I suppose at least they’re trying something. A year ago I wrote a column outlining why the Pro Bowl is nothing more than a “fantastic exhibition of jogging and patty-cake.” Football is the one sport that really has no business
I suppose at least they’re trying something.
A year ago I wrote a column outlining why the Pro Bowl is nothing more than a “fantastic exhibition of jogging and patty-cake.” Football is the one sport that really has no business playing exhibition games. Having millionaire athletes whose livelihoods are at stake play against one another and expecting them to put themselves at risk for no reason is just unreasonable.
I had a few recommendations for NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell to make the Pro Bowl event more enjoyable and beneficial for everyone involved. My first was to eliminate the game completely and instead make the whole Pro Bowl experience like one big reality show weekend. Look, I still don’t totally understand why shows like “Dancing With The Stars” are so popular, but the fact is they are. Apparently we like seeing people we know doing things we’ve never seen them do. So I suggested putting the players into some Hawaii-specific activities.
Offensive linemen trying to maneuver stand-up paddles or in a haupia pie eating contest were a couple of my ideas. There are many ways to go and maybe they could even seek out some fan input.
But the game will go on, at least for one more year. They are trying to create some more spice, having eliminated the AFC vs. NFC format and tapping Hall of Famers Deion Sanders and Jerry Rice as captains. Sanders and Rice completed their selections with a two-day draft process Tuesday and Wednesday, making Sunday’s rosters official.
Will the new format create a more interesting game? Perhaps. I might watch for a bit, but mostly for curiosity’s sake. I’m much more excited for Sunday’s WWE Royal Rumble, which is probably the more “real” sporting event between the two.
I suppose some players may try to outshine one another, especially the guys who feel they were selected lower than they deserve.
The Chicago Bears’ Brandon Marshall was the fifth wide receiver off the board, a fact he said was “sad – real sad.” So maybe that lights a fire beneath a few guys and encourages competitive spirit.
But again, I don’t know if that’s a good thing. If Brian Orakpo pops LeSean McCoy over the middle of the field, who is that good for? We’ve seen promising players have careers ripped from beneath their feet in silly ways.
It’s been 15 years since New England Patriots running back Robert Edwards blew out his knee in a rookie flag football game during Pro Bowl week in 1999. Edwards had just finished a rookie campaign in which he rushed for 1,115 yards and nine touchdowns, justifying his status as a first-round draft pick. The injury was a severe one and didn’t even come in Aloha Stadium, but out on the Oahu sands. Edwards almost had to have his leg amputated, but managed to rehab his way all the way back to make the Miami Dolphins roster in 2002. He had just 20 carries that season and never played in the NFL again, later finishing with three seasons in the Canadian Football League.
Edwards had his career torn from his grasp. He was unable to earn the lucrative contract that awaited him, given his ability. It was a freak injury, but is the Pro Bowl worth anyone getting hurt? Even if it happens just once a decade, isn’t that once more than necessary?
Bring the players out to Hawaii, make them accessible to local fans and give them some fun activities to do while here. But asking them to take the field and expecting anything more than token effort isn’t just unrealistic, it’s irresponsible.
