February 2, 2010
NFL’s Biggest Joke: The Pro Bowl
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.
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