Whoa.... what a fiasco! One of those things the comish wished he could take back ya think? This thing has taken what is usually a joke of an event to a new level. Not sure if my numbers are exactly accurate but I believe it to be 31 players from the "what should be roster" are not playing? Young (missed 6 weeks), Garrard (15 TD's - 10 INT's) and Schaub (worhty) are the QB's for the AFC? Favre and Brees missing from the NFC QB's? They took an exhibition game at its best and made it worse. As a player who the heck wants to play the week before the Super Bowl on the field that you should be preparing to play on? As a fan who the heck wants to watch what is already an exhibition game at half speed with the JV team out there? Now I hear that the league is making the Colts and Saints players that were voted on the team to be at the game? The freaking week before the biggest game of their lives and they have to be present at the Pro Bowl for some reason? Way beyond weird IMO. The Pro Bowl is what it is in the NFL. It will never be anything more than it is and this new format is a giant dud of a joke.
You can't play football at half speed and expect to remain uninjured. That is why an NFL all star game should not be played. None of the players enjoy it and now that it has been moved to Florida instead of Hawaii.....sucks more.
Can you imagine the MLB all-star game being played the week before the WS......and not one of the WS teams' players suiting up? JV Team is right.
I'm telling you guys, players that have played from August until January have no desire to be playing football in late January. They want to be home with their families, resting their legs and getting some much needed physical rest. The majority of them are burned out. Here's the totals. The AFC had 43 players initially selected. 14 of them are skipping it. The NFC also had 43 players selected. 17 will not play.
I'd MUCH rather watch the game they used to play in college. I think it was the senior bowl. All the players got paid, and all the stars were there. ALL were looking at improving their draft status (or establishing it). TO be honest......until they changed the rules for the MLB ASG.....I didn't even like it. Now, it's palatable. Something's on the line. It still has its' flaws (ex - Manny, this year). But it beats the hell out of the others.
I honestly can't remember the last time I even saw a portion of the Pro Bowl. I actually only watch a bit of the baseball ASG, but usually just to see a few guys off the Cards.
Jeff, I actually went to the college bowl game a few times when I lived in Hawaii. It was called the Hula Bowl and was awesome. They got after it and beat the heck out of each other. I remember watching players like Derrick Brooks, Barry Sanders, Deion Sanders, and Thurman Thomas. Watching those games really fueled my desire to play the game of football the right way. I also watched the NFL Pro-Bowl a couple of times as well when I was in Hawaii.
Whats worse I would think from a players perspective is moving it from Hawaii. I would think that most would rather go to Hawaii than Miami.
i believe that if they want thier bonus $$$$$ of being selected to the PRO BOWL they have to show up for the festivites. ( as far as the players in the SUPER BOWL)
I just came up with a good idea for the Pro Bowl. All the Pro Bowlers play a baseball game! Wouldn't you rather watch that than the pitiful display of an attempt at a football game?
