Former Illinois Illini and Pittsburgh Steeler Rashard Mendenhall checking in on X:

That’s racist! We’re offended (not really).

He does raise a good question though. Should we replace the Pro Bowl with an all-Black vs. all-White game? Not talking New Zealand rugby here. We’re talking African-American players vs. whitey. I think it’s a fascinating exercise.

Now, the problem is that we (whitey) don’t have anyone who can play corner. Jason Sehorn ain’t walking through that door in 2023. But Pagan accepted the challenge and put together an all-white 2023 team that looks like this:

  • QB: Josh Allen
  • RB: Christian McCaffrey
  • WR: Cooper Kupp, Adam Thielen, Justin Watson
  • TE: Travis Kelce
  • OL: Lane Johnson, Zack Martin, Jason Kelce, Joel Bitonio, David Bakhtiari
  • DLine: TJ Watt, the Bosa brothers, Maxx Crosby (Kinkead: four defensive ends, interesting strategy)
  • LB: Matt Milano, Alex Singleton, Leighton Vander Esch
  • CB: Hunter Renfrow, Braxton Berrios (need hard working, undersized special teamers)
  • S: Reed Blankenship, Gunner Olszewski
  • KR: Berrios
  • PR: Britain Covey
  • K: Jake Elliott
  • P: Johnny Hekker
  • Coaches: Nick Sirianni, Joe Brady (OC), Nill Belichick (DC)

Pretty good team. Thielen and Kupp? Not bad. Not bad at all. And that offensive line would open up some holes. We are just lacking on the interior of the defensive line (need Beau Allen) and that secondary is a disaster. Who is covering Tyreek Hill? Nobody.


Here’s Pagan’s 2023 all-black team:

  • QB: Jalen Hurts
  • RB: Raheem Mostert
  • WR: Tyreek Hill, A.J. Brown, Justin Jefferson
  • TE: Kyle Pitts
  • OL: Trent Williams, Mike Onwenu, Jefferey Simmons (need someone to take one for the team at Center), Tyler Smith, Tyron Smith
  • DLine: Haason Reddick, Myles Garrett, Aaron Donald, Chris Jones
  • LB: Fred Warner, Roquan Smith, Demario Davis
  • DB: Patrick Surtain II, Sauce Gardner
  • S: Minkah Fitzpatrick, Derwin James
  • KR: KaVontae Turpin
  • PR: Derius Davis
  • K:  Justin Reid
  • P: Marquette King*
  • Coaches: Mike Tomlin, Eric Bieniemy (OC), DeMeco Ryans (DC)

Now I put the asterisk on King because he once played in the NFL but is no longer in the league. Finding a black punter is harder than finding a white cornerback (EDIT – looks like we both missed Pittsburgh’s Pressley Harvin, that shows how many Steelers games we’ve watched this year)  Justin Reid works because he replaced Harrison Butker for a short time last year and went 1-2 on extra points.

But yeah, that’s a fantastic team. Talent everywhere. Imagine game planning for Tyreek Hill, A.J. Brown, and Justin Jefferson at the same time. The all-black team might be unstoppable.

Honestly, where it gets really interesting is when you extend this to all-time teams. Then whitey has a better shot. I think this game would a certified BANGER! Here are my rosters:

Black team

Offense:

  • quarterback: Warren Moon, unless Patrick Mahomes is more black than white
  • running back: Jim Brown
  • tackles: Jonathan Ogden, Walter Jones
  • guards: Gene Upshaw, Larry Allen
  • center: Dermontti Dawson
  • WR1: Jerry Rice
  • WR2: Randy Moss
  • WR3: Terrell Owens
  • tight end: Antonio Gates

Defense:

  • ends: Reggie White, Bruce Smith
  • interior line: Mean Joe Greene, Warren Sapp
  • linebackers: Lawrence Taylor, Derrick Thomas, Ray Lewis
  • corners: Deion Sanders, Rod Woodson
  • safeties: Ronnie Lott, Ed Reed

Whitey

Offense:

  • quarterback: Tom Brady
  • running back: Christian McCaffrey
  • full back: Mike Alstott
  • tackles: Anthony Munoz (we’re claiming him as white), Joe Thomas
  • guards: John Hannah, Bruce Matthews
  • center: Jim Otto
  • WR1: Fred Biletnikoff
  • WR2: Steve Largent
  • tight end: Gronk

Defense:

  • ends: JJ Watt, Gino Marchetti
  • interior line: Bob Lilly, Merlin Olsen
  • linebackers: Dick Butkus, Kevin Greene, Jack Lambert
  • corners: Jason Sehorn, Dick LeBeau
  • safeties: John Lynch, Eric Weddle

Wow so there’s a lot to digest there. Talent all over the field! I do think the whites have some solid defensive players, but good luck defending Jerry Rice, Terrell Owens, and Randy Moss. And then who is covering Antonio Gates? Eric Weddle and John Lynch are gonna have to play DEEP.

The white offense is pretty good though. Brady to Gronk, Alstott blocking for Christian McCaffrey behind a Hall of Fame line. I can see that team moving the ball.

My favorite unit, however, is the black defense. Look at those names. Reggie White, Lawrence Taylor, and Mean Joe Greene up front with Ronnie Lott and Ed Reed over the top. Coach Prime and Rod Woodson BLANKETING Fred Biletnikoff and Steve Largent. What an absolute WAR!

Great idea from Mendenhall. Let’s get this done. Replace the Pro Bowl with a black vs. white game.