored the request, and the rest of the Lions organization did not learn of Johnson's plans to retire until after this season, according to sources. At that time, the Lions issued a statement from Johnson that said, "Like many players at this stage of their career, I am currently evaluating options for my future. I would expect to have a decision regarding this matter in the not-too-distant future."

Former Rams Coach Not Happy With HOF Finalist

Former Rams coach Mike Martz said it is "out-and-out ridiculous" that Terrell Owens is a Hall of Fame finalist over a pair of former Rams wide receivers.

Martz told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch that he doesn't understand why Isaac Bruce and Torry Holt haven't been given more consideration for enshrinement in Canton, Ohio, while Owens is a finalist in his first year of eligibility.

"'Surprised' isn't the word," Martz told the newspaper. "You can't print how I felt when T.O. leapfrogged those two. That's just plain out-and-out ridiculous."