It's that time, folks. Time to take the Pro-Bowl out to the woods, tie it to the tree and give it the Old Yeller treatment. Yes, we all love football and an extra week of it is always good but the Pro-Bowl has rabies, and it's spreading. The NFL is doing everything it can think of to save their All-Star game, but this year could truly show that it's time to put the old dog down.
Instead of having the Pro-Bowl the week after the Super Bowl, in the tropical sun of Hawaii, they have decided to hold it the week BEFORE the Super Bowl, on the same turf as the Super Bowl. Now, the positive in this is that no one will completely forget about the Pro-Bowl like they do most years. Instead, it's thrust into our faces like the specials at Applebee's. ESPN and the NFL will not LET us forget about the Pro-Bowl.
Now, let's look at the negative aspects this could have on the NFL. First, there's the turf. I know there is a full week between the games but did anyone see what numerous games did to the Citrus Bowl in Florida this year? A couple NCAA Bowl Games, a few High School Football games and we had a field that looked like the Battle of Gettysburg had been waged on. I can see it now, Peyton Manning dropping back to pass and stumbling over a huge chunk of sod that has been supplanted from the field by a 350 pound lineman.
And what do we do if this changing of the date DOESN'T boost ratings for the game? The NFL will then realize that it doesn't matter when this poor excuse for a football game is played. No one is going to watch it. What's the next step? I honestly can't think of another way that the NFL can make the Pro-Bowl matter.
Then there's the players. Having the Pro-Bowl the week BEFORE the Super Bowl guarantees that the biggest stars, on the best teams, will NOT participate! There is no chance in hell that Peyton Manning or Drew Brees are going to risk getting injured, in a game that doesn't matter, with the possibility of raising the Lombardi Trophy looming. What's the point of an All-Star game that doesn't have all the All-Stars?
I think I have a solution. The NFL needs to take the route of Baseball, Basketball and Hockey. Put it in the middle of the season. Give every NFL team two weeks off after week eight. Then you've got a week for the Pro-Bowl and a week off for everyone. Not only does this make the Pro-Bowl a better game to watch, you can also push the Super Bowl back a whole week, making the NFL season last just a little bit longer. Maybe it's not the best idea, but it's better than what is in place now.
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They should scrap it all together. Name the All-Pro Team and on the Sunday prior to the Super Bowl have an all-star skills competition. It may not be a game but lets face it, neither is the actual Pro Bowl. They play backyard rules so might as well have an event that recognizes stars, puts them in the Super Bowl party spotlight by having it the week before the big game and still gives the NFL a program to give to fans. I think it's win-win. I miss the old QB challenges they used to have.
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