But the Pro Bowl is less about the score and more about pulling together some of the best in the game to congregate, test each other’s skills, and forge relationships with each other in the offseason. So as soon as Rice released his players from practice and the games, it wasn’t much of a surprise to find Horn with one of his best friends, Packers defensive back Keisean Nixon, showing no mercy as he, Sir Purr, and Freddie the Falcon put together a touch football game with Nixon’s sons.
“They’re my little dogs, man,” said Horn, affection evident in his voice. “I’ve been knowing them since they were knee high. Keisean had little KJ when we was in college, and I had to show him a video yesterday on my phone.
“I’m like, ‘You remember me?’ He’s like, ‘No.’ I said, ‘Look at this video.’ I showed him a video when he was like nine months old. He was like, ‘Oh, maybe I do know you,” laughed Horn, joking that now he’s just the guy that won’t give his friends kids any leeway in a touch football game.
After the intense grind that is the season, though, those in the Pro Bowl (Horn made his second straight this year) appreciate the three-day stretch for the time together just as much, if not more, than the honor that comes with calling oneself a Pro Bowler.
“It’s cool, it’s cool,” remarked Horn, before having to start his answer over three different times thanks to multiple guys coming by to dap him up and say hello, reinforcing his point. “You know, one of the best parts of football, being on a football team is the locker room aspect and how many guys you get to know and know a lot about their life.
“So whenever you get to see guys from other teams and spend a week together, you may pick out some tips and you can ask questions, all that type of stuff. So it’s fun.”