The NFL has made a major change to the Pro Bowl and I'm not happy about it!
No, it doesn't bother me that they've moved it from Hawai'i (I wasn't going anyway - at least not this year). What bothers me is that they've moved it to the week before the Super Bowl. The week BEFORE???? What the ****?? (insert your own 4-letter word)
Do you know what that means? It means that any player from the 2 best teams in the league won't get to play in the Pro Bowl - even if they wanted to.
Let's say that the Saints and the Colts (2 previously undefeated teams) win their respective championships and get to the Big Game. The quarterbacks of those 2 teams (Peyton Manning and Drew Brees) were selected as starters to the Pro Bowl. Do you seriously think Sean Payton and Jim Caldwell are going to let the anchors of their teams play in an All-Star game the week before the Championship?? I don't think so!!! Would you if you were the coach of the team? Not to mention all the other players from those 2 teams who were selected.
Why would the NFL make this change? Because they want to bring more credibility to the Pro Bowl? Naw that can't be it, because if anything, they've made the game even less credible because many of the elected starters may not be available to play in the game.
Maybe they want to make sure you watch the game and it doesn't coincide with a wrestling pay-per-view or a major basketball game. If I were the NBA or WWE, I'd schedule an event the week between the championship games and the Super Bowl. Plus, if you want to watch wrestling or basketball, you're going to do it no matter what else is showing.
Football fans will need something to hold them over so we have to keep it the NFL going without a break and we don't want to lose the die-hard football fan? Really? The die-hard football fan is going to watch it no matter which week the game is on.
The week leading up to the Pro Bowl wasn't just about the game. It was also about the skills competitions, the fan events, the season wrap-ups on ESPN, the NFL Network, Sporting News Radio, etc. It was about having fun and relaxing after the Championship!! AFTER!!! It was also about the possibility of everyone who was able to play getting a chance to play because it's the last game of the season!!! Yeah, there is always a chance one of your favorites wouldn't play because they don't want to, but more often than not, you got to see the best of the AFC against the best of the NFC. What are you going to see on January 31, 2010??? Some good players of the AFC against some good players of the NFC. Yahoo...whoopty doo!
Bring on the NFL's fastest man contest! Oops wait, if Adrian Peterson or DeSean Jackson is playing in the Superbowl, we won't get to see him in that race. Ok how about the passing competition. Oh dangit, Philip Rivers could be in the Super Bowl too? How about the NFL's best hands competition - Oh hold up, Larry Fitzgerald and Reggie Wayne won't be able to participate if the Cardinals or Colts make the Super Bowl. The NFL Strongest Man contest? Dwight Freeney, Alan Faneca or James Harrison might not be available because of the Super Bowl. Dang! When is the next WWE Pay Per View?
Ok I've vented enough. I'm only one person and I'm sure Commissioner Roger Goddell isn't interested in my opinion...at least not until I can get a one-on-one with him! Anyone with any NFL Connections are welcome to send him my way! I'll be available on February 14 - AHA! Now I know the reason the game was changed! In that case...good looking out Commissioner Goddell!
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