After a "spate of injury withdrawals and 'thanks but no thanks' responses," the NFL had to "dig very, very deep" to fill out the rosters for Sunday's Pro Bowl, according to Ty Schalter of BLEACHER REPORT. With all-star "prestige, an important legacy bullet point, possible contract bonuses and a free trip to sunny Arizona at stake, you'd think players would be lining up for the honors." Instead, they are "staying away in droves" (BLEACHERREPORT.com, 1/20). ESPN's J.A. Adande said, "I don't think there are any rule changes they can make that will make the Pro Bowl interesting. Just like it can't be considered an All-Star game when it’s got at the latest count I saw, 27 replacements.” Adande: “The fact they have it before the Super Bowl so Super Bowl participants can't partake in it diminishes it further. But guess what? People are still going watch." Columnist Kevin Blackistone added, “They turned the Pro Bowl into a Petrie Dish for professional football by trying all these new things." The Boston Globe’s Bob Ryan called the Pro Bowl “a joke game." Ryan: "It always has been and the idea that it’s the game everybody wants to be named to for their resume, no one wants to play it, obviously. The only other reason anyone wanted to be in it was so they could get a free trip to Hawaii, which has been taken away from them so there’s less reason than ever to have this stupid waste of everyone's time” (“Around The Horn,” ESPN, 1/21). In Phoenix, Zach Buchannan wrote the Pro Bowl in its current format "may be a fantasy for the fans, but some players liked it the old way." For a game that has "struggled to generate a following over the years as the top players opt out and others play [at] half speed to avoid injury, it's a sacrifice of player happiness in order to generate fan excitement." Some players "missed the free trip to Hawaii, where the game has been held every year but two" since '80. However, it is "easier to generate fan interest when the game is held before the Super Bowl and in the same city." Cardinals DE Calais Campbell: "I can't lie to you, I'd like to be in Hawaii. A free vacation to Hawaii, you can't beat that" (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 1/22).
FINDING A SOLUTION: In San Diego, Eddie Brown wrote the Pro Bowl "is a sham," as fans "end up with a bunch of second and third alternates playing glorified two-hand touch trying not to hurt themselves." NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell "tried to put the game on hiatus a few years back, but the players lobbied to keep it." At first blush, this "makes no sense until you realize a lot of players receive decent bonuses for being selected" (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 1/19).
IF IT AIN'T BROKE: In Phoenix, Andrew Joseph noted the two teams "will be sporting a similar look to last year." Team Carter "will wear a white and neon yellow uniform combination while Team Irvin will wear blue and neon orange." These uniforms are "essentially the home and away versions of last year's Pro Bowl uniforms, so it shouldn't come as too much of a shock to fans" (AZCENTRAL.com, 1/21). In Portland, Allan Brettman wrote one team "will have uniforms that could have been lifted" from the Univ. of Oregon football team, "the other from Oregon State" (OREGONLIVE.com, 1/21).
