When the number of players who declined their Pro Bowl invitation last week surpassed the number of women who came forward claiming to have slept with Tiger Woods, the NFL should have realized it had a problem.
The league already knew that it was going to need replacements for the players whose teams were playing in the Super Bowl. That was the risk it was willing to take when it moved the game to the Super Bowl site a week before the championship game.
But it felt the move was needed to generate more interest in a game that, quite frankly, had already become a bit of a joke.
Now, however, it's become even more of a joke.
Just look at the AFC quarterback situation as an example.
Instead of seeing Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, Phillip Rivers or Ben Roethlisberger leading the AFC squad, we'll see Matt Schaub, David Garrard and Vince Young.
Are you kidding me?
Of the three, only a legitimate case could be made for Schaub deserving to be there. Garrard was so pedestrian this season the Jaguars are considering looking for a replacement in the draft, while Young didn't become Tennessee's starter until midway through the 2009 season.
I guess Brady Quinn and JaMarcus Russell still have some hope.
Certainly some players who were deserving of being named to the Pro Bowl have benefitted from the high number of players dropping out of the game. The Steelers' LaMarr Woodley and Heath Miller come to mind.
But it's time for the NFL to consider dropping the game and just naming the Pro Bowl team.
16 comments:
This year's pro bowl is a huge joke I mean it's not even a pro Bowl any more it's a Scrub Bowl. I mean next thing you know Patrick will be a starting Quarterback.
http://nflfocus.blogspot.com/
I hope that the field is left in great condition for the super bowl game. Having this game befor the super bowl is stupid.Let's put the pro bowl back in Honolulu Hawaii. ( I'am sure that Dale would perfer to cover the game from Hawaii than Florida.) I wish that somebody could stand up to the commissioner and just show how bad this is.. Thanks Dale
Actually, Dave, I'd prefer to never have to cover that game at all, regardless of the site. It's a complete waste of time - though a few days in Honolulu would make it a little better. Don't know that would make it worth the plane ride, though.
Dale,
So your recent comment that your doing your Free Agency outlook on here, good to hear.
By the way, are you still writing for Steelcityinsider? Keep up the great work
does the nfl actually make a profit from the pro bowl? if they do, and it's a decent profit, you can bet they'll keep having it every year.
I'm taking a guees, but its could be part of their TV contracts, and if so its not going anywhere.
Dale,
Can Schaub, Garrard & Young get a contract bonus for being in the probowl? Seems to me that the Titans & Jag's could be getting screwed over having to pay a bonus to a qb that didnt really perform.
I will name the probowl team, and then make it a fun weekend, for example a 7 on 7 game, Sacks contest DL vs OL, etc.
Things the average fan never see and will be grteat wathing the best of the best doing.
Bottom line be creative.
That's probably what the league should do, forget about the game itself and focus on the players.
Then again, you'll remember that Robert Edwards' career pretty much ended in a beach football game.
I'm sure some of those players will get some kind of Pro Bowl bonus, so yes, there are some teams getting screwed out of this.
I'm still affiliated with SCI, just a little different than before. It's a good site, but Jim has decided to handle the offseason content himself.
Is Wex pissed at you for saying the Steelers lacked effort in Cleveland?
No. Wex and I are cool.
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