The Pro Bowl has become NFL biggest joke. And the 2010 Pro Bowl was perhaps the biggest Pro Bowl joke of all. It was obvious that nobody cared – not the players, not the fans and not even the television networks.

There were some changes to this year’s edition of the Pro Bowl. The venue was changed from Hawaii to Florida and the date was moved to one week before the Super Bowl. But that shouldn’t have an effect on the integrity of this supposed NFL Player Showcase.

Another reason it has become such a joke is that many NFL players don’t take the game seriously. More than a dozen Pro Bowlers opted out of the 2010 Pro Bowl contest. Player interest was so bad that one NFC Pro Bowl selectee was actually dismissed from the team for excessive absenteeism.

There was a time when it was considered an honor just to be nominated for a Pro Bowl spot. Once upon a time, players considered making the Pro Bowl an accomplishment, a medal of honor. It meant they had come of age in one of the most popular sports – but not anymore!

Yes it is true that the NFL shares the same All Star selection concerns with Baseball and Football. The fans make the All Star selections but it has become more of a popularity contest than anything else? But that shouldn’t matter one bit!

There is no denying that with the loss of the players from the two best teams (Colts and Saints) and the addition of Pro Bowl alternates, the talent level is watered down. Maybe the NFL made a mistake in moving the venue and date of the game because it has certainly had its affect.

But the biggest joke of all is the level of intensity in the game itself. The Pro Bowl has become more like an NBA All Star Game, where the defense stands around watching the offense score. It has become a travesty and disrespectful to everyone who loves football. It has gone from a competition to an exhibition.

Is it time to end this joke of a game? Should the game go back to Hawaii and be played after the Super Bowl? This may be one issue that even NFL commissioner Roger Goodell can’t solve.

The AFC beat the NFC in the 2010 Pro Bowl on a late fourth quarter touchdown run by Tennessee’s Chris Johnson. The Pro Bowl, usually played in Hawaii after the Super Bowl, was moved to Sun Life Stadium in Miami, Florida and played one week before the Super Bowl. It was the 40th edition of the Pro Bowl.

Because of the date change of the NFL Pro Bowl, All Star members of both Super Bowl qualifiers (Colts and Saints) did not play in the game. Many of those players were on the sideline to watch Houston’s Matt Schaub get the AFC out to a fast start with touchdown passes to Texans teammate Andre Johnson and Denver’s Brandon Marshall.

Schaub finished with 189 yards on 13-of-17 attempts and took home the MVP award.

San Diego’s Vincent Jackson caught seven passes for 122 yards with a TD from Jacksonville’s David Garrard, who ended with 183 yards on 8-of-14 attempts and handed off to Jaguars teammate Maurice Jones-Drew for a rushing score.

Aaron Rodgers of Green Bay threw for 197 yards and two TDs on 15-of-19 attempts for the NFC, which had won the previous two installments of this contest. DeSean Jackson of Philadelphia caught a pair of touchdowns and had 101 yards on six receptions in defeat.

Chris Johnson’s two-yard score capped a rare lengthy drive that covered 76 yards in 11 plays to put the AFC up 41-34 with 5:59 left in the game.

Pittsburgh’s James Harrison picked off Dallas’ Tony Romo deep in AFC territory on the ensuing drive, and the AFC ran out the clock to secure the win.

A Schaub-to-Andre Johnson 33-yard hookup opened the scoring just over three minutes into the game.

Philadelphia’s David Akers put the NFC on the board with a 47-yard field goal, and Marshall hauled in a 23-yard score for a 14-3 lead with seven minutes left in the opening stanza.

Rogers then threw a 48-yard bomb to New York’s Steve Smith near the end of the first and hit DeSean Jackson with a screen pass that the speedster turned into a seven-yard touchdown 3:37 into the second.

Dan Carpenter of Miami finished off the first-half scoring with a 30-yard field goal, tying the game, 17-17.

On the second play from scrimmage out of the break, DeSean Jackson took a quick screen from his everyday quarterback, Donovan McNabb, and raced 58 yards for a touchdown.

Vincent Jackson’s 48-yard TD grab just 51 seconds later tied things again.

Shortly after Denver’s Brian Dawkins picked off McNabb on the next possession, Jones-Drew went in from four yards out. Carpenter’s 26-yard field goal with 5:09 left in the third made it a 34-24 contest.

Carolina’s DeAngelo Williams ran for a seven-yard score to cut into the deficit four minutes later, and Akers booted a 39-yard early in the fourth quarter to tie the game.

It seems that this year’s Pro Bowl lacked the interest of more than a few All Star participants. In fact, at least 12 players elected not to play and 1 player, Vikings Bryant McKinnie was removed from the NFC All Star team because of unexcused absenses – he missed 3 of the 4 pre-game practices.

It’s sad to see the lack of interest by the players. They should be grateful that they were choosen and at least have the common decency to represent their teams and hometown fans. Shame on these guys!

Here are the complete NFC vs AFC 2010 Pro Bowl statistics

source: usatoday.com